REVIEW CORNER:
-Shadowcreeper5: I'm really glad you have enjoyed the story thus far! I honestly can't believe its lasted as long as it has but we are nearing the end, sadly. *sadface*
-Ten-X-Legacy: Glad you enjoyed it! I was afraid I might have made Darkrai a bit too cliche of a "villian" Also Darkrai made the mistake of underestimating the bond Michael and Jessica shared. She would not have been able to break through if Darkrai had paid a little more attention to Jessica.
Speech/Thoughts/Telepathy:
"Human Speech"
'Human Thoughts/Human Telepathy'
"Pokemon Speech"
Pokemon Abilities (No Quotations)
'Pokemon Thoughts/Pokemon Telepathy'
'Subconscious'
DISCLAIMERS: I do NOT own Pokemon and probably never will. Such a shame...
-Michael Kramer/Jessica Kramer are my property so please ask before using them.
-Ruby Ciel Garnet belongs to "CR0553"
WARNINGS (Listed Below)
-Graphic Violence
-Explicit Language
-Dark Themes
Normal POV
Darkrai's physical manifestation began to twitch and claw at the air in distress, it's victims of the nightmare it created managing to break free through bonds too strong for even the legendary Pokemon of darkness to handle. The lone visible green eye shone with a blinding intensity as Michael and Jessica both arose from their slumber.
Darkrai began convulsing erratically and the amount of energy it used creating such vivid nightmares finally started catching up to the Shadow Pokemon. In a stunning turn of events Walcott extended the blood-drenched pokeball in his right hand out and recalled Darkrai, an action that caught everyone by surprise.
"Have you finally lost your nerve, Walcott? You actually recalled Darkrai...why?"
Before the words even finished leaving Gary's mouth the P.A.I.R. leader interjected.
"Do not think for one moment that I did that to save Darkrai...it is still my property and nothing more than my property! After I have put you all six feet under the Kanto soil I will take Darkrai and drain it of its blood to create a new army of Hell Pokemon! This is just my way of ensuring my investment remains solid, since my incompetent drones were unable to keep Moltres from absorbing all of the Crimson Agate at our base!"
The words that left Walcott's lips should have come as no surprise to anyone, but the simple act of recalling a Pokemon back into their ball meant the trainer had some sort of emotional attachment with the pokemon. Even if it was merely to prevent further harm from coming to a perceived 'investment', it was still a positive action that showed a trainer cared for their Pokemon. Walcott's next words caught everyone off guard, though.
"How did you manage to break free of Darkrais' Nightmare?
This did not go unnoticed by Ash, Gary or the others who were gathered around the desolated area.
"Walcott...you may have managed to corrupt Darkrai but your own negligence was your undoing. You could not have imagined someone else experiencing one of Darkrai's nightmares and living to tell the tale..."
Michael turned towards his beloved mate and raised his left arm-blade so that it was pointing at Jessica.
"Jessi was afflicted with a nightmare from this very same Darkrai, around the time we first met as human and Ralts. Darkrai's nightmares are normally impenetrable even by those who are connected to the victim...but those who have endured one of Darkrai's nightmares are able to use those same bad dreams against it!"
Jessica covered her amber chest spike with both hands and closed her eyes to focus on something in the distance while Michael continued his explanation.
"It was because of the nightmare she experienced early in her life that she was able to breach Darkrais' powerful infuence this time around. What he had forced into our minds was childs play for my beloved to see through! Because of that, Jessi was able to remind me just who I am, and what I have become."
Michael took a deep breath before continuing.
"For most of my life I have been haunted by the fact that I had very few human friends and was constantly seen as "damaged" to society. I often wondered what would have happened had I never been diagnosed with my disease..."
Michael again turned to his beloved, a warm smile forming on his features.
"While it is true that I would have had more friends in my early life I never would have had the connection to Pokemon like I ended up having. I never would have met Jessi and I probably would have not learned how special Pokemon are to humans..."
The half-breed finally turned his attention back to Walcott, a smirk formed on the Gallades' face.
"In a way I have you to thank for helping me overcome my fears, Walcott...it is a twisted irony that I assure you has not slipped my mind...however..."
The air around the half-breed suddenly took on a much more sinister feel, bright emerald green eyes flaring with fury of a different kind; controlled and single-minded. Those gathered around the off-colored Gallade began to back off and give considerable spacing between them and the revitalized pseudo-Pokemon.
"...Do not think for one moment that I am going to give you a merciful death! You have committed crimes against humans and Pokemon that would make every known criminal organization around reel back in disgust! While it's true that I killed several humans before today, I did it to protect my family...now..."
