Chapter 2: Walking trees and vampires
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"Hay Rhen let go of me, your killing me" gasped Welton as he tried to break free from Rhen's embrace. Rhen released him as she dried her eye "it's just so good to see that you're still in one peace" said Rhen "you do know that you owe me for your request" interrupted Dianna getting impatient. "I'm sorry but we're kind of short on money" said Rhen as she searched her gown only to find a few cents "ok don't worry this ones on me but remember this, you owe me extra the next time you ask for help" replied Dianna. "He he ok I'll be sure to keep that in mind" chuckled Rhen as she and the others waved goodbye to Tammy and Dianna "I can't help but to think I've seen that Gardevoir before" thought Tammy.
The group had now made it back into the plaza and was still thinking as to where to go next "you know I don't think we searched the Black Forest hard enough" suggested Rhen looking at her map that was given to her from the training academy. "If that's the case then we shall head back there" said Welton "again? But I don't want to take another step in those woods again" said Ti'e'yong acting a little bit scared. "Oh Ti'e'yong I didn't see you there, what brings you here?" asked Welton in surprise "I helped Rhen carry you to safety" answered Ti'e'yong "well it's nice to see you again, and especially since I got two thing you would like to see" said Welton.
Welton looked at Rhen as she nodded her head at him; she reached under her gown and pulled out the emerald that she obtained from Gligon's cave "oh wow it looks so pretty" said Ti'e'yong as she gazed amazingly at the shiny green gem. "Would it be no harm if I'd asked if I can hold it?" asked Ti'e'yong "sure you can, you deserved it" giggled Rhen and gave her the emerald. Ti'e'yong pointed the emerald toward the bright yellow sun as the emerald then gave off a radiant green light "now for that surprise I promised to give to you" said Welton. When the young Roserade heard what Welton had said she ran up to him begging to know "what is it huh, huh" Ti'e'yong overreacted as she hoped up and down on the spot. Ok, ok calm down, right until now me and Rhen had thought that the road ahead of us will be so much fun that we decided to ask you something, Ti'e'yong would you like to join us on our little adventure?" asked Welton. Ti'e'yong went silent as to what she heard "umm Ti'e'yong are you alright?" asked Welton. Ti'e'yong then ran up and hugged Welton as she burst into tears "oh Welton I'd be happy to go with you, this is more then I would have dreamed of" cried Ti'e'yong as her tears ran down Welton's robes even Rhen was surprised with the outcome. "Well then shall we be off, we got to see what that forest is hiding" said Rhen as Ti'e'yong released Welton and brushed away the tears "Thank you Welton I could never be more happier then this, but still I don't think we should go…" before Ti'e'yong said anything else Welton lifted the Roserade up onto his shoulders "whee this is fun" giggled Ti'e'yong knowing that she was given a piggyback "ok then let make a move, to the Black Forest we go" said Welton. Rhen looked at the happy Gallade and Roserade as they walked out of the main gate "you better give me one of those on the way back Welton" said Rhen. Everyone laughed as they set off to the forest.
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After a while our heroes were yet again standing face to face at the Black Forest. "You better stand back Ti'e'yong, heaven knows what lies in wait for us" warned Welton as he readied his staff "umm you don't have to, I've got this" answered Ti'e'yong and forced out a whip from within her flowers which looked like it was from a stem of a rose and gave it a little flick. "Well that just might help, come on let go" said Rhen as they all walked into the darkness of the Black Forest.
Our heroes had now emerged from another exit from the Black Forest and other then Ti'e'yong who came out unscratched Rhen and Welton came out with their uniforms filled with tiny cuts. "Ti'e'yong sure overreacted didn't she" said Rhen looking at her damaged gown "that must've been her first battle" replied Welton. Then they realised they were in another area when they noticed a tall gothic looking gate which put a chill down Ti'e'yong's spine "we should turn back I don't think I can go any further" worried Ti'e'yong. She then noticed that Rhen was holding her hand like flower "I scared to, but still we got to see what's beyond this gate" said Rhen trying to bring back her courage. Welton and the others slowly approached the gate and together pushed it open with a loud rusty sound. "Well let's see what this place hides" said Welton as he and the other walked close together into unknown territory.
