Here we are! At last, the finale to the entire Trilogy. Well, part 1 of 3 anyways! Enjoy!
August 27 5:21 p.m.
Just outside of Sinnoh
"Ma'am, there's something broadcasting on the League's emergency channel. Top priority coded."
"You think it's for us?" A woman in her early twenties turned from the oversized window staring out to the approaching landmass. She had honey blonde hair, soft caring blue eyes, and a kind face. She faced a gentleman older than herself, who had spiky blonde hair and a fierce expression. He was standing at the wheel of their ship, navigating the seas carefully.
"Radar is picking up very few life signs on land," a lemon blonde haired man with glasses on the far side of the room spoke up. "Might want to check on that message before we dock."
"Give it a play then Lieutenant," the honey blonde nodded. Surge nodded and twiddled with his controls for a moment. Then the speakers inside the cockpit came to life.
"This is an urgent broadcast for Lance Silver," it was Lorelei's voice. "Lance...if you're listening, if you're still alive. We have Ash and his friends."
The lemon haired man looked up from his radar, and the honey blonde froze in place.
"They are fine, but need your help. We all do. The Temple, if you've retrieved the Darkin, just hurry to the Dominion Temple...Lance...please still be alive. We are out of time."
The message started over, and Surge switched it off. "Not directly for us, but it tells me we need to pick up the pace. Clemont! Radio the fleet and tell them to triple our time."
"Yes sir!" The lemon haired man nodded, and swung his chair around. Picking up a large pair of headphones and a mic.
"Serena," Surge continued. "Check on our troops. Make sure they are battle ready and prepared to move out as soon as we're docked"
"Aye aye," the honey blonde saluted him and quickly stepped out of the cockpit. Sea air bristled her hair across her face as she closed the door behind her, stepping outside onto the bow of the ship. The salt in the air stung at her nostrils, but had a refreshing quality to it, like it was carrying the best news she could of heard.
Ash was alive.
Months of helping Iris prepare this army for him, and to not even know if the man they were all about to follow into battle was even alive had been strain full. Though now she could deliver the news to all of them that he was still fighting, and now he needed their help!
She sucked in a large breath of sea air and marched towards the back of the boat, entering a door halfway there and headed down into the bowels of the ship. Down here she could feel every bounce and toss from the waves outside. Not to mention the creaking of metal. That sound had terrified her at first, like this old battleship was about to fall apart, but it never did. Somehow it seemed to hold together.
Quickly she moved down the narrow corridor, minding her head from the low hanging pipes on the ceiling. The air around her was cold, and for probably the first time she was glad she was in the League's body armor. The draft would've been miserable in her skirt.
Finally the sounds of people talking came to her ears, and she pushed open a heavy door to reveal a large room filled with armed League troops, Pokemon, guns, boxes of explosives and various types of trucks.
She stood on a catwalk high up at the end of the room, looking down over the preparing troops. Clearing her throat to shout for their attention, she yelled, "Listen up!"
Her voice echoed as the bustling and small talk ceased, causing her to turn a shade of pink. She was never going to get used to this. "We've received some good news! Ash Ketchum is alive."
Quite a few people broke out into cheers. Not all of them did she know their names, but knew they were friends of his.
"We're fast approaching Sinnoh," she continued. "And we'll be leaving as swiftly as we dock, so be ready! Ash and the League need our help immediately!"
There was another cheer, and then the hustle and bustle picked back up. Trucks were loaded and packed with ammunition, turrets were mounted to their roofs, and a few people played rock, paper, scissors to see who got to operate them.
Serena watched the preparations for a minute, then decided she should return to the cockpit. Turning to the door she had entered from, she nearly ran straight into a man standing there. She dug her heels into the metal and stopped an inch from his chest.
"Hey!"
"Sorry," he quickly apologized. "I didn't think you'd turn so fast."
Serena took a step back to see the man better. He had dark hair, sharp facial features, glasses, and an untrimmed goatee.
"Shouldn't you be down there getting ready?" She said sharply, her agitation evident.
"I was about to," the man told her. "But I heard you say Ash is alive. Do you know who else?"
"Who else?"
"Anyone he was with? Was a woman named May mentioned at all?"
"Oh, no I only heard Ash's name" she admitted. "Why?"
"She's my sister," he told her. "I haven't heard from her since this all started."
"Oh," she put her hands together as a sad frown formed on her face. "I didn't even know May had a little brother. I'm sorry."
Max shook his head in an attempt to rid his distress, "She's fine. She better be anyway, I have to kick her butt now for not ever mentioning me. Well, thanks anyways."
