Episode 55: By the Sword 3.
This is the second to last part of the By the Sword mini-series. Hope you all have enjoyed it and I will look forward to the last two pin battles to take place to push the story further. The next battle will be shorter because this chapter is played in two parts.
Ash, Salvia and Madeline were walking through the coast line of eastern parts of Unova, with the prospect of battling the third legendary pokemon, Ash's thoughts remained with an injured friend who was resting in a hospital too far for him to see, the waves were crashing onto the shore line with the large cliffs towering above them, small blue pokemon were flying overhead in the middle of a flock of Swanna, the gentle breeze was causing the princess's long blue hair to move slightly as they continued towards the next town, the quiet between them difficult to take.
The warm tropical air with a few clouds in the air before spotting the ominous clouds coming from the ocean, "Ash, it looks like a Cyclone is coming this way," Salvia told her husband nervously, the trainer ignored the problem as his focus remained fixed on his friend's condiditon, "are you listening to me Ash? There is a cyclone heading this way," Salvia repeated.
Ash looked up to see the approaching storm and pulled out his pokeball, "alright we will get out of here with Reshiram," Ash replied, he called out his large white dragon type pokemon and allowed the girls to climb on, he soon followed them and instructed his pokemon to take off to a Lucanosa Town.
The trio flew towards the safe destination with the next battle set to take place, 'Ash is so concerned for his friend,' Madeline thought while looking towards her friend, she thought about the battles she witnessed by her friends and the news of Ash's friend in the war for Unova, a chill ran down her back while they continued to fly towards the small town.
After twenty minutes of flying Ash looked down to see a large blue pokemon glaring at them, he pulled out a photo to find out what pokemon it was, "Reshiram, land there," Ash pointed over towards the legendary pokemon in question.
'Are you sure? You will be facing the pokemon straight away,' the vast white pokemon asked the trainer with concern, Ash nodded confidently leaving the legendary little choice but to follow the instructions of its trainer.
After landing in front of the iron will pokemon, the trainer jumped off his legendary pokemon ready to face it in battle, 'before we get to our battle there is something you need to know, if you manage to win you will need to face one more test,' Cobalion told the trainer while looking towards the distance.
"One more test?" Ash, Salvia and Madeline asked in unison, they looked at one another trying to figure out what the leader of the sword of justice was telling them. The trio turned their focus back on to the legendary pokemon perplexed about what was said, the wind started to pick up and the trees started to sway heavily in the strong winds. Many emotions ran through their thoughts but they remained certain on their mission to save the Unova region.
'Yes one final test, but for that you will need to beat me and come to the Pledge Grove,' the iron will pokemon told the trio calmly.
Salvia pulled out a map to see where the Pledge Grove was, she gawked in shock as she found the destination, "what are you serious? We need to head to the other side of the region and into enemy territory to get there," Salvia questioned the legendary pokemon concerned over the location of the next place, Ash and Madeline turned their attention to the map and looked at in shock, "that is suicide, we cannot make it to that location without putting ourselves in unnecessary danger, then there is Madeline," Salvia pointed out while looking towards the eight year old who, concerned for her safety.
"Cobalion, then what about Madeline? She isn't even old enough to fully defend for herself, she lost her family, Salvia and I are the only family she has now," Ash asked the iron will pokemon with his fists clenched, he looked over to the black haired girl who was standing behind him and Salvia, he thought about the moment he saved her life from the plane crash near Nuvema Town.
'Yes I know, but at the moment there is little you can do, the reason will be revealed once you get to the Pledge Grove,' Cobalion replied while a right blue blade appeared from its head , 'now is the time to battle,' Cobalion decreed.
Ash pulled out his first pokeball and threw it out to start the battle, "Lucario, I choose you," Ash called for the first combatant in his team.
'How about we make this quick, I want to test your abilities in this battle, no legendary but you may only use three pokemon,' Cobalion told Ash calmly, the large pokemon charged towards the opposing aura pokemon with a blue blade coming from the top of its head.
