This is the one hundred fifty-seventh chapter in Pokemon Heroes. Another reminder that my profile is updated, with Brendan having the spotlight, so if you like him, see information about him, plus a new chapter list and a detailed description of how I write my chapters. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any of the songs.
(Opening Song)
They soared over the ocean, heading toward their destination.
Ash was being carried by Staravia with Pikachu on his shoulder, Brendan was on top of his Pelipper, Dawn was on top of her Togekiss, and Lucas was above his Mantine.
They had left the shores of Sootopolis City to the ocean where Lucas said May should be located.
Ash had his gaze looking from left to right every second. He turned to Lucas, whose Mantine was gliding on the surface of the water behind him.
"You sure she's around here?" asked Ash.
"Yes," said Lucas, looking at a detecting device in his hand. "We should be nearing the destination soon."
"How long will soon be? I don't want to hear you say you've been holding the damn thing upside down!"
"Calm down, Ash," said Brendan.
"We'll find her eventually," said Dawn. "Even if she isn't here, we'd look somewhere else. We won't stop until we find her."
Something then caught her eye.
"Hey!"
They all looked to see what she was seeing.
The first thing they saw was the large circular stone that had engravings that shined blue brightly that sat in front of the temple above water, even though they weren't too close to it yet.
"Is that it?" asked Brendan.
Lucas looked down at his detector.
"Yes it is."
Ash then glared.
"Yeah, she's there. I can feel it."
"Since we're going against a strong enemy while also rescuing the Princess, we must form a battle strategy," said Lucas. "Let's stop and form one. We'll use the element of-"
"Let's go, Staravia!"
With a loud screech from the Pokemon, it dashed forward to get ahead. Pelipper and Togekiss quickly followed after it.
Lucas watched them go and sighed as he placed the detector back in his pocket.
"It's impossible to deal with kids. Mantine, quickly!"
They all focused on their destination, and Ash could only think one thing over and over.
"I'm coming for you, May. I'll save you and beat the shit out of that prick, too!"
The Guardian of the Sea
The chains that were holding down May were hitting each other much more violently. She was moving about frantically, even though her efforts were all in vain.
Sora sat in a chair looking at her with a smile on his face.
"I suggest you stop it, Princess. You don't have the energy to afford it."
May looked at him. She had tired eyes, and she was breathing more heavily.
It was because of the Clear Bell that was located below her. It was slowly sapping away her energy. She could pass out.
"I'm gonna get out of this...and then punch you so hard on the face."
"You're funny."
"You're just gonna wait for him to come?" asked May. "You're just gonna sit over there with a smile on your face as you prepare to kill your father, you monster."
"I guess," said Sora. "Throughout history, my father has never been punctual. He should be here soon."
"Then why am I chained up here? Why do you need me?"
"Pretty simple," said Sora, getting off his chair and slowly walking toward May. "I plan to make you witness me absorbing my father with your own eyes. Then, I plan to kill you with my new power. That could test my strength. It'll be easier since your power is weakening every second. I might just kill you while you're unconscious."
"That's a cheap move," said May.
Sora got close to her face now.
"I know."
Then, the whole temple shook.
Pebbles fell from the ceiling, and it took a few minutes for the temple to balance itself on the water.
Sora was curious, but May already knew who it was.
"Ash!"
"So that monster decided to come even when I have no interest in him right now," said Sora, and then he smirked. "Doesn't matter. I might as well warm myself up before the main event comes along."
Ash was on one knee with his fist on the ground. Behind him was a large hole.
You could tell he was the one that created it.
Staravia flew in after him. Then Dawn and Brendan on their respective Pokemon entered the hole, jumped off their Pokemon, and then returned them to their Pokeballs. Lucas jumped in. He had already returned his Pokemon.
"I thought I told you we had to use the element of surprise," said Lucas. "Now he'll see us coming."
"I want him to," said Ash as he stood.
They had entered a long hallway. It was completely made of stone, and the walls were covered with lines that contained aura in them.
"Can you still track May?" asked Dawn.
"Yes," answered Lucas. "Follow me and be careful. Wherever May is, Sora should be there too."
They started running. The place was like a maze, with wide and long hallways. Nothing special was there unless you counted the aura that was flowing throughout the whole place.
Their whole way there, Ash had felt more energy coursing throughout his body because of the immense aura that surrounded him, but he didn't pay much mind to that. He could only think about going after May.
After turning into another stone hallway, they ran until they finally got to the first room they encountered, and this was the room they were looking for.
"May!" yelled Ash.
She was stilled chained up, and she also seemed exhausted, breathing heavily as her eyes were closed.
Sora was not present in the room.
