This is the one hundred fifty-third chapter in Pokemon Heroes. This chapter simply came late because of Midterms. It's hard to proofread and study at the same time, so I decided to post it now. So that means the update schedule is finally fixed, so chapters will be posted every Monday (or Tuesday) once again. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any of the songs.

(Opening song)

Ash's aura erupted from the ground surrounding him.

His glare was piercing through Larxene, who watched with only a smirk.

Shadow Zapdos's dark cannon was charged up, and it was ready to hit Ash.

His legs were positioned to race toward The Savage Nymph. His feet left cracks when it pushed against the ground and launched him forward.

Larxene didn't care, for she just looked toward Shadow Zapdos in the sky.

"You're too late for that, kiddo," she said.

Shadow Zapdos shot out the cannon, and it headed for Ash without the boy paying attention to it. All he could think about was to beat the shit out of The Dark Signer that stood before him.

The cannon was only mere inches away from him, and his body could feel the winds push against his own body as it got closer.

But it did not strike him.

The attack suddenly dispersed before it got to him.

Larxene's eyes widened, and she quickly pulled her arms up to block Ash's aura covered fist that blew her back and created open ground beneath her feet.

Ash landed on the ground and looked toward the sky, and then a smirk formed on his face.

In the sky, Shadow Zapdos was struck by an iron hard fist that pushed deep into its gut, and the deliverer of that punch was Brendan.

Shadow Zapdos pushed itself away from Brendan and tried to regain its balance in the sky. Brendan used Pelipper's soaring to land on the ground safely.

"Thanks for saving me, Brendan," said Ash. "I completely forgot about that."

Brendan turned to Ash, and he looked confused.

"When did you get here?"

"Don't go being an idiot as soon as you get here."

A Nobody's Pride

Shadow Zapdos, finally getting back its posture, flew around the sky. It let out its horrible screech, and then its rage was focused on the two boys that stood on the ground.

"I should've known that a Dark Signer was involved," said Brendan. "Stuff like this doesn't happen for no reason."

"I need you to prevent that thing from destroying half the city," said Ash. "Do you have your Pokemon?"

"Yeah," said Brendan. "I can take care of that thing by myself."

"By yourself?"

"Wanna bet?"

"Ash!"

Ash froze, and his head slowly turned toward the brunette that was coming closer to the battlefield.

"Did I not tell you to stay put?" asked Ash.

"Yes, but I needed to help you," said May.

Larxene smirked.

"At least you kids are all coming toward one spot. That makes it way easier for me."

She moved her arm, and a strong bolt of lightning was sent toward Ash. The boy prepared to somehow counter it, but instead his electric mouse jumped in front of him and quickly absorbed the attack. Immediately, Pikachu shot it back with a lightning bolt toward Larxene. With her palm, she deflected it and sent it to the ground by her.

"Thanks, Pikachu," said Ash.

May got to their location, and she quickly removed the belt that was strapped around her waist, giving it to Ash.

"I went back to get your Pokemon," said May. "I hope it helps."

"It does actually," said Ash. "Thanks."

He took out two Pokeballs, enlarged them, and tossed out Charizard and Staravia.

"Help Brendan take care of Zapdos," ordered Ash. "Pikachu and I will take care of this bitch. May, you get as far away as you can."

"I can help, too," said May.

"Yeah, but not today," said Ash. "She'd kill you without a second thought. Just hide somewhere until we take care of this."

Although hesitant, May nodded slowly.

"I thought I said I could take care of this myself," said Brendan.

"I can't have you dying on me yet," said Ash. "Just take my gift while I'm being nice."

He heard Brendan groan, and then they nodded. With their backs against each other, they used that to push themselves forward toward their foes.

With a roar and a screech, Charizard and Staravia soared by Brendan on each side. While running, Brendan pulled out a Pokeball, released Pelipper, and jumped on top, and the three flying Pokemon soared up toward Shadow Zapdos.

Ash moved his fist back and directed the aura covered attack toward Larxene, who quickly pulled her arms up and was pushed back by the attack. Pikachu had quickly landed beneath her and used Volt Tackle to strike Larxene from below. She used her hands to absorb the impact, but the impact had already sent her toward the sky.