Soon they all entered a little village called Vampton home of dark type Pokémon. Rhen and the others were now staring down at the little dark village "this place is too dangerous, what are we thinking as to coming here" said Rhen looking down noticing a few dark Pokémon's wondering around the place. "Umm I think that's not a problem since I got something here that might protect us" said Ti'e'yong as she reached into her bag and pulled out a few Kasib berries and handed them out. "Boy how can we ever thank you" said Welton as he kept the berry close to him. They all walked down the hill and enter the village while remaining calm of the surrounding dark types who were glaring at them. All the houses surrounding them were all blue with lots of chipped brick filled with cobwebs which gave this place a scary feel; they even noticed all the trees here were blotting out the sun which seemed like it was night time. Then they saw one house all alone that had a red roof and it seemed very clean "there's something strange about that house, want to take a look?" asked Welton. Rhen and Ti'e'yong gulped as they nodded their heads in agreement as Welton took the scared Pokémon up to the house and knocked on the door. The door slowly opened with a silent creaky noise and our heroes slowly went inside where they were then greeted with the doors slammed shut behind causing Rhen and Ti'e'yong hugged Welton in fear "will you two please calm down, its only the door" said Welton trying to maintain his temper. Then they all heard something shifting above them, they looked up to see an Absol wearing a school uniform similar to that of Ti'e'yong's one "you know it rude to just walk into people's houses without permission" said the Absol and leaped off from a roof banister and landed right in front of Welton with her scythe drawn but before she could strike something horrid was pulling her back.
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"Yuck what is that smell. It smells horrible!" said the Absol ditching her scythe as she backed off into a corner "and don't even think about pulling that stunt again" warned Welton readying an attack. The Absol got down on her knees and begged for mercy "please don't harm me, I could be of some use to you, besides I got enough problems as it is" said the Absol. "And what makes you think you can help us, you're a dark type for god sake" said Welton as Ti'e'yong peaked to see who the Absol was "Trivain is that you?" asked Ti'e'yong. Rhen and Welton looked at Ti'e'yong in shock "you know this fiend" they both said "yes she and I meet a while back in the training academy although we were in different grades, not to mention she was a bully sometimes, like that Shinx for instant" explained Ti'e'yong as Trivain got up from the floor "but he deserved it, he stole my potato chips" shouted Trivain Rhen and Welton looked at each other "all that for a lousy pack of potato chips" shrugged Rhen as Trivain then began to tell them what was wrong here.
"So you're saying that every once in a while a large beam of light shots out from the forest which causes dark types to faint for about 12 hours?" asked Welton after listening to the tale "yes and if attends to continue we all will become a laughing stock so if you can, can you help us out?" asked Trivain "I'd rather let them all suffer" Rhen whispered in Welton's ear. Then Ti'e'yong walked up to Trivain and said "we will be happy to help you, right guys" Rhen and Welton glared at Ti'e'yong "what are you doing, don't you realise what you are doing" whispered Rhen trying to change her mind "but I want to, besides I see something in Trivain that tells us that we should trust her" said Ti'e'yong. Rhen gave out a sigh and then turn towards Trivain "ok we're in but you better not reward us with a dark pulse" said Rhen "my lips are sealed" replied Trivain as the other left the house.
"What's gotten in to you, don't you realise what you are doing" said Welton "don't look at me, it was Ti'e'yong who agreed to the task" replied Rhen looking at Ti'e'yong. "What, why?!" shouted Welton "there was one thing I forgot to tell you, you see when we were at play scheme I had this cute plush toy that my grandmother gave to me before she passed away, it was my prized possessions, until a Cubone came along and snatched it from me, I knew he was going to do something terrible to it so I burst into tears hoping that he would have a change of heart, but then Trivain came she saw me crying as the Cubone beat my plush top with his bone so she marched right up to him and knocked him down on the ground with her razor wind, the Cubone then ran off crying like a little Cleffa ditching my toy as he did, Trivain picked up my top and walked over to me and tapped my shoulder, I tried to compose myself as I looked up to see Trivain holding my plush toy which was covered with mud, I took the toy and thanked Trivain but she nothing but instead smiled at me and then went off doing her own thing, and that when I realised that there was something different about her" explained Ti'e'yong. "Hmm a dark type with a kind heart, I never seen such thing" wondered Rhen "I couldn't agree with you more, come on let move so we can see what Trivain is hiding" said Welton as he and the others walked up to the Crimson Woods.
