Route 10: Some distance away from the Unova Pokemon League HQ.
"NYAAAAA!" Lightning cried, charging golden bolts of electricity round his blades and tearing them through Chaos's icy hide, bringing about large sparks with each cell they cleaved through. Chaos, obviously annoyed at the sudden intrusion, raised a long arm and swatted the boy away before receiving a blast of Psycho Cuts from Latios.
"Vatonage Function One: Chaotic Rainbow!" Rain called and unleashed a barrage of multi-coloured tracks of light on their massive enemy. "Go, Braviary!"
Lightning's Braviary nodded and tore past them, narrowly avoiding the fresh round of icicles sent in every direction by the raging Chaos. Any further ones that could've hit were promptly shattered to dust as Lightning, coated in a bolt-blue ball, rocketed out from nowhere and slammed into Chaos's blade-shaped leg, nearly knocking it out of balance. Quick as a flash though, it readjusted itself and clapped its hands together before drawing forth a long, red energy spear.
"Incoming!" Lightning barked and Latios immediately summoned a large Light Screen to block the attack. With a throaty grunt, Chaos hurled the spear at near-rocket like speed and both Rain and Latios were hurled far back as their shield shattered upon the explosive impact. Growling, Lightning zoomed up to Chaos's body with his swords raised, intending to get a slash in. However, its hands were much faster and it blocked the attack easily before engaging in lightning-fast, arm-to-swords combat. As his reflexes had been greatly sharpened by Zekrom's power, Lightning easily kept up and even managed to parry an arm far enough for him to run Chaos's head through with a sword. Then he remembered that this was just the shell and hissed as Chaos's hand grabbed his collar and flung him back into the ground. Almost as soon as he landed, its sword came crashing down and would've split him in half had he not quickly rolled away. Chaos growled at this and raised its hands to form another energy spear when Scarlet's Dragon Rage shot out from below and blasted its left arm to oblivion.
"That's an arm gone!" Scarlet called, some distance behind Lightning. "Your attacks are doing some really nasty damages so just keep it up, 'kay?"
"Understood-de arimasu," Lightning replied, gathering volts around his legs and launching off again, this time with his swords raised in front of him. Yelling, he began to spin until his form resembled a drill-like bolt of electricity and Chaos screamed again as he pierced right through the centre of its blade, leaving a bloody hole behind. This sealed up again but two more holes appeared in its chest as Latios came down on it with two rapid Luster Purges. From above, Rain jumped off his partner and raised his styler-turned-sabre before dragging it down Chaos's head, making a lateral cross-section down its chest, hilt and sword and leaving behind rainbow light in the long cut.
Landing on Latios again before he could hit the ground, Rain raised his styler and called "Vatonage Function Five: Explosive Radiance!"
All at once, a neat string of explosions graced Chaos's front and the fighters watched as it flailed madly before gripping the cut and ripping itself in two, revealing an identical body underneath.
"And we've got the first layer down! How many more, Latios?" Rain asked.
I'd say about four more considering how dense its energy seems from here, Latios replied with a scowl. And its power seems to have gone up a bit from fear of getting destroyed. At some point, don't be surprised if Chaos gets desperate and pulls a near-godlike stunt.
"I'll simply cut it down before it can do that-nya!" Lightning barked, racing past them while charging electricity around himself again.
"That kid's impatient," the bluenette remarked as Latios followed after. "I'm really starting to wonder just how he survived this long."
Save that thought for later. Right now, we've got work to do, Latios deadpanned while already generating another Luster Purge. Let's just hope Scarlet's plan works.
Said redhead calmly stood with his arms crossed and watched as Lightning renewed his wild assault on Chaos with Latios and Rain dropping some crucial blows here and there. N stood behind him with a tied-up Franz at his feet while eyeing the situation.
"What exactly do you need Jolteon to get?" he asked curiously.
"Nothing too big. Just one of White's weird keepsakes."
"And you said its a feather, right?"
Scarlet nodded and cast a short glance at the league building while recalling the time on that train ride to Driftveil when White had confirmed to him that Reshiram existed.
"Yeah...just a feather. And Jolteon had better hurry it up before Chaos gets really pissed."
Unova League HQ.
Jolteon held his black nose in the air and took a small whiff before skittering towards the participants' plaza where Lightning had said White's bag was. As he wasn't exactly told where that was, he had to rely on instinct and several good guesses. Navigating through the hurrying humans and pokemon, he quickly made it to the specified place and promptly mowed down the door to Lightning's room with a Volt Tackle before looking around for the bag.
