Chapter 9 – Gigas
Derek, cousin to Sarah's father, Raynar, has joined forces with Neo-Cyclone as their newest General. Despite the shock of this, Sarah received an even bigger shock: Mewtwo not only understood her feelings, but felt the same towards her! Despite this, the two of them must remain level-headed and focused on their objective, which as Raynar found out fifteen years prior, is easier said than done. Ahead of them lies their greatest challenge yet, for one must submit Proof to revive the King…
"Here we are, the Cave of the Ancients" Mewtwo said, gesturing towards the entrance to a cave. "Okay…why do we need to go in there?" Cade asked, looking at the entrance with caution. There was something foreboding about the cave, something that told them they were not meant to be there. Then again, something seemed to draw them towards the cave, as if someone or something was waiting for them inside. "In here, there is someone who can give us something we may need" Mewtwo replied, "But to ensure we aren't attacked while we're inside, I'll need you and Darman to stand guard outside" "Roger that!" Darman replied, saluting Mewtwo as he would have an officer during his days in Cyclone. "Yes sir!" Cade answered in kind as the two took up positions on either side of the entrance. Sarah shook her head in embarrassment before saying, "Well…let's go Mewtwo."
Mewtwo and Sarah had barely taken twenty steps into the cave, and already, it was nearly pitch-black. "Can you see where we're going?" Sarah asked. "No…but I will" Mewtwo replied as he summoned his aura, casting an eerie violet glow on his surroundings, "Now you call on your Aura." Sarah did, the deep blue glow of her own aura also visible now. "I suggest we be careful however, as this makes it just as easy for others to see us as it is for us to see them. We must be cautious to the extreme" Mewtwo warned as he led the way deeper into the cavern, which for now was little more than a tunnel. "I don't like the vibe this place gives off…it's a bit ominous" Sarah whispered. "Don't worry Sarah, no harm will come to you" Mewtwo said sternly, "I won't allow it to happen." At this, Sarah smiled and nodded, glad to be reassured that no matter what, the two of them would look out for each other. He's definitely commited; I knew I wasn't making a mistake! she thought excitedly.
Eventually, the two of them emerged in a massive antechamber, illuminated with adamantite crystals, but what Mewtwo and Sarah saw was nothing short of breathtaking. The crystals that illuminated the cavern were fixed into the tops of several stone pillars, each one carefully crafted and easily reaching a quarter-mile in height. The floor was covered in marble tiles, albeit they were cracked and worn with age, but that in of itself gave it a unique appearance. At the back of the chamber, however, stood a massive statue of a large creature, standing completely motionless but still appearing very much alive. "There is the one we seek…" Mewtwo said, pointing at the statue as the two of them approached. Sarah looked up at the imposing statue and was puzzled; how could a statue be of any help to them? "Stand back…" Mewtwo said. Sarah took several steps back to give Mewtwo some space as Mewtwo raised his arms to either side. Several spheres, one of rock, another of ice, and another of steel began rotating around him at a gradually increasing pace. As they spun faster and faster, they began changing until they had turned into an orange, turquoise and silver ball of energy, now spinning around Mewtwo so fast as to make it seem that they were rings of pure light. "In the embodiments of stone, ice and iron, I reveal my proof, and so I resurrect the King!" he shouted as the three orbs suddenly fired into the statue. For a few seconds, nothing happened, but suddenly, the ground began to shake violently. The six circles on the statue's chest lit up, revealing three pairs of eyes, one red, one blue, and one gray. Finally, the statue began to move, taking a step, then another, and another before the massive creature let out a loud roar. The sound was deafening as it echoed off of the cavern walls, forcing Mewtwo and Sarah to their knees in agony. "Who dares disturb me? I demand to know!" the creature bellowed. "Regigigas, calm yourself!" Mewtwo exclaimed when suddenly he was grabbed in the creature's massive hand. "Mortal…do you have any idea who you are dealing with!" Regigigas shouted as he tightened his grip. "Mortal? Hah! I'm immortal" Mewtwo replied flatly, "So you and I are on an equal footing." "Immortal you say?" Regigigas said, pausing to think before adding, "There is only one way to determine if what you say is true. If you can battle me and survive, you will have proven your worth…" "Mewtwo, don't!" Sarah shouted up at Mewtwo. "I'm in no position to argue with him Sarah, I have no choice" Mewtwo said before answering Regigigas, "I accept." "Very well then…but I believe this place is unsuitable for battle…let us change the scenery a bit…" Regigigas replied.
Meanwhile, outside, Cade and Darman were still ducked down after feeling the tremors, wary of a possible aftershock. "Do you think Sarah and Mewtwo are alright?" Cade asked. "I hope so Cade, I hope so" Darman replied when suddenly a much more violent tremor shook the ground. The two of them closed their eyes, waiting for the inevitable rockslide, but none came. When they finally opened their eyes, they found themselves looking at quite a sight to behold. Four pillars formed the corners of a rectangular battlefield, the floor of which forming an ornate mosaic of the Arceus' Sigil, also the national symbol of Arcceonn in the distant past under Raynar II. At one end of the battlefield, marked by a blue line at the edge of the battlefield, stood Mewtwo, Aura flared up and ready for battle, while at the other end, marked by a red line in the same location, stood the King of the Regis, Regigigas, a pokemon Cade and Darman had heard about but never thought had existed. "It's Regigigas!" Darman exclaimed in horror. "This is the one you thought would help us! Way to go Mewtwo!" Cade shouted sarcastically. Sarah ran over to them and shouted, "Get down! They're going to battle!"