Michael held both of his arm-blades out to the sides and unsheathed them from their resting place, the metallic gleam in them giving off a much more impressive luster than they had ever done in the past.
"...I will kill you to protect my family and friends...as well as the future of this world! The only way you're leaving this day is in a body bag and sliced into unrecognizable chunks of flesh!"
Jessica took her stance by her mates' side, arms outstretched in a casting motion while Michael zeroed in on his target, the very man who had tried to turn his beloved into a Hell Pokemon and succeeded in doing so to both Moltres and Darkai. Arm-blades were at the ready and Michael dug his heels into the dirt-caked ground in preparation for his initial attack.
A voice broke his concentration and the first person to react was Ash, and rightfully so.
"MOM?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! WHY AREN'T YOU AT HOME?!"
"Are you being serious, Ash? This is on every channel! The Pokemon League is sending their best agents from Hoenn and Sinnoh! They are all coming to help fend off the threat that man over there poses!"
Delia Ketchum pointed at the soulless blue eyes of Walcott, who simply chuckled upon hearing of his growing popularity.
"You should have stayed indoors, woman! Your son is right in that aspect, you wont last a second out here when I bring out my big guns!"
All eyes turned back on Walcott as he brought out two blood-soaked poke balls with an "M" etched on the top center of each ball. Ash and Gary went wide-eyed as those were the most precious poke balls around- Master Balls. They could catch any Pokemon without fail and were only given to those who became Champion of a region or if they were selected in a yearly drawing done only in the Hoenn region.
To have two Master Balls meant they were more than likely stolen from former League Champions, a thought that made Ash's blood boil. Ash had armed his right to own a Master Ball when he became Champion of the Kanto Region so to see two of the precious gifts in the hands of a man like Walcott was an unforgivable crime.
Ash reached for the pokeball hanging from his necklace when a bladed arm was held out in front of him, the half-breed blocking any advances the raven haired trainer might make merely shook his head bitterly.
"As much as you may want to bring a swift end to this man I have unsettled business with this devil...as does my beloved..."
Ash was about to protest being left out of the confrontation when a pair of soft hands were placed over his shoulders. The young trainer looked back to find Jessica nodding firmly, as if to accentuate what Michael had just said to him.
"Save your ace for the hostile entities approaching from the north..."
Michael looked back over his left shoulder and for the first time one could see the fight burning inside of the half-breed. There were no signs of conflict within those overpowering emerald green eyes anymore, only resolve and tenacity.
"Daddy?"
Michael turned stoic as his eyes found the source of the new voice, emerald meeting amber.
"I need you to listen very carefully to me, ok, sweetheart?"
Amber gave a gentle nod while alternating watching her mother and father stand before her and the others as a shield, keeping the criminal known as Sir Preston Walcott from getting near anyone else.
"Are mommy and daddy going to teach that bad man a lesson?"
Both Michael and Jessica chuckled at the innocence of their daughter, who was still a Ralts when they left her under Mrs. Ketchums care while the whole Hell Pokemon mess was cleaned up. She had evolved into a remarkable Kirlia with the same shade of amber for eyes as her mother while keeping the normal coloration of a Kirlia with her lime green hair and crimson helmet spikes.
"I need you to stay with Mrs. Ketchum while we teach the bad man some manners, ok Amber? No matter what happens I don't want you getting involved in this..."
Amber looked at Michael and gave another gentle nod as Delia massaged the young Kirlias' helmet spikes.
"I'll do everything I can to keep your daughter safe, Michael, Jessica! Just put that evil man in his place!"
Michael and Jessica both gave Delia a firm nod before putting their focus back on the task at hand. The time had come for Walcott to pay for his crimes and both knew they would need every ounce of focus and willpower to see this through to the end.
"Are you two done with your little family reunion? If you are I believe the time has come for you to repay me for two failed legendary experiments..."
Walcott clutched one of his two Master Balls and threw it in the air. The ball opened and created a dark beam of blood red energy that made its way towards the ground. When the beam made contact with the hard Kanto soil it caused the energy to splatter in every direction, the sight was enough to make a few brave bystanders' stomachs turn.
The blood that had escaped the ball began coalescing into a giant puddle, a more defined shape rising from the viscous pool as more and more of the scarlet fluid gathered. After nearly a minute of disgusting glopping noises from the spilled blood the disfigured amalgamation took the shape of a Pokemon.
The Pokemon was not something anyone had expected.
"Behold, the instrument of your demise! Subject H.P.S02!"