"May! What's wrong?" asked Dawn, heading toward her friend. She held on to a chain that was holding May's leg, and then it instantly froze.
Lucas looked around for Sora. Then his eyes were set onto the items under May.
"That's the Clear and Tidal Bells! Quickly remove them! Having the Clear Bell near her is hazardous for her health."
Ash quickly snatched the bells from the notches under May. Then he saw the ball of aura that was under her, and he quickly recognized it.
"This is aura," he said.
"I've seen that kind of stuff flowing on the walls the whole way here," said Brendan. "I thought it looked familiar."
"It must be powering this whole place," said Dawn.
Ash held his hand over it, and it slowly got absorbed into his hand.
"This is mine. How'd it get here?"
"Sora took some from you a while back," said May weakly. The ice chains that were holding her broke apart, and Ash quickly caught her.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Sora...you have to stop Sora," said May, looking at Ash as she tried to place her feet correctly on the ground. "H-He's planning to bring Lugia over here, kill, and absorb his power."
"Isn't Lugia his father, though?" asked Brendan.
"He's obsessed," said May. "He's going to do anything just to achieve a pointless goal."
She looked up at Ash with pleading eyes.
"Ash, you have to stop him."
"No," said Lucas. "All you came here for is the Princess. That's all you needed. Now you guys have to get out of here. I'll deal with Sora myself."
"But what about this place?" asked Brendan.
"This place is a temple that beckons Lugia to get over here," said Lucas. "The Aura Guardians created two temples as a last resort in the circumstance that the Tarlokians fail. Two were created: one for Ho-Oh and one for Lugia. I destroyed the Ho-Oh one some time ago, and I was searching for this one before getting a lead on Sora. The large, circular stone in front is actually a cannon powered by both bells and Aura. The attack could kill Lugia in one shot."
"But we removed the aura powering it," said Brendan. "Why hasn't it stopped yet?"
"That's because it must be powered in another area," said Lucas. "Sora's a smart advisory."
"Then we should destroy this place, too," said Dawn.
"No, I'll take care of that," said Lucas. "I'll take care of both."
"We don't have time for you to take care of the both," said May. "Sora could stall you and have enough time for Lugia to get here."
"Exactly," said Dawn. "At least leave taking care of Sora to us."
A vein throbbed on his forehead, but he soon gave in.
"Fine," Lucas said. "I'll leave the destruction to you. But once you're done, you leave."
"Great!" exclaimed Brendan as he punched his palm. "Destroying things is right up our alley."
"That's not an accomplishment," said Dawn.
May slowly looked at Ash.
"You're not going to take care of Sora?"
Ash stared at her, and then picked her up bridal style.
"Right now, he isn't my enemy," said Ash.
Lucas extended his hand that held an item out to May. She took it.
The item was a flute with blue carvings that represented waves.
"What's this?" she asked.
"That's the Tidal Flute," answered Lucas. "Use it in the case that Lugia gets here before I stop Sora. A silent frequency is being emitted. It angers the Pokemon and causes them to blindly get here and get within attack range if the cannon without thinking. Once you calm down Lugia, it should strategize and avoid the attack. It'll take a while before the temple charges up again, so that gives us extra time. Understand?"
May slowly nodded.
"Alright," said Lucas. "Go!"
They then scattered, going their own way to foil a ridiculous plan.
The whole temple shook as the children aimed to destroy it.
Brendan roared as he connected his fist toward a wall. Several cracks formed, and the whole thing came tumbling down. He broke through, and then he raced at the speed of a Mightyena and continued destroying wall after wall, causing the temple to shake even more.
Aggron shot walls down with Hyper Beam, and then rammed into them with Take Down.
Marshtomp used the boulders that fell from Aggron's rampage and used Rock Slide to hurl the boulders at walls to bring them down.
A boulder broke from the ceiling and came down on it without it knowing.
Brendan came running on a wall using Marshtomp's power, soared to reach Marshtomp, and then destroyed the boulder with an iron fist.
"Don't stop now!" yelled Brendan. "Just keep bringing on the destruction!"
Dawn placed her fist on her palm, and then sent a flurry of cold air was sent toward the walls, freezing them over, and continuing down toward the end of the hallway.
"Togekiss, Aura Sphere!"
Togekiss shot two Aura Spheres down the hallway, causing an explosion that vibrated the whole temple and tore down the walls that were frozen over.
Buneary jumped over them and used Jump Kick to destroy the rubble that fell from the explosion.
"We can't stop until this whole place goes down!" yelled Dawn as she slammed for fist into her flat palm, creating a large ice hammer that formed and crashed into the ground.
