Chapter 25 – Battling at Kent's Temple

May, Serena and Dawn opened their eyes after a strong light has descended from the sky and covered them all seconds ago. While they hoped to open their eyes and see Mountain Silver' cave, what they saw was something completely different from that. They were no longer at Mount Silver. What they saw was an amazing place. They were in a kind of lobby, everything was clear as day, the floor so shiny that reflected images like a mirror. Above there was no ceiling, just the blue sky and in front of them a huge staircase with two dragon statues on each side

"Welcome to the Temple of Dragons" said Ash
"This is amazing" said Dawn
"This place is so beautiful" said May
"I obviously don't know how heaven looks like… but I imagine it's like this place" said Serena
"It sure is beautiful" said Ash
"where does this staircase leads?" asked May
"To the Temples" answered Ash
"Temples?" asked Dawn
"That's right" said Ash "The Temple of Dragons consists of four temples, in honor of the four main Dragon Masters. And each set of stairs has a temple on it, and the last temple is in honor of the most important Dragon Master of all time"
"Kent?" asked Serena
"No" Ash answered "Kent's temple is the first one. The last is from Duvivier"
"Duvivier?" asked Serena
"That's right the only Dragon Master that achieved the impossible… to become only one with his Dragon Pokémon" Ash said
"Only one?" asked May "You mean like a fusion?"
"Kind of" Ash answered "But in spirit, mind and heart"

The girls looked at Ash confusedly

"Well… I don't know exactly how it happened… Lance told me that story" Ash said
"What about the other temples?" asked Dawn "Who was name after?"
"Well… Kent has the first, Caroline has the second, Margo has the third, and Duvivier has the fourth" Ash said
"Do you wish to have a temple someday?" asked Serena
"Maybe… if I prove to be worthy" Ash said looking at the stairs

Ash remained almost five minutes watching the staircase ahead them, not moving or saying anything, it was like he was trying to see beyond the staircase until the last temple

"Ash" said May finally breaking the silence
"What?" asked Ash
"Shouldn't we be going?" May asked "I mean… who knows where Team Tenebris might be right now"
'Yes… you are right" said Ash "I'm sorry"

Ash, Serena, Dawn and May started walking up the stairs, they were too long and tall, it seemed they would never end, and even though they were walking for almost fifteen minutes now, none of them were feeling tired

"Why don't we feel tired? We've been walking these stairs for a long time" said Dawn
"That's one of the powers of the Temple of Dragons" said Ash "Actually is not that you don't feel tired… you just have more energy while being here"
"Look!" said Serena "I can see the first temple"

They walked a little bit more until they reached the first temple. The Kent temple was made of gold, tall pillars and statues of dragons decorate the entrance, which also showed a message: The Dragon force is beyond the physical

"The Dragon force is beyond the physical" read May "What does that mean?"
"It means that only physical force isn't enough" said Ash "It's just one third of it. Heart and mind is also needed when you follow the Dragon way of life"

Suddenly out of nowhere a hyper beam came from the sky, hitting the ground near Ash and the girls throwing them far

"Are you alright?" asked Ash to them
"I think so" said Dawn
"What happened?" asked May
"We were attacked" Ash answered
"By whom?" asked Serena
"By me" answered a voice from above Kent's temple

They all looked up and saw one of Team Tenebris member on the roof, the one they had already faced before and they knew he was one of the toughest of them

"Mascaro" said Ash
"The only and one" said Mascaro, by his side his Tyranitar was ready to attack if needed
"I almost forgot about you" Ash said
"A terrible mistake Ketchum" said Mascaro "You should have stayed with us. You are a wonderful battler; you would have made The Lady proud of you"
"I never wanted to join you at first place" Ash answered "The Lady controlled my mind"
"The Lady knows what she does" he said "Soon she will rule all this world and when it arrives… you will surrender not staying by her side"
"I won't allow it" Ash said "How did you know we were coming?"
"Lance told us" Mascaro said
"What? Lance told you?"
"That's right as soon as we passed the gates of Mount Silver, Lance felt your presence and warned us that you were ahead of us"
"Why would Lance do that?" asked Serena
"Don't forget that he is now under The Lady's mental control" said May
"I think he sensed Ash because they are both Dragon Masters" said Dawn
"Be quiet Dawn" said May "don't let them know Ash is a Dragon Master"
"It's too late now" said Mascaro "We already know"
"What?" asked Ash
"It wasn't difficult to put things together" he said "When Lance told us about you also entering Mount Silver, we first thought you were going to wait for us at the top and set up a trap. But when Lance lost your presence… we already knew you were inside the Temple. So the only way to you all have entered was only if you were a Dragon Master as well"
"Lance probably lost my presence when we entered the small cave" thought Ash "You are wrong… we entered after you" he said
"We noticed it when Lance let us in" Mascaro said "That's why The Lady ordered us to wait for you here"
"You? You who?" Ash asked
"All of Team Tenebris" he answered "Each one of us are waiting you in a temple"
"So you are waiting for us to defeat us?" asked Dawn
"Not all of you" Mascaro said "Ketchum can pass… but I will not allow you three to pass"
"And why do I have permission to pass?" asked Ash
"Now that the Lady knows you are also a Dragon Master; you are of her interest as well" Mascaro said
"How so?" asked Ash
"The Lady and only her can become the Dragon Master" Mascaro said "She was going to kill Lance once we entered the Temple… But now she will wait until he destroys you first, and then she will kill him"
"Lance and I have the same level… we will never defeat one another" Ash answered
"Better for us" Mascaro said "So you both kill each other"
"I will not allow you. Get ready you bastard" said Ash taking his Poke balls when…