"Bone Rush now!" Ash instructed his pokemon quickly. The fighting type pokemon formed blue bone from the palm of its hands and started deflecting the sword of justice's attacks; the two pokemon skilfully parried one another's attacks. The two pokemon jumped back before charging at one another again, "use Force Palm," Ash barked out his next instruction to the aura pokemon
Salvia and Madeline both watched Ash's pokemon skilfully fighting off the powerful foe, Raichu was starting to get so excited that sparks were flying from his cheeks during the early stages of the battle, "amazing, Ash isn't holding back in this battle," Salvia whispered in amazement. She watched as the two pokemon ran through the tree lines evading every attack that came their way, soon Ash followed the legendary pokemon leaving the two girls in shock. In that moment Salvia looked up to see dark clouds approaching them, 'Ash, doesn't have much time to win this battle, there is a severe storm moving in,' Salvia thought before she started running in the direction Ash was heading towards to continue his battle with the legendary pokemon.
"Hey wait for me!" Madeline called out, she and Raichu ran towards the battle as an explosion rattled the area scaring pokemon in the vicinity, she spotted the aura pokemon landing on one of the tree branches while looking down towards the iron will pokemon, she ran to the princess's side to watch the ever intensifying battle between Ash and Cobalion.
"Alright Lucario, attack with Bone Rush again," Ash instructed his pokemon with vigour. The steel type pokemon put its palms together and formed another blue bone staff, the aura pokemon leapt from the tree and towards the leader of the sword of justice, meanwhile the legendary pokemon formed another blue blade from the top of its head before clashing with the bone staff, the two combatants tried their best to vie for supremacy but neither was giving an inch.
Looking into one another's eyes showing great will power, in the battle, 'impressive, you are showing amazing power in this battle,' Cobalion complimented the trainer and the aura pokemon in the battle. Eventually the two pokemon leapt back ready to continue the battle.
Ash stared at his opponent and grinned at it with confidence, "now strike with Double Aura Sphere," Ash commanded his fighting type with certainty.
The two girls watched the trainer's pokemon charge up two bright blue spheres from both hands, 'again with that move,' Salvia thought while her husband's pokemon jumped into the air unleashing the two sphere one after the other.
As the balls of energy approached the legendary pokemon a bright blade appeared from the top of its head again, the fighting type slashed down on one of the sphere cutting it in half sending it in either direction causing a powerful explosion which uprooted trees on both sides of the legendary pokemon, before getting ready to fend off the next attack, the bright blue orb crashed into the legendary pokemon dealing significant damage to it, 'so the first one was a decoy, while he used the second with the intention to land the attack, impressive,' Cobalion told itself while getting back up after taking the powerful hit.
After the legendary pokemon got ready to attack the winds started to pick up into a powerful gale and the sounds of thunder rumbled overhead, the native pokemon started running off from fear, but the two combatants glared at one another trying to keep their ground while the weather continued to deteriorate around them, branches started to fall around them while the girls tried to evacuate the area but were more concerned for Ash.
Salvia watched as a bolt of lightning crashed into a tree meters away from Ash, a branch crashed down between the two pokemon as a fire started to take hold in the area, "no this battle will have to wait," Ash told the legendary pokemon, he recalled his pokemon and pulled out a pokeball, "Samurott, use Hydro Pump to stop the fires," Ash called out his water type pokemon, a large blue pokemon quickly aimed a powerful stream of water at the fires which were quickly starting to spread through the forest.
"Madeline, quickly go somewhere safe," Salvia instructed the little girl before heading to Ash's side. She grabbed one of her pokeballs and called out her red Gyrados and got ready to fight the fires with Ash, "I will help to," Salvia told her husband while the scared pokemon started running away from the fires.
Madeline watched as her friends started to battle the flames with their water pokemon, "you two come back safely!" Madeline yelled out while Ash's electric mouse pulled the black haired girls red dress to get her to safety. Madeline ran away from the ever increasing danger that was starting to develop behind her, not daring to look back in case the situation got too much for her to bare.