He moved past her, heading for the walkway down. She watched him go for a moment, then turned to go back up deck with the new thoughts of how many more people on this boat had missing loved ones. Guess none of them could let that affect them, they had a job to do, and they needed to reach their destination quickly!
August 27 6:02 p.m.
Sinnoh - Dominion Temple
How long had it been? Five minutes? Fifteen minutes? Forty-seven minutes? Time was pacing along like a snail, but it was all a blur. So much chaos in however long it had been rendered Ash's time telling ability useless. He was unable to recall exactly how he got to this point, but he could remember how it started. The Dominion's attacked, the combined League and Rocket forces attacked, and the Legendary Pokemon attacked. Hell had officially broken loose.
Within the first few minutes many were dead, but thanks to the aide of the Legendaries, the surviving troops were putting up a decent fight. The majority of the Dominion force was airborn, desperately trying to take the flying Legendaries and regular Pokemon out of the sky. While the smaller portion flew much lower, swiping at person and Pokemon alike, skewering some with their third arm or blasting a poor soul with lightning.
The dark creatures suffered casualties. Rifle bullets squished through skulls, and the League's Pokemon had been trained exceptionally well. Taking out Dominion after Dominion with various moves of all types. Some even combined.
The dead littered the mountain side, pools and streaks of blood. Yellow and red's sapping into the soaked muddy earth, and splattered across body armor like a child painting a wall. Ash had long since lost track of his friends, save for Gary and Dawn, and he hadn't yet dared to release any of his Pokemon.
As he stood in place for a moment, feeling the pelting of the larg raindrops against his skin, hearing the sounds of battle and death, watching as thousands of colors flashed from attacks and gunshots, he was aware of himself for the first time. Truly aware, not that sense you think you get when you have a near death experience, or a loved one perishes. Not that sense when you accomplish a goal, or get recognized for a valiant effort.
You see, it's a terrifying revelation when you think you have it all figured out. When you think life has made itself clear, or your purpose has become known, but then you realize in a moment it's all changed. That it can change again and again on a dime, and not care for your goals, or your worries. Everything is different, and will forever be different, and what might of been the very reason you pushed on has been erased. Replaced by something else. A different sense of purpose.
Life, and time for that matter, will forever have its own agenda.
He stood in the downpour, sinking slowly in the mud as thunder clapped overhead, watching the carnage around him, his sense of purpose and duty reorganizing itself in his mind. Death and destruction was a permanent part of his life now, and if he was going to win, he had to accept that fact.
"ASH!" Gary bellowed behind him, and reacting on our instinct, Ash dove forward into the mud. Something sharp swooshed by, nicking the back of his neck and leaving a light stinging.
"PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS AND GET BACK IN THE GAME!" Gary roared, running up to his now muddy friend and yanking him to his feet. He had a splotch of yellow blood in his hair, running down into his face from the rain. "YOU JUST ABOUT GOT DECAPITATED!"
"Sorry," Ash quickly shot back. "Got distracted."
"Quit daydreaming about Misty and fight dammit," the spiky haired man scolded. Although he actually hadn't been daydreaming about the red head this time, Ash nodded in agreement.
Dawn slid to a stop next to them in the mud, Mew keeping close behind her. "Things aren't looking so good Ash!"
"Doesn't matter," he replied as blue and yellow lightning cracked across the sky. "Keep fighting!"
"Says the one who was in lala land," Gary snorted, raising the Fire Treasure and emitting a stream of flames towards an incoming Dominion. It screeched and swerved to avoid the scorching heat. Four more swooped in, murder glinting in their yellow eyes as they headed straight for the trio. Ash felt the surge of electricity tickle his fingertips as the blast blew out of the yellow orb in his hand. It streaked through the friendly forces and connected between two of the incoming creatures. They howled in pain, but the other two ignored them and continued their advance. Dawn twirled the Ice Treasure as she created her blizzard attack, giving it a spiral spin to entrap the Dominion's. They however, had other ideas. They fell into the rapidly swirling ice, following its current and propelling themselves forward. Gary stepped up, using both hands to hold his orb and create a bigger jet of fire. Not having any other choice, the dark creatures broke out of the ice spiral and disappeared back amongst the chaos.
Mew squeaked happily, but was cut off by a monstrous wave of thunder roaring down from the sky. It quaked the mountain viciously, knocking a few people to their knees. One Rocket soldier tried to regain his footing and screamed in high pitched terror as a Dominion plucked him from the mud and disappeared into the air with him.