Found it! he barked to himself as his eyes rested on the pink satchel hung carelessly on the side of the headboard. After some jumping and tugging, he finally got the bag off and would've pulled the small zip open had it not been for one tiny problem.
Jolteon have no opposable thumbs.
Arceus-dammit! he cursed and took the bag strap before giving it a tug, wincing at how heavy it felt. Seriously, just what does White keep in there? At least it's not too heavy. I better get someone with thumbs to help fast.
Deciding on that, the electric pokemon started off towards the nearest human he could find willing or free enough to help him out. As soon as he got out, he began navigating his way back to the hospital while occasionally stopping to nudge someone's leg and ask for help. Unfortunately, due to the overall seriousness and tension the current situation had caused, he went ignored and reached the hospital downcast. He couldn't exactly tear the bag open for fear of damaging something precious and Vann was currently in the operating room, helping the doctors to tend to wounded (actually, he was more preoccupied with groping Nurse Joys and receiving slaps in the process) and everyone else was in a rush. Using his teeth to tug on the zip didn't do much good as lack of usage made it stuck quite hard. And there was no way he would carry a weight like that through the hell going on outside.
Something breathed down his neck and Jolteon's fur prickled irritably as he turned back. His scowl was replaced with a smile though as he saw a pokemon that on every normal day would be the last life-form he would ever talk to.
Scraggy! he barked, tackling the blank pokemon. Forgive my OOCness but I missed that creepy stare of yours!
White's Scraggy gave a closed eye smile and hugged his older colleague. We missed you too, Big bro Jolt! Big sis Emboar wouldn't talk to anyone when she found out that you and White and Scarlet had gone missing! For a second, Big sis Sandy thought we'd been abandoned! But that's not true, right?
Of course not, a solemn voice stated and Jolteon looked up to see White's Beartic, Teddy, looming over them with a small glint of relief in his black eyes. I had always thought something was amiss when we were suddenly called out from our balls and told by some Nurse Joy that we'd been dropped here by that cowboy with no White in sight. If there's one thing I know about that girl, it's that she's too innocent to even think about abandoning us.
Hey! I never doubted her for a second so don't make me look like the bad guy here, you overgrown stuffed toy! Sandy, White's Krokorok, called from down the hall. I panicked at the time so don't blame me for saying weird stuff. Anywho! If fuzzball's here then it means Scarlet's here too right? Is...is White with ya? Cos I'm sure Emboar'd be a lot happier if she saw that ditz again. I-it's not like I'm worried for the pig or anything so don't get any ideas! She's just been too sad lately, refusing to eat and not coming out of her ball on plenty occasions so...
So where's the mistress, then? two voices asked eerily and Zweilous entered the scene while stretching stiffly. We sensed some very dangerous vibes from within our pokeball on the day we got separated from her and we guessed she must've either died- DON'T hiss. We're dark-types so pessimism is in our blood- or gotten kidnapped. But even so, that young woman is too plucky to just die so we're counting on the latter. Tell us what's been going on, Jolteon.
Nodding, Jolteon explained to them everything that had transpired these past few days. The invasion of Opelucid, the confrontation with Aqua, how he had woken up in time to see his master killed before his eyes and White taken away on the Frigate, how he had panicked, how he had fled from the sheer confusion and general feeling of loneliness, how he had gotten a strange dream about a familiar brunette telling him that all hope wasn't lost, how he had kicked himself out of the dumps and stubbornly trusted in Scarlet to live, how he himself had picked a scent and traced Vann all the way to Castelia in a day flat, how he had heckled the poor scientist into leaving women temporarily and devoting all his attention to the gloves, how he had forced him into duplicating the set so Scarlet could have a spare or help in case it was needed. And finally, how they had gotten back here just in time to face off with Team Plasma's set of monsters again.
That's the story, guys and now, I have to get this bag open so I can get Reshiram's feather to Scarlet. I've come up with my resolve too. I shall move forward with my master, White and the lot of you. I will help in every way I can to protect his happiness. And that's why I have to help the people outside who're working hard to stop that big sword-thing and eventually stop Team Plasma and save White.
Then we'll help you.
Jolteon felt a smile form on his face and yelped as he was scooped up by two black, powerful arms and dropped on a very familiar orange head. Emboar smiled broadly before picking up the bag and dragging the zip, letting Scraggy riffle through it and get the long, white feather.
Sandy folded her arms and turned her nose up haughtily. Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to come outta their rut. I'll only say this once: it's nice ta see ya back in jolly, roly-poly mode again.
