Don't worry yourself… Just… breathe…
Breathe.
You can do this; you've done it countless times before. It's just another capture. Just like Tangrowth… just like Rampardos… just like Lucario, Heatran, and Cresselia. They were hard battles. But you still won them. Don't worry.
Kate's inner monologue was doing little to calm her, and she held up the feather at shoulder height until the rising sunlight was shining through it. It shimmered in an almost magical way, and she averted her gaze. The sun had just started rising; they probably had to wait a few minutes.
Keith was standing behind her, his hand on her shoulder. She could feel his anxiousness radiating off of him in waves. He was watching her, his brown eyes worried as she held the feather.
They stood together in silence, waiting for something to happen as the sun rose higher in the sky.
Both of them knew that this battle could change everything.
--
"Well." He smirked, looking at the crystal with its two gems surrounding it. "Enjoy your time with two gems, Luminous Crystal. Within an hour, you will be down to one, and closer to being the Shadow Crystal."
"Sir!" one of the recruits called as he appeared in the door, "The Sinis-Trio have been brought here."
"Send them out."
His back was straight and towards the door as he continued staring at the Crystal. He glanced over his shoulder when three sets of footsteps came from behind him. The Sinis-Trio stood behind him, waiting for him to speak.
"How would you like to take care of a pest that all of you have faced?"
"Depends. Who's the pest?" Ice smiled coldly, a smile that would easily freeze anyone it was directed at, flicking his hair out of his left eye to stare at him.
He smiled evilly back, "A certain Pokemon Ranger."
"What can we do to help you then?" Lavana's smile was, if possible, colder than Ice's. "If it's that girl…"
"It is." He turned to face them. "And if you'd like to help…" he gestured toward the two gems floating around the crystal, "Remove these roadblocks… and then she'll be yours to destroy."
"Roi'!" Heath grinned widely, pulling out a Pokeball, "Roi-perior'll take care ov i'!"
"Gallade will easily knock it away." Ice also pulled out a Pokeball.
"Don't forget Magmortar." Lavana gave a chuckle.
He sneered at them, turning back toward the crystal. It was remarkable how good it felt to be bad.
--
Kate felt a shiver running down her back as she watched the gleaming feather. Keith was still resting his hand on her shoulder. She felt him tighten his grip very slightly in reassurance. There was something flying out of the sunrise. Something headed toward them.
A Pokemon.
Kate took a deep breath, and lowered the feather. Her shoulder had been protesting holding it still in the sunrise for so long, and it protested again as she moved it. Keith moved his hand to grip hers, an anxious look on his face.
"You don't have to do this alone."
"I know."
Another deep breath. Another shared glance. Another gentle squeeze.
And the Pokemon was upon them.
--
"We can't do this anymore, Hastings."
Hastings looked over at Erma, his face drawn and tired, "I know, Erma… many more attacks and we won't have anyone to help…"
Erma's sigh was prolonged, and she looked like she was feeling her age. "We can't last another two days…"
Near the escalator leading into the empty room, a sad looking girl paused. She hadn't been noticed.
Christen went back down the escalator, deciding against telling them that Nate believed the Luminous Crystal was showing odd signs of regression. They obviously didn't need anything else to worry about.
--
"You two have persevered." The glowing bird looked at the two of them, sending shivers through Kate's body. Keith hadn't let go of her hand, and she almost thought that his grip had tightened. She was thankful that he was there.
"Yes." Keith spoke, falling into his decided role as spokesperson. Kate was shaking slightly, her eyes locked on the bird she remembered hearing legends of in Fiore.
Ho-oh. The legendary bird Ho-oh. The bird of the Tin Tower. The only pokemon that has never been caught before, either by Trainers or Rangers, and has never been studied. The only legendary that almost never shows himself.
The only chance I might have.
She steadied herself and squeezed Keith's hand as if to make sure he was still there. Keith was explaining their situation to Ho-oh, who honestly didn't look impressed. She felt her free hand curling into a fist as the story ended and Ho-oh looked at them calculatingly.
"You have to believe us." Keith said softly, "We've come this far, we're not backing down."
"This is our last chance." Kate added with her eyes toward the ground. Something in her mind snapped and her gaze whipped upward, locking on the bird. "And if you won't give it to us, we'll just take what we need." She glared.