Boulders broke from the roof and came down on her. She rose her hand, and a large ice barrier form, letting the boulders bounce off and fall around them.
Using their powers, they broke through.
"Come on! Another hallway!"
The temple shook with every explosion.
Lucas walked quietly in a long hallway. His footsteps echoed loudly.
He was focused, only going for one goal.
It was to destroy Sora and avenge all of the people he had killed. Lucas wasn't going to go back. He was either going to get out of here feeling accomplished, or die feeling like a loser.
And he knew he was going to go with the former.
He didn't participate in the destruction. He didn't need to. He researched what Aura Guardians could do, so Ash alone could destroy the temple in half an hour.
Soon, the sound of footsteps began overlapping with his.
He stopped, and soon he saw who was coming from the other side of the hallway.
"So you've come," said Sora with a smile as he got closer. "Did you just come here to get your ass kicked over again?"
Lucas clenched his fists, and then got into a fighting stance.
"I didn't come here to play with you. I came to kill you."
"Ha! Really now? Did you not experience yourself that my power exceeds yours by a lot? It has only been two hours since our last fight. I believe it doesn't take that much time to fill in the gap between us."
"I was holding back last time," said Lucas. "Now, I don't plan to resist in the slightest bit."
"You can try," said Sora. "I am waiting for an important person. You might be able to entertain me for the time being."
"You're going to regret thinking that."
"You're going to regret even being here in a few minutes."
With a yell, Lucas ran toward Sora. He rose his left fist and Sora simply rose an arm.
Lucas's fist collided with Sora's arm, and the force caused a shockwave that blew plenty of dust within the old temple that blinded them.
Within the smoke, the two appeared face to face in midair.
Lucas threw a punch at Sora's face, sending the boy down the hall as he skidded on the ground.
Lucas quickly jumped out of the smoke with a backflip and landed on his legs as he skidded back a bit.
Sora broke through the smoke using Extremespeed and came in front of Lucas. The young man held up both of his arms, and Sora's fist collided with them so hard that the ground below Lucas gave in and he fell in. Sora stood over the hole and threw down an Aero Ball.
Sharp winds were heard slicing down walls as they tumbled down. Smoke escaped the hole.
Sora smirked. A normal human being would have their bodies sliced up.
Sora felt the ground shake, but immediately guessed it was because of the destruction Ash and his friends were causing.
But he was wrong, because the ground opened up and Lucas jumped out, ramming his elbow on Sora's face.
He then placed his right hand on Sora's gut, blasting water at high power that launched Sora into air. Sora held his hands over the water, and it began moving wherever his arms swung.
"I can control water, idiot!" yelled Sora. "It has no effect on me!"
He hurled the attack down at Lucas, who jumped out of the way before he got hit.
"I know that," said Lucas. He then tore a huge piece of the stone ground and hurled it at Sora with his left hand.
Sora smacked the attack aside, and then used his Aero to hurl himself at Lucas. He rammed into the young man and sent them both to the hall below. He then used Aero to take Lucas and hurl the boy away down the hall. Lucas got to his feet and skidded back.
When he looked up, Sora was already preparing an Aeroblast.
"Bye-bye."
He shot it, and the attack collided with Lucas and created a large explosion.
Smoke was all around Lucas. Sora kept his eyes forward.
"Are you still alive in there?" asked Sora. "Lately, I've been feeling that whenever I do something, my foe always survives somehow."
"Yeah, I'm still alive," said Lucas. "I see that you're not holding back from getting this place caught up in our fight."
"I don't need it anymore," said Sora, "It's already charged up. It'll shoot the instant my father gets here. I'll sense him though, so I won't be missing the spectacle."
"Too bad," said Lucas, and Sora could swear he saw a red and blue light. The smoke was blown away and large fissures headed for Sora. He jumped, but suddenly, lava broke out from the cracks and went up for Sora. He surrounded himself in Aero to deflect it, but he could still feel the heat. Looking at Lucas, he saw something else.
Lucas's gloves were glowing red and blue.
"This is Primal Mode," he said. "I told you. I'm not holding back!"
He uplifted some ground and tossed it at Sora, but it wasn't thrown to hit him directly. Instead, it hit the ground in front of Sora, and its destruction brought up dust that clouded Sora's vision. He used his Aero to push the dust aside.
There to greet him was Lucas, who then punched Sora across the face with his left hand.
The impact was tremendous, and blood escaped Sora's mouth after the attack. Then the fist went for his stomach, pushing all of his air out from his lungs. Then he was kicked on his gut that sent him spiraling back.
As soon as his feet landed on the ground, Lucas rose his left hand, and then dozens of streams of water that were pointed at the top rose up and went for him.