Ash gathered aura in his mouth and shot at Larxene with an Aura Breath. Larxene disappeared in a flash, and then she appeared behind Ash and swung one of her Knives at his back. He quickly went on one knee followed by an Aura Sphere thrown after he quickly turned his body around, but the Aura Sphere was just sent into the air because there was no one behind Ash that it could've struck.

"Peek-a-boo."

Behind Ash, Larxene crashed her cupped hands on Ash's head and onto the ground. The boy's body was pushed deep within the ground. Larxene rose her flat hand, and blue electricity crackled while surrounded that hand. She was about to pierce her hand through Ash's chest, but thankfully Pikachu jumped into the air and swung an Iron Tail at her. She had jumped out of the way. Pikachu landed on the ground and looked toward its trainer.

"Thanks for that," said Ash, and he slowly tried getting himself back up.

Larxene got into position to strike once again.

"With this power, how do you think you have a chance against me, boy?" asked Larxene.

"Of course I do! I'm an Aura Guardian!"

His stance signaled that he was ready for another, and his Pikachu stood beside him to fight as well.

Charizard, Staravia, and Brendan with Pelipper flew at top speed toward Shadow Zapdos. It let out another roar, but they still kept going.

"Don't go overboard hurting it," said Brendan, preparing to propel himself from Pelipper. "Just try weakening it until it comes back to normal."

Charizard and Staravia nodded in agreement.

Charizard stopped and launched a Flamethrower at Shadow Zapdos. It was just circling around the area Larxene was in, and then its attention was caught by the Pokemon that were coming at it.

It let out another horrifying screech, and then it shot a purple, ferocious lightening bolt at them. Pelipper moved out of the way quickly, and then it charged at Shadow Zapdos.

Brendan then jumped off, and his fists crashed down on Shadow Zapdos's head. Its body was bent forward, and then Charizard crashed into its gut. Charizard then used Flamethrower right after, pushing Shadow Zapdos back far. Brendan landed on his Pelipper, and they soared toward Shadow Zapdos again.

Shadow Zapdos then flapped its wings, causing a gust to slow down its opponents. Brendan covered his face to cover his eyes, and when the winds started to die down, he opened his eyes a little bit to see.

Surprisingly, Shadow Zapdos was before his Pelipper and he, staring down at them.

A dark shockwave suddenly pushed them toward the ground. The shockwave was powerful enough the faze the flying Pokemon.

Brendan looked toward the hard ground and he gulped.

"Pelipper or Aggron's power won't help this time."

He covered his face and braced for impact. Staravia got its consciousness back, and it spotted Brendan heading for the ground.

It screeched and flapped its wings to gain control, and then it soared toward Brendan. It caught him by the back of his shirt, and they both steadied themselves in the air.

"Thanks, Staravia," said Brendan as he smirked and gave a thumbs up. "Now bring me back toward that thing!"

Staravia nodded, and it soared back up to Shadow Zapdos while carrying Brendan. Shadow Zapdos started throwing dark electric balls down at them, but they dodged them quickly. They got far above Shadow Zapdos, but then they stopped and looked down.

"Now, Staravia!"

Staravia screeched, and then it soared downward, then it tucked its wings to its side and got covered in blue fire. Brendan cocked back his fist. With a roar, Brendan thrust it toward Shadow Zapdos, but then it suddenly disappeared and reappeared behind them and smashed its spiky wing on them, sending them downward. The spikes had dealt some injuries to them.

"Shit," said Brendan after they stopped. A flow of blood fell from his cheek. "That bastard."

Charizard and Pelipper soared past them and they each shot a Fire Spin and a Hydro Pump respectively.

Shadow Zapdos deflected the Hydro Pump from its wing, and the Fire Spin had created a fire tornado around it. It then pushed its wings forward, and the tornado dispersed.

"Staravia," said Brendan, and Staravia turned its head to him. "I need to get in closer. Fly over it again and let me go. You think you can do that again?"

Staravia nodded, and Brendan smirked.

They soared upward again, passing by Charizard.

"Back me up, Charizard!"

Shadow Zapdos shot out a combination of purple thunderbolts and electric dark balls. Staravia and Brendan continued forward, and then Charizard soared past them and used Flare Blitz, getting surrounded by flames and crashing into the attacks, pushing them all away.

Staravia and Brendan broke through and went over it. They stopped, and Brendan looked downward.

"Let me off here," he said, and Staravia lost its grip on him, and he fell downward. Shadow Zapdos was prepared to strike him, but Pelipper had crashed into its gut, distracting it and giving Brendan enough time to land on its body.

