Kates' P.O.V

I groaned as I got up from where I laid on the floor. Seren, Isaac and Rythmi were laid around me. We had just beaten Ice, but the sly bastard made it so once the Blue Orb Machine thingy was down it would explode. He booby trapped us and we fell for it.

But I wasn't focused on that; Ice had ran off, so he was gone. The thing I was focused on was the fact that the darkness was seeping through the walls stronger, more powerful.

I groaned, my body was cut, slashed, bruised and possibly scarred. I could feel my legs wanting to give out, I was exhausted. Blood ran down my stomach from a nasty gash on my chest as I staggered over to Seren to wake her.

She groaned as she moved around before sitting up. Most of the damage she sustained was taken to her arms. They were cut, bruised and scarred. But there was one ugly gash on her face that drew attention to her. Seren wouldn't mind, she wasn't one for looks anyway, explains why she likes Kellyn.

I shook Rythmi next, her damage was taken to the back where a large piece of wall had fallen, and broken, on her. There was blood seeping through her top, though I don't think she cared at this moment, she was both bruised and would be scarred.

Isaac was the final person to wake up, his damage having been taken to his legs. I could tell, just by the way he sat, that one of his legs was broken. The rest were cut and bloody from injuries.

"Isaac, can you stand?" I asked as the girls and I stood around him. It was a failed attempt as Isaac tried to stand up.

Ignoring the pain in her back, Rythmi helped him to his feet, slipped her arm around her waist and supported him to the stairs.

We walked over rubble, avoided the injured and dead pokemon, who were being taken care of from pokemon from other levels. I looked over to see Buizel laid on the ground, almost motionless. If it wasn't for the slight rise and fall of his chest, I would have thought he was dead.

Glaceon popped him up into her back as we all proceeded forwards, up the stairs towards one of the final levels. We walked passed a container with black Gigaremos in them, black smoke clouded around it.

I looked at it as I fell to my knees; I brought up blood and some sick as I watch red eyes appear from the smoke. They glared at me, only my soul as they tried to break out of the glass. They couldn't, that was a plus….for now at least.

I gulped as we made it out of that level. Seren supported me around the waist as she looked at Isaac and Rythmi, who nodded. With the conditions we were in, we may not live through this at all.

Isaac walked to a small computer station, still supported by Rythmi as she watched him deactivate some electricity near the stairs. She then walked away with him, just as electrical bars appeared where they had once been.

Just a moment later and they would have been trapped in there. We all looked towards the steps. Kellyn and Keith were still missing, but we were strong. Three Rangers, one with Operator experience, and one boy genius that could create almost anything in this world.

I pushed myself off of Seren, if we were going to do this, then we needed to be strong. Isaac would have done the same, if not for his leg.

"The whole of Almia's future rests on our shoulders," Rythmi whispered.

"The whole worlds future rests on our shoulders," Seren corrected.

"Can we do this?" Isaac asked.

"Well, if we can't, we go down fighting, a Ranger never gives up," I stated as I turned to them with a determined look. "Today we decide the fate of the world, not the legendry pokemon, not Dim Sun, not Arceus, us, we do," I smiled as I looked at the guys with tears in my eyes.

"For Almia, and everyone in it," Seren smiled as she put her hand in the middle.

"Together," Rythmi smiled.

"Forever," Isaac finished.

"We'll go down fighting," I stated as Seren pulled her camera out.

"Sorry, but if we live through this, we've gotta have something to remember it by," she smiled as she placed her camera on a timer. Isaac dropped his arm around my shoulder, while I placed mine around Seren's. Seren placed mine around hers while she and Rythmi both used their free hands to give the camera a thumbs up.

Once the picture was taken, Seren grabbed her camera and walked towards the stairs, we followed her, knowing this was how everything would play out from now on.

We made it to the top of Altru Tower. After numerous encounters with crazy grunts, admins, leaders, psychopathic pokemon and many other obstacles we were finally here.

Storm clouds had gathered over head as we walked towards the centre. We looked at Raisha, Sven, Wendy, Crawford and Luana, who were all nodding their heads at us with determined looks.

Seren walked to the edge before turning towards us again.

"Barlow and the rest are on their way up here," she stated as a loud gust of wind blew. I smiled; thankful we had them with us at heart. I turned around, knowing that our one true enemy was standing just behind me.

"MAX!" I yelled as I glared at the older man, who turned to us. Kai stood by his side with a displeased look on his face. "It's over, you lose! End this!" I ordered over the loud winds.

Max just smirked, his eyes seemed even harder and crazier than when I had first met him. As for Kai, something was different, something that I couldn't put my finger on, but it wasn't there when we first met….Doubt. Kai doubted his father's motives.

"Ah, Katherine Jones, Summerlands' Gift, food for the darkness, why would I stop when I've come this far?" I shivered at the last name, food for the darkness, if that was true, then things wouldn't play my way at all.