"What did I tell you, idi-"
Sora had rose his hand to control the water's movement, but he couldn't move it. They came at him, cutting him even as he dodged them to the best of his ability, but there was just too much. He was slashed on his side, and one scraped his forehead, causing blood to fall from it at a rapid pace.
He was thrown back when it all ended.
"I will avenge all of them," said Lucas. "Every single one of them, you monster!"
He crossed his arms outward, and then cracks formed on the ground as explosive lava shot out while a sheer cold spiraled toward Sora. He was using Eruption and Sheer Cold.
Sora watched nervously. When it struck him, he flew into the air as he yelled while getting hit repeatedly by both attacks.
An explosion that bested all other explosions that day erupted.
Ash roared, followed by an Aura Breath that broke through walls and sent them crashing down.
Pikachu used Volt Tackle as Corphish and Grovyle used Crabhammer and Leaf Blade to help their trainer in his task.
Ash's aura covered fist broke down a wall with ease. He smirked.
"How was that, May? Give me a score!"
May was sitting while leaning on a wall behind Ash.
Before she could answer, the whole place started tilting left and right after a large explosion erupted. They could feel the impact from where they were at.
"What the hell was that?!" asked Ash. "I can do a MUCH better one!"
May stared out, not saying a word.
Lucas stayed where he stood watching the amount of damage he caused. He only used that technique once before, and the person who got hit turned into a large black rock.
"Is it...over?"
The smoke started to clear, and Lucas sighed in annoyance when he saw Sora.
The boy was still standing, but he seemed very beaten up. His black t-shirt was torn apart, and his jeans was burned at the ends. A huge gash was on his side, but strangely no blood fell from the wound.
He was slumped forward with his head looking toward the ground while also breathing heavily.
"You still stand?" asked Lucas. "Look at you. Just flicking you could kill."
"You thought you had a chance, didn't you?" he asked.
Lucas dashed toward Sora, held back his left fist, and then thrust it forward toward Sora's face.
Sora's hand easily caught it.
Lucas was baffled. This punch should've crushed Sora.
Then, Sora finally made eye contact with Lucas.
His eyes were ocean blue.
"Mind if I send you flying now?"
He pulled his fist back, and then blue energy formed around it.
He then rammed it into Lucas's gut.
A whole pool of blood escaped his mouth, and then he was sent flying through wall after wall after wall.
He hit the ground hard in another wide stone hallway, and then he painfully grabbed onto his stomach and coughed up more blood. He writhed in pain.
"W-What the hell was that?!"
He heard Sora's footsteps nearing him.
Even with the pain, he stood and dashed toward the limping boy.
Sora rose his hand, and then sharp winds cut open Lucas's gloves as they fell apart.
"Useless without them, huh?" he asked.
Lucas was now shaken up with fear.
Sora lowered his arm, and then it felt as if a boulder suddenly pushed him to the ground.
He couldn't get back up, and Sora was coming closer.
"That was fun."
Sora was over him, and his hand was placed on top of Lucas's face.
"That was really fun."
Then he stopped.
Lucas awaited his death, but nothing happened. He slowly looked up at Sora.
Sora was not looking at him. He turned to Sora's gaze, and seeing her shook him.
It was May, leaning against a wall.
"Happy for you to join us," said Sora. "What's wrong? You look tired. How about you go take a rest? I'm just going to compress air around this sucker's head and watch it implode. Watching may scar you. I suggest you go."
May looked up at him. Her eyes were yet again red.
"That's dangerous," said Sora. "Overusing it could kill you."
Flames surrounded May. Then circled around her arm. She effortly swung it, and the flames shot out at Sora. He used Aero to brush it aside.
"Now you must be really fired up."
Flames slowly surrounded May again, but they suddenly dispersed and she fell to her knees while holding onto her chest. She coughed up blood.
"What did I tell you?"
May's flames returned right after, and shot out toward Sora. Sora used his Aero once again, but suddenly he jumped out of the way as the flames brushed past him and struck a wall. A hole slowly formed as it burned away the material.
Sora looked at what May did, and then looked back at May.
"Oh, I see you hanging out with this barbarians has changed you into a daredevil," said Sora. "Killing you would be as simple as destroying paper with the condition you are now. Are you sure?"
May breathed a couple times more, and then she glared up at Sora as flames surrounded her once again.
"I guess that's a yes."
Streams of flames shot out and headed for Sora. He backflipped away, then threw two Aero Balls at May. A flame wall surrounded her and the ball dispersed. The flame wall opened as a Flamethrower headed for Sora.
He quickly created an Aero Barrier. The flames struck it, causing Sora to be sent back as he kept his feet forcibly on the ground. He then brushed the flames off.