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The Crimson Woods was slightly like the Black Forest only the tree were all grouped together and they were all blue "this place looks more creepier then the other forest" worried Ti'e'yong. Suddenly they saw the beam of light that Trivain mentioned shot out from the forest "so that's it then, let's hurry before things get out of hand" said Welton as he took his staff in hand and entered the forest along sided by Rhen and Ti'e'yong.
As they entered the forest they walked by a very old tree but the three decided to ignore it and continue onwards knowing that it would be quicker than just inspecting it. But no matter how many times they pressed forwards they kept on ending up back at the old tree "ok this is really starting to annoy me" said Rhen in a grumpy tone "there got to be a way, there always is a way" said Welton looking around hoping to find something. Then Ti'e'yong noticed something on the old tree, she walked up to it and saw something written on it "only she who utilizes its power shall open a new road" Ti'e'yong read out loud to the others "ok so this shouldn't be a problem" said Welton and charged up a basic fireball and launched it at the tree, but it was no use the tree still stood there intact. "Great now what" said Rhen getting more annoyed, suddenly she heard a voice which sounded like Jane "use the emerald of loyalty" said the voice. Rhen reached down her gown and pulled out the shiny emerald and with little hesitation she shattered the gem from the palm of her hand and at that moment several green glowing orbs rotated around her and then impaled into her chest. Then she vanished in a puff of smoke for a few seconds and as the smoke cleared Welton and Ti'e'yong looked in amusement as the Gardevoir was now wearing some sort of ninja uniform. "Wow how did you do that Rhen?" asked Ti'e'yong in excitement "it must have been the emeralds doing" replied Rhen looking at the new self. She was wearing a dark green sneaking uniform; her head was wrapped round with a green mask only reviling her stunning blue eyes and was wearing a ninja tool belt around her waist. Rhen gazed at the old tree and then pulled out an explosive kunai and then chucked it and impacted the old tree and then exploded. "Good lord that was some explosion" coughed Welton as smoke filled the area, when the smoke cleared the tree had blown up leaving behind a small hole "well there our ticket onwards" said Ti'e'yong.
They all looked down the hole to see how deep it was "it's not so bad its only a small drop and then we have to crawl our way along to the other side" said Rhen still in her loyalty form "well let's not dawdle let's get out of this repeated area" said Welton and climbed down the hole. Rhen looked at Ti'e'yong who was looking a bit scared "what wrong Ti'e'yong?" she asked "it that hole, who know what may lurk beneath there" worried Ti'e'yong "don't worry don't forget I'm right behind you, so come on let's do this together" cheered Rhen as Ti'e'yong sucked up her courage and climbed down the hole followed by Rhen close behind. "Looks like Welton went on ahead, just my kind of Gallade" Rhen said to herself "huh what was that Rhen, did you say you liked Welton?" asked Ti'e'yong looking a bit curious as she continued along the tunnel "huh? Oh it's nothing just me and myself acting silly again" laughed Rhen as they pressed on to the exit.
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Rhen and Ti'e'yong had eventually made it out the hole and reunited with Welton "I see you had fun while in there" said Welton looking at the pair who were covered with dirt "you could say that we did" giggled Rhen as she patted Ti'e'yong's pink hair. Then they all noticed something shining in a distance, they all walked to it and it turned out to be another gemstone which was a sunstone "so this was the cause of it" said Rhen as she was about to walk up and retrieve it. "Careful Rhen, it might be a trap" warned Welton as Rhen turned towards him "well then can you please make sure of it" said Rhen winking at him. Welton sighed as he walked up to the sunstone and reached out to obtain it but his hand passed right through it "it is a trap!" Welton called out to the other when all of a sudden they were surrounded by a group of Sableyes.
