Chapter 12 – Redemption
Despite some initial difficulties, Raynar has changed his opinion towards Mewtwo's relationship with Sarah and has made peace with his former enemies in the Delta Force Four. However, Neo-Cyclone is still a force to be reckoned with despite the loss of their elite Special Forces team, and if anything, their resolve is even stronger in anger towards their betrayal. Was it a bad idea for the Delta Force Four to defect, or was following their hearts the right thing to do after all?
"Master Lettos, the Delta Force Four has defected to our enemies" Derek said sternly. "Hmm…a slight setback, nothing more, assuming others don't follow their lead" Dallon replied. The Delta Force Four's betrayal had placed Dallon in a bind; how should he deal with the traitors while still maintaining the loyalty of his followers? At this point, there seemed to be no alternative to outright and immediate termination. "Derek…you are to find the Delta Force Four, then you are to wipe them out…" Dallon said flatly but with a hint at frustration in his tone, "All of them…" "It shall be done…" Derek responded, bowing low at the waist, "All who stand in our way must be crushed. That is the price of a perfect World…" As Derek turned to leave, Dallon turned towards what seemed to be a wall behind him hidden in shadow. "Everything is going according to plan Master…" Dallon said, bowing in the same manner Derek had done towards him. At that moment, a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the shadows. "Excellent..." a voice replied, "but what is this betrayal I have heard you discussing with Derek K'Tal?" "A Special Forces unit called the Delta Force Four has gone rogue" Dallon answered, "I have sent General K'Tal out to eliminate them before others follow their example." "I see…" the voice said, "the time is near Dallon. Soon, the Day of Judgment will arrive, and then you can bring about the creation of the new World." "How near?" Dallon asked. "About…a week…" the voice replied, "Farewell and good luck…" The eyes disappeared, and Dallon was again alone in the chamber. "Master Lettos!" shouted a Blaziken from behind him. "What is it now Captain?" Dallon asked. "We've retrieved the three items in question, the Adamant, Lustrous, and Griseous Orbs, as you ordered" the Blaziken replied. Dallon grinned and answered, "Excellent work Captain…no, Major Fyre…" "Yes sir! Thank you sir!" the other replied as he made a 180 and walked back out. A few seconds after the newly promoted Major left, Dallon couldn't help but laugh at how easy his success was. In exactly a week, his dream of a new, ideal World would finally become reality.
Meanwhile, Raynar's group had now made it to the base of Mount Arcceonn, at the summit of which was where Vance had said the main Neo-Cyclone base was located. The mountain, which towered at over four miles in height from base to peak, was located at the exact center of the Arcceonn region and was hallowed ground, as it was here that many believed Arceus had entered the universe and therefore, where the universe truly began. "So the base is at the summit of the mountain…" Raynar muttered as he looked up at the peak. "Yep…" Vance replied, "It'll be real tough to get up there, especially once we make it past fifteen thousand feet in altitude. The air up there is quite thin I assure you." "Not a problem" Mewtwo answered, "As long as we conserve our energy, we should be fine." "Yeah…but why do I feel we're being watched?" Sarah asked. "We probably are" Vance replied, "The natives of this mountain defend this place with their lives. The only reason why Neo-Cyclone units can ascend or descend the mountain is because there's safety in numbers." "No, the presence is familiar…" Sarah said when suddenly she recognized an Aura. As if on cue, a gold Lucario faded into view in front of them. "It can't be…" Eva muttered. "Derek! What are you doing here!" Raynar exclaimed. "Simple, I came here to assist you" Derek replied with a warm smile. "Yeah right!" Sarah shouted, "You're a Neo-Cyclone General, why would you help us!" "What!" Raynar exclaimed, "Is…this true!" At this Derek's smile widened into a grin as he replied, "As true as I am alive!" Suddenly, an ethereal blade of pure Aura extended from either of his palms before he said, "Now that we've met again Raynar, why don't you show me how much you've improved in one-to-one combat." Raynar summoned Exomere to his hands, split it into its twin saber form and replied, "Gladly! Everyone stay back, this one's personal!"
Derek and Raynar began to circle each other slowly, probing each other's defenses and holding back aggressive moves. Suddenly, the two lunged at each other and attacked in their full fury, blades of Admantite and Aura colliding with a sound not unlike thunder. They forced each other back and began to circle again before they attacked again. Raynar had the upper hand this time, and forced Derek against a tree. Within an instant, however, Derek had reversed their positions and threw him against a large boulder. Raynar cried out in shock upon impact and fell to the ground on his hands and knees, grasping his side in pain. "Well, I guess that answers the question of who's superior" Derek said as he walked over to Raynar. "How could you Derek!" Raynar shouted angrily, "You've strayed so far from your ideals that I can barely recognize you!" "I've just embraced the fact that this world is unjust and must end" Derek shouted back with an equal amount of anger, "You're the one who's strayed from your ideals!" Raynar wanted to reply, but the pain in his side was too great and so he could only look up at him angrily. "I'm sorry it had to come to this Raynar, but this has to end…" Derek said as he raised his fist in the air for the finishing blow, "Goodbye…" Raynar closed his eyes and prepared for the impact, but just as Derek unleashed his attack, something completely unexpected happened. Mewtwo had gotten between him and Derek and blocked the attack. "You will not harm him any further!" Mewtwo shouted as he blasted Derek away. "I see you want to have a rematch Mewtwo…I warn you though, if you lose, I will not spare you or anyone else here. That is the price that must be paid for an ideal World" Derek said as he dissipated his ethereal blades to power himself up. "Then the price to save this World would be your life! I can't allow you to harm them, no matter what!" Mewtwo replied. "I guess there's only one way to find out…" Derek replied, "Let's end this once and for all!"