"Wow, Princess! At your level and strength, I never expected you to hold this much power!"
He extended his hand, and then shot an Aeroblast at her.
May slowly stood up from the ground, and then her hands held her chest.
With a yell, the flames around May turned purple.
Then they built up into one large purple ball made of flames, and then launched it toward Sora.
It broke through Sora's Aeroblast, shocking him.
"That's Sacred Fire!"
He quickly jumped out of the way, and the ball struck the ground and then sent an explosive fury of purple flames at him. He yelled as the flames made contact with his body. It was too hot and too powerful.
Flames filled the whole area. Sora was quickly engulfed in it.
From the rubble, Lucas watched in awe. He slowly looked toward May.
May watched what she did, and then she violently coughed again. Blood fell from her mouth, and she fell to her knees once again.
"Princess!" yelled Lucas.
"Look at you. This would be way more fun if you were not on the brink of death."
Sora broke through the flames, and then sharp winds picked up and brushed them all away. He was unscathed.
May tried standing, but then Sora appeared in front of her and elbowed her to the ground.
"Get away from her!" yelled Lucas. "Don't you dare touch her like that!"
"Why not?" asked Sora. "She came and attacked me first. If she wanted to come into our little fight, then why not? That's more fun for me."
His foot crashed down on her back. The impact caused cracks to form, and her body twitched.
Lucas could no longer watch.
He quickly got out from under the rubble and went for Sora. Even without his power he continued to fight.
He pulled back a fist at Sora's back. When he lurched it forward, it did not make contact with his head. His arm vibrated viciously, and then he was thrown back to the ground. He held his arm as it continued to shake.
Sora semi turned to him.
"What the hell was that about?" asked Sora. "I'm finished with you. You could've taken the time to run."
"I understand," thought Lucas. "He suddenly increased the pressure of air around him. A strong barrier has formed. The barrier is so thick that it's keeping blood from falling. It decreases the amount of damage inflicted to him. Even my Primal Mode and Ho-Oh's strength stands no chance."
He watched as Sora continued to step on May over and over.
"I've learned everything about him. How could I miss it? How could I miss the possibility of him developing his power? Without my gloves...without May...we stand no chance."
"I'm surprised you've lived this long," said Sora. "That's what your mother gets for putting such power within a fragile girl. The amount of power you've used up today would've destroyed you."
Flames erupted around May and Sora, and it shot up around them as they both got engulfed within the pillar of flames. But the flames were pushed away by Sora's Aero.
"I see," said Sora. "You're developing. You're growing stronger. The situations you've been in toughened your body up. Maybe, just maybe, if it toughened up just a bit more, you would've destroyed me without much effort. I'm impressed..."
May felt her body being crushed. She screamed as the pain coursed through her body. Sora increased the air pressure around her slowly, and Sora was trying to make it last.
"You should've obeyed me when you had the chance, Princess. Night, night."
May's scream echoed throughout the whole temple. Lucas could feel the pressure from where he was, but luckily he wasn't too close.
But he couldn't do anything.
Sora was laughing maniacally.
There was no way out of that.
But that one boy broke through it without much effort, and with a fist surrounded in blue, furious aura, he slammed it on Sora's face, sending the boy down the hallway as his body dragged itself across the ground.
The air pressure got lighter, and May's scream ended.
"You're a real dumbass, What made you think you could just walk off without me?"
May effortfully tried raising her head, but it fell back down as blood was shot out from her mouth.
"Don't worry. I'm on it."
Aura rose up his hand, and he placed it on May's back. It slowly sunk into her body and surrounded her heart. Slowly, May's breathing slowed and her coughing ended.
"Ash...I-"
"Yeah, yeah. You can apologize all you want later," said Ash, standing back up. "Just get the hell away from here."
"But..."
"I know," said Ash. "I know this was no longer completely my fight. What that asshole did was wrong and I paid him back by destroying everything he worked for. This was really your fight. This was a fight that you had to end since the beginning. This was not Lucas's fight, either. You has to beat him for all of us. All I had to do was watch you do it, but sadly...I'm not that type of guy."
Sora stood back up and looked toward Ash.
Ash looked at Lucas.
"Let me fight him."
"No way," said Lucas. "I can think of-"
"I said let me fight him," said Ash. "I'm going to break him for you."
"And what makes you think I'm going to say yes?"
"If you don't, I'll beat your ass first."
"You're saying such things to a Knight?"
"Knight or God, I'd speak the same to either one."
They stared each other down. They didn't say a word.
Then Lucas sighed and he slowly stood.