"Because we won't let you get away with this, ever. So end this madness!" Seren called over the gushing winds. I could tell, without even looking that the Wendy and the others would have fun keeping their pokemon in the air.

"Unfortunately for you, I have gotten away with it. I've gotten what I want," Max's voice was loud over the wind, he didn't need to yell.

"You have nothing!" Isaac yelled, he was weak, I could tell.

"But I have. The darkness in your heart, it's back and it's eating away at you," even though he was looking at Isaac when he said that, I knew the statement was directed at me. Max, you fiend, I will bring you down, with Keith's help or not.

Then I realised it. I've been relying, all this time, since the beginning, on Keith. But I didn't have him anymore, and I will beat Max with or without Keith. I had Almia, I had the world, on my side and that was all I needed to make me strong.

"KATE!" I turned around to Sven and the others.

"WE NEED TO PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THIS MISSION NOW!" Wendy yelled as she looked down at me, I nodded my head.

"The end's come Max, say goodbye to your precious plans," I stated as I readied my styler.

"Kai, take care of her," Max ordered. Kai nodded his head as he summoned a Dusknoir to attack me. I smirked as I looked at the ghost pokemon, no challenge at all.

Seren and the others stood to the side as Wendy and everyone began trying to get as close to the Shadow Crystal as they could. I circled the Dusknoir, dodging it attacks and trying to capture it.

Something wasn't right; my feelings weren't getting over to it at all. I looked at Seren with scared eyes. She got the message as she interfered, taking over for me.

Her feelings of friendship were getting through to the pokemon; I didn't understand this at all now, what was going on?

To help Seren out, I created distractions and helped her to dodge the attacks, but something wasn't right.

The air around us dropped considerably as I suddenly stopped in my tracks, taking on a full hit of will-o-wisp, scorching my skin as I did so. The Gengar was back.

Seren completed her capture, not paying any mind to the pokemon, that was her mistake. Her styler arm was broken, the bone stuck out. She screamed as she looked at the Gengar, who summoned a will-o-wisp attack.

The attack flew at Seren, she shielded her eyes, but it hit the ground in front of her. The explosion was strong, knocking her back, sending her off the top of Altru Tower.

"SEREN NO!" Rythmi yelled as she rushed over to the edge. Isaac fell to his knees as he watched. "SEREN!" Rythmi yelled again. I closed my eyes, feeling the tears pricking at them. Seren was gone.

Everything fell silent for a moment, but that moment felt like eternity. Then, when everything seemed still, there was a yell and a laugh.

"YAHOO!" it was Seren. My eyes shot open as I looked up at the sky. Seren was riding on a Staraptor…..with Kellyn! The two landed on the roof, followed soon by Keith!

The tears did spill from my eyes as I smiled. Kellyn hugged Seren tightly as Rythmi joined in with it. Keith looked over to me before running over and hugging me tightly.

"You have the most incredible timing," I whispered as I hugged him back, trying to stop the tears.

"Yeah? Well, I guess it's a gift," Keith whispered as he looked behind me.

"It's done Max, everything's finished. We've won, Seren defeated Kai, just end this," Kellyn ordered as he stepped forwards with Seren by his side. The two stood beside Keith and I as we looked at Max, who was shaking his head in disappointment.

"I thought you, Keith, would know by now….I'm never finished," Max laughed as he looked at us. I looked around, the Gengar was gone, this wasn't right it couldn't be… A scream.

I turned around in time to see Luana falling from her Staraptor. Crawford's eyes went wide as he looked towards her; the Gengar had killed the bird type pokemon.

"LUANA!" Crawford called as he tried to rush towards her, but he was stopped by the Gengar.

I ran to the edge, followed by everyone else as we tried our hardest to search for Luana. She laid on the ground, under some trees she had fallen through. From here, I couldn't tell whether she was dead or alive. I couldn't see her chest moving, I could barely make out the wounds on her body. I bit my lip, Luana, please be ok.

We turned back to Max, who had activated a large black crystal orb; he never was one for talking, or explaining what he was doing.

Suddenly, Darkness rushed through the floor, surrounding us all, everything started going dark. Keith moved closer to me, the Ranger in the sky were soon cut off from our view as we looked around. A dark protection field.

I coughed, bringing up more blood than I had earlier today. I heard a beeping, faint, but it was still there, Rythmi answered her computer.

Rythmis' P.O.V

Things were getting bad fast. Luana had fallen from the sky thanks to the Gengar. Kate was coughing up more blood, which could only mean one thing…..my laptop beeped, taking me from my thoughts.

"This is Rythmi," I said looking at the screen, it was Sven.

"Rythmi, what's going on? Everything turned dark, we can't see you anymore," he stated as he looked at me with frantic eyes.

"Sven, if I knew, I'd tell you, I'm as clueless as you are, we'll be out of this soon though, I promise," I replied as I closed the call. Just then another one, popped up, this one form Hastings.

"Rythmi, we're at the base of Altru Tower, the whole place is being surrounded by darkness, what's going on?" he asked, I rolled my eyes irritated.