Ho-oh stared back at her for a moment of hesitation, before what could only be described as laughing at them. "You think you can take what you 'need'? Prove it, children. Prove that you have what it takes."
Kate let go of Keith's hand, and both of them prepared their Stylers. This would be the most amazing fight they had faced yet.
--
"Gallade, use Slash!"
"Magmortar, you use Fire Punch!"
"Roi'perior, Stone Edge!"
The blue gem quivered as it was hit, one attack after another landing on it, then it glowed slightly and fell to the floor. The yellow gem sat nearby, far enough away from the crystal to do nothing to help the blue gem.
"And then there was one." He chuckled, watching the red gem make it's orbit around the crystal, like a tiny flaming planet around a large, deformed sun. The crystal darkened even more and the clouds around them grew heavier, swirling around the tower ominously. The Drowzee guy lifted his head slightly, his eyes pained.
This couldn't be happening. It was supposed to be a happily ever after. Once the Shadow Crystal was turned, there was supposed to be no going back. That was why he was there, to offer a chance to show what it was like to young children who could see from the eyes of the remarkable ranger that had won their peace… and for that Ranger to relive the glory days if she so chose… it wasn't supposed to be like this…
He lowered his head again, tears pulling at his eyes. He had failed. He had taken his position at the tower to protect the Luminous Crystal, and he had failed to do so. Now there was even less hope of a happy ending.
He only wished he could have been dreaming, so none of this would ever have to happen.
An odd wish, for a man who never slept.
--
Kate paused, gasping slightly for breath. The battle wasn't over yet; it seemed, however, that both sides had called a temporary truce. She checked her Pokeballs, each of them filled with a fighter that was raring to go. She bit her lip.
"Keith!" she called, getting Keith's attention when she had her breath back, "I think we'll need to step it up a bit."
"Partners?"
"Partners!"
Keith nodded with a grin, tugging out the Pokeball that housed his Buizel. Kate tugged free four of the Pokeballs on her belt, calling, "Chimchar, Turtwig, Starly, Munchlax! Help us out! Pachi, you too!"
The six partners all lined up in front of Ho-oh, who looked from them to the two rangers who had determined frowns on their faces. "It seems this battle has gone on long enough." The feathers started glowing, as if he were charging for a final attack.
"Everyone, hurry! Chimchar use Flame Wheel, Turtwig, Razor Leaf, Starly, Steel Wing, Munchlax, Body Slam! Pachi, you use Thunderbolt!"
"Buizel, you use Water Pulse!"
The six partner pokemon all charged for their attacks, Pachi letting loose a thunderbolt attack almost a second before Turtwig let out Razor Leaf. Chimchar and Buizel followed quickly with Flame Wheel and Water Pulse, with Starly flying into the air and swooping toward Ho-oh with a Steel Wing while Munchlax threw himself at the bird with Body Slam.
Ho-oh seemed unaffected by the six attacks, and let loose a wave of purple fire that caught each of the pokemon, yelling out "Sacred Fire" as he did so.
Damn that move… Kate thought angrily. Pachirisu, Buizel, and Starly all cried out in pain as they were burned, and Kate reached to her side to grab Starly and Pachirisu their Pokeballs if they wanted to go in them. Starly returned gratefully, but Pachirisu stood its ground. She frowned and tugged a Rawst berry from her belt, on which was two of each type of berry in a small pouch.
Pachirisu caught the Rawst berry when she tossed it, and ate it quickly. Once she saw the burn fading she called it back, ignoring the outraged squeak it made. She checked the bar for how much more they needed and growled. Just a little more…
"Kate! Look out!" Keith pushed her out of the way of a fire blast, the back of his jacket just missing being singed as he did so. He sighed and brushed the ash off of the sleeve, glaring at the bird.
"You're going down, Ho-oh." He growled, "No one messes up my jacket."
Kate smiled fondly, letting her capture disc free, "Let's finish this up, shall we?"
"Yes, let's." Keith grinned and directed his disc. Kate made hers chase his as they circled Ho-oh.
Just a little more…
--
Rhythmi twitched in her sleep, lying next to Isaac with her head resting against his. Something odd was happening. She was sure she had been alone for the past day, alone in the dark recesses of her mind but now… she could hear the other captive's voices.
"It's odd," she muttered to herself in that dark place, "That I can hear them. Can they hear me, I wonder?"
"Rhythmi?"
"Isaac?"