"If you really think you've got a chance against him, then go," said Lucas. "If you die, I won't come back for you. I'm going to destroy this place and come back for Sora another day."
"There won't be another day," said Ash. "This ends now. Just take May and go."
Lucas walked to her and picked her up slowly. She looked pretty weak.
"Ash..."
"I'm proud of you, May," said Ash. "I never thought you'd develop your power without killing yourself but you did. Now just leave this to me."
May tried talking, but she kept her mouth shut. She was going to trust him. She had to.
Lucas took one look at Sora for the last time, and then started running off.
Sora placed his hands behind his back and slowly walked toward Ash.
"Finally," he said. "I was getting bored with them. I was waiting for you."
Ash didn't respond.
"What? I don't sense much killing intent from you right now. Decided to get over it?"
"I haven't gotten over it," said Ash. "I don't plan to kill you."
"Really now?"
"I don't think that for living things anymore," said Ash. "I just plan to beat you until you're near death."
"You still think I'm just a mere living thing?"
"You're just corrupted."
"What makes you say that?"
"I've known someone who's been corrupted for far too long. He may turn out to be like you."
"You're planning to save me?"
"That's where the difference is," said Ash, and then aura engulfed his arms. "I don't plan on saving you at all."
"You're funny," said Sora. "You really are."
He lifted a hand, and then sharp winds were blasted toward Ash. Ash dashed forward as aura engulfed him, breaking through the winds and heading for Sora. He thrust his fist at Sora's gut, but the barrier around Sora prevented that.
Sora kneed Ash in the gut, elbowed Ash on the face, and then swiped his arm to cause winds to push Ash back.
The boy kept his feet on the ground, and when it stopped, he launched an Aura Breath at Sora. Sora brushed it away with his Aero, but then Ash broke through and swung his arm down at Sora, who blocked the strike with one arm. More aura covered Ash's fist, and the force started pushing Sora deeper and deeper into the ground, but then it broke open and Sora fell to the hallway below.
He landed and then backflipped before Ash crashed his Aura covered foot on him.
When Sora stopped, he used Extremespeed to come back at Ash and then punched him downward on the face. He threw another punch at Ash's stomach, and then grabbed Ash's face and tossed him at the ceiling. He broke through many ceilings.
Then Sora rose a hand, and then an Aeroblast blasted from it and headed for Ash.
The boy crossed his arms over his head, but the blast was too strong.
He yelled as it pushed him back and he got engulfed in its fury.
An explosion followed. Sora watched to look for Ash. He did see Ash, but it was his motionless body heading for the ground. Blood escaped from his mouth and he was also injured on his side.
"You're lucky," said Sora without turning back. "That's what I expected from a monster like you."
Without turning back, he heard Ash trying to get himself back up.
"And you still continue to fight?" asked Sora.
"Hell yeah!" yelled Ash. He was breathing heavily. His foot crashed onto the ground, and he launched himself at Sora. Sora swung his arm to create a wall of wind, but Ash's fist broke through it and rammed onto Sora's face. The boy was sent back. He touched his cheek. He looked at Ash and saw the blue in his eyes.
"I see," said Sora. "That's how you're breaking through my defenses. This isn't normal human strength."
His eyes turned ocean blue.
"Then it'd be fair to even out the playing field then, right?"
The temple shook much more than it did before. Brendan stood by his Pokemon as he watched the rubble fall to the ground repeatedly.
"That must be Ash," he said. "That bastard thinking that he could do much more damage than me! Fine then, I'll just-"
Suddenly, a beam of light broke right through the walls. Brendan pulled Aggron out of the way.
He knew that was not Ash.
"This place is going down pretty fast," said Brendan. He cracked his knuckles. Then he crashed his fist to the ground, creating large cracks that broke it apart immediately.
"Then I'm going let it crumble faster!"
Dawn looked down the destroyed hallway. There was nothing left. She breathed heavily, and her Pokemon stood by her to make sure she didn't fall and hurt herself on the rubble.
"I'm fine," said Dawn. "I'm fine."
She had noticed that the temple was shaking, and she could hear explosions elsewhere explode viciously.
"I can't stop just yet," she said.
She placed her fist on her palm, and then blue light shined. She then rose her arm. From the ground, a gigantic ice lance molded and kept going upward, breaking through ceilings until it broke through the highest one.
Small pieces of ice fell to the ground slowly.
"Almost there!"
Lucas was outside the temple. He was above his Pidgeotto. He had his arms folded over his chest.
"I won't allow this to go on any longer, Sora."
He placed two items on his wrists.
They were Mega Rings.
He then threw two Pokeballs in the air, and then a Glalie and a Steelix burst out.
He removed two small orbs from his pocket.