The fight between Mewtwo and Derek began as it had for Raynar, but this time, the two leapt high into the air before attacking, using their own psychic abilities to hover. The two attacked so quickly that only the last of the strikes could be seen before Mewtwo and Derek knocked each other back to the ground. Instead of circling again, Derek rushed at Mewtwo with Blaze Kick, but the latter teleported away from the attack just before it would have impacted and reappeared behind Derek before throwing him over his shoulder onto the ground. Derek swept Mewtwo off of his feet and pounced on him, punching him several times in the face while sitting on his chest. Within seconds, Mewtwo reversed their position and was attacking in the same manner. Seconds later, Derek kicked Mewtwo off and put them about to where they had begun their fight. The two charged at each other, Aura Shields in front of either of them. They collided and began pushing towards each other, each trying to shatter the other's barrier. "You fight for the unjust; they do not deserve to live!" Derek shouted. "They have the right to choose for themselves!" Mewtwo shot back just before both of them forced each other back. "Oh really? Why should a murderer be allowed to live and an innocent being die!" Derek retorted. Mewtwo wanted to be able to respond, but he couldn't, mainly because Derek was talking about Mewtwo and all those he had killed. "Doesn't make much sense does it?" Derek replied, "So why should you even fight me when you could obtain a pardon from Arceus himself if you join us!" "Because sometimes, pokemon can change!" Mewtwo shouted furiously, "No matter how deep into the dark one has strayed, there is always a chance at redemption!" Mewtwo lowered his head slightly, glanced at Sarah, and continued, "A young Gardevoir once told me…that sometimes one finds what they least expect in the least expected of forms…and in the knowledge that my friends will be there for me, I have found my redemption!" At that moment, Mewtwo and Derek lunged at each other again, but for some reason, it soon became apparent that Mewtwo was starting to overpower Derek. Mewtwo forced him further and further back until he had him backed to a wall. Mewtwo punched him furiously and rapidly, while Derek did whatever he could to block the onslaught. It wasn't enough, however, as one particularly strong blow struck Derek right in the chest and blast him through the rock and skidding across the ground until he came to an abrupt stop at the base of a tree.
Mewtwo walked over to Derek cautiously, as Derek's Aura still shone brightly. Suddenly, it began to falter and slowly fade. To Mewtwo's despair, he had fatally injured Derek. He went to his side and placed his hand under his head. "I guess…we finally know who's right…" Derek said with a feeble smile. "Derek, you fought well, but you can't slip away now" Mewtwo said, "Don't die on me!" "Heheh…nah…for a while, Neo-Cyclone was the only reason I still existed…finish me off Mewtwo. No one will think any less of you…" Derek answered. Mewtwo could sense everyone around him, and all were waiting to see what he would do. "You may have been my enemy…and you tried to kill my friends…" Mewtwo said, "…but I forgive you. I now give you a second chance!" Derek suddenly began glowing violet as Mewtwo began pouring his Aura into Derek, strengthening the latter's life force more and more until suddenly, Mewtwo sensed Derek's Aura stabilize and return to normal. "You will live Derek, now we need your help" Mewtwo said, "Will you help to save our World." Derek looked over at each of the others, then back at Mewtwo. He spared my life! Perhaps he could change after all… he thought. "You can count on it!" Derek replied.
Meanwhile, not too far away, Dallon was fuming. He had been observing the fight, and now his fear that others would follow the lead of the Delta Force Four would come true; to top it all off, it was his most powerful General. "No-No-NOOOOOOO!" Dallon exclaimed in frustration as he smashed a boulder beneath his fist. "That is it!" he muttered, "This is starting to get way out of hand; I'll have to go ahead with the plan myself! They can't stop me! NO ONE WILL!" "Relax Master Lettos, we don't need him" Major Fyre said flatly from behind him, "We have the powers of time, space and antimatter within our reach, why would we need him?" "Because other than myself, he was the strongest member of Neo-Cyclone! I can't afford to lose him!" Dallon replied furiously, "Think about it, the less power we have on our side, the less likely I am to succeed, and consequently the less likely it is for your daughter to be able to live the life you intended for her. Now do you see my point?" "Yes Master Lettos…" Major Fyre replied in shock, "I never thought of it that way…" "That's why I'm in charge and you're not Major" Dallon replied flatly, "Remember, I wasn't known as The Black Knight of Wyvernia for nothing…but then again, it may be too late for them to stop us, as it will take at least six days for them to reach the base under the best of conditions, and the following day, we will have won."