"What on earth are those things?" asked Rhen as the Sableyes draw out their blades and approached them slowly "I don't know but they aren't here for an autograph, that's for sure" answered Welton as he as he and the others readied their weapons. Everyone split up each taking a group of Sableyes with them, Rhen stopped running and faced the oncoming Sableyes "time to make use of these tools" thought Rhen and pulled out several random ninja tools and lobbed them at the Sableyes which took out half of the pack and yet the surviving Sableyes still approached her with their tinted blades. "This is starting to look grim" thought Rhen as she slowly walked backwards only to bump into Welton who was also having the same problem "you to huh" he said as the pair were completely surrounded. Ti'e'yong had just finished lashing the last Sableye of the group when she noticed Rhen and Welton were in trouble so she looked up at the trees and whistled a little tune while she prayed. From that moment a glimmering crystal Starly shot through the trees and perched itself on Ti'e'yong's shoulder, Ti'e'yong whispered an attack to the Starly which nodded its head in agreement, it took off into the air and in one clean glide it bashed its way around the Sableyes surrounding Rhen and Welton.
Ti'e'yong watched in amusement as one by one the Sableyes vanished into nothingness freeing Rhen and Welton "what just happened?" thought Rhen looking around to see who it was "it weren't me that's for sure" said Welton. The pair then noticed Ti'e'yong as she just realest the crystal Starly back to where it came from "wow, what was that?" asked Rhen "that was one of my trusted Pokémon, you see somehow I have the ability to summon lots of Pokémon to aid me, but I don't know where I got it from" explained Ti'e'yong brushing off her school uniform after the battle ended. "So this was nothing but a setup so we best keep an eye open in case there's more" suggested Welton "oh come on now Welton we took out like a big group of them, surly they wouldn't send in any more" charmed Rhen while Ti'e'yong looked at her in suspicion. Then the group then noticed the same beam of light shot out the forest not far from them "well looks like we not far from our goal" said Rhen pointing at the light. The group then headed off deeper into the forest taking it nice and slowly while Ti'e'yong monitored Rhen walking extremely close to Welton "is she in love with him or something" she wondered.
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"There it is" said Rhen as she pointed at the real sunstone which continued to emit beams of light towards the sky which was sitting on a tree stomp in the middle of an open meadow "careful Rhen, it could be another trap" said Welton. Rhen stood still and then again turned towards Welton "well then could you then please retrieve the sunstone" tempted Rhen as she looked at Welton with an innocent look on her face, "oh man not again, ok this one's on me" Welton sighed and walked past Rhen and stood in front of the sunstone and then took a deep breath and reached his hand towards the sunstone, as he touched it he pulled his hand back to check if anything was triggered but nothing happened so then again he reached out and grabbed the sunstone and held it up high as a sign that it was theirs. "We did it, we solved the case now let's hurry back to Vampton" celebrated Ti'e'yong, Welton nodded and walked back to the others however he was unable to move so he looked down to notice some roots imprisoning his legs, then he noticed something moving behind Rhen and Ti'e'yong "hay look behind you, it's another trap!" Welton called out Rhen and Ti'e'yong turned round only to confront two big oak trees,
"Eek! There moving" screamed Ti'e'yong as she hid behind Rhen "oh come now surly it's just a trick to scare us away" suggested Rhen, she then regretted what she had said as one of the trees hit the pair with its branches sending them right next to Welton "right I am so not bribing for this" growled Rhen as she helped Ti'e'yong up and draw out their weapons and engaged in combat, even though they put up a good fight they kept on getting tossed back over and over again due to the trees overwhelming size "this isn't working, we need Welton for this" suggested Rhen "but he's trapped over there how can we free him?" asked Ti'e'yong as she went to try again Rhen then looked over to Welton "Welton have you still got that sunstone?" she called, Welton nodded his head and tossed the sunstone over to her but then Ti'e'yong was yet again beaten by the tree and bashed into Rhen shoving her out of the way, as Ti'e'yong landed on the ground she felt some lumpy shards on her back so she got up and realised that it was the sunstone.