"Gotcha!"

Having his hands and knees on it, he felt a burning sensation. Even when he felt this, the Pokemon's body felt ice cold.

"This is cruel."

Then he heard its voice.

It was faint, but he heard its voice, calling out to him, begging him to end its misery.

Brendan froze, and then nodded.

"Then give me the strength to!"

His hands gripped its back, and slowly, he felt power coming into him. He was forming a temporary bond with it, and he was going to use this bond they formed to win.

The darkness that covered Zapdos proceeded to cover Brendan as well, but he tried his best to remain calm.

He rose his fist, and within it was the power of a Pokemon that could create thunderstorms by simply flapping its wings.

With this power, Brendan rammed his fist onto Shadow Zapdos's back, and upon impact, Shadow Zapdos was launched toward the ground at lightning speed after a loud sound that resembled a thunderbolt erupted.

It crashed into the ground, creating a crater and sending rocks up into the air.

Brendan was falling toward the ground, and his eye color returned to normal. Pelipper flew below him and caught the boy on its back.

On the ground, Shadow Zapdos's purple skin was being sapped away until it fell to the ground like liquid, quickly evaporating into the air.

Brendan sighed and patted his Pelipper on the back.

"Good job," he said, and then he turned to Charizard and Staravia coming toward them. "You guys, too. You were a big help."

He then looked around. Flying around had sent them away from the battlefield, away from Ash and Larxene.

"That bastard better make it out of this alive."

Larxene charged at Ash and elbowed him, but he quickly brought his arms up to block it. Larxene landed on the ground and crashed a hard fist into Ash's gut, sending him flying. She then suddenly appeared by him in midair, took his head, and crashed it into the ground.

Pikachu, covered in fierce lightning, jumped toward Larxene to strike her. Suddenly, its power was sapped away into Larxene's hand, and then Larxene extended out her hand and caught its face in her hand. She then dropped it and kneed it on its gut, sending it farther away from her to the ground.

She smirked.

"Come on," she said. "I want more excitement from the so called Aura Guardian."

Ash was sending his aura covered fist toward the back of her head as she spoke, but she disappeared like a spark. Ash stood focused, and then he elbowed behind him, but Larxene had disappeared once again. He back-flipped and tried crashing his feet on her, but she disappeared again. He was about to turn to strike her again, but she had already crashed her knee on his head, sending him away.

He skidded across the ground, and when he stopped, he gathered aura into his mouth, but before he could launch it, Larxene was in front of him with a ball of lightning.

It exploded, sending the boy's body bouncing on the hard ground toward a large rock. He crashed into it.

Larxene prepared to crash into him, but then Pikachu came from behind her and used Iron Tail, so she side-stepped and crashed her fist into its body. Ash was coming toward her with an aura covered fist as Pikachu was sent away from her, but it placed its feet on the ground and hopped toward her.

Ash tossed two punches, but Larxene dodged them both and smacked Ash across the face with the back of her hand. Pikachu came and used Iron Tail again, but Larxene ducked while also kicking Ash on his gut. She then rammed her fist into Pikachu and then took its tail, then sending it toward Ash hard enough to send the both of them away.

When Ash looked back up, Larxene was in a crouched stance, gathering lightning in her hand, then opening them and sending numerous lightning bolts that were in the shape of lances toward them.

A large explosion erupted, and within the smoke, Larxene proceeded to laugh uncontrollably.

"This is amazing! Do you realize how much power I feel within me right now?! It is simply amazing! I feel like I can do anything! I certainly can go against Roman now, don't you think?! Ha, ha!"

May watched from the sidelines. She wanted to step in, but she just had to obey Ash's order and stay back.

She knew he was going to pull through anyway.

Larxene continued to laugh, but then it stopped suddenly and she looked toward Ash.

As the smoke cleared, the boy had a knee to the ground, holding Pikachu within one arm, and his other hand extended out. His fierce glare had once again pierced her. His hand looked bruised and burned, and he seemed to have taken a lot of damage since he was breathing heavily.

"You stay down, Pikachu," said Ash as he let the tired mouse lay on the ground softly. "I've got this."

"Just stay down," said Larxene as her fists quivered, and then a ball of lightning formed around one of her fists. "JUST STAY DOWN!"

