By the time the heroes had arrived at the world tree, the Chaos Dragon was already attacking the World Tree as multiple creatures of dark were roaming the tree and attacking anything that moved.
"We're too late, it's attacking the world tree…" Lianna said.
"It's not over yet. We can still defeat it." Hope said.
"Alright, Hope. Since you're so sure, tell us. How do we defeat it?" David asked.
"Y-you're asking me?" Hope asked.
"Why not? You're the one that keeps saying that we can defeat this thing." David said.
"Because I don't ever give up. I don't think of fights as just a game, and I know heroes don't always win. But I do know that we always have a chance to beat even the most powerful enemy." Hope said.
"You're still not answering his question!" Sheena said.
"Let's face it. The only thing he has for himself are his speeches, which are just hot air." Himiko said.
"And now's not the time for words. Now's the time for action!" David said before seeing shadow versions of Rowan, Lianna, and the heroes. "What the… Are those supposed to be...us?"
"The Chaos Dragon must have created them as a defense in case we came after it." Jexi said.
"So Hope? Can we really beat this thing, or are you just gonna do another speech?" Hinoka asked.
Hope looked at the Shadows and the Chaos Dragon.
"Well, what is it we need to do? Are you just gonna stand there?"
"If he won't give the answer, I will." David said. "We'll take down our shadowy apparitions. That should at least weaken it."
"Good point. The targets for now are the shadows….so take them down till they become thin air." Jexi said charging in.
"Why didn't you say anything? You stood there with your mouth open and...Wait...you didn't have a plan did you?" Mary asked.
"No time. Got some doppelgangers to take down." David said before he and his group charged in.
"Hope, we need to move! Hello, earth to Hope!" Titanica said as the shadows were coming at them.
"Hope, its nice that you're thinking things through but moving would really be nice right now." Lacy said.
As the shadows came right at Hope…
"It's no use, he's lost it…" Mahiru said.
"So much for our leader…" Hiyoko said.
"Now!" Hope said punching at a Shadow with a light infused fist as it took damage and was knocked back and faded.
"Wait...he wasn't thinking...he was luring them in." Mary said.
"The more you run your mouth, the greater chance you have to put your foot in it. David was right. Words are useless now. Action is." Hope said.
"Yeah! No way in hell will we go down to some lousy imposters!" Indigo said socking hers with an uppercut.
"We aren't destined to go down here. We will slay these shadows...and bring this world peace!" Yuno said slicing several shadows with wind.
"Come on guys! Let's show this dragon our power!" Hope said as the Hope Squad finally charged in.
"Stay on your toes, you guys. Our doppelgangers know some of the same techniques that we do." Zelos said.
"Then let's mix it up. Fight different doppelgängers than the ones impersonating you!" Hope said punching a dark Elfman.
"Now that's a great idea. Weapons Left!" Franky said blasting a shadow MegaMan.
Mayumi and Kurochi saw doppelgangers of themselves.
"Oh, come on. Seriously?" Mayumi asked.
"Well...seems as though the Chaos Dragon missed no details." Kurochi said.
"I'll take yours, you take mine." Mayumi said.
"Agreed." Kurochi said.
The two switched as they attacked the opposite doppelgänger.
"Kitsune Fireball!" he shouted firing a ball of blue fire at the shadow Mayumi.
"Soul Fist!" Mayumi called sending an energy ball at the shadow Kurochi.
Both attacks landed at the same time as both shadows disappeared.
"So, what would this say about our third bout?" Mayumi asked.
"Let's...call it a tie." Kurochi said.
"I can agree on that. Now, let's help out the others." Mayumi said.
"Understood." Kurochi said.
Across the battlefield, Starlight was battling back a clone of herself with her magic before Kommo-o stepped in and knocked it back with Sky Uppercut.
"Wow… hey, i know it's a little weird to ask you this, but… you think i can become a trainer?" Starlight asked.
"Anyone can become a trainer as long as they like Pokemon." Twilight said. "Which is why I'm not giving any of the shadows here an inch." Twilight said tossing five more balls as out came Decidueye, Lycanroc, Ribombee, Salandit and Solgaleo. "Go for it, guys!"
All five pokemon charged in. Decidueye attacked with stylish blade and arrow moves before firing and hitting a clone of Vera from far away, as the arrow exploded into purple smoke.
Lycanroc slashed his way through multiple fiends before coming in contact with a shadow clone of Jesse. It growled as it roared forcing rocks to come from the ground and pierce through it.
Ribombee flew through the air daintly as it easily dodged sword attacks from a copy of Zoro before gathering pollen from its body and rolling it into a ball and tossing it, exploding and expunging the shadow.
Salandit, despite still being a newbie, easily handled its own among the fiends, biting them and causing them to melt away, but then came into contact with shadows of Franky, Luffy and David. It growled before using Toxic as poison filled the three of them. They were still able to move, but damaged them, though only little.
"Man, those three are tough. Twilight, you wanna bust out the big one?" Rainbow asked.
"Why not? I haven't really tried out that one yet…" Twilight said placing the Posionium Z on her Z-Ring. Activating it, she then moved in some sort of creepy motion before stretching her arms out like wings. "Now is the time…" she said as poison was coming from under Salandit and spreading all around the three shadows in a bog as clouds formed about. "Use Acid Downpour!" she said as it rained down poison on the three shadows as they melted away into nothing.
"Gotta admit. That was pretty rad." David said, looking on. As a shadow version of Ryoma was about to strike him, Solgaleo pounced on it and ripped it apart before giving a victorious roar. "Sorry about that. Guess I got a bit careless."
"Nebby...these shadows are still plentiful...it's time we got rid of them for good!" Twilight shouted as Solgaleo agreed. It's third eye opened before roaring as its body lit up in an incredible light as it ran up into the sky. As the light radiated from its body, it was as the same time weakening the shadows at the World Tree. "Now is the time! Get rid of the last of them! Use Sunsteel Strike!"
Solgaleo then ran back down before going into a spin as it hit the ground, the light erupting from its body as the remaining shadows fell to the light from its body.
"Looks like that was the last of them." Teba said.
"All that remains is the Chaos Dragon itself. We now have our…" Rowan began before the ground shook. "What?"
"No way… How can the Chaos Dragon still have this much power?" Elize asked.
"Don't know. Maybe it's due to all the power it absorbed by dwelling in Darios?" Hope asked.
"Maybe…" Lianna said.
"The entire landscape is changing. Is it...warping our entire reality?" Tiki wondered.
"Seems the Chaos Dragon really lives up to its name...it's creating a chaos filled space suitable for its final battle." Owain said.
"He's gonna pull out all the stops. The fate of Aytolis, as well as the realms of the Warriors gathered here, are riding on this." David said.
"We'll face it head on. We won't let it have its way. We will never allow the Chaos Dragon to live another day!" Jexi shouted.