As the fires started to intensify the storm was picking up in intensity, but the rain was refusing to fall, "Cobalion can we ask for your assistance?" Ash asked the legendary pokemon.
'What is Ash?' the iron will pokemon replied calmly.
"The town is not too far from here, we need a fire break to protect the city, can you do that for us, Salvia and me will work together to contain the fires with our water pokemon," Ash explained the plan to the legendary pokemon and his princess wife, Ash looked up to see the flames leaping from tree to tree with the panic building between the pokemon, tree limbs started to fall around Ash and Salvia, causing problems in stopping the fast spreading fire, the heat of the flames became so intense the water attacks had weakened considerably, "damn the winds are really strong, it's fanning the flames faster than we can put them out," Ash complained while shielding the princess from the intense flames.
Ash heard a loud cracking noise coming from above, he picked up the pincess and jumped away from the impact zone, the flaming branch crashed onto the ground sending embers in every direction causing the flames to spread further in every direction, "Ash, we can't fight when the elements are against us like this," Salvia pointed out while being gently placed back onto the ground while the flames moved through the forest, "we have to do something Ash," Salvia pointed out to a frustrated Ash.
Meanwhile the legendary pokemon had completed the task of creating a fire break but noticed the fight against the flames behind it, 'I wonder, will they be able to stop these flames?' Cobalion asked itself while the two royal's continued to work together to put out the flames.
The two water pokemon continued to fight against the flames alone with Ash and Salvia doing everything they could to help the panicking pokemon, "come on guys, you need to get out of here," Ash instructed the fleeing pokemon. The sounds of the flames and the storm continued to build up and the lightning becoming more frequent, the winds started to die down with the start of the rain, "better late than never," Ash complained while feeling the rain falling lighting onto the intense flames. Ash noticed that it wasn't enough to put the flames out, so he ordered his water pokemon to continue the water attacks on the flames.
"Ash, there could be a river front, maybe what we should do is retreat to the river," Salvia suggested while looking around.
'She is right, there is a river not too far from here,' Cobalion told them with a nod, the sword of justice lead the two royals to the nearest river.
"Good, Gyrados jump into the water," Salvia instructed her water pokemon with certainty, Ash looked at her with a perplexed expression unsure of what the princess was going to do next, "Gyrados use Aqua Tail on the water, Ash you better get out of the way," Salvia told her pokemon and Ash with confidence.
The powerful water type pokemon created a spiral of water from its tail and slammed it down with incredible force, a powerful wave of water emanated from the river sending it rolling into the flames without any obstacle, the flames started to die down giving Ash and Salvia the advantage in the fight against the flames, "wow Salvia that was very resourceful," Ash complimented the bluenette with a proud smile, he returned his focus back to the remaining flames , "now let's finish this off," Ash cried out with joy, the two water pokemon worked together to eliminate the rest of the flames that had engulfed the forest.
Cobalion watched the two royals again this time proudly, 'impressive their teamwork is simply amazing,' Cobalion complimented the two while they put out the last of the flames.
"We did it!" Ash and Salvia celebrated before embracing one another with joy.
'I am impressed with your ability to work as a team, and to think outside the box, I have no need to battle you anymore Ash, you passed my test,' Cobalion told the two trainers with a smile before noticing the other companion approaching them, 'you both showed concern and selflessness in this crisis, you remained calm and thought of a solution to save this forest, in that you have gained my trust,' Cobalion told the royals who we listening to the words of the sword of justice.
"Thanks Cobalion, but what about this war? We need to bring an end to it before innocent people and pokemon get killed," Salvia asked the iron will pokemon with grave concerns, she looked over to Ash and Madeline who nodded in agreement.
'You have proven a lot to me, but there is one more of us you need to prove your worth to, so you will need to meet us at the Pledge Grove,' the legendary pokemon explained to the trio before disappearing from their site.