The gunfire was deafening as troops raced around in circles, avoiding lightning attacks and rapidly firing back. Groudon's threatening roar boomed as loud as the thunder, the behemoth swatting at the evil things flying around him. Ice and lightning blew over the battlefield from Zapdos and Articuno. Celebi smacked itself into a Dominion's face to gain the creatures attention and lead it around and around, disappearing into a time warp when it would get too close.
Ash, Gary, and Dawn wound up back to back, with Mew being sheltered in their center. The three worked in unison, shooting down any Dominion coming too close, and calling out others trying to swerve around. Once Gary called for them to duck, and used the slick mud to his advantage, turning swiftly on the spot he blew flames in a ring of fire around them. Gaining only a moments rest for the trio. Ash mixed his lightning with Dawn's ice, creating tiny crystals that would detonate upon impact. Leaving behind numerous stinging bruises.
They barely kept their footing as Zekrom flew over them by no more than a foot. Lance's cape swatting against Mew and enciting an agitated squeak from the pink Pokemon. Zekrom stopped and turned straight up so fast a minor sound wave boomed across the battle. The group of Dominion's chasing it were momentarily stunned, but quickly resumed their chase. As the Legendary rose higher, lightning began to strike it from the clouds. Chaining together and covering the Pokemon in a bright blue hue. Turning at a one eighty degree angle, it flapped its wings and launched the built of electricity at its pursuers. They screeched in panic, but were unable to dodge in time. Taking the full power head on, exploding them into four bursts of yellow blood.
The blood mixed with the rain and showered over Cameron and May below. Ash may have lost track of his friends, but none of them had lost track of him. Granted they could see the fire, ice, and lightning from their Treasures.
"Seriously going to need a shower after this," Cameron complained as the yellow drops splattered against his head. "Downpour or no."
"You did anyway, so it's all good," May teased him and received an appalled face from the green eyed man. She smirked and turned her attention back to her Glaceon. "Ice Beam!"
The Ice Eevee evolution did as told and stopped a Dominion cold in its tracks from attacking Cameron's Charizard.
"Nice," he cheered. "Charizard return the favor!"
It roared and Body Slammed a Dominion away from Glaceon, pushing it to the mud and then proceeding to cover it with a Fire Blast.
"Oh yea! We-" May started, but Cameron shouted and tackled her to the mud. Something swooshed by and she heard a jagged rip, followed by a grunt of pain. Her arms had wrapped around his back as they fell, and now something warm was seeping onto her fingers. Opening her eyes despite the mud threatening to enter, her face paled as she saw his shirt hanging loosely off his chest.
A large gash ran down his back, blood oozing heavily from the wound. He winced as the rain drops pelted against it, but forced himself back to his feet. She went with him, maneuvering around his side to see better.
"I'm fine," he told her, even though his voice was shaky. She opened her mouth to argue, but was cut off by Glaceon's Ice Beam inches from her face. It stopped a Dominion from slicing her head off, and she jumped as the new ice sculpture landed at their feet. Guess now was not the time to be worried about a severe cut...
"Charizard!" Cameron shouted. "Find the one that got me and take it out!"
His fire type roared in agreement and took off into the air, vanishing amongst the swarms of Dominion's and flying Pokemon. Lugia watched it swerve through two Dominion's and blasted a fiery hot orange beam down upon the creatures before they could pursue. A white flaming wheel of fire spun past the Sea Guardian, exploding into a Dominion trying to skewer itself through Lugia's throat. Ho-oh cawed loudly, then fell in pace with its counterpart, charging another fire wheel. It blew the ring straight down, entrapping a Dominion who had been sneaking up on the Chosen One.
Ash ducked a swipe from a Dominion's third arm, and turned to retaliate, but his foot slipped. He collapsed backwards into the mud, sending his lightning bolt way off course. The creature saw its chance and dove straight down, intent of running the man through with its three arms. Ash tries to grip the sphere tight and stop the thing, but it was no longer in his hand! He must of lost it in the mud!
Two feet from him, the Dominion shrieked in victory, but it turned to agony as the creature crumpled against a sudden pink barrier surrounding Ash. He heard its spine crunch and it went limp, sliding to the mud and lying still. The bubble vanished and Mew appeared in Ash's vision. Blinking twice and then squeaking at him happily. He muttered a thanks and sat up, spotting the yellow orb a foot to his right.
Dawn froze Dominion after Dominion, reacting much faster than she would have ever thought herself possible. It helped that she was forcing herself not to look at the massive amount of dead around her, seeing their blood mix into the wet Earth would surely shatter what resolve she had. The only way out of this was to keep fighting! Keep pushing! HA! Another Dominion down! This was actually a little easy.
Spoken too soon...