I know a certain croc who cried like an Igglybuff on the first night away from White, Emboar remarked, earning a red faced growl from her rival. But thanks, I guess. I heard the full story and it made me realise that I too should cling stubbornly to the belief-no, fact- that my trainer is alive. White's tough. Tougher than us put together. But even she needs saving and it is our duty as her friends and pokemon to save her by doing whatever we can. Jolteon, I'm moving forward with you. I'll follow you back to Scarly and help fight off that monster in the horizon.
I'm coming too, Scraggy piped up and trotted to stand beside them. I want to move forward and save White just as much as you do too.
Not before I save her first! Sandy chipped in brashly, pumping a fist. Then she'll so love me more!
Ahem, we are probably her best loved as we are dragons. Also, we're quite sure our attacks will do more damage than the lot of you, Zweilous commented with a snicker as Sandy glared at her. Just saying.
Teddy chuckled and rose to full height before turning to the exit. You all are the oddest team of pokemon I've ever worked with. At least Black's pokemon had more sense of maturity to complement his ditzy behaviour.
Are you gonna bitch or are you gonna fight with us, geezer? Sandy huffed and Teddy threw a wry smirk before bashing the doors open, much to the just-coming Nurse Joy's shock.
"Um, excuse me!" she cried as they began heading out. "W-wait! It's dangerous out there!"
Screw you, ya bubblegum-headed bitch! We're going to help our trainer's boyfriend! Sandy laughed, pointing a rude claw at the Nurse.
We're coming, Scarlet! Jolteon said to himself as they took off in a mad dash for Route 10 where they could see Chaos generating two energy spears at its sides. Just you wait!
Route 10.
Lightning blocked the first spear thrown at him and crashed his foot into Chaos's faceless head before crying out as the side of the second spear rammed against his side, earning an audible crack in Lightning's cloak and rib though the latter healed up. The blow was still enough to send the cowboy back to the ground again and Rain chewed his lip as Lightning slammed his swords into the ground and slowly lifted himself up with tired pants.
"I hope you know that you can't afford to lose energy now," the bluenette pointed out. "Believe it or not, your attacks are what's really helping us at this point. We've already made Chaos shed another layer."
"How much time do I have left-de arimasu?" Lightning asked hoarsely.
About six minutes and forty-five seconds left, Latios replied.
"My body feels heavier-de arimasu," Lightning remarked and took more breaths. "Hey, Scarface! What's taking so long?"
"Just hold out a bit longer," Scarlet replied calmly. "I'm sure Jolt will be here soon."
The blonde nodded before lifting himself up totally, wobbling a bit, straightening back up and taking a stance. "Hmph. Then I'd better get serious too-nya. As a hero, I will not be felled by a king-sized kitchen utensil with arms-de arimasu." Lightning's swords became enveloped in light and he jammed them together to form one long, thin, katana-like sword with glowing edges. "It's on, Chaos!"
With that, he pushed off again with a throaty roar of defiance as Chaos brought it's spear down on him again. This time, he raised his sword and sliced through the spear and Chaos's hand before reaching the head and making a deep cut on its shoulder, nearly chopping its remaining arm.
"Rain!" he cried, pushing back and Rain's Chaotic Rainbow came down on Chaos again before Latios's Lustre Purge scored a direct hit at its chest. Before it could totally recover, Lightning began slashing its torso rapidly, pushing it as far back from the League as possible.
Faster, he thought to himself as cracks formed on Chaos's face. Must get faster! I have to break it down fast enough before the gloves give out-de arimasu!
"He's quite powerful with swords," Rain whistled as Chaos was batted left and right. "And with that speed, he'll whittle Chaos's third layer soon.
Just so long as the monster itself doesn't pull a stunt.
Suddenly, Chaos stiffened and blocked Lightning's sword with an arm before staying shock still, eliciting confused glances from the fighters.
Lightning blinked as blood-red energy began to form around the monster's sword-like leg. "Nya?" Then he heard an oddly familiar sound that made his skin prickle.
It...hurts...Save...us...
BOOM!
Lightning was flung back by the force of the energy explosion and coughed out blood as his back slammed against a mountain side, cratering it.
"Latios. You spoke too soon," Rain remarked as Chaos held its head in its remaining hand and began to writhe and trash haphazardly while letting out a two-tonal screech of agony. Then it flew higher into the sky and twirled, forming a reddish drill in the sky that was coming down fast on the league. "Latios!"
In a burst of speed, the Eon Pokemon was in front of the building and he set up his strongest Light Screen to block the surely-devastating blow.