Walcott let loose a boisterous laugh before throwing his second Master Ball. Like the previous one it erupted in a spray of blood that congealed to form the same Pokemon from the previous ball.
"Joining it will be Subject H.P.S03!"
All eyes were fixated on the pair of blood red Pokemon who, for lack of a better term, had no shape or muscle mass to speak of. Normally this Pokemon was nothing special other than having a unique ability absent from all other Pokemon.
The two creatures were a hideous, blood red-tinted version of the Pokemon known as Ditto.
Michael and Jessica both watched as the two corrupted pokemon fixed their gazes on them and began altering their shape to match that of their opponents. Their forms twisted and writhed as tissue and muscle mass were accumulated, followed shortly thereafter by skin but, surprisingly, no bones.
While the sickeningly grotesque display was hard to watch it was the anguished cries of both Pokemon that hit many nerves in those gathered around the scene unfolding. When a Ditto transformed into another Pokemon it was never a painful experience, at least according to numerous studies on the Pokemon itself. The fact that the two creatures were shrieking in pain meant that Walcott had, again, managed to take another facet of Pokemon and make it pure hell for them.
The twin Ditto, in a matter of seconds, had created the perfect copies of Michael and Jessica...
...In their corrupted, Hell-Evolved states.
Jessicas' counterpart was not unlike what Michael had witnessed and fought against after she was captured by Walcott. Its eyes were nonexistent and long locks of blood red hair hung down to just above the corrupted copy's chest spike. Claws shaped like what you would find on a vicious Zangoose were dripping with blood and the Pokemons' outer garb was a matching crimson red with tears throught the fabric.
Flames were coming from beneath the clones outer garbs and a brief gust of wind revealed the horrifying reality of the situation.
Instead of having skin and bones the counterpart of Jessica had an entire lower body made of flames. Although the clone was not in any recognizable pain it was clear that Walcott took his first failure with the real Jessica bitterly. The man in question smirked as a few bystanders ran from the impending conflict, taking their fear as a victory on his end.
"Humans who flee from the work of humans are the same as Pokemon! They are expendable and not fit to live!"
As if on queue a series of gunshots could be heard coming from the path the fleeing citizens of Viridian City had taken. Short-lived screams were amidst the chaos the gunfire created and it didn't take a genius to understand what had just happened.
"Those people...they had nothing to do with this twisted plan of yours, Walcott! How can you call yourself a scientist when you are nothing more than a cold-blooded murderer!?"
Goodshow, who had been silent for most of the recent events that took place after the meeting with Gary and the Shadows, finally spoke his peace. The League Commissioner pulled out his Pokenav and pushed a few buttons before speaking directly into the receiver.
"Contact the Unova and Kalos regions! Bring ALL available law enforcement to Viridian City! This is a Code "L" Alert from the Commissioner of the Kanto Pokemon League! We have a madman killing innocent people and using experimentally-altered Pokemon on us! Viridian Forest has already been scorched and more hostiles are inbound!"
As Goodshow continued barking out orders into his Pokenav, Michael was observing the two hideous copies of himself and his beloved. The lack of eyes on the corrupted version of his beloved still caused a shiver to course through the half-breed, even though the real thing was standing right next to him. It seemed the memories of that horrible night still lingered as though still fresh.
For Jessica, however, seeing her beloved being copied and twisted to the degree that it was unnerved her even more. She had not seen Michael in such a state before and, as such, was unprepared for what she was seeing infront of her. She was transfixed on the hideous image of Michael in a corrupted state, taking in the altered features of what made Michael who he was, from the way those unique emerald green eyes shone, their luster practically double that of her beloved, to the more agile-like body the clone possessed. The second major alteration was also, perhaps, the most sickening.
Instead of having a double-edged blade, extending from just below the elbow to the bottom of the wrist, the S03 was equipped with a quad-bladed deviation. One could say the arm was the blade itself, with no defineable muscle structure or tissue to be found along the sinister weaponry. Two more blades split off at each end, as well as from the center of each arm pointing east and west. The design was to ensure that, no matter where the arm went, flesh would be rended.
Even if it belonged to the wielder.
Such callous disregard for a Pokemons safety should have been expected from a man like Walcott but, seeing as how the...thing...in front of her was a twisted copy of her beloved, the thought hit much closer to home for Jessica. She relayed her thoughts to Michael who, in a surprising twist, assured her that everything would be alright as long as they fought knowing their opponent was just a twisted carbon copy of themselves.
"I know what you're thinking, half-breed, that these two are only copies of yourselves! You will learn soon enough that these are no mere Pokemon! I cannot wait to see the look on your face when you see all they can do!"
