CHAPTER 47
Rylan and his friends had climbed a fair distance before they found a large rocky protrusion upon which they could take a breather and eat some of their provisions.
They couldn't stop thinking about Bronzong. He chose to betray Team Tranquility, and even though he was going to turn himself in to the authorities, Slowking would not let this slide. They knew Bronzong would be in danger if they failed to stop him.
Once they finished their quick break, they resumed their pace up the North Point path. After what felt like merely one or two hours, they could hear the sound of the raging maelstrom in the lake at the peak.
"We're almost there!" said Zorian. "Listen!"
"I hear it!" said Vulpix. "We're getting real close!"
"Speaking of getting close…" Buizel said, pointing up at the shining Moon in the sky. It seemed to be drawing closer and closer.
"The Moon might hit us," said Rylan.
"Unless the Distortion World swallows it up first," Zorian remarked.
"This world is as good as done for either way unless we succeed," said Buizel.
The Pokémon hastened their strides, closing in on the lake at the top. Rylan sighed with relief, knowing that it wouldn't be long before they could finally confront Slowking and take back the key piece. He ran ahead of the others.
"Rylan, watch your step!" Vulpix shouted.
Rylan slipped and started to stumble. The rocky surface of the path beneath his feet suddenly grew cold and slippery. Unable to find footing on the ground, he started to slide back down the path, bumping into everyone and causing them to slide backwards as well.
Rylan feared they would slide all the way back down, but then another protrusion from the path stopped them from doing so. This one was just as cold and slippery as the path ahead.
"This is ice!" said Buizel. "Someone froze the path!"
"Are you guys okay?" asked Rylan. "I didn't mean to bump into you."
"We'll be- Rylan, watch out!" Vulpix yelped.
A chilly hand grasped Rylan and lifted him up. Before he could see whoever was doing this, a pair of plump, cold lips pressed against his face in a frigid kiss.
Disgusted, Rylan attempted to squirm out of the grasp and away from the unwanted smooching, but he quickly found he could not do so. He started to feel quite sleepy and his eyes were closing rapidly.
"Rylan!" he faintly heard Vulpix shout.
Slumber overtook Rylan. He felt himself floating away blissfully in a peaceful rest along with a wonderful dream. The dream faded after a while, and his eyes started to open.
"Greetings, you three," said Slowking's voice.
Rylan rubbed his eyes and stood up. He was at the peak of Mount Maelstrom, close to the north ledge where he fell from the mountain. Slowking was standing in front of him. Buizel and Vulpix were on either side of him, slowly recovering from their own sleep.
"Where's…Where's Zorian?" Rylan asked.
Slowking gestured to a spot behind Rylan. Rylan looked and noticed that his brother was trapped, chest to feet, in a large chunk of ice. Gallade, Nidoran, and Wingull were beside Zorian, also imprisoned in ice, but they were still asleep from the Lovely Kiss technique. Jynx was watching them, grinning proudly.
"Guys!" Zorian shouted. "Don't worry about me! Just stop Slowking!"
Jynx giggled. "Team Tranquility can't be stopped. You should have learned this by now, sweetie."
Zorian cast Jynx a furious stare. "You better hope I don't get out of here."
"Oh, don't worry," said Jynx. "I've got you right where I want you. You won't be going anywhere."
"Now, then…" said Slowking. He was holding the complete Key of Renewal.
"We have nothing to say to you, Slowking," said Vulpix.
"Well, I have a few things to say to you," said Slowking. "Seeking counsel from Reshiram and Zekrom was a mistake. Nobody seems to understand what I want to do to the world. I want to make it better. Dare I say everyone with the exception of my companion, Jynx, is a fool."
"You're the fool!" Buizel shouted. "Look around you! Look at what you've done to the world! Giratina's domain is going to engulf ours because you've been tampering too heavily with it!"
"A minor setback," said Slowking. "Since Bronzong is no longer cooperating with me, my hold over Giratina has weakened. Once I can muster enough psychic power to get Giratina back under my control, I'll have it restore this world."
"You can't restore the world at this rate!" said Rylan. "Not unless we use the Key of Renewal! We can still stop this madness!"
"Madness?" asked Slowking. "You know, Rylan, I've always admired your spirit, but you are a fool. You are also a nuisance. Once Giratina obeys my commands again, you and your friends will be in the Distortion World for a very long time. But first I think I'm going punish you all personally. Consider this rectification for making the mistake of letting you out in the first place."
"You guys up for this?" asked Vulpix. "Slowking is a first-class combatant."
"I'm fighting," said Buizel.
Rylan looked at his teammates and shook his head. "No."
"No?" asked Buizel. "Rylan, don't be an idiot."
"Yeah, we're a team!" said Vulpix.
"Listen," said Rylan. "I need you two to go after Jynx. Get Zorian and the others out of the ice. I'll fight Slowking by myself."
"Are you crazy?" asked Buizel. "You won't last two minutes against him."
"I know," said Rylan, "but I'll try and buy some time while you free my brother. He's our only chance of stopping Slowking."
"At least let one of us fight with you!" said Vulpix.
"Jynx is powerful as well," said Rylan. "I need you both over there."
"I don't think this is a good idea," said Buizel, "but I agree that Zorian is needed for this. Fine, I'll go after Jynx."
"Rylan…please be careful," said Vulpix.
"Are you quite finished having your little discussion over there?" asked Slowking.
Buizel glared at Slowking before running in Jynx's direction. Vulpix gave Rylan a concerned look before following Buizel.
"Well, well," said Slowking. "You think your teammates can stop my own?"
"We'll see," said Rylan. "I have faith in them."
"I must say, though…" said Slowking. "You're at quite an unfair disadvantage."
"I can fight you well enough!" Rylan barked. Without another word, he rushed toward Slowking, fists clenched, ready to fight.
Slowking chuckled and raised his free paw. Rylan halted mid-run and slowly levitated into the air. Slowking then used his telekinesis to fling Rylan backwards as easily as one would fling a toy.
"Interesting choice of punishment," said Slowking. "I'll slowly drain you of hope. I'll let you see firsthand that it's impossible to touch me, let alone defeat me. I'll break you. You'll soon beg me to be your king."
Rylan coughed and got back up on his feet. "Already broken," he replied. He then charged toward Slowking again.