"Pokemon Assist: Latios shield!" Rain cried, pressing his Styler to Latios's head and generating a force field of his own to reinforce the barrier standing between the oncoming Chaos and the undefended league.
With a deafening bang, Chaos's tip slammed into the shield and spun wildly against the shield, grating on Latios's and Rain's power as cracks had already started to form. The attack had to be its strongest yet as torrents of energy sparks and heat billowed from the sheer friction caused by the loud impact.
Rain! I can't keep this up for long, ngh! Latios winced as the attack itself made his skull ring to near bursting point. This attack...it's of such a level that not even our combined shields can last!
"Even so, we have to hold out," the stoic but clearly pained ranger replied, pressing a palm to his throbbing forehead. "If this building falls, Ghetsis will show the world just how powerful Team Plasma is and we can't let him use fear to intimidate others! So let's put in our all too, Latios."
The dragon winced before nodding and focusing on the shield, raising his paws as if pushing back on the drill itself with Rain following suit.
More cracks developed on the shield though at a much slower rate and the duo closed their eyes and willed all their power into their shield. Unfortunately, Chaos seemed to have noticed this and therefore increased the ferocity of its spinning, making the duo's task much, much harder. Like it or not, the shield would definitely shatter at this rate and Rain inwardly cursed as the sword's spinning tip began to pierce through the shield, meters away from their heads.
Is this all we can do? Are we going to end here?
"No you will not! Chandelure! Golurk! Chip in with your own Protect!"
Suddenly, Latios's barrier gained far more strength and Rain turned to see a purple-haired bespectacled woman sitting on her incoming Jellicent some distnace behind him. Stopping close to the barrier, Elite Four member Shauntal threw Rain a coy smile.
"So even the great top ranger Rain couldn't stop such an attack with his mythical partner?"
"Your fellow elite four members didn't last longer when Team Plasma first got here," he deadpanned and faced the barrier again, thankful to see her pokemon on the ground below putting up their own arms to keep the barrier in place. "Now if you'd gotten here sooner, I'm sure this wouldn't have happened."
"I hate the serious type," she pouted. "You know, I almost wrote a book about you."
"Thank Arceus you didn't. Now please refrain from talking as I'll be too busy helping Latios with this barrier to answer you," Rain stated, closing his eyes again and devoting all his attention back to the matter at hand. The extra help was much appreciated but even Shauntal knew that unless they did something about Chaos itself, the shield would still shatter.
Speaking of which, Chaos's hand had stretched out and was now creating another energy spear to ram into the weakening shield. However,
BANG!
A spiked cannonball hit its hand and shortly afterwards, a Gliscor's Giga Impact severed it completely from its torso, leaving Chaos to scream, stop drilling and pull back as streams of blood gushed out and coated the fields red.
"Yo! Missed me?" a pompadour called, waving from his position in his floating Gliscor's strong arms. "Ya know, it wasn't very cool just dropping me in the middle of nowhere and rushing off to Arceus-knows-where! I was still handcuffed ya know!"
"I knew you'd snap it once you woke up so there was really no point," Rain deadpanned while both he and Latios took deep breaths to regain the energy they had expended. "Plus, I just gave you a chance to possibly escape now that I know Scarlet's alive. Why'd you still come back?"
"To see the runt face-to-face, duh!" LP scoffed, twirling his trusty guns. "I knew he'd come back. Cool LP's rivals ain't weak, that's for sure! And I also wanted to get him to tell me how he came back from the dead. I mean, man, to come back from the dead. That's just...freaking epic and makes me so fucking jealous!"
Rain sweatdropped. "You sound more like a confused fanboy than a dangerous hunter."
"Shut it, robo-ranger!" LP hissed and scowled at Chaos's writhing form. "Now can someone tell me what the fuck that is? It's too messed up to be a pokemon."
Just a fusion of parasitic ice and madness that will surely kill us if we don't quickly whittle it down to its core, Latios piped up sharply as Chaos's arm grew back and formed another spear. However, a brilliant bolt of lightning blasted it away from them and they turned to see a panting Lightning floating past them with tired circles under his red eyes.
"Lightning?" Shauntal asked curiously. "What happened to you-"
"I'll explain later-de arimasu," he cut in and viewed the back of his hand where the small orb on the gloves was blinking warningly. "Rain, I don't think I've got much time left so I'll make this quick. Chaos...I just realised that its actually in pain on the inside-de arimasu."
"Internal pain?" Rain echoed, arching a sceptical brow.