Walcotts boast and threat were ignored by both Michael and Jessica, emerald and amber focusing on the twisted versions of themselves instead. Michael couldn't believe the gall of Walcott to use his beloveds' image in this way not once but twice now.
Knowing that his mate was standing by his side this time around, however, made the mental anguish practically non-existent. This was not missed by Jessica who, by now, was sharing her mind with Michael.
'My beloved...what is your plan for dealing with the other me?'
'As much as I would like this encounter to be the same as the last I cannot fathom Walcott leaving that twisted version of you unchanged...the fact that it doesn't have any bones worries me immensely.'
'What do you mean, Michael?'
'I mean that, without any bones to speak of, I doubt I can effectively cripple either of them. There will probably be only one central nervous system connecting its muscles together so if we can find it I think we can incapacitate them long enough to take down Walcott ourselves.'
This revelation caused Jessica to tilt her head to the side, an action that was not missed by Walcott. Ever true to his personality, Walcott faked a gag reflex and spit on the ground in front of his two Hell Pokemon.
"I suggest you put an end to the sappy family bullshit you have going on right now, I have to be in Saffron City in exactly two hours and I would rather arrive without the smell of tardiness on my clothes!"
Everyone looked incredulously at the P.A.I.R. leader and it was at that point that Michael had heard enough from the man.
A Quick Attack was launched in Walcott's direction but Jessicas twisted clone blocked Michaels advance with a Barrier. The strength of the defensive ability was far greater than it should have been but Michael didn't take long to create a new opportunity. After lightly bouncing off of the barrier the half-breed planted his right foot and extended his right arm blade out in front of his body. Michael quickly channeled large amounts of psychic energy into his blade and, after accumulating sufficient power, made a slashing motion with his arm. The barrier began to crack but Walcott acted almost instantly.
"Light Screen!"
Michaels' Psycho Cut attack may have pierced through a physical barrier with ease but against a force designed to stop non-physical assaults, something the half-breed was not accustomed to using, the attack went dead the moment it came in contact with the newly-erected shield. Walcott merely smirked as piercing icy blue eyes stared with unwavering confidence at the off-color Gallade.
"Where is your strength now, half-breed? You may have bested your mate in a similar situation but she is NOTHING compared to what you face now! Your attacks won't even graze a single strand of my hair with S02 standing guard!"
"Sounds to me like you're too much of a coward to take me on yourself so you hide behind walls and barriers to try and wear me down, is that about right, Walcott?"
"You call it cowardice, I think of it as creative problem solving! Your offensive power is admirable but your stamina is going to be your undoing! Not to mention..."
Walcott trailed his words and stopped to look at the other Hell clone fighting Jessica, the twisted copy of Michael showing no restraint as it flailed its arm blades at its opponent. The P.A.I.R leader took the opportunity to mock Michael with more words as his mate barely dodged a horizontal slash that would have surely decapitated her.
"...S03 is the perfect siege weapon! I made sure to fit it with only the most lethal blades so any Pokemon who dares stand in its way will be chopped into messy flanks. Not only will it sever bone and steel but it also delivers its attacks with unwavering accuracy! Your precious mate is learning that as we speak, half-breed, so watch as the object of her desire and affection slices her up!"
Michael planted his right foot and did a complete one-eighty to help Jessica but S02 blocked his path with another Barrier. Before Michael could move around the wall he was sandwiched from both sides by more barriers until he was completely surrounded by the seemingly impenetrable shields. The half-breed tried slicing his way through but every time he destroyed a wall another came to take its place.
"JESSI! JESSI, HANG ON!"
'Latias!'
'What is it, Ash?'
The raven haired teen tilted his Pokemon League cap to the left and twirled the Master Ball attached to his necklace with his fingers, expanding his aura to see what was coming from the north.
What the Kanto Champion saw unnerved him; at least thirty armed agents of Walcott were coming their way, dressed in body armor and carrying enough firepower to make a takeover of at least a quarter of Kanto.
'Protect my mom, Blade and Amber with your life, you got that?'
'Understood, Ash! Please...be careful...'
Ash turned to the rest of the gathered crowd while Michael and Jessica dealt with Walcott himself.
"Everyone, listen up! There is a small army of Walcotts' flunkies headed this way armed to the teeth with both weaponry and Pokemon! I will have Mewtwo take out the front line while everyone else deal with the stragglers! We cannot allow anymore innocents to perish at this madmans hands again!"
Gary took a pokeball off of his belt buckle and enlarged it, a stoic face full of contemplation followed as the leader of BoE bit his bottom lip.
"Hey, Ash?"