Just at that moment, Mewtwo charged at Regigigas, taking advantage of the fact Regigigas was still a bit sluggish, although Mewtwo knew he had only five minutes tops before Regigigas was at full power. Regigigas, despite being slowed, raised a fist and punched Mewtwo in midair, sending him sprawling on his back across the ground. He seems to be able to compensate to a degree for his low speed Mewtwo thought, Damn! Mewtwo stood back up and charged again, but this time, Regigigas kicked him back, much faster than his punch. Mewtwo recovered in midair, realizing only now that he had been a bit off in his calculations. Five minutes…more like five seconds… Mewtwo thought as he shrugged off the damage inflicted upon him; unlike in his previous battles, he would have to go all-out. Regigigas charged at him, attempting to seize him with Crush Grip, but just as Regigigas almost had him, Mewtwo teleported away from Regigigas before flinging him into a pillar with Psychic, knocking the obelisk down upon impact. No sooner did Regigigas get back up than it was attacking again, this time by picking up then throwing the fallen pillar like a javelin. Mewtwo teleported away again, the attack nearly connecting despite his swift evasion. I need to be more careful… Mewtwo thought as he was forced to evade yet another Crush Grip. "This can't go on like this!" Mewtwo shouted as he picked up the fallen pillar with Psychic and swung it at Regigigas like a bat, slamming the pokemon high into the air. Mewtwo followed, but Regigigas had anticipated the move perfectly and fired Hyper Beam. Mewtwo took the full force of the impact head-on, but kept going despite the searing pain. He struck the massive Juggernaut with Focus Punch, slamming him back into the ground and causing yet another tremor. Mewtwo watched from the air, hoping Regigigas was finished. Suddenly, Regigigas stood back up as if unharmed, much to Mewtwo's dismay. "Aw c'mon!" Mewtwo shouted angrily, "You've got to be kidding me!" Regigigas looked back up at Mewtwo and fired another Hyper Beam, but just then, Mewtwo realized something, the greatest foe to everyone is themselves. Mewtwo quickly used Barrier, reflecting the full force of the attack back at Regigigas. The pokemon roared as he was struck by his own attack, a massive explosion erupting from where he stood that kicked up a massive dust cloud. Mewtwo landed on the ground near the hole and looked inside. Regigigas was still conscious…barely. "Ugh…you're quite a fighter…what is it you seek?" he said, barely able to support himself on his arms as he tried to stand up. "I seek support Regigigas" Mewtwo replied, "I will call for you when the time is right; the fate of Arcceonn and the entire world hangs in the balance!" "Understood…farewell and good luck along your way…" Regigigas replied, "Now if you don't mind, I need some time to recover…" At that, the pokemon fell asleep yet again, Mewtwo teleporting over to the others and saying, "Brain beats brawn any day."
A few hours later, the group being too tired to move on after the incident with Regigigas, set up camp in the center of the battlefield, knowing that Regigigas alone would be more than enough to scare off intruders…well, most of them anyways. "…So that's why I say if you're in a military, if it moves, salute it. If it doesn't, bury it. If you can't bury it, paint it" Cade said as he and Darman finished talking about a story from their days in Cyclone. "Guess that's one way to stash a stiff" Sarah replied, Mewtwo shrugging in response. "Perhaps" he said. "Speaking of…" Cade began when he noticed a powerful grip on his throat. Mewtwo was holding him by the neck again using Psychic. "Don't go there Cade. It's a bad idea…" Mewtwo said sternly. "Okay! Can you get go please?" Cade replied, half choking as he did. Mewtwo released his grip, Cade grasping at his throat. "What were they implying?" Sarah asked, completely oblivious to what had just happened. "They were referring to a particular activity between you and me" Mewtwo answered, "One that's best kept between the two of us." Sarah, now realizing what that meant, slapped her hand to her forehead and shook it slowly back and forth. "Boys…" she muttered. Cade and Darman looked at them, then at each other. "It was him!" Cade and Darman exclaimed, pointing at each other. "Just forget it, what has been can never be undone" Mewtwo replied as he lay down to go to sleep. "Hmm…well, I guess I'll hit the sack. Night all!" Cade said as he too fell asleep. "I'll take the first shift for guard duty, don't worry about me" Darman said as he took up a stakeout position in a tree nearby. Sarah nodded and lied down next to Mewtwo; she remembered what her father had told her: sometimes one finds what they least expect in the least expected of forms. This holds true, for in Mewtwo, she had found love.
About two hours later, Darman was watching the surrounding area, prepared to defend against intruders. Something wasn't right about his surroundings; there was an odd chill in the air, a sign of ghost pokemon being in the area. It wasn't that fact that had Darman on alert; it was the fact that somebody he knew to be an enemy was a ghost type. Sure enough, a shadowy figure materialized before him, he was mostly dark in color with a gray head, muscular arms, a yellow antenna on his head and a single, luminous red eye. "Hello Darman…" he said in an all-too-familiar voice that caused Darman to shiver from fear. "Dallon Lettos…" Darman said coldly, readying his blades, "You have a lot of nerve coming after us like this." "I'm not here to fight if that's what you mean" Dallon replied flatly, devoid of all emotion, "I already know all I need to defeat you…" "What do you mean?" Darman asked suspiciously. "Quite simple really, I'd been spying on you for some time now, and I am aware of your vulnerabilities, PARTICULARLY Mewtwo's…" Dallon replied, his tone unchanging. "What the…if you lay a finger on Sarah, I swear I'll kill you!" Darman exclaimed as he slashed Dallon, only for the attack to go right through. "How amusing…you're going to kill a ghost…" Dallon said with a wide grin, "But do not fret my old comrade…this all just…a bad dream." At that moment, Dallon grabbed Darman an overwhelmed him with Shadow Energy, knocking him out and wiping his memory of their meeting yet leaving no trace of battle damage. "All too easy…" Dallon muttered before he disappeared into the black of the night.