Suddenly a few yellow spheres surrounded her and drove right into her chest, three seconds past and suddenly a column of fire shot out of the ground and trapped Ti'e'yong inside "What on earth is that" pointed Rhen as the column began to die out, Rhen and Welton looked in amazement as a body of fire in a shape that of Ti'e'yong was all that was left "wow Ti'e'yong you look smashing now let's see what it can do" cheered Rhen. Ti'e'yong looked at her shiny self "this looks so cool I'd wish it would last" thought Ti'e'yong and forced out her whip which was also on fire and lunged into battle, since the trees have no brain they still went to battle the blazing Ti'e'yong not knowing of how rubbish they were, Ti'e'yong started twirling around to create a blazing mini tornado and scorched the dim-witted oak trees "she sure was filled with hot air" joked Welton as the roots around his legs withdraw back into the ground. "Aww over already" moaned Ti'e'yong as she reverted back into her normal self "no matter we got what we need so shall we head back to Vampton?" said Rhen as the others were ready to head back.
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The group was just nearing the exit but then all of a sudden the trees shifted and blocked the way out which insulted our heroes "this is really annoying, it's one after another with this" growled Welton as he prepared a fire spell "that won't be necessary" said a old voice. The group turned round and saw what looked to be an old Shiftry from out of nowhere, his body was the same colour as the trees, his hair was long and also brown, and he looked blind but somehow he is still able to see. "Umm excuse me but do you know another way out of this forest?" asked Rhen, the Shiftry glared at then and gave a strange smile "that was the only way out but unfortunately I can't let you leave" he said "what do you mean?" asked Welton as he slowly readied his weapon "why you have something that we need, and you Rhen I know for a fact that it was you who froze my masters demon Pokémon Gligon" again he said. When he mentioned the word Gligon Rhen immediately pulled out her sword "so you're another one of those fiends, I will warn you that you are outnumbered three-to-one!" shouted Rhen, "oh ho ho! No matter its still fair on me" he said and placed his hands like leaves flat on the ground. Suddenly the ground began to shake as very slowly a huge oak tree grew from beneath everyone's feet and continued growing until it towered over the entire forest "I Barkson shall make sure you will never leave this forest unscathed" he introduced as the tree stopped growing, the group looked around and realised that they were roughly 1011 feet high.
"I am more stronger then you think, you will not have what it takes" Barkson called out from the other end of the tree, surprisingly everyone didn't fall from the tree it was like the branches were everywhere "what makes you think you will win, we beat one of your masters demon Pokémon we would surely beat you" Rhen called back feeling confident but then all of a sudden her loyalty form reverted and was now back to her normal self "well that went well" shrugged Welton as the shattered emerald reformed itself but this time it was black as coal "ho ho what timing looks like you won't be taking forms for a while" laughed Barkson "we still going to beat you" said Ti'e'yong as she and the others draw out their weapons and charged towards Barkson who stood firmly on top of the tree. Then without hesitation he gave the others a grim smile as he sank beneath the leaves "coward come out here and fight!" shouted Rhen slashing the leaves along with the others hoping to find him, at that moment Welton looked behind him to see a trail of rustling leaves heading towards them "everyone he round here!" he called out, Rhen and Ti'e'yong gathered round and waited for the rustling leaves to draw near to them and when the leaves got too close the group stabbed their weapons upon it, silence filled the area as the leaves stopped moving "did we get him?" said Ti'e'yong just then the leaves began to rustle again and all of a sudden a huge branch shot out from the ground knocking the group back and landing near the edge of the tree " you nothing more than a pair of selfish Shroomish you will have no victory" said Barkson as he walked up from behind the group as they laid helplessly on the leaves, the group jump back on their feet and kept a safe distance "well trick us all you want eventually we will defeat you" said Rhen "but we must come up with a plan to get him right where we want him" suggested Welton.