"Dragon Knights were once humans too-de arimasu. I think these guys were taken against their will cos when I got blasted by that energy wave of theirs, I got a very brief view of their memories and a call for help from them. Guys, I think these guys don't actually mean any harm-de arimasu. They're just too controlled by Kyurem's influence to stop themselves. Call me crazy but I'm sure their humanity is desperately trying to come out-de arimasu."
"So if what you're saying is true then...they need saving?" Shauntal offered, slowly piecing together the situation.
Physically, that's impossible, Latios stated as Chaos ripped off its current layer and began to cry blood from the parts where its eyes should've been. They've been merged completely with Kyurem's cells and as such, separation is just as fatal as ripping the flesh off a live human.
Down below, Scarlet heard everything and looked to the eerie Chaos as it wailed and formed two massive, sub-zero cannons in its hands.
"So Lightning found out too, eh? Those two are really suffering deep down and though my arm nullifies Kyurem's ice, Latios made a good point. It will surely destroy them," he called out and Lightning's grip on his sword tightened.
"So in the end, they'll still have to die-nya?"
"It's the fate of all hybrids born with Kyurem's cells be it original or cloned," Franz laughed bitterly. "Our souls are bonded to that ice. Breaking the ice means severing that bond between our bodies and souls aka death. Don't pity us, human! At least we're not trapped within frail bodies such as yours-"
"Frail, eh?"
The group looked back and saw a Togekiss land beside Scarlet and a figure with long blonde hair stepping gingerly off its back...and unto Franz's.
"Ow! Watch the spinal cord, lady!" he hissed.
"Cynthia-sama!" Lightning exclaimed upon recognising the woman to be indeed the Champion of Sinnoh and his mentor. "How'd you know something was going on at the League-nya?"
"Woman's intuition," she replied with a wink and ground her spiky heels into Franz's back for good measure before stepping off curtly. "I can see that Team Plasma'a made a move to capture Alphinia. I assume she's safe, no?"
"Indeed, Cynthia," N replied and flinched as Chaos let out another wail and started charging energy in its barrels. "At the moment, we're currently occupied with bringing that thing down."
"They need saving, Cynthia-sama!" Lightning declared quickly and turned to the agonised monster. "Each time they execute a move, a part of their life-force is burned away and they suffer as a result. But everyone else says its impossible to save them-de arimasu!"
Rain, LP, Shauntal and their pokemon began to fight Chaos again, doing whatever they could to stop it from gathering enough energy to execute a blast.
"I see," Cynthia replied, calmly watching them and taking everything in. "Lightning, I did some quick research while I was gone and I'm sorry to say it but their right. Assuming so much time hadn't passed before their merge with Kyurem's ice crystal, they could've been saved by destroying the item. But now that it's become a part of their essence...a normal life is not possible for them anymore."
"So what can we do-nya?!" he barked angrily, hand tightening on his sword. "According to N, those people were innocent-de arimasu! Forced to assimilate with Kyurem's power and work for Ghetsis! As a hero, I cannot just let their misery continue-de arimasu!"
Scarlet stepped forward and cleared his throat. "Lightning, you should know by now that there's only one thing we can do."
The boy grit his teeth and looked down with trembling shoulders. "Dammit...I can't do that-"
"Lightning!" Cynthia barked, making nearly everyone jump with how strict it sounded. "There's a difference between justice and stupidity. Frankly, putting that thing out of its misery is the only option we have if we want to win this battle and protect everyone here. A hero-no, a man- must always place the safety of his allies above his own wishes. Think about it Lightning. What else is there to do than end them?"
Lightning's finger twitched and he gazed at Chaos again, practically hearing voices through its cries.
Save us. Somebody...save us. It hurts...
"So...death is the only thing for them?" N asked lowly and bit back a curse as Scarlet and Cynthia nodded. "Ghetsis...you've gone too far now..."
"Wrecking lives will be the last of our worries if we don't bring Chaos down," Scarlet piped up and pointed, letting everyone know that the current set of fighters were starting to lose badly.
"Oi! A little help here!" LP barked as Gliscor narrowly evaded a swing of Chaos's barrels.
"Two minutes remaining," Lightning's gloves beeped loudly.
"What will you do, Lightning?" Cynthia asked and the boy clenched his fists before raising the sword to Chaos.
"If I can free their souls from that hell they're in, does that mean that they'll be saved...even if it means death for them-de arimasuka?"
"They'll be given eternal rest and will know no pain like that ever again," Cynthia replied and tilted her head. "BTW, what happened to you?"
"Long story. He'll explain later," Scarlet replied hastily as energy began to swirl around the boy again. With a boom, he took off and tore through Chaos's arm before making a sharp turn and slashing at its back wildly. Screaming, Chaos grabbed him in its hands and would've crushed him had it not been for a sudden Heat Crash to the back by a familiar Emboar.