They were a Steelixite and Glalitite. He pushed them into the notches on the Mega Rings.
A light engulfed Steelix and Glalie. When the light broke apart. In the air were now two new Pokemon.
Mega Steelix and Mega Glalie.
"Please!" ordered Lucas.
Mega Glalie launched a destructive Ice Beam at the surface of the temple. Mega Steelix then spun its body around like a drill, and crashed into the ice, breaking into the temple easily. Mega Glalie shot a Frost Breath into the hole, and a large explosion was heard inside. Mega Steelix continued to drill inside.
Lucas watched it all in the air.
"That bastard better hurry up."
The two boys clashed. Each punch they threw caused a explosion and broke down walls.
After breaking through one wall, Ash hurled himself at Sora. Sora slammed his fist into Ash's face, sending him to the ground forward face first. Ash quickly grabbed Sora's leg, spun around, and then inhumanly tossed Sora up into the air. Harsh winds surrounded Sora's arms, and he sent them down at Ash. With a roar, Ash tore through the wind and then pushed his hands together. Once he separated his hands, a large Aura Sphere formed. He tossed it at Sora. He moved out of the way using his power. Using Extremespeed, he appeared next to Ash. Once he swung his arm, harsh winds struck Ash. Ash tried to stay where he was, but the winds were too strong, and he was then launched through walls until he broke out of the temple into the air over the ocean.
Ash glared at Sora, surrounded his feet in aura, and then propelled himself back in. His fist thrust forward when he got close enough, punching Sora right in the face. Sora laughed and then threw a heavy punch into Ash's stomach.
They struck each other over and over again as their inhumane thoughts thought about destroying the other.
"Feel that!? It must be great wielding that much power! You feel like you can do anything, right?! That's how I feel! More! More! More!"
He then pulled his fist back as blue energy formed around it. Ash recognized it immediately since he used it last time.
It was plasma. Sora compressed the air too much, eventually turning it into another state of matter.
This fist crashed into Ash's gut, feeling as if it ripped through his chest.
A pool of blood escaped his mouth, and he wobbled back.
"Don't you hate not being strong enough, monster?!" yelled Sora.
"I do," Ash said silently. "It is because I don't have enough that I wasn't able to protect a lot of people within my life. People I cared about. I've witnessed many things because of my lack of power..."
Ash then looked at Sora, straightening himself.
"But I've come this far with the power I already have!"
He dashed forward. He ducked another punch from Sora, and then uppercutted the young man with a furious aura engulfed fist. Sora was launched into the air.
"I don't need to cheat to obtain more! I will grow stronger my own way!"
"How childish," said Sora, raising his hands over his head. Unlike last time, the plasma formed too quickly. "I'll show you where lack of power gets you."
"It gets me many places!" yelled Ash. Sora threw the ball. If it actually struck, it would've destroyed the whole temple, not even leaving a trace of Ash's body. "And it will continue getting me places! Places farther than you!"
His Aura Blade materialized in his hand. Aura surrounded it.
With one swift swing, he cut through the plasma ball, breaking it in two.
"That's what it feel like to have my power, dammit!"
Sora was wide-eyed. Fierce aura surrounded Ash, engulfing the leftover pieces of the Plasma Ball. He then pushed himself upward as the Aura engulfed his whole body, slowly transforming into the head of the Aura Beast.
"That's why you're corrupted Sora!" he yelled. "You have no idea what your power is for other than getting better than others!"
Sora was frozen. He didn't know if he was hallucinating when he saw the Aura Beast's head roar.
"USE YOUR POWER CORRECTLY, SORA!"
Ash's fist crashed into Sora's gut, not pulling back as they both continued breaking through cieling, going farther up. Sora was yelling in pain as the aura engulfed him. They kept going, and after a mighty yell from Ash, they broke through one more ceiling before everything stopped.
Smoke covered the room completely.
Within, Ash was standing, breathing heavily.
Sora was on the ground, with white eyes and his mouth open. Blood fell from his side since the barrier no longer surrounded him.
"And don't ever lay a single finger on May ever again."
May sat on top of the large circular stone. Lucas placed her here, telling her to watch for Lugia. She kept her eyes open. She felt dizzy, and she could easily fall forward into the ocean below.
She felt the temple vibrate beneath her. She didn't pay much mind to it. Even in her dizzy state, she could still feel worry for Ash. She wondered how he was doing with Sora. The Aura still flowed within the engravings on the large circular stone. That just meant the power source has not been destroyed yet.
She saw Lucas flying over her on his Pidgeotto. He seemed to be getting more and more inpatient.
"I warned him," he said to himself "I swear that if he doesn't come, then-"
A terrifying roar resonated in their ears.