She ran toward Ash and pushed her fist toward him.

Another explosion erupted, and smoke covered Ash. Larxene smirked, but then it disappeared after feeling and seeing what had happened.

Ash had one hand over her fist, and he had no damage.

"How-"

Before she could finish, a fist engulfed in aura crashed into the side of her face and sent her back as her feet violently skidded across the ground. She stopped and looked back at Ash, but the same fist had uppercutted her. She tried pushing the fist down with her chin, but it overwhelmed her, and she was sent into the air.

She looked down at Ash as blood fell from her mouth.

"How are you able to do that?" she asked, and she quickly tried to gather lightning between her hands again.

"I don't know," said Ash, and launched himself off the ground using aura over Larxene. "Maybe it's because I'm starting to obtain a resistance against lightning."

He head-butted her to let her lose focus on her attack. He then launched an Aura Breath at point blank and sent her crashing into the ground as she rolled across it until she came to a stop. She used her arms to force herself to get back up. Blood now fell from her head, and her whole right sleeve was ripped off.

She watched Ash land on the ground and glare at her.

"Doesn't matter anyway, because I've already felt stronger lightening than that."

"Don't toy with me," she said. "Don't you fucking toy with me!"

She stood and extended out her hands. A surge of fierce lightning surrounded her, heading high into the sky.

She proceeded to laugh uncontrollably.

"I will take over The Dark Signers! I will be the one to rule over all!"

"I'm done hearing your bullshit..." said Ash, and he ignited his arms with fierce aura.

Larxene's lightning got stronger and stronger, and large torrents of aura exploded from Ash's fists.

"...because no matter what you are..."

Larxene shot out a large cannon of fierce lighting right at Ash. It got closed and closer, and Ash's aura got stronger and stronger as it started to surround him.

"Ash!" yelled May.

"...I will always be there to kick your ass!"

Ash then moved his arms in a spiraling motion, sending the torrents of aura in a spiraling formation toward Larxene's lightning cannon that was coming at him.

It crashed into the attack, generating an explosion for each time it connected to it, until it finally broke through, and headed for Larxene, who only watched in the emotion she never thought she's feel again: fear.

A large explosion was the result.

Brendan, Charizard, and Pelipper was heading for the battlefield after their fight. They were guided there after seeing the large explosion in the distance that rose smoke up into the air, and they knew it was Ash. He had already called for Pokemon Specialists to take care of Zapdos.

When he got there, he saw a certain brunette on the ground. She had noticed him, and waved to him to signal that she was there. Brendan guided the group down to her, and then Brendan got off Pelipper and walked toward May.

"Did you save Zapdos?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said. "It'll be fine. It's in good hands. What about Ash and that Dark Signer?"

"Ash beat her. He's over there right now speaking to her."

"He's just speaking to her?"

"Yeah," she said. "He said he wanted answers, and he said he was going to get them. He told me to stay here and not get involved."

Brendan looked toward Ash, who was really standing over Larxene's downed body.

The two Nobodies had said nothing to each other. Ash stared at her as Larxene just blankly stared at the sky.

Larxene then felt something strange, and she slowly moved her hand to her vision, and already saw her fingertips disappearing into the wind.

Her hand crashed onto the ground, and she smirked.

"I expected this to happen at some point," she said. "I just knew I wasn't going to go that far."

Ash stared at her with an unchanging expression.

"Why?"

"Why? That's simple for a Nobody like you and I. It was just something that I did by instinct. I couldn't stop it. All I could feel was jealousy and anger. Jealous that I was taking orders from people I knew I was stronger than, and angry because I couldn't do anything about it. If I tried, I would be annihilated. Then Marluxia came along and showed me this plan, but I knew there were flaws, so I modified it myself. Didn't work anyway. I just thought that if I was strong enough, I could put them beneath my feet. I could spit and laugh in front of their faces. You know, the normal bitchy things."

"Does Gary have anything to do with you people?"

"I told you before, he's just listed as someone who we just have to watch over. If there was something with him that was important, I would've known. But what I do know is that whatever he's being watched over for doesn't involve us directly. Someone else is making the shots, and that person may be the one controlling that boy."

"Who?!"

"I don't know. I've seen many things that point to that. I've learned things about that princess that we don't know at all. A easier and faster way to obtain our hearts, but very dangerous. I planned to do it myself, but I guess that means it will be prolonged for another time by someone else."