She turned around in space and there he was, beside her, smiling sadly. She felt her breath catch in her throat as he held out a hand.
"Come on, the others are waiting. They heard your arrival."
She hesitantly grasped his hand as he led her through the darkness, his thin frame and white lab coat contrasting sharply with the stifling blackness around them. She looked around, seeing small bubble shaped spaces of light that showed images around them.
There was the Ranger Union… and there was Vientown… and there was Haruba Desert… Hippowdon Temple… Almia Castle… All the locations Kate had told her so much about… and then there were more locations that she didn't know.
A sloping cavern where diamonds sparkled in the evening light, reflecting colors throughout them and creating a light show on the ground that was spectacularly beautiful… A large meadow full of tall grass that shifted in the wind, with flowers swaying in patches here and there… And a cozy little room, with a large coffee table in the middle and a wrap around couch that had eight others sitting in various positions.
Someone explained to her that because they were all asleep this was their dream room, but she was too busy thinking to recognize who it was. She glanced around again to see where everyone was, shaking slightly.
Sven and Wendy were sitting next to each other talking in hushed voices, in what looked like an argument. Melody and Kate's little sister were chatting excitedly, even though Melody was a couple of years older than Kate's Little Sis. Barlow and his team, the final four occupants of the room, were also conversing, though Crawford seemed to be taking bets on how well Kate would succeed this time.
No one mentioned the possibility that she might fail.
It was a very quiet and subdued Rhythmi that joined the group conversations, caught up in thoughts of her two best friends. She wondered what they could be doing at that moment. Had they faced their final conquest? Were they on their way back?
She didn't even notice that Isaac hadn't let go of her hand.
--
Ho-oh held up his wings in defeat, as the Stylers beeped out "OK!"s, and Kate recalled her capture disc.
"Now, damnit." She said with little patience left in her voice, "We've faced Mew, Mewtwo, Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Lugia, Entei, Raikou, and Suicune. You better be the Pokemon we need. I'm out of patience, so tell us what to do!"
Ho-oh looked up at her, "The stones." He intoned, and a final, crystal stone, this one shifting colors throughout the rainbow, appeared near her hand, "Will help you in your final battle. Pokemon cannot do everything… you need to face the battle yourself, and win it for yourself. You will find out what to do with the stones when you return."
"So… there is no pokemon that can… help us?" Kate asked as she took hold of the stone, looking into the swirls of color blankly.
"Pokemon can help you, but they cannot win the battle for you." Ho-oh explained, "That, you must do yourself."
Kate sighed, leaning against Keith who put an arm around her. That was the answer? That was what they had traveled so far to find? What a gyp!
Kate shook her head, "So… these stones are really the only thing this journey was good for?"
"Not the only thing. Growth on your parts was quite important too. You know can truly face anything with your head held high." She had to smile at that. It was true. She felt so much stronger… She knew she could face the final battle she was faced with.
"So go, go and defeat your fears, and quell the darkness that is again settling over your land. Godspeed!"
Kate nodded with determination lighting her eyes again, clenching the rainbow stone to her chest as she glanced at Keith, who looked similarly determined. They ran together toward the Pidgeots that Keith had caught before their battle, jumping onto them and rearing off for Almia.
It was going to be a good flight this time. One filled to the brim with the promises of success.
AN: God DAMN. I should threaten you people more often. I asked for two reviews and I got TWENTY two. Y'all are amazing!
GAH SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW. WHAT THE HELL MAN, WHAT THE HELL.
WHERE DID THE TIME GO.
I still have at least two more chapters, Damnit! (maybe three, depends on if I want to cut the final fight in two...)
...I just realized I'm actually going to finish this story. DAMN. I feel amazing! I've actually got a story that I'm going to be able to say I've completed from start to finish!
-Happyface-
Guess you guys are going to have to wait for me! ^^; I'm sorry, but I was so distracted with getting all the shit for school, and getting my hair cut, and getting new glasses, and talking to Ashlynn, and reading all the WONDERMOUS reviews you sent me that Every Time I tried to write the next chapter (and another wondermous review would appear...) I'd get distracted again... and thus it left me with early mornings before people woke up to work on it. FORGIVE ME?
You can easily make it much easier for me to continue by continuing to be wondermous and sending me wondermous reviews. Yes that sentence had doubles of a bunch of words. Deal with it and hit that review button.
A very excited and happy Tina.