"Yeah, Gary?"
The brown-haired teen lowered his gaze to the dirt and blood-caked soil and let a deep breath leave his lungs.
"I can't bring Blastoise back out as he is still recovering from Moltres' Dark Flame. I need to be able to count on you to handle the brunt of the work since my legendary was..."
Gary visibly shuddered and he balled his free hand into a fist before Misty placed a gentle hand on his left shoulder.
"Nobody blames you for what happened to Darkrai, Gary. We have your back always, remember that."
The gathered Shadows all converged to form a partial blockade in front of their leader with Omega Shadow Sabrina and Alpha Shadow Ruby taking the forefront.
"I hope the Master isn't going soft on us now! I would hate to take the head seat of our organization..." Ruby chided with a playful giggle at the end.
"You think too highly of yourself, Ruby...Master Oak is the only one who has managed to defeat me in combat...he is far from the 'soft' leader you are insinuating him to be..."
"Oh, piss off you purple-haired mind reader! I could totally dominate you in combat and you know it! The only reason why I haven't is because my mental skills are still developing!"
Ash and Gary both shook their heads at the bucking between the two head Shadows but the moment of comedy was interrupted by another gunshot. Seconds later a piece of Rubys' left ear was grazed by a snipers bullet, sending the Alpha Shadow down on one knee and clutching her bleeding ear in agony.
"FUCKING HELL! SHUT YOUR MOUTHS AND DISPERSE, SHADOWS!"
Garys' order was immediately received and all of the gathered Shadows, with the exception of Ruby, took cover under their invisibility cloaks. The element of surprise was theirs for the taking and they would use this to their full advantage.
Within seconds the squad of twelve Shadows had surrounded the encroaching mass and were awaiting Garys' next orders when one of the front Agents whirled around and threw a shrunken at the tree to their west. A high-pitched cry echoed across the desolated city before a hail of gunfire bombarded where the shrunken made contact.
A distorted image began emerging from where the gunfire had been centered on and it was clear that one of the Shadows had been caught and, subsequently, pumped full of holes.
Shadow Dawn had been caught even in her cloaked state and was now motionless, seemingly glued to the remnants of one of the many charred trees that once made up Viridian Forest.
"Bitch got what she deserved! Such is the fate of all who cross our pa-"
The one who threw the shrunken never got to finish his sentence as his throat was unceremoniously slit, causing blood to pour out in gruesome quantities. The Agents body convulsed wildly on the hard Kanto soil like he were a Magikarp out of water.
Seconds after the first Agent fell another met the same fate, followed by two more. The confused Agents lowered their infrared goggles to spot the unseen threat but a brilliant light blinded those who had already activated the advanced technology.
Those who were blinded met their end at the hands of a small creature with a purple body and gems for eyes. It's claws were razor-sharp and more than capable of rending flesh when needed.
"Great work, Sableeye!"
The Darkness Pokemon grinned malevolently at its master as its gemmed white eyes trailed specks of lingering light, showing it to be the source of the bright Flash.
Two more agents took daggers to the back of the neck while another was quickly dispatched by having his neck twisted until it snapped.
All of this took place in the span of about thirty seconds.
"That voice...WE JUST KILLED THAT BITCH!"
The Agent who shouted this out was then beheaded by a pair of vicious arcing slices by Gary, his swords dripping blood from the flesh they had pierred and cut off from the source.
"My Shadows wouldn't be caught dead by a simple infrared scan, you bastard! Your Agents are little league compared to my Shadows!"
The leader of BoE turned to the tree Dawn had been supposedly shot full of bullets in front of and snapped his fingers. Seconds later what had been Dawn disintegrated into harmless ash and cinders while the real Dawn had her left hand on her hip with a dagger heavily caked with Agents' blood in her other hand.
"Master Oak, I must apologize for not keeping my disguise up longer, I felt like having a little fun..."
Gary turned to Dawn and exhaled slightly with an annoyed expression on his face.
"Well, the next time you decide to scream make it a little more convincing...Only the flunkies on their end actually bought it..."
A certain raven-haired teenager was drowning out the conversations taking place. In his right hand was a purple and white ball with a scarlet "M" engraved on the top cener er of the ball.
'I understand you not wanting to involve yourself in human affairs friend...but...'
Ash had just enlarged the Masterball and tossed it in the air with extreme prejudice.
'...Mewtwo, I want these people to know the pain of life leaving their bodies...I don't care how you go about it, just...'
The Master Ball popped open with its trademark noise as though it were normal pokeball. The contents that left the purple prize was far from ordinary, however. A piercing red laser traveled it's way to the ground before exploding in size and taking shape.