Ash remained on the spot thinking about the interrupted battle he had with Cobalion, Salvia walked up to him and pushed him slightly, "what's the matter Ash? You seem a little disappointed," Salvia questioned the prince, she smiled at him while pushing him to try and get a response. "are you upset that the battle was interrupted, I could tell you were having a good time with that battle," Salvia chimed while Madeline kept her distance with Ash's Raichu.
Ash looked up to see the dark clouds continuing to gather, the storm starting to intensiy, a sudden chill ran down his spine and an uneasy feeling fell on his shoulders, "I can feel that something bad is going to happen," Ash retorted in a serious tone. The thunder started to increase in volume ad frequency while the lighting lit up the darkened skies, "we better head to Lucanosa Town," Ash stated while the uneasy feeling continued to intensify as fast as the severe storm.
After twenty minutes of walking, the three traveling companions finally made it to the Pokemon Center, Ash walked towards the window forgetting to get his pokemon healed from the forest fire that he had faced with the help of Salvia, the weather was getting worse and it seemed like it was night time in the middle of the day, "Ash, come get something to eat, we need to gather our energy before we head to Flocessy Town," Salvia called over to her husband.
Ash ignored the sentiment and continued to stare out into the storm, the rain was falling heavily and the visibility was getting worse, 'what is this terrible feeling in my gut?' Ash wondered while turning around to see the food on the table, he walked slowly while the people continued to come in to get shelter from the storm.
Salvia couldn't help but keep an eye on her loves expression, it hadn't changed since they worked together to put out the fire in the forest, "Ash, is there a problem? You don't seem your happy self," Salvia questioned her prince with a frown.
"Yeah Ash, tell us, what's on your mind?" Madeline asked forcefully.
Ash looked over to the worried girls and smiled sadly, "it's nothing, just wondering what we should do next," Ash lied to the girls.
"Nothing? Yeah right Ash, I know you better than that," Salvia remarked while placing her hand over Ash's to prevent him from eating his next lot of food, "come on Ash, you can tell me anything, just don't hide it from me," Salvia instructed the raven haired trainer.
Ash gulped and looked away before the princess' hand moved up to his face, "alright, I will tell you, I have this feeling that something bad is about to happen," Ash replied sadly before looking towards the video phone area, 'I just hope I am wrong,' Ash thought to himself quietly, he placed his next slice of pizza in his mouth and started to eat slowly with the uneasy feeling still hanging over him, the lights of the Pokemon Center started to flicker.
(The outskirts of Driftviel City)
The pokemon were battling the remains of the members of Team Plasma, the bridge in front of Dawn and May who were holding off a frenzied attack from Team Plasma commanded by Ghetsis, the explosions rattling the surrounding areas. The allies continued to push their foes back across the bridge with considerable ease, "this is almost too easy," Dawn commented while watching the enemy falling back across the bridge.
A green haired man showed up in front of them and raised his arms, "don't cross the bridge," he said seriously, he looked back towards the bridge while his Zekrom started to roar, "it's a trap, they intend to blow the bridge up with you on it, even crossing this estuary will be too dangerous," N explained with a frown.
Dawn and May looked at one another to think about the next part of the plan, "but we are supposed to help King Brian and Collin out in Nimbasa City," Dawn complained with her fists clenched, "I promised Paul that no matter what, we will succeed!" Dawn yelled out in frustration, she collapsed to the ground hitting it with all her might, she couldn't figure out what to do next, "I am going to stop those explosions," Dawn said with determination.
But before Dawn could start her journey across the bridge she was knocked out by a person with purple hair, "I am sorry Dawn, I can't let anything happen to you," he whispered while May watched in anger, "please don't follow me, I will disarm those bombs and please tell Ash that I cannot continue the rivalry now, maybe later," Paul instructed the brunette as he placed Dawn on the ground with his bandaged hand.