Gary yelled in surprise and splashed into the mud beside her, hitting the solid ground beneath the layer of water and knocking the wind out of him. He gasped for air while something laughed behind Dawn, and she reluctantly took her eyes off Gary to face the threat. The green eyed Dominion, moving towards her with glee on its face. It was enjoying all this?! How she hated that damn thing...
With an angry shout she tried to freeze it, using the same trick as earlier and creating a spiraling swirl of ice. Gary regained himself and joined in, tunneling the line of fire down the center of her ice vortex. The Dominion hissed and thrusting all three arms forward, spun them once. Catching the impact of the fiery ice blast and deflecting it all directions. It retaliated with a swift strike of green lightning, but the attack was intercepted by a streak of yellow and exploded.
Ash gripped his sphere tight, glaring daggers at the evil son of a bitch. It gazed through the smoke, sneering wildly at the man. With an inward hiss, it spoke, "Pure heart. Good to see you again."
Ash didn't answer, simply stepping through the slosh to join his two friends. The three of them held their Treasures out as a shield, brandishing their small glows. Mew peered over Ash's shoulder cautiously, narrowing its eyes at the Dominion.
"And there is Light," it sneered. "How are you old friend? Happy to be reunited with your brethren's Souls?"
"Mew!" The Legendary squeaked defiantly, flicking its tail once in agitation. Thunder clapped above, and an explosion went off somewhere amongst the battle.
"You really haven't changed Light, you-"
"NOW!" Ash roared, and the trio combined their element attacks. Fire and Ice collided harshly, threatening to overtake the other, but Lightning held them together. Arcing around the blast wave as it rocketed at the green eyed creature. Still mid sentence, it was unable to avoid the attack and took the brunt of it head on. An explosion of red's, blue's, and yellow's enveloped the Dominion, and it emitted an angry shriek from the center. It burst out of the smoke, flying straight at the pure hearts with rage. Claws spread wide and arms thrust forward to skewer them through simultaneously. Mew's eyes flashed and the trio was tossed into air just in time, feeling the swoosh of the thing below them. They splashed back down into the mud with a soft thump, Dawn landing on Ash.
Gary scrambled to his feet, but the Dominion had already turned around and fired a green lightning strike at Mew, nailing it directly. The Legendary cried out in pain and fell to the mud with a squish.
"PROTECT MEW!" Ash shouted, shoving Dawn off him to her feet so he could follow. Gary was the first to react, sending flames at the Dominion. It swung its arm to slice Mew open, but was sent backwards as the fire smashed into its chest. The next few seconds were a blur to Ash. Using its rage, the Dominion moved so fast his eyes could not keep up, but it had to slow down to attack. That was their advantage! The trio worked in unison, defending each other and Mew from having their blood spilled. Dawn shot Ice to block the Dominion from decapitating Gary. Ash intercepted a green lightning strike with his electric bolt. Gary used his heat to keep the Dominion as far back as possible.
The Dominion let out a shrill whistle, if you could call the atrocious metallic sound that. Three more Dominion's swooped from the sky, each targeting a pure heart to attack. Moving to defend themselves left Mew wide open, and the green eyed leader took its chance. With a victorious shriek it flew straight down at Mew, intent on seeing the Pokemon's insides. Out of the corner of his eye, Ash saw this, and made a choice. He turned his back to the Dominion coming at him and shot the strongest electric bolt he could muster, striking the green eyed son of a bitch in the side and sending it spiraling out of control. It crashed into the muddy Earth hard, sending much of it into the air.
"ASH!" Dawn shouted hysterically, and he quickly turned back to defend himself. In that instance, time slowed. The yellow eyes were much to close, he would never raise his Treasure in time. This was it...
Then something slammed hard into him, and he fell to the mud. There was a rip of flesh, and Dawn screamed once more. Warm liquid coated Ash's back and sent chills up his spine as the cold rain mixed with it. Lightning and thunder cracked across the sky as he looked behind him.
Melody clutched at her throat, pressing hard against the ragged gash across the skin on her neck. Blood seeped and bubbled rapidly between her fingers, flowing down her front and soaking her in the dark substance.
"NO," he shouted as she fell forward, lunging and catching her before she could hit the mud. She fell limp into his arms, all her strength being used to keep pressure on her slit throat. Her eyes were wide with shock, and only a wet gurgle was escaping her lips. A blood bubble formed on the corner of her mouth, and popped as she tried to speak again.
The green eyed Dominion rose from the mud, the stuff washing from its dark skin as the rain seemed to pick up. It turned to see Ash's back facing it, and jolted forward. Crash! It smacked headfirst into a pink barrier, ricocheting off it. Mew shakily floated out of the mud, is tail twitching angrily.