Before the Agents and Shadows appeared a bi-pedal Pokemon with oblong-shaped feet and a massive purple tail thrashing back and forth wildly. A pair of hands with three ball-shaped fingers clenched and unclenched with irritation while captivating violet eyes scanned the battlefield with mock trepidation.
The face of the legendary Clone Pokemon, the very one created from a DNA splice of Mew, contorted eith anger at the amount of guns he saw in front of him. Memories of his time spent in captivity came rushing back for but an instant Before fading entirely as they had before.
'This is what you have called me out for?'
'Mewtwo...these men have slaughtered innocents and many Pokemon in pursuit of creating the perfect battle machines. They see all Pokemon as nothing but tools of war and the experiments they have exposed Pokemon to are beyond anything I have ever seen...I do not consider them to be anything but murderers at this point...'
Ashs' response seemed to light a fire inside of the genetically altered Pokemon, it's fingers gathering immense amounts of psychic energy and pooling it just over the legendarys' head.
'Then I shall show no mercy for those who murder for sport...they are the lowest of the low to willfully experiment on Pokemon and use them for nefarious purposes...'
'I give you permission to take their lives if you see fit...'
'Very well...These humans will know what it means to be treated like prey...'
The Clone Pokemon furrowed its eyebrows before gathering even more psychic energy, it's eyes glowing a fierce sky blue as the energy gathered above the legendarys' head then exploded violently in an expanding shockwave.
"You who have foolishly taken innocent lives and sided with a man whose goals go against everything acceptable in our world! For you I will show no quarter! Your lives are forfeit and my Pokemon will show you just how scary they can be when they fight for what it true and just!"
Ash finished his sentence with a feral growl, his very eyes seeming to change shape in the crimson twilight that had settled over Viridian City. A few Agents from the front line flinched at the raven haired teenagers warning while the majority lifted their automatic rifles and pointed the barrels at the Kanto Champion.
"You may be the Champion of Kanto but even that pales in comparison to the power of our leader and his work! See for yourself, Ash of Pallet Town!"
The Agent in front pointed his free hand towards the area behind Ash.
Ash turned his head just as Michael had broken free of his Barrier-prison, created by S02, only to spot Jessica rolling out of the way of an overhead chop from S03 that would have split the Gardevoirs' skull open.
It was clear Michael and Jessica were struggling with their battles but Ash had promised the half-breed that he would stay out of his fight...
...Even if such a promise was like a dagger to the teenagers side.
"NOW! FIRE AT WILL, AGENTS!"
The momentary distraction allowed the near-twenty Agents time to aim their rifles at Ash and unload their magezines in record time. The surprise attack would have been successful had a certain legendary Pokemon not been around and out of its pokeball.
'I detest those who would dupe to such lows as to try and harm Ash in this manner...'
The chilling voice of Mewtwo was forced inside the heads of the Agents. The gullets that had already left the barrels of their respective rifles were frozen in stasis from the vast amount of psychic energy the legendary Pokemon had placed around himself. The target of the Agents' assault casually moved out of the way of the stationary projectiles, even going so far as picking one out of the air and pocketing it.
"Mewtwo...send them scattering with a Psycho Beam!"
The air around Mewtwo suddenly became very heavy and those in the vicinity of the Clone Pokemon found it hard to breath. Massive amounts of psychic energy gathered infront of Mewtwos' outstretched palms while another energy, it's type unknown to everyone except Ash and Gary, welled up from within the Pokemons core.
Mewtwo was getting taller and more buff to the naked eye, this was merely an illusion to hide what was really going on inside of the legendarys' body. Sparks of purple lightning arced off of Mewtwos' body at chaotic intervals before Ash finished the preparations with one word...
"UNLEASH!"
As the words died off in the horizon a shockwave of epic proportions radiated from around Mewtwo, sending Agents and Shadows to the ground and some flying through the air with the center targets of the devastating attack left with no hope for survival.
A terrifying beam of purple and orange distorted the very air around Viridian City, the initial contact of the beam with the ground creating a mushroom cloud of unstable psychic energy. The most lethal portion of the attack was still to come, however.
"EVERYONE COVER YOUR EARS!"
Ashs' warning was promptly obeyed by those within range of the devastating attack, the Agents that were still alive from missing the beam prepared to fire another round of shots at Ash, and now Mewtwo, when a spark of static energy erupted from one of the Agents ears. The Agent in question fell to the ground face-first, his eyes completely dilated but no outward injury could be seen.
Another Agent fell, followed by another and another until, after only two offensive fronts by both BoE and Ash, the threat of the Agents had been dissolved utterly.