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While they tried to think of a plan they continued to fight hoping to get Barkson down to his knees but that didn't go very well since each time the group got so close Barkson would turn his leaves into branches and lash the group back, "he can't hope to continue on like this, he must be knackered by now" panted Welton trying to maintain his stance "and yet you still fight when you still got no might, fair enough" said Barkson and planted his hand like leaves down on the tree and suddenly a wave of big sharp branches homed in on the group, luckily Ti'e'yong and Welton were on the sideline so they rolled out of the way quickly unfortunately Rhen was dead in the middle which meant she had no time to escape, the branched shot up from underneath and sent Rhen high in the air from there Barkson saw his chance he quickly summoned little branch like springs from under his feet and thrust him into the air, when Rhen reached the peak of her launch Barkson was above her waiting to seal the deal, again he turned his arms into branches and slammed her down by performing an overhead hammer attack, Rhen drop at intense speed and then plummet into the tree.
"Rhen!" Ti'e'yong and Welton both shouted as they rushed over to the tiny crater in the tree, they both saw her laying in the centre she was out cold "pitiful this is much too easy, why there is no point in fighting" said Barkson as he brushed his hair "he might have a point I mean he took Rhen out didn't he" worried Ti'e'yong. Welton then noticed something shining in the palm of Rhen's hand, it was the emerald of loyalty and it had regain its colour again, Welton dash over to Rhen and took the emerald and ran back over to Ti'e'yong "hmm was that the gemstone that my master asked Gligon to guard?" asked Barkson "indeed it is but you're not getting this" replied Welton and crushed the emerald and went into loyalty form, unlike Rhen's loyalty uniform Welton wore a black robe and had a bandana round his nose and mouth, Ti'e'yong quickly looked in her little bag and pulled out the sunstone of time, it to still had its colour so she crushed it and went into time form "oh ho this is going to be entertaining" said Barkson in amusement "you'd best be prepared because we're not holding back" warned Welton getting his tools ready while Ti'e'yong was still blazing in beautiful flames.
Without hesitation Welton began throwing lots of kunai at Barkson but before they reached him he summoned a branch to take on the oncoming kunai, he kept it there until all of the kunai were stabbed into the branch "oh come on is that all?" said Barkson, he soon got his answer as Ti'e'yong came running towards with her blazing whips drawn, he then maintain his place as Ti'e'yong was closing in fast and when she was in range with him she began to lash out in an incinerating barrage attack which looked far too powerful, as she continued her attack the place slowly began to fill up with smoke due to the powerful flames she was using. Then the smoke became so thick it blocked almost everyone's point of view "surely you must've got him by now" coughed Welton who was deep within the smoke, but as the fog slowly began to fade away Welton looked in fear as Barkson had lifted Ti'e'yong off her feet and began to choke her "no stop!" cried Welton.
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"Such aggression, I never thought I seen something from a young Roserade such as yourself" Barkson said to Ti'e'yong as she had her eyes tightly closed and had her flower like hands clinging on Barkson arms, despite being a body of fire it seemed Barkson was not in any pain at all "unhand her this instant!" demanded Welton as he homed in on the wicked demon Pokémon "heh if you insist" grinned Barkson and hurled Ti'e'yong with great strength at Welton, using himself as a wall he readied himself to stop Ti'e'yong but as usual Ti'e'yong bashed into Welton sending them both on the ground, Ti'e'yong quickly sat up as she gasped for air "you alright?" worried Welton knowing her age " umm I'll be alright I think, but he won't be" answered Ti'e'yong as she looked over at Barkson who stood there without a simple scar. "See look at all this mess you're going through, and all because of this simple gemstone I ask kindly for" shrugged Barkson as Welton and Ti'e'yong struggled to lifted themselves back up they were almost on their knees and were in bad shape "I'll give you one final chance, revert from your forms and give me the two gemstones" asked Barkson as he held out his hand like leaves, Welton and Ti'e'yong looked at each other for a few seconds and forced themselves to revert back into their normal selves, the two gemstones then appeared in their hands with its dense black look "see it's that simple now if you'd be so kind" said Barkson who still stood there with his hand like leaves out in front. The pair looked at their gemstones and gave a nervous sigh as they both then put the gemstone back in their pocket "what's this, you dare reject the offer?" said Barkson giving a tiny angry look "we are her for one reason, and that reason is… to gather all eight" answered Welton as Ti'e'yong slowly nodded her head in agreement, silence filled the sky for a few seconds "pitiful, I gave you an offer to spare you and your friends lives, and yet you still choose to decline it!" bellowed Barkson and landed a strong blow at Ti'e'yong's stomach which forced her down on her knees whilst clinging her stomach in pain, then he followed up with a big kick at Ti'e'yong lower part of the neck which sent her straight along the leaves.