"ASH WAIT" said Dawn from behind him

Ash looked back and saw Dawn stepping forward to him

"I will deal with this punk" said Dawn
"What are you talking about Dawn?" Ash asked
"You must save yourself and your Pokémon from getting hurt, until you find Lance and The Lady" Dawn said "So I will stay here and battle Mascaro"
"Dawn… don't do that" said Ash
"Ash… you didn't bring us here to be mere spectators" Dawn said "We're here to help you. You are strong… but even you can't defeat all Team Tenebris and Lance only by yourself"
"We'll stay with you Dawn" said Serena
"That's right. Together we three can defeat him" said May
"No" Dawn said "Mascaro said that the others are waiting for us on every temple ahead… So that guy named Meyers must be the next one, and he seems to be extremely strong… Am I right Ash?"
"Yes… you are" Ash said
"So you must go with Ash and help him defeat Myers so he can get to Lance, once he defeats Lance, the two of them can take care of The Lady" Dawn said
"You really thought about everything… don't you Dawn?" Ash asked sadly
"Unfortunately I did" said Dawn "Now you three keep going. I am pretty sure he will not deny you going on. Am I right Mascaro?"
"Whatever" answered Mascaro "You all can go if you want, I don't like being a baby sitter… so Myers can take care of you three"

Ash looked at Dawn and hugged her strongly, surprising her

"Please take care" Ash said "I know you can do it"
"Don't worry Ash" said Dawn "You are my teacher, you taught me everything… there's no way I'm losing to him"
"When you finish, come running after us" said Ash
"I will. I promise" Dawn said and then kissed him on the lips. It wasn't a passionate kiss, only a peck but it meant the world to Dawn

"I'm sorry girls" said Dawn to May and Serena "It may be the last time I see him or you. I had to take a chance"
"Don't say bullshit" said May "Of course we're seeing each other again"
"You are wonderful Dawn" said Serena crying "Please be safe"
"I will do my best" said Dawn

"You are amazing Dawn" said Ash making her blush "I'm proud of you and I believe we are seeing each other again"
"Thank you" said Dawn "Now go"

Ash, May and Serena started running forward until they entered the first temple, they were already inside when they heard Dawn shouting…

"DON'T FORGET ASH… I LOVE YOU"

Ash looked back and saw Dawn smiling at him. He smiled back and continued running along with May and Serena

Mascaro jumped from the ceiling and landed on the ground. He looked behind him to see if Ash and the two girls were still visible, but they weren't

"You are very brave I must admit" Mascaro said "You did all that for the man you love?"
"Is there a problem with that?" Dawn asked
"But why did you choose to stay here?" Mascaro said "If you had waited one of the other girls would have offered to stay"
"I like to take the lead" said Dawn
"I see. And do you really think you can defeat me?"
"I don't have to defeat you" Dawn said "I have to make Ash reach Lance"
"And do you believe Ketchum can defeat Lance? He himself said they were at the same level"
"They may be on the same level, but Ash has something Lance doesn't have and that's what gonna make him win"
"And what would that be?" asked Mascaro
"A reason to fight" said Dawn
"Okay" said Mascaro "So let's start. I already have Tyranitar on my side ready to fight. So choose your Pokémon"
"My pleasure" said Dawn taking a poke ball "GO! EMPOLEON"

Dawn released form her poke ball the water penguin evolved from Piplup. She wasn't sure of her victory… but she wouldn't give up easily

"You think that using a water Pokémon will be enough to defeat Tyranitar?" Mascaro said
"Why don't you worry about your own strategy and let me worry with mine?" asked Dawn
"As you wish" said Mascaro "Tyranitar, use Dark Pulse"

Tyranitar did as ordered and attacked Empoleon with his move

"Empoleon, dodge and use hydro pump"

Empoleon tried to dodge but it was visible the different levels of both Pokémon, Tyranitar was way stronger than Empoleon and his attacks much faster, so Empoleon failed in dodging and got hit by Tyranitar's attack

"EMPOLEON" shouted Dawn seeing her Pokémon on the ground "Can you still battle?"