Ash uncovered his ears and gave a thumbs up to the rest that it was safe to unplug their own as well. Gary was the first to give Ash a congratulatory pat on the back while Latias, Blade, Amber and practically everyone else gathered only stared in disbelief at what the Kanto Champion had just done.
"Psycho Beam is an attack that uses two of the most powerful attacks known and combines them...Psycho Blast and Hyper Beam. The initial attack was akin to a particle-disintegration ray while the secondary effect created a shockwave that attacks the targets mind."
Blank stares were aimed at the Kanto Champion, causing Ash to exhale loudly.
"In short I fried their brains."
A few nods followed, as did a particularly venomous outburst from one incredibly pissed off redhead.
"YOU FUCKING IDIOT! WHAT IF THAT ATTACK ENDED UP HURTING INNOCENT BYSTANDERS OR EVEN US!? YOU'RE JUST AS RECKLESS AS YOU WERE SIX YEARS AGO, ASH KETCHUM!"
Misty furrowed her brows in anger before delivering a sucker punch to Ashs' jaw, causing Latias to abandon Blade and Amber to protect her mate from further assault.
"Misty! Don't you EVER lay a finger on Ash again!"
"Latias...it's fine, really it is. The attack wouldn't have hurt anyone Mewtwo didn't see as an enemy to himself or to me so we would have been safe regardless. I merely didn't want to take any chances."
"Well next time a little more warning would be appreciated, Ash."
Ash turned to face Shadow May who had some blood on her left cheek. Ash motioned for her to inspect the area to which Shadow Dawn reached into her pack and grabbed a mirror for May to fix the smudge of crimson.
"Ash...what do we do now? I hope you don't actually intend on letting those two fight on their own against Walcott!"
Professor Oaks' question was left unanswered as Ash recalled Mewtwo and attached the Masterball back onto his necklace.
Michael bit his lower lip hard as he smashed through another Barrier erected by the S02, a Ditto forced through Hell Evoluton into mimicking the appearance of his beloved in her Hell-corrupted state. As the half-breed was about to land a Mega Punch to the S02s' chest spike it pushed him back with a Psychic pulse.
'Jessi! Have you figured anything out as far as weaknesses go for the fake me?'
Michaels' telepathy went unanswered as his beloved was frantically dodging wave after wave of slashes and thrusts executed by the S03, a Ditto mimicking Michael in a Hell-corrupted state. Even though Jessica could read where the attacks would come from in advance she was still walking on egg shells in timing her evasive maneuvers.
One slash nearly sliced through Jessicas' chest spike but a desperate pulse of Psychic energy repelled the S03 back far enough for her to erect her own Barrier to try and buy time.
"My beloved- *groan* -I...I can't- *SHEEN~*-keep going like this! He- *Schpluck!* -GUUHH!"
Jessica reeled back as her left arm was nearly sliced in half from the S03s' sinister arm blades. At least half of it was now dangling precariously from where it should have been as blood was pouring out at a copious rate from the open wound.
"Hang on, Jessi!"
Michael kicked the S02 back and used a burst of Agility to reach his beloveds' side and use Recover to mend her body. As the half-breed was healing Jessica the S03 came charging back and it took impeccable reflexes on Michaels' part to avoid losing his head.
"Damn it all! I can't even get close to this thing without being overpowered by its blades! I need time to heal Jessi..."
"Good luck, half-breed! Unlike you my S03 will not tire itself out through repetitive trauma or exposure to the elements! It certainly will not hold back on account of emotions or anything silly like that! The only way you will get any kind of reprieve is when you and your mate are six feet underground!"
Michael stood in front of his beloved and acted as a blade-shield, crossing his own arm blades to try and block any impact she might feel. Unfortunately Walcott, ever true to his boasting, had the S03 equipped with some off the sharpest blades Michael had ever seen. The blades were so cutting edge that each time the half-breeds blades made contact with his counterpart he felt his entire body shake painfully.
Jessica on the other hand was still reeling from nearly losing her left arm to those same deadly blades, using Recover on herself to try and get back into the fight while the S02 just continued to watch and stand guard over Walcott.
"What's wrong, half-breed? Are you too proud to have your friends help you out? You will never be able to stop my work and you must surely know this! You are nothing but a fake Pokemon, a fake human and a fake in general!"
Michael gashed his teeth together before pulling back his left arm blade and charging it with ice while the other continued to try and hold off the S03. Once enough power had been accumulated Michael unleashed the most devastating Ice Punch he could muster, letting loose a guttural roar of fury as Ice-Type Magic met flesh.