"Nononono, stay with me Melody," Ash spewed rapidly. "Hang in there! We'll get you some help!"
She let one hand fall from her neck, and Ash could see the wound beneath. His stomach turned over at the sight. Her bloodied palm gripped his wrist and she shook her head. Her voice was laced with pain, and gurgled as she spoke, but she forced herself to say, "Don't give up. I've watched you do the impossible once, I know you will again..."
Her eyes glossed over and the retched sounds coming from her throat ceased. The grip she had on his wrist loosened, and her fingers tips slid off his skin. Leaving behind a trail of blood that washed away quickly.
The tears that formed were only detectable in his eyes by the warmth they produced. They strayed down his face, blending in with the pouring rain.
"Ash!" It was Gary. "We need you man!"
Behind the kneeling raven, Dawn and Gary were backed up to Mew. Desperately trying to keep the Dominion's at bay. The green eyed one howled and lunged forward, slicing a gash across Gary's forearm. He shouted from the burning and retaliated with a snarl as he blew flames into the creatures face. Dawn gave her mightiest roar and froze a yellow eyed bastard completely solid.
Ash's eyes examined over the dark blood soaking into the dead Shamouti natives hair. He gently closed her eyes as lightning cracked open the sky. Then just as carefully, he laid her down in the mud, and was running to the others. Raising his Treasure and screaming in rage.
"Coming up on the Temple now sir," Clemont spoke up, his finger scanning along a few lines of code on his laptip monitor.
"Serena, do one last radio call," Surge barked. "Make triple sure our forces are ready!"
"Yes sir!" She exclaimed and twiddled a dial on the jeeps console. As she spoke the fifty or so trucks and jeeps, loaded to the max with armed troops, listened in to every word. Surge turned their jeep up the mountain path, hurtling through the mud at top speed. In the backseat, a petite lemon blonde girl was tossed around from the bumps.
"Think we could cool it a bit Lieutenant?" Bonnie asked, rubbing her head. He simply grunted a no and pressed the gas pedal harder.
"What's that?" Clemont asked aloud to himself, peering over the top of his glasses to his laptop screen.
Serena switched off the radio and peered through the windshield. There it was, up the mountain path, the top of the Dominion Temple looming into view.
"What's what?" Surge barked. "If we've got a threat I need to know-"
"It's not a threat," Clemont told him, scrunching his brow together. "It's our helicopters. They're parked just up ahead. Only halfway up the mountain."
"Did something happen before they could reach the Temple?" Bonnie asked, leaning forward to peak over Serena's seat.
"Guess we'll find out," Surge said. "Serena order the sisters and their squad to check it out. We press on."
"Yes sir," the honey blonde acknowledged, and once again switched on the radio.
"DUCK!" Cilan shouted, swinging his rifle around to face Iris. She did so and he pulled the trigger. Peppering the Dominion trying to sneak up on Iris in the chest with lead.
"Behind you!" She shouted from her kneeled position and raised her own rifle. Putting a few rounds into another Dominion as it tried to thrust its arm through Cilan. The Dominion behind Iris had not gone down, and fought through its wounds. Swinging its sharp claws, it scratched through her armor and left a gash across her back. She screamed and fell on all fours, the barrel of her rifle dipping into the mud.
"Pansage!" Cilan yelled. "Rock Tomb around us!"
His little green monkey cried out to him so he knew it was obeying and launched the attack. Cilan ran to Iris, firing the last few rounds he had into the dark creature, and slid to a stop on his knees as the massive boulders built a barrier around them, blocking out the heavy rain. His hands immediately went to work unclasping her torso piece so he could examine the wound.
Iris could feel the warm blood flowing down her back as the gash burned. "How bad is it?"
Cilan tossed the chest piece aside and pulled back the ripped part of her shirt. The gash was deep, but not deep enough to be severe. He sighed in relief, "It'll just hurt."
She swallowed and nodded once, reaching for her discarded piece of armor. Something exploded outside their rock barrier, vibrating the ground beneath them.
"We gotta get back out there," she said, sliding it back on.
"Your rifle is useless," Cilan pointed out, pulling it from the mud.
"I've still got my Pokemon," she snapped as her wound seared with pain from the weight of her armor.
He nodded, seeing the fire in her eyes, knowing he wasn't about to sway her from fighting. "Alright then, just stay close."
"Planned on that," she smiled. "Don't let me get scratched again."
He nodded, and turned to Pansage, "Alrght buddy, let em have these rocks!"