The powerful trainer placed his pokeballs next to Dawn and walked slowly towards the middle of the bridge, "Paul Stop this is suicide and you know this!" May yelled to Paul with tears streaming down her face, she tried to reach out to him but was stopped by N, "Dawn needs him and he cannot afford to do something this selfish!" May angrily yelled at N, he held the woman back but was struggling to hold his ground due to the strength May had in her possession, she continued to call out to Paul but it was no use he continued to walk.
Paul looked back and smiled at his friends before turning around to disappear from sight, "alright time to find these damn bombs," Paul told himself while looking in every part of the bridge, he looked around until he finally found a pile of explosives that would destroy the bridge with his friends on it, "I cannot allow such a cowardly act to happen," Paul told himself before running over to the bombs.
As he got closer a powerful attack stopped him from getting too close to the explosives, "we are here to make sure no one messes with Chris's plans," a mysterious male voice told Paul with a smirk, Paul got back to his feet to see a man with long red hair wearing a green royal suit and blue pants along with a female partner with blonde hair wearing the same attire but with black boots, "you want to try again, we are the elite guards of Chris," he told the purple haired trainer with a smug smirk.
"I don't give a crap who you are, I will make sure my friends get across this bridge, even at the cost of my own life," Paul replied while getting back to his feet slowly, he looked up and continued to walk to the powerful explosives that had been set as the trap.
"How noble of you, but we will not let you stop us, maybe we should introduce ourselves, I am Amanda and this is Trevor, who might you be?" the woman asked after her introductions. The woman grinned at the trainer and shrugged her shoulders, "not that it matters, you still face certain death," Amanda reiterated to Paul.
The trainer burst out into laughter, "well at least my death will not be cheap, unlike Chris'," Paul insulted their boss with a dark smirk.
"You impudent little bastard, I will make sure you death is slow and painful for that insult!" Trevor replied in a severe rage, "Hydreigon attack with Dragon Pulse!" The red haired elite instructed his black and blue pokemon with three heads, the elite wanted to make him suffer for his words.
"Now you've done it, my partner has a really short fuse, too bad it will result in a painful death for you," Amanda stated while stepping back to let her partner do all the work.
"Well, you have it all wrong, I have been in a slow and painful death since my injuries prevented me from taking any further part in this war, in fact after suffering from those injuries I knew that my body wouldn't hold up much longer," Paul explained with a smug expression, "this is my parting gift to a rival and a friend," Paul decreed before charging towards the explosives. He dodged the attack that was coming his way and started pushing the bombs off the bridge, he used all his might pushing it inch by painful inch with blood starting to flow from his wounds.
"Stupid brat, he knows that this is suicide, this is why he is doing this," Amanda stated with shock, she called out a large yellow and brown pokemon with an axe as its tusks, "Haxorus, make sure he doesn't push those bombs off the bridge," the blonde ordered her powerful dragon type pokemon with anger.
But Paul continued to ignore the two powerful dragons and continued to push the explosives, eventually he finally pushed the bombs but was pushed into the water along with it, "damn that little shit, our plans have failed, but we can at least take one of them out," Trevor stated with an evil smirk, he grabbed a remote control and pressed the button, "oh well it seems like we need to change our plans, time to leave," Trevor told his partner before jumping onto the dark type pokemon and flying away.
Paul was in the water resting on his back, he heard the ticking of the bombs and smiled, "well, I guess this is it, I cannot even swim away, I hope they can retake Nimbasa City," Paul said as the ticking started to wind down. "Ash and Dawn thank you," Paul said before a powerful explosion caused a column of water to rise up taking Paul with it.
Meanwhile back in the outskirts of the city May watched the geyser of water rising next to the bridge, "NO, Paul!" May screamed out in horror while being held back by N.
While May was calling out to her friend everyone froze on the spot after hearing May's cries, they walked towards her to discover that Dawn was unconscious on the ground, Drew walked up to May placing his hand on her shoulder, she turned around and buried her head into his chest, "May, what happened?" Drew asked while trying to settle his girlfriend down.