Welton couldn't stand the pain she was in so he tried his very best to stop Barkson, but it was no use as Barkson kept fighting back with tremendous strength one clean blow to the face sent Welton backwards in pain as he landed right beside Ti'e'yong, they both looked at each other they knew that they were unable to continue "I'm sorry I couldn't beat him" whispered Welton "so I guess this is it, Welton I'm scared" quivered Ti'e'yong as she slowly held Welton's hand "now isn't this touching, this reminds me as to how close my master was to her sister" said Barkson as he slowly walked up to the downed pair "please don't let it end like this" begged Ti'e'yong as she became more worried when she heard Barkson's footsteps getting louder " I'm sorry but there's no other way, to ensure my masters plan goes in full swing his demon Pokémon and I have to be rid of anyone who attempts to gather the gemstones before use" said Barkson as he loomed over Ti'e'yong and Welton. He then picked up the two gemstones which have fallen out of their pocket "well I guess that's that, now for the sadist part of the moment" sighed Barkson and transformed his arms into sharp ended branched and was ready to seal their fate for good.
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But before he did he looked over at the small crater which Rhen had made and then quickly ran up to it when he noticed the Rhen was no longer there "what's going on, I thought we were going to be goners" questioned Ti'e'yong "I really don't know, do you think it has something to do with Rhen?" said a perplexed Welton, Barkson continued to look around for Rhen "I know you're here somewhere, you can't survived the drop off from this tree" Barkson called out hoping for Rhen to show herself, just then he heard what believed to be Rhen's voice "you may have the might, but you haven't got the heart" and at that moment Rhen shot out from below Barkson's feet and sent him up in the air, she then followed up with a few swings of her sword and topped it off by thrusting her leg down on Barkson's stomach sending him down and plummeted into the tree, Barkson quickly flipped himself back on the ground only to confront Rhen in a heat of combat, loads of attack came at every angle making it too difficult for Barkson to defend, then Barkson got and unexpected hit from Rhen's clean eagle kick which then ended with an uppercut sword attack sending Barkson off his feet and landing on his back.
"Damn you, you caught me with good timing" panted Barkson as he lied there with so many cuts and bruises "face it Barkson when it comes down to a part as to ending friends lives, I simply cannot allow it to happen" said Rhen, Barkson growled loudly in anger as he got up from the ground and then tried to lay down loads of blows using his sharp ended branches but to no advantage they were all blocked with tremendous speed "this isn't possible no one can get the best of me!" shouted Barkson as he continued with his attack, "you just don't get it do you, your letting it all out therefore you'll never win" answered Rhen who also continued to parry the oncoming attacks, than Barkson stop attacking and took a huge leap away from her and from there slammed his branches down on the leaves and again summoned a wave of branches "this is where it all end!" shouted Barkson with an angry look in his face, but then he looked in shock as Rhen began to run towards it rather than evading it, Rhen leaped forward towards the wave with her sword at the ready and with one big downwards swing she split the wooden wave in half and continued to run towards Barkson which he was now in an immobilized state "this can't be right, it just can't!" shouted Barkson who struggled to get his branches out from the leaves "this Barkson, is where you shall be finished!" cried Rhen and finished him with one final blow.
Silence filled the area as Barkson stood there while Rhen was behind him with her sword lowered "and yet I thought no one could ever beat me…" said Barkson and collapse onto the leaves he had been defeated, suddenly the giant oak tree everyone was standing on began to sink back into the ground, as the crack on the surface reformed Rhen walked over to Barkson's non-beating body and picked up the emerald of loyalty and the sunstone of time, then she walked over to Welton and Ti'e'yong who had eventually recovered from their injuries and got back up on their feet "case closed" celebrated Ti'e'yong as they all knew that the case of Vampton's beam of light was finely solved.