"Sage!" The grass type flung its arms out, sending the boulders flying all directions. Friendly troops ducked as the boulders swerved around them miraculously and headed only for evil creatures. They shrieked and blew apart the bigger pieces with their lightning, letting the smaller rocks pelt them to save effort.
"Let's go Dragonite!" Iris shouted as she threw her PokeBall.
Ash shouted in pain as the green lightning bolt hit him in the chest. He was tossed into the air violently, his body spinning like a rag doll. His limbs flopping helplessly while he desperately gripped the Lightning Treasure in his fingertips. The mud did nothing to soften his landing as he splashed into it, his head striking the hard ground beneath.
"ASH!" Dawn shouted, running to him, but she was cut off by three Dominion's landing between them. They swiped at her furiously, but she was small and fast. Dodging their attempts and freezing ones arms solid.
Gary covered the green eyed Dominion in flames, turning up the heat intensity as high as he could. Hoping to melt the skin off the creature, but it twirled in place midair. Swirling the flames around it in a fiery tornado. His own brow began to sweat from the heat, but he kept at it. Sending even hotter flames from his Treasure. Mew flew around the vortex of fire, using its psychic to extinguish and jets of flame that tried to shoot into the battle.
Ash groaned and tried to pull himself into a sitting position. His head was spinning and his chest was burning. There was a large burn mark through his shirt, scorching into his chest. He could hazily see his old Skarmory scar under the cracked and burned flesh. The sounds of battle were blurred, spare bits of fuzziness barely audible to his ears. Dawn's voice sounded distant, and the roaring of Gary's flames sounded like static. His eyes wouldn't focus, causing him to see two or three Dawn's attempting to fend off the three-or was it six?-Dominion's.
He gripped his yellow orb tight and tried to send an arc to assist her, but the bolt shot way off course. Shaking his head to try and rid his vertigo, he planted his feet and placed his free palm into the mud. One Dominion broke through Dawn's swiftness and landed a scratch across her chest. She stumbled and lost her defense. The next Dominion swooped around behind her, intent of running her through with its third arm. Ash quickly blasted his lightning at the creature, but it missed by a foot.
The arm swung forward.
BOOM! A massive orange beam exploded into the Dominion, engulfing it in the intense blast and the shockwave sent Dawn catapulting forward. She tumbled through the mud, Lance's cape wrapping around her as she rolled.
Gary ceased his fire to turn towards the sound, and the flaming tornado vanished around the green eyed Dominion, who looked just as curious as the spiky haired researcher.
Ash focused as hard as he could, seeing a massive blue serpentine figure glaring down at them. Maw wide open, and a lone humanoid silhouette standing atop the creatures head.
"HIT IT AGAIN GYARADOS," the figure shouted, and the blue behemoth roared. Ash blinked a few times as another intense orange beam exploded from its mouth, sending the Dominion's scattering. He saw an intense dirty face, dark fierce eyes, and flaming red spiky hair. Lance!
"It's about damn time!" Dawn shouted from the mud as she untangled herself from the Dragon Master's cape. Her tone was clearly telling him he was in trouble, but her expression was saying the exact opposite. The green eyed Dominion howled at Gyarados and shot towards the water type.
"Oh no you don't," Gary shouted, shooting flames into the Dominion's path. It pulled the same trick of twirling into the flames. Creating a spinning tornado of fire that barreled straight for Lance and Gyarados.
"Hydro Pump," the Dragon Elite bellowed, and an explosion of water blew from Gyarados' maw. The fiery Dominion connected with the torrent of water, losing its momentum and being pushed backwards as the flames went out.
Ash clumsily rose to his feet, his muscles shaking as they fought to work properly. He could still feel the electric currents jolting through them. Dawn freed herself from the cloak and raced to him, placing a hand against his back for support. Mew flew up, pressing its tiny paw against Ash's forehead. As its eyes lit up, he felt new strength return to his muscles, pushing aside the terrible aching.
"Thanks," he muttered.
Gyarados lowered its giant head so Lance could jump down. His boots squelched in the mud as he landed, his arms going out to keep his balance as he stumbled. Ash opened his mouth to say something, but two tiny hands pressed off of him for momentum and he stumbled back instead. Lance's dark eyes were surveying the battle, and he nearly missed the smaller body jumping at him. Blue hair slapped his face and suddenly his lips were warm, tingling from something soft. Dawn's arms wrapped around his neck tight, pulling herself as close to him as she could.
Caught completely off guard, Lance's arms shot straight out to avoid touching her, and his eyes flew wide open. He could feel the heat rising to his face, and feel her heartbeat against his chest. Thumping wildly!
Ash corrected his stance, turning to bark at Dawn, but his words froze before they could come out. So Gary spoke instead, "How come no one kissed me like that when I came back?"