"P-Paul, he… pushed the explosives off the bridge," May cried in response.
Everyone listened in shock, wondering what to think, Paul was supposed to be in hospital but decided to save them at the cost of his own life, "no, I can't be, not my new rival," Gary collapsed to the ground before punching with all his might.
Everyone kept their position to reflect on a lost friend, "we cannot let his sacrifice go to waste," N told his allies while trying to maintain a cool head, 'easier said than done, they lost a friend,' N thought while for the first time in his life he shed tears of sadness for someone other than a pokemon, he moved his right hand and wiped away the tear, 'am I crying for a person?' N asked himself.
"N is right, we need to win this for Paul," Skyla stated while picking herself up from the sadness. She started her journey across the bridge with the rest of her friends and allies following close behind.
Meanwhile May collapsed next to Dawn and tried to wake her up, "Dawn, please wake up," May pushed Dawn to waker her up.
Dawn woke up and noticed Paul's pokeballs resting in her left hand; she started to cry after realising that she would never see Paul again, "why did he do it?" Dawn cried unsure as to why Paul would do this for her and the allies, she slowly got up and walked to the water front, "Paul! No you can't leave me!" Dawn screamed out before falling to her knees, tears falling from her face and into the river that Paul had sacrificed himself in, she looked up to see the war still going, "whoever did this to you Paul, I will make them pay with their lives," Dawn declared angrily as she clenched a fistful of grass and threw the blades of lawn into the wind.
May watched the promise and gained an uneasy feeling of Dawn's declaration of revenge, "Ash and Salvia, I hope you get back here soon, we are going to need your help," May whispered to herself as she walked up to the bluenette who was now seething from the loss of the one she loved.
(Back in Lacunosa Town)
As woke up from his slumber with a sudden sadness washing over him, "I sense someone's aura has completely vanished," Ash told himself while walking out of his room. The trainer headed down the hallway and into the main foyer of the medical facility, he looked out to see that the storm had finally cleared and a table filled with snacks. He walked up to the table and grabbed a small plate and piled on some of the food, after grabbing some food Ash heard the door opening behind him, "Salvia you should get some rest, tomorrow will be a long day," Ash decreed without turning around to see who it was.
"I can't sleep Ash, I am too nervous," Salvia replied while walking up to Ash, she noticed that the left fist of Ash was completely clenched, "is there something wrong?" The princess asked while approaching him.
"Something bad has happened, I can feel it," Ash replied while beginning to shake his head with sadness.
"Ash," Salvia whispered while taking his left hand and held onto it tightly to try and comfort him. She looked up to see Ash crying, a chill ran down her spine it was then that she knew that something was wrong, she moved her left hand to where Ash's tears were and wiped them away, "it was something terrible wasn't it Ash?" Salvia asked while helping Ash place the plate back on the table, she knew that Ash could sense aura.
"You right, I have this feeling that we lost a friend," Ash remarked sadly, his hands were shaking knowing that it was almost time to get involved in the war, "we are almost ready to help our friends," Ash stated while closing his eyes to try and figure out who it was that lost their life in the war. He didn't know, it made him feel angry at the fact he couldn't save a friend, knowing that there was nothing he could have done to save them, he looked down to see Salvia standing next to him, 'what if in that six months, what if I still can't protect her?' Ash wondered to himself.
Salvia looked up to see the prince thinking to himself, "Ash, I will never leave your side," Salvia told the trainer while grabbing his other hand, she moved slowly and placed her arms around Ash to embrace him, "this time I will help you when you are feeling down," Salvia told the trainer while resting her head.
"Thank you Salvia," Ash thankfully embraced the bluenette.
Hope you all like this one, and yes this one was a little bit harsh with what I did, but sadly that is the consequence of war, I simply couldn't make any of Ash's friends immune to the horrors of it.
I will soon have the return of one of the character that hasn't been around for a while, guess who will make a return in two chapters time and you will win a cookie (well not really but still a return to the story)
Next time Episode 56: By the Sword 4