Scarlet's eyes widened in utter relief at seeing White's team hurrying towards them while letting off attacks at Chaos. In their midst was Jolteon himself and to the redhead's joy, he saw a white feather in his jaws.
"Took ya long enough, fuzzball!" he exclaimed with a grin as Jolteon leapt into his arms and proudly showed the feather.
Cynthia raised a brow. "Is that Reshiram's feather?"
"Yeah! And this is just what we need to bring down Chaos," he replied and set Jolteon down before grasping the feather. "Change boost!"
All at once, blue flames burst from the ground beneath his feet and everyone stepped back as it formed a pillar around Scarlet, extending into the heavens just like Lightning's. The redhead closed his eyes as he felt fresh power flow through his veins and let out a roar as his gloves began reconstructing his body to house the Vast White dragon's power. Immediately after, his hair gained shock white, flowing tracks and the blood-red spikes became brilliant orange like flames. Seconds later, the pillar died down and Scarlet, cloaked in a white version of Lightning's apparel straightened up and opened his electric blue eyes.
"Listen up, guys!" he barked and raised his left hand which now sported glowering-red lines. "I'm going to charge up a Blue Flare. Reshiram's strongest Fire attack! As my gloves have used up a considerable amount of power to even recharge, I can only get ONE shot in. While I'm charging it, I need you to get Chaos to its core quickly!"
"Then let's work together and do just that!" Cynthia called and released her Garchomp as N called upon Zekrom one more time.
"Zekrom, lend us your strength once more," the greenette requested and Zekrom gave a loud roar before starting to generate his biggest Bolt Strike.
"Jolteon and White's pokemon, you know what to do," Scarlet ordered and they gathered before him with equal looks of fierce determination in their eyes. "Rain, Shauntal, Latios and Hair-dude! Pull back as soon as Lightning run's out of time!"
"Why?" LP called back as they dodged another swing from the flailing Chaos. "And it's Cool LP, punk!"
"One minute and thirty seconds until Complete Discharge," the gloves cried and Lightning's body began to get surrounded with black and yellow aura.
"Cos I'll execute a massive discharge attack to expel all of Zekrom's pent-up energy-de arimasu," Lightning barked, blocking Chaos's arm and pulling back a bit. "Just as Scarlet fires his Blue Flare!"
"So in a minute, your attacks will be ready, right?" Shauntal asked and smirked. "Let's buy some time and get that core!"
"Move out guys!" Cynthia cried and as one, the group fell on Chaos with all their might with White's pokemon letting off powerful attacks at its base, Garchomp executing numerous Dragon Claws at its sides, Shauntal, Rain, LP and their pokemon attacking the hilt and Lightning hacking madly at its arms. Explosions rocked the air and shard-like hide flew about as Chaos was subjected to every possible attack from the group of near-desperate fighters. Crying out, it unleashed a massive wave that blew everyone back before summoning an even larger barrage of ice crystals. Just as it was about firing them, a massive energy beam slammed into its side and everyone turned to see the League building sporting a large cannon on its top, just above the destroyed control room. It being operated meant only one thing.
"Section Chief Miles! You're alive?" N exclaimed into his receiver and was met with a small chuckle.
"Don't underestimate the League's staff," the woman replied as her subordinates scrambled back to the other controls. "Sure most of us have gotten injured but we are specially trained to be as tough as nails. So some tiny fireworks like that is nothing! Sorry we passed out though. Now we're more than ready to chip in and help in whatever way we can."
Try as he might, the greenette couldn't stop the smile spreading across his face and he gave a small grunt of acknowledgement before giving out instructions to bring down everything in their arsenal and help out.
"Understood! You'd heard him people! Let's show Team Plasma just how powerful the Pokemon League can be!" she barked authoritatively.
"Yes ma'am!" they replied and missiles were sent flying at Chaos who took two to the head and let loose an angry barrage of ice crystals at the building.
"Oh no you don't-de arimasu!" Lightning cried and zoomed up to each crystal while bathed in electricity, tearing past each one and causing a neat string of explosions in his one way course to Chaos. "Take this!"
BAM!
The monster wobbled a bit from the attack and screamed as Focus Blasts, Flamethrowers and Stone Edges dotted its back. Before it could turn to them, Rain and Latios came down on its arm with Lustre Purge and chopped it clean off while Garchomp, Gliscor and Shauntal's Jellicent rained vicious combination attacks on its other, flailing arm. Chaos batted them back and rapidly let loose shot after shot from its arm which they all dodged quickly.