Trying to getting up Empoleon didn't have time to completely stand up, Tyranitar was already attacking again

"Now use Thunderbolt" said Mascaro

Tyranitar quickly focused a huge amount of electricity and shot at Empoleon, knocking him out

"It seems "Pingu" can no longer battle" said Mascaro
"You… son of a…"
"Wow" said Mascaro "Where are your manners?"
"I will show you my manners" said Dawn "Nobody calls my Empoleon "Pingu". You'll pay for that"
"So… make your move" said Mascaro
"Empoleon please get up" Dawn said "I know you can do it. I believe in you"

Empoleon was trying his best to be up, but Tyranitar's thunderbolt not only made him weak, but also paralyzed him

"DON'T GIVE UP" shouted Dawn "I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT"

Suddenly a strong blue light began to emanate from Empoleon. A light that in the Pokémon world was known only by one reason. From inside that light, Empoleon began to change form, getting bigger, and stronger. When the transformation was fully completed it wasn't Empoleon who was standing there

"I… can't believe it" said Mascaro "It… Mega…"
"Evolved" said Dawn "To Mega Empoleon"

Mega Empoleon looked back at his master and smiled at Dawn

"You Mega Evolved for me" said Dawn "Isn't that right?"

Mega Empoleon nodded to her master and then turned to Tyranitar showing he was ready to keep Battle

"How was that possible?" Mascaro asked "I know Ketchum can Mega Evolve his Greninja without a mega stone. But now this girl seems to be able to do the same"
"We are ready to keep fighting" said Mascaro
"Tyranitar… we won't have chance against Mega Empoleon, it's your time to Mega evolve" said Mascaro touching his mega stone and making it react with Tyranitar's. Soon Mega Tyranitar was also ready for battle "Let's see if your Mega "Pingu" can defeat my Mega Tyranitar"
"I already told you not to call him PINGU" shouted Dawn angrily "Now Mega Empoleon use Hydro Pump"

Mega Empoleon used the move Dawn ordered and shot Mega Tyranitar his Water attack

"Now Mega Tyranitar… Jump" said Mascaro

Tyranitar jumped and avoided the attack easily

"You idiot" said Dawn "You fell for my trap"
"What?" asked Mascaro seeing that Mega Empoleon was no longer at the same place "Where is he?"

Suddenly Empoleon emerged also up in the air in front of Tyranitar, both of them were face to face

"How did he get there so fast?" asked Mascaro "I barely saw him jumping"
"Now Mega Empoleon, use Hydro Cannon" shouted Dawn

Without being able to react, Mega Tyranitar nothing could do to protect himself and got critical hit by Empoleon's most powerful attack which made Mega Tyranitar fell hard on the ground and cancel the Mega Evolution, returning to the Tyranitar's form. He was out of battle

"Ty… Tyranitar" said Mascaro in shock falling on his knees
"It seems your Tyranitar can no longer battle" said Dawn
"No! It can't" said Mascaro still in shock "Tyranitar, return"
"Now bring out your next Pokémon" said Dawn
"I… I won't fight anymore" said Mascaro
"What?" Why not" Dawn asked
"You defeated my strongest Pokémon easily with your Mega Empoleon" Mascaro said "Any other Pokémon I use will be useless against you… so I give up"

Dawn was in shock, Mascaro gave up

"So I won?" Dawn asked
"Yes" Mascaro said "You win"

"Well… I…I am surprised. I was hoping something totally different from this. I made such a speech to my friends" Dawn said "It's kind of embarrassing now. I thought I was going to lose and then you would kill me"
"I would never kill you" said Mascaro "I just kill by The Lady's orders, and she didn't order it"
"You does seem different from the others Team Tenebris members" said Dawn
"I'm not a bad person" said Mascaro "I just do what The Lady asks"
"But why?" asked Dawn
"Gratitude" said Mascaro "She used her psychic powers to save my daughter from death"
"What?" Dawn asked
"She was badly sick. Doctors gave her one month… I was hopeless" Mascaro said "But then she appeared and told me she would save her if I swear absolute loyalty to her"
"And she did?" asked Dawn
"She did" Mascaro said "But I was doomed to a life of slavery under The Lady's orders. I never wanted this… but I gave my word and if I leave… she will go after my daughter. It is my fate to live this way forever"
"Maybe not anymore" said Dawn "Maybe if Ash defeat Lance and then they defeat The Lady… you can be free again and go back to your daughter"
"I have dreamed with this so many times…. But The Lady has a power nobody understands. It's almost impossible to defeat her" said Mascaro
"That word you just said… Almost" Dawn said "With that word Ash is gonna defeat her. As long as there's a chance… he will find a way"
"I can only hope you're right" said Mascaro "Now go and find your friends. They must have reached the second temple already. Myers is waiting for them and one of the girls probably will stay to battle him"
"Any chance he's as nice as you?" asked Dawn hopeful
"No way" said Mascaro "He is as evil as devil himself. He will not think twice about killing your friends. They are going to need all help the can get… so if I were you… I would run"

Dawn looked ahead at the first temple entrance and then to Empoleon, who by that time had already returned to its normal self, and then to Mascaro once more

"Be safe" Dawn said "I will help you as much as I can"

And then Dawn returned Empoleon and started running toward the first temple to try to catch up with Ash, Serena and May as fast as she could

"Thank you" said Mascaro watching Dawn disappear into the temple "Maybe… there's hope after all"