"What did you plan to do with her?"

"I can't answer all of these questions with the time I have, boy," said Larxene, and now, only her upper chest, half of her right arm, and half of her face remained. She then slowly looked at Ash.

"Let me warn you, though. That boy Gary is falling into a dangerous part of the darkness, and he continues to fall. If he doesn't stop, he will reach a darkness much greater than a Nobody. He will become more dangerous than a Dark Signer. He will never be able to turn back ever again. Are you prepared for when that time comes?"

Ash relaxed his shoulders, and curled his fingers into a fist.

"I'll just force his ass out of the darkness then."

Larxene stared at him, and then she used her final moments to look at the clearing sky with only half her face left.

"You know, you're the second Nobody..."

She then disappeared, but her voice continued in Ash's mind.

"...that I've seen that can still walk in the light."

"Ta-da!"

Dawn twirled, and then finished with a peace sign over her eye.

She had finally been released from the hospital.

It had been three days after the battle with Larxene and Zapdos. Zapdos had been treated and set free a day after the battle, so it now roamed the world once again.

Dawn placed a pink scarf over her neck. She hadn't worn one in a long time, and now that she felt that her body temperature lower than it usually was, she felt the need to wear a scarf now.

Brendan and May were beside her smiling.

"That's great," said Brendan. "But you still have to be careful. You may have more injuries that still need to be healed up, so I'm gonna make sure you take it easy from now on."

"Whatever," said Dawn happily, and she gave a smile right back at him.

"Where's Ash?" asked May.

"I saw him sitting on the roof of the hospital before," said Brendan. "I don't think he's come down yet."

"Is he alright?" asked Dawn. "I haven't seen him in a while. He still hasn't visited me."

"Ash has been going through a bunch of crazy stuff lately," said May. "I'm surprised he's not sleeping like he usually does."

"We should try to get a good enough distance before the sun goes down," said Brendan. "Go get him so we can leave this city. We've been here for a while."

"Okay," said May.

This left Dawn and Brendan alone now. Dawn slowly turned to Brendan.

"I heard that you filled out another survey for me," she said. "Mind telling me what it was about?"

"I'm going to use the bathroom."

Ash's legs dangled off the building's roof.

He looked down at the cars passing by. Pikachu was by him, sleeping quietly.

Ash was deep in thought now. All he could think of was what Larxene's final words had been.

Gary could become more dangerous than a Dark Signer...just because of one person.

And Ash didn't even know the identity of this person either.

"What's going on?" he thought. "It's hard not being able to know anything."

But what did this mean? Are The Dark Signers truly the threat? Is there someone even more dangerous taking away Gary's humanity? How is it connected to The Dark Signers? His father? May?

"So...many...questions."

He heard the roof door open behind him, but he didn't turn back. He heard footsteps coming toward him, and then May's face popped up beside his.

"We're ready to get moving now."

Ash slowly nodded.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"Are you still thinking about things?"

"I guess so."

May's hand then slapped Ash's back, almost making him fall from the roof.

"Stop thinking about things. It isn't like you to do that."

"Gee...thanks," said Ash, and he turned back to her. She was only smiling at him. He looked back out, and he also felt a smile creep onto his face.

"Right now, I have to think about protecting them. If it's all connected, I will find out eventually. I'll find a way to take care of Gary as well."

Ash then stood up.

"And whatever the person behind the scenes is thinking..."

He then slammed his fist into his palm and smirked.

"I'll just destroy that illusion with my own hand."

Sephiroth sat quietly within his log cabin. It was dark out, and the lights were all off. Only a candle sat near him within that room with the low table.

His eyes were closed, and then they slowly opened.

"It is almost time."

(Ending song)

Next Time on Pokemon Heroes: In their travels, Ash and his friends have entered a lively village that goes by the name Odyssey Village. A race that features Rhyhorns is starting, and The kids decide to participate, especially after finding out what was at stake. What does this race reward, and who will be the special person they meet in such a joyous occasion? Next Time: The Rhyhorn Race.

That was that chapter. That finally ends the Academia City arc, and now we move on. This time, the next chapter is actually finished, but I'll leave it to be published on Monday. I know this chapter was supposed to fix the update schedule, but Midterms screwed that up, but whatever. This season is close to ending, so be prepared my friends. See you next chapter!

Read and Review please :-)

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