The results were instantaneous.
A column of ice began to engulf the S03 until it had done so, the vicious arm blades it boasted looking even more sinister in suspended animation. Michael and Jessica were about to try formulating a plan when the S02, seeing its compatriot unable to act, suddenly pulled back its right hand and unleashed a scorching hot Fire Punch directly on the block of ice.
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE SHITTING ME!"
Michaels' cry of frustration was nearly cut off as the S03 barreled overtop of the half-breed, digging both arm blades into the Gallades' shoulders and causing blood to gush from the now exposed wounds.
"GUUUH! GET...THE FUCK...OFF OF ME!"
"DAD! MOM! I'M COMING!"
Blades frantic cry drew the attention of Walcott, as well as everyone else around the battle-torn landscape.
Ash managed to grab Blade by his left arm but, due to the Gallades' blades already extending, felt pain rocket through his body as the razor-sharp weapon sliced the raven haired teens hand open. The pain was excruciating but Ash ignored it and tried to talk some sense into the young Gallade in front of him.
"N-NO! Y-You...You need to s-stay...stay back! Your...your f-father can do this! You have to trust him!"
Blade began grinding his teeth as he watched his father heroicly protect his mother from the S03, even as sinister steel made contact with the half-breeds' body over and over again.
"No, Ash! My parents need me! I can do this! I've saved mom from Houndoom and Mightyena before so I can save them from a couple of fakes!"
Despite being bombarded with lethal slashes and cuts Michael still maintained his focus with his son watching, not wanting to show any form of fear with his protege nearby. While an additional body might have helped in the short term there was simply no way for Blade to be of assistance to the fight as inexperienced as he was in melee combat.
"These are -CLANG- not just copies -SHEENGH- son! Listen to -CLANG- Ash!"
Michaels' words may not have been what Blade wanted to hear but she was absolutely right in the sense that the young Gallade had struggled against Pokemon he was supposed to be strong against. There was little chance of the outcome being any different against two foes who had both Michael and Jessica struggling to find a weakness they could capitalize on.
Michael was struggling to make ground and, at the rate things were going already, he would be fighting not just the S02 but his own twisted copy as well. As strong as the half-breed was there could be no doubt he would be easily overpowered by Walcotts' Hell clones.
"I'm sorry, Ash...This is not something I can explain to you through words alone! I do trust my mother and father but, right now, they need me!"
Blade jumped in front of S03 with an unwavering look of determination in his young scarlet eyes, unafraid of the twisted copy of his own father now staring at the Gallade infront of it like it were a piece of piece to be cut up.
"NO! YOU CANNOT DO THIS BLADE!"
The S03 formed the most disturbing grin on its face before lunging at Blade with its left arm blade arcing back and the other going the opposite direction. Suddenly both blades moved towards each other in a pincer attack, trying to behead the inexperienced boy where he stood.
"BLADE! GET DOWN!"
Jessica's warning came a second too late as both blades made a clean sweep through the Gallades' neck, severing his head from his shoulders.
"BLADE!"
Jessica and Michael were suddenly teleported back to where Ash was currentely standing, the young trainer watching with disbelief in his gold-tinted eyes at the sight before him now.
Where Blade had been standing there was now a pile of cinders and a charm of some sort in the middle. Gary looked at the charm and snorted loud enough for everyone to hear.
"I have to admit, Blade, you sure got balls stealing one of those from my Shadows!"
The young Gallade reappeared behind Michael and Jessica from under a cover of invisibility, earning him a shocked gaze from his mother and a look of pure fury from Michael.
"I TOLD YOU TO STAY PUT YOU DUMBASS! WHAT IF YOU HAD REALLY DIED JUST NOW?!"
Michaels' teeth were clenching so hard you could hear the enamel start to give way from the pressure. Blade looked down at the ground and began to sulk, as though he had done nothing wrong in the first place.
"How am I ever going to prove I'm a man if I have to keep relying on you, dad?"
"I do not want you getting involved in this battle! Do you understand me!? I cannot focus like I need to if I have not just my beloved but you as well to watch!"
Michaels emerald green eyes were ablaze with barely intact emotion after finding out it was only through Garys strange trinket that his son still had a head on his shoulders.
"Ash!"
The raven haired teen looked in Michaels' direction and noticed how the half-breed was holding his mates hand with his own.
"It's time to get serious I believe...I'm not sure how my body will react doing it again so soon but we really don't have a choice..."
Ash gave a somber nod and reached into his pocket before a foreign presence invaded his mind.
'I am ready as well, Chosen One.'