"I'm not sure, I really don't know Hastings, but things are getting bad fast," I answered as I looked over to see Kate on her hands and knees, breathing heavily.

"Rythmi, connect me to Kate's styler, I have an update that may be able to help everything, and for Arceus' sake be careful, all of you," Hastings ordered as he looked at me. I nodded as I connected him to Kate's styler. Arceus, help us.

Kates' P.O.V

My styler beeped, but I was too weak to even look at what it was that was going on. The darkness was too strong; it was killing me from the inside out.

I looked up at Max, the floor beneath him opened up to reveal darkness, and from that darkness it came. Rising out, it's white hair, red eyes, black body.

Seren and Kellyn backed up; Keith also moved back, they were each shocked. The Darkrai paid them no mind, its eyes on me, and me alone. The Gengar at its side, always its faithful servant.

"Please stop," I whispered, though no one heard me. Another beep, whatever my styler was doing it had finished. "STOP!" I yelled over the deafening darkness, wind and the turn of machines.

Everyone looked at me, no one in shock; they all knew I was in pain. I looked up to the Darkrai, panting as I did so. Its eyes never changed, they were still the awful bloody red colour.

The dark void closed up under Darkrai as I stood shakily to my feet. This needed to stop, and I had to catch the pokemon to do it.

"Please, just stop this," I whispered as I held my arm out.

"Kate," Keith whispered as he tried to move towards me. "What the? Let me go!" he yelled at the snickering Gengar. I didn't dare turn my back on the Darkrai as it watched me, and only me.

"KATE!" Seren yelled as she also tried to move. This time I did turn around. All my friends, somehow, they were all stuck in place, none of them could move.

I turned back around. Darkrai's eyes had gone a brighter red; I could feel something opening up below me. A dark void.

"KATE NO!" Keith yelled as he looked at me. I tried to back away, oh Arceus how I tried, but there were dark, slimy, eerie hands making their way up my legs, taking me into the dark void.

"Come my child, the darkness shall take you," my dream, it was all happening here and now.

"KATE!" I could hear my name being called in the distance. My mind got cloudy as I looked at the darkness. My eyes turned from blue to a black, then finally red.

The hands stopped dragging me in, placing me on the floor.

Keiths' P.O.V

I watched in shock and horror as the hands dragged Kate further and further into the darkness. And then, just like that, they stopped and set her on the ground.

I breathed in relief as I called her name with the others. But she never looked at us, never bothered to turn and try to look at us. She just knelt there.

Darkrai held its hand out. Kate slowly rose to her feet as it did so. I gulped, what's going on? Was Kate really….. I shook my head; I didn't even know how to put it into words.

I watched as Kate turned around. Her brown bangs covered her eyes. Slowly, she looked up, her eyes closed. Once she opened them, I saw the bloody red colour they had become.

I gasped as I tried my hardest to move my feet, but I was frozen in place. This was Kate, this wasn't our Kate, this wasn't my Kate. My Kate would never do anything like this.

Yes my Kate, I've come to terms, I love her, but I don't think anything could have prepared me for what happened next.

She launched at us in an attack. Her eyes a blazing red as she did so. I closed my eyes. I failed Kate, I failed in protecting her, I failed my mother, but most of all, I failed all of Almia. I failed the world.

And for that, I am sorry.

Rythmi: WHAT?! NO! DON'T LEAVE IT THERE! MORE! UPDATE MORE!

Me: Sorry Rythmi, the people are gonna have to review if they want more.

Keith: IF?! IF?! YOU GUYS WANT MORE RIGHT?! SO REVIEW OR I COULD DIE!

Seren: I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ALMOST KILLED ME! ME OF ALL PEOPLE! AND THEN YOU LET SKY USE ME TO-

Sky: *Covers Seren's mouth* No spoilers here!

Me: Seriously guys, does anyone else want to yell?

Isaac: When am I going to get healed again?

Me: Next couple of chapters. Big fight scene in next chapter so you'll be even more injured.

Isaac: Great, I can't move anyway, I'm a sitting duck.

Keith: I want Kate back! *Draws circles in the dirt*

Rythmi: You heard the boy. If you want the next chapter all you gotta do is press that button below, you know, that one that says review.

Seren: If not this story won't be completed and there will be no sequel!

Kellyn: That's a good thing though right? We'd be let out of our contract?

Me: Don't make me, make Seren, make you lose an eye.

Seren: How do I come into this?

Me: Simple, I could use a piece of the ground that's flying at you, and instead of your taking the hit Kellyn can and it can-

Kellyn: SCAR MY BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL FACE!

Seren: Oh I see. But yeah, review guys or HTF's gonna go crazy and kill us all.

Me: That's a different story.

Cast: *Makes a break for door*

Sky: Oh no you don't! *Uses lasso to tie them up*

All: And here we thought she'd left.

Sky: Nope, just a ninja.

All: Click the REVIEW button and we'll see you soon. REVIEW! *Bows*