Down below, Scarlet and Zekrom stood beside each other, bodies aglow with similar blue hue though Scarlet's resembled flames while Zekrom's looked more like electrical sparks.
"Almost there!" the redhead stated as a blue ball of fire now formed at his left arm.
"Come on, guys! Let's get to that core!" Cynthia yelled and with joint cries of desperation and fierce resolution, they started a fresh round of attacks that left Chaos down to its last layer.
"Thirty seconds remaining," Lightning's gloves beeped.
"Thirty more seconds-de arimasu!" he cried and charged up energy on his sword before stabbing Chaos's head and dragging the sword down, splitting its torso in half. A noisy round of bullets from the League followed and the pokemon pitched in their most powerful attacks, blowing its sword-like bottom half to near fragments and the once magnificent Sword of Damocles now looked like a damaged weapon of war. With a pained wince, Chaos let out one final but devastatingly destructive energy wave that blew everyone away and made the flyers crash back to the ground. The cannon also suffered an ice shard to the barrel and promptly blew up, thus rendering the League's main offensive power shattered. But their job was done as a single, bluish, star-shaped gem now remained at the centre of Chaos's damaged hilt.
"The core!" N called.
"It's open!" Shauntal cried.
"Guys, whenever you're ready!" LP barked.
"Go!" Miles and her personnel yelled.
"Do it," Rain and Latios said in unison.
"Save them," Cynthia murmured.
"Kick some ass, Scarlet! Zekrom! Milbert!" Jolteon and the pokemon called.
Save us... Chaos moaned, generating a fifty-foot wide sphere of energy, intending to blow everything to dust.
"Ready Lightning?!" Scarlet cried, hopping onto Zekrom with a large, blue ball of flames in his hands.
"I was born ready-de arimasu!" Lightning shot back, eyes blazing bright red. With a final roar of iron-willed determination, Zekrom blasted off and the countdown began as the League's last hope dashed madly towards Chaos's glowing core.
10.
Lightning pooled together all the energy he had and formed a similar blue ball of electricity around himself.
9.
Scarlet tensed and raised his left hand, letting the ball swell in size until it was half the size of Chaos's own sphere.
8.
Despite its current position, Chaos still generated one final ring of ice before launching it at Scarlet, Zekrom and Lightning.
7.
Zekrom bulldozed most of the attacks with his Fusion bolt but took a massive one to the side, making his strength finally give way and Scarlet drew a sharp breath as the dragon began to fall.
6.
"Braviary! Help him-de arimasu!" And Scarlet was back on course with Lightning's returning Braviary who flew beside the charging Lightning as Zekrom was gratefully recalled back into his ball for getting them that far.
5.
Scarlet's and Lightning's skins absolutely glowed with power and with a growl, Scarlet compressed the ball in his hand until it was the size of a fist.
4.
Lightning raised his sword as they came closer to Chaos's core. In its dark haze, he could make out two people intertwined with each other and with agonised looks on their frozen faces.
3.
"DO IT!" everyone cheered from below.
2.
"Let's GO!" Scarlet cried, leaping off Braviary, drawing his hand back and shoving his fist through the glassy core and releasing the Blue Flare.
1.
"May your souls be freed," Lightning began and raised his glowing sword before spotting the ghostly smiles on their faces. "And may they rest in perfect peace-de arimasu!" And with that, he brought his blade down on the core itself.
0.
...Thank you...
BOOOOM!
The explosion was enough to clear away mountains and dye the sky black and red while threatening to tear onlookers off their feet. But everyone stuck fast to the ground and watched with hopeful eyes as Chaos's body became enveloped in black, ice-cold smoke. Two shapes fell out and landed on their feet, cratering the ground beneath and turning their back on the monster they had just defeated.
"Fin," they said in unison.
And another ground-shaking explosion followed to accentuate their statement.
The world was silent as soon as the explosion died down again and Franz, whose blindfold had been blown off in the first blast, let his mouth hang open at the sight before his eyes.
Two young men cloaked in opposing colours and shouldering the determination of humanity and pokemon stood side by side with their billowing cloaks and behind them was the very sign of their immense power, the dead and rusted Sword of Damocles, finally grounded into the earth like the sword of a hero who had taken his last breath and sheathed his blade into the ground for the whole world to later see.
"Humans?" Franz murmured in disbelief and found himself trembling. "Is this the power...of a human's resolution?"