Hearing his voice, Dawn snapped from her stupor and pulled away from Lance. Her face blazing pink. Now that her lips were off his they felt cold, and she immediately wanted to place them back. His brain finally registered what just happened, and he grabbed the back of her head with one hand and pulled her back to him. Lightning cracked across the sky as their lips reconnected, and Ash couldn't help but find the scene kind of heartwarming.
Wait what?! Misty had rubbed off on him way too much...
"Look out!" Gary yelled in Ash's ear, pushing him out of the way as the green eyed Dominion took a swipe at his neck. "Hey lovebirds! Quit sucking each other's face while we're supposed to be fighting!"
His words rang in Dawn's ears and she snapped away from Lance, remembering the most important part of his return, "Did you get the Darkin?!"
It took him a second to reply, his brain was a little frazzled, but he nodded, "Right here!"
Swiftly he pulled a small artifact from his pants pocket. Long and thin, diamond shaped, and slightly see through with a black finish. It emitted a soft glow upon being so close to Dawn, and she took a step back as a shudder ran down her spine at seeing it again.
"Tha Darkin!" A metal voice cried sharply from above them. The green eyed Dominion wasn't looking at them, but it was surveying the battle rapidly. "It's here!"
Then its eyes landed on the artifact, narrowing at the sight of Lance holding it aloft. With an angry screech it rocketed their direction, emitting a shockwave of sound from its speed. Reacting fast, Dawn used the Ice Treasure to create a four foot thick wall of ice, which the Dominion slammed into so hard it cracked clean through.
"What the shit!" Lance exclaimed loudly. "You can-"
"I'llexplainlatercomeon!" She said, grabbing his hand and running. The Dominion roared and slammed all three arms against the ice wall, shattering it to pieces. Flames and lightning crashed into its back, peeling away at the dark skin. Its eyes flashed and it turned to retaliate so fast neither Ash nor Gary could react. Their attacks dissipated and both took green bolts of lightning to the torso, sending them hurtling backwards. Mew had dodged under the attack, and its eyes flashed as a pink ball of energy materialized and shot at the creature. It waved its hand and shot a green ball of energy that connected straight on with the pink one. They exploded violently, throwing mud clear across the battlefield. The Dominion moved faster than Mew, and struck the tiny thing with a blast of electricity. Mew squeaked in agony and fell.
As Dawn ran, she heard Lance call out, "Gyarados stop that thing!"
The water dragon opened its jaw wide and charged a HyperBeam. Hearing Lance call the command, the Dominion made another green ball of plasma and fired it at Gyarados. The HyperBeam barely left its mouth as the green ball collided with it, exploding harshly in Gyarados' face.
"No!" The giant dragon fell backwards, smoke rising off its skin. Lance quickly whipped out its PokeBall and returned it as the Dominion tried to slice its throat. Its claw slashed through the air as the red light vanished. Then, with the same speed as before, it shot at Lance. He tried to jump aside, but the creature was too fast. Its third arm snatched the Darkin from his grip, and the other two ripped into his side. Leaving behind two long ragged gashes of gushing blood. He collapsed to the mud, his breath heavy.
"Lance!" Dawn shouted, and dropped to her knees by his side. He clasped at the wounds, attempting to stop the blood flow. Thinking quickly she undid the button around her neck and whipped off his cape. Swiftly she wrapped it around him, not taking the time to be gentle. Pulling tight and causing him to squeak, she tied it off and grabbed his face. "You're going to be fine! You hear me?! Don't you dare let this kill you!"
Ash, for the second time, pulled himself out of the mud and groaned as the electric currents worked against his muscles. Sending spasms across his body. Gary was already fighting to get to his feet, gritting is teeth so hard Ash heard his jaw pop. Maniacal, psychotic laughter rained down. The metal in the voice hurting their ears.
"All that you know shall be returned to Darkness!" The green eyed Dominion leader shouted joyously. "Darkness has returned!"
Then it held the Darkin high above its head and grasped it with all three arms.
Misty stood by the helicopter, her hands drawn to her chest as her eyes flicked to every explosion she saw in the air. She couldn't see the land battle, but the aerial battle was in perfect view. Lugia was swerving and diving from yellow lightning assaults, firing its own attacks in retaliation. Zapdos absorbed what bolts it could, sending the energy cascading back at the Dominion's. Kyogre, being held up by one of the others psychic abilities, shot wave after wave of water. Brock appeared at the helicopters door, his expression grim, "Misty."
"Hm," she hummed, not turning around.
"Nurse Joy wants to take a look at you."