"Divided, we're nothing but weak and insignificant," Cynthia replied, walking past him. "But together with our pokemon and each other, we are the scariest force known to the universe. Remember that, Dragon Knight. And be proud that you came from this devolved, imperfect race."
Gritting his teeth, Franz whistled sharply and the Shadow Triad instantly appeared before grabbing him and getting a good distance away.
"This must be reported to Lord Ghetsis," one of them stated.
"You haven't seen the last of us," another one chipped in.
"Until the Red Moon Ball then. With that, we shall take our leave," the last one finalised and they disappeared with Franz.
"Tch," N spat and pocketed his hands. "He got away."
"Who cares? We won!" Shauntal cried and as one, cheers rang out from the league building and Route 10 where the shouts of people and pokemon mixed semi-harmoniously with each other and in no time, Scarlet and Lightning were receiving claps on the shoulders and several beastly hugs from the pokemon.
"Ya never seem to stop showing off, eh brat?" LP remarked, ruffling Scarlet's hair.
"Um...can you tell me again who you were?" the redhead asked and winced as the older hunter's hand boxed the top of his head in annoyance.
"I guess I should say good job," Rain remarked and Lightning turned to see him and Latios sitting tiredly some distance away. "You've taken some big leaps into the hero world, I suppose."
The cowboy grinned and gave a victory sign. "Just who the hell d'you think I am-de arimasuka? Oh, Cynthia-sama! I did good-ne? Lightning did good?"
"Yep, Lightning did very good," she replied, rubbing his head playfully (he purred. Freaky.) and laughing as his cat ear-shaped hair wiggled in delight.
Scarlet watched the two and smirked a little before yelping as Emboar picked him up and spun him round happily. Putting the dizzy boy down didn't help much as White's other pokemon tackled him to the ground and coated him in tight hugs and slobbery licks. But hell, how could he not bring himself to laugh and hug them back.
"I missed you guys," he remarked and slowly sat up. "But seriously, save the slobber for when White gets rescued."
"Indeed, the time for celebration isn't now," N spoke up, interrupting the noisy atmosphere. "This battle may have been won but the war is far from over. In fact, I'd say that Ghetsis is just beginning."
"Tch. Ballbuster," LP muttered.
"That's why we'll save her," Scarlet replied, getting up and deactivating his gloves, leaving him back to normal. On cue, Lightning's did the same and the blonde coughed out some blood before smirking.
"Victory scars, eh?" he remarked and walked up to Scarlet. "He's right. That's the only course of action we can take right now-de arimasu. After all, it's not like we'll just stay here and do nothing-de arimasu!"
"Justice must take its course," Rain chipped in. "That's why there's only one thing we can do now."
Cynthia nodded. "Yeah. Head to the Red Moon Ball and destroy Team Plasma before Kyurem is awoken."
"You guys crazy?!" LP exclaimed, mouth agape. "If Team Plasma could make monsters like that sword-thingie then I doubt you'd stand much of a chance!"
"You're coming too, Pompadour," Rain deadpanned, earning an anime drop from LP.
Truth be told, this decision of yours sounds quite irrational, Latios remarked. Are you sure you wish to go with it? I mean, it'd mean deliberately walking right into his trap.
Scarlet smirked. "That's just how us humans work, Latios. We come up with the strangest of ideas."
...Hmph. Death changed you, boy.
Scarlet smirked...and collapsed with swirl marks in his eyes. "Hungry..."
Cynthia chuckled as everyone gathered round him to lift him up. "So this is White's hunter-boyfriend. Interesting guy, wouldn't you agree, Albert?"
"It's Hilbert-de arima-HNNGH!"
Cynthia blinked and turned to see Lightning on the ground with identical swirls in his eyes and blood fountaining from his mouth.
"R-rebound-de arimasu..." he remarked and passed out comically, earning more laughs from everyone.
"It's been a long day, boys and girls," Cynthia remarked as Garchomp picked Lightning up. "Let's call it a day and get our fighters some well-deserved rest."
The tired group nodded quietly and Scarlet found himself on Emboar's shoulders, being escorted by friends and allies alike back to the relatively unharmed League. Now that he thought about it, he really wasn't alone in this fight anymore. Like Vermiculo, he had comrades to help him in his fight for White and pretty much the world now. Yes...he wasn't alone. Stretching his tired left hand to the darkening sky, he smirked at the power bestowed on him now. Two souls were freed with this hand and he would surely avenge them for all the suffering Ghetsis had put them through. And then he would reach White again.
"Soon ditz," he remarked, remembering her smiling face that night when she had told him the story. "Just hold on a little longer and I'll have you back again."