"I'm fine."
"It's for the baby."
"It's fine."
"Misty-"
"What?!" She snapped, turning to face him, tears of rage and worry streaking down her face.
"You can't stand out here in the rain like this," he told her, keeping firm. "It's not good for you or the baby."
"I can't go in there and just pretend I can't hear that," she cried, pointing behind her to the Legendary Pokemon soaring through the sky, dodging through the swarms of Dominion's.
"I'm not asking you too," he replied. "I'm asking you to get out of the rain. Please Misty, I know you want to help, but getting yourself sick won't do anyone any favors."
"It won't matter if I get sick if Ash loses..."
"Misty-"
"Fine!" She threw her arms up. "I'll let Joy take a look."
She took one step forward and stopped. An engine was roaring closer to them at an alarming speed. Brock heard it too, "What's that?"
Misty peered around the helicopter, looking down the path. It was hard to see through the rain, but she made out a convoy of vehicles speeding towards them. The first one soared by, not slowing down in the slightest. Soon the rest were flying by at the same speed, and she barely caught glimpses of armed men and women.
"It's got to be the League's reinforcements," she shouted so Brock could hear her over the roaring engines.
"It's about damn time," he shouted back.
As they continued to speed by, two jeeps peeled off from the main force and came to a stop beside the League's choppers. Misty took a step back as the gas fumes penetrated her nose. The doors flung open and two dozen men and women filed out, their rifles surveying the perimeter. They surrounded the choppers as they made sure the area was clear, and Misty was awed at how precise they were.
"All clear!" A female voice rang out, and it sounded very familiar to the red head.
The one who spoke lowered their rifle and faced Misty, the helmet hiding the persons face. Another one, a man this time, spoke to the woman, "This is the only occupied chopper. Lorelei and the others must be up at the Temple."
She recognized that voice too! But who were they? The female hadn't faced away from Misty, even as she was spoken too. Poking from beneath the her helmet were strands of blonde hair. Then she spoke directly to Misty, "I can't like, believe it."
The woman removed her helmet, and Misty's heart soared. "Daisy!?"
She hurled herself at her older sister, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I can't believe you're alive!"
"Us too," Daisy said, returning the hug. "We were so worried about you!"
"We?" Misty pulled away from her sister, and heard two other females cry out, "Misty!"
Two more bodies crashed into Misty and Daisy. Violet and Lily! They were alive. All of her sisters were alive!
"How did you guys get out of Cerulean?" Misty questioned, happy tears streaming down her face. "You-the Gym-explosion."
Her voice was failing her, but Daisy saved her from trying to complete her question, "It was like, rough. But we made it onto one of the evacuation choppers and like, trained up with the League and everything. We're total badasses now."
"And why do you look pregnant?" Violet quickly asked her youngest sister.
"Because she is, and needs to get in here and let me have a look at her," Nurse Joy appeared at the chopper door, tapping her foot.
"You're pregnant!" The Sensational Sisters blurted out together. Misty flushed and nodded, pulling herself away from them to not further irritate Joy.
"Well nice to know Ash will be a father," the man said, removing his helmet and revealing Max beneath it. Misty's jaw fell further, it seemed Iris did a damn good job of getting everyone Ash knew.
Max opened his mouth again to ask Misty a question that never came. An explosion, loud enough to be a nuke, blasted down from the battle up the mountain. A techno howl following the shockwave. The ground quaked, the choppers shuddered a few feet to the side, and the squad of soldiers swayed in place.
A bright beam of green light shot straight to the clouds. Emitting somewhere from the battlefield. It crashed into the stormy sky above, stopping in place and swirling the clouds around the center point. Slowly a pitch black circle began to grow wider inside a ring of green energy. A portal! Another portal...too similar to the one that had been above Pallet Town.
"Ash!" Misty shouted as the portal grew wider. Faintly, even from their distance to the beam of light, a low menacing growl could be heard vibrating the very air from inside the portal.
Duh duh duh! Just in case anyone is curious, no Arceus did not show up with the other Legendaries. Like I said, this was the first part to a three part finale. So we've got two chapters left to go. It's all so close to being finished I almost can't believe it!
Anyways, I've been asked by a few of you if I am planning on writing any more stories. Yes I am, but I am withholding details on those plans until I'm done with this one. Sorry :p you'll just have to wait until the last chapter!
All of you are wonderful, and I can't believe the amount of support this story is getting. I never imagined it would be liked this much when I started Part 1. Thank you all! From the bottom of my heart, you all are fantastically amazing!
Also, fun fact! The title of the finale means 'Evil Arisen' in Latin.
As always, let me know what you think!