May looked toward the ocean. She watched closely, and started seeing a shadow coming toward them quickly within the water.
Its head rose above the water and then it soared up into the air and flapped its wings, causing sharp winds that almost made May fall from her position.
This was Lugia. Its blue eyes showed its rage. It roared once again.
Within the temple, Dawn and Brendan heard the roar. They fell to the ground as the temple shook violently due to the harsh winds.
Pidgeotto and Lucas were sent flying, not being able to fight back the wind.
"Lugia..." thought May. She then realized the blue glow on the large circular stone slowly glow brighter. She stared at the Tidal Flute in her hand.
Lucas didn't even tell her what to play or what to do. She had to think fast, so she quickly placed the flute near her mouth and blew air into it, just deciding that she'd play " Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".
But the notes came fluently. This was her first time playing it, but her fingers danced on the ancient relic. She couldn't describe what she was playing, but it sounded serene and beautiful. She didn't know, but it was because of the flute being an ancient relic that the song came out. All you needed to do was blow air into it.
She noticed Lugia slowly lower its roar. Its eyes' blue color was fading.
She was almost there, and she had to hurry before the temple shot Lugia.
But the flute was knocked out of her hands, and it fell into the ocean.
What struck her was a gust of wind.
"I would ask you not to do that, Princess."
May froze.
"Sora?! But Ash-"
She slowly turned to him, and then her eyes widened.
Sora was on his knees. He held onto his side as blood fell from his deep wound. The air barrier around him was too weak, but it was barely good enough so blood would be gushing out of Sora. He was breathing heavily, and his pupils were fading.
"Sora..."
"This is it," he said with a smirk. "I'm finally going to do it. I'll-I'll..."
He coughed up blood.
May stared at him with sorry eyes. She understood all of the wrong things he's done and the things he's planning to do, but why did she feel bad?
"It didn't have to turn out this way," said May. "If only you didn't-"
"I don't care!" he yelled. "This is the time I shall ascend in ultimate power! Then I'll kill every single one of you!"
The blue light brightened sharply.
"It's time!"
May was too late to stop it. A blue, powerful beam shot out from the middle of the large circular stone and headed for Lugia.
Sora was laughing maniacally as it got closer to Lugia.
It was going to instantly kill.
Lugia saw the beam coming, and then within a second, its eyes returned to its blue color, and then it shot an Aeroblast from its mouth at the beam, neutralizing the attack.
Quiet shock overtook the two of them, but they didn't have time to fully stay like that for Lugia's Aeroblast continued and shot right through the temple, destroying the large circular stone in front. It then flew forward and crashed into the temple with its large strong wings.
"I'm sorry, son of mine."
Lugia was telepathically speaking to them as it continued to rampage.
"Your plan has been fouled. This temple has been here for too long. Its power is unstable and weak. It takes over my mind, but my mind is too focused to fall prey to it."
"No..." Sora mumbled. "No, no, no."
"I should've done something. I realized what you were doing so long ago, but I did nothing to stop it. I let you go on. I wanted to see how far you would go, and when you would decide to turn back, but doing that only let you fall more into the darkness. You were created, no, you were both created by the sea and the sky to help Pokemon and people get closer together. We wanted you two to lead this world to peace. Only she walked in the light, but you walked in the dark, and I never tried to pull you out. I take full responsibility for what you've become. You are a disappointment, Sora."
Strange liquid started to form in Sora's eyes.
"I'm so sorry it turned out this way."
The liquid fell from Sora's face.
They were tears.
The boy produced tears for the first time in his life.
"F-Father..."
"Where the hell is that bastard!" yelled Ash, running and jumping over rubble in the broken hallway.
"Pika Pi!"
Ash stopped. He saw Pikachu, Grovyle, and Corphish coming from the corner and run toward him. Ash bent down and petted Pikachu's head.
"I'm fine, buddy," said Ash.
"Grov Grovyle."
"He escaped," said Ash. "Just when I thought he was done and out, he suddenly destroys the ground and falls in. I went after him but he was gone. That asshole! I have to fine him n-"
Lugia's wing broke through the wall and went deeper within the temple, and then exiting on the other side in front of Ash. Ash kept his Pokemon near him.
When it was over, his mouth was agape.
"What the hell was that?!"
He felt the temple rumble.
Grovyle placed a hand on its trainer's shoulder. Ash looked at it, and then sighed.
"You're right," he said. "Another day then."
He quickly returned Grovyle and Corphish and sent out Staravia.
He shot an Aura Breath at the wall until there was a way out. He grabbed Pikachu as Staravia grabbed him, and they flew out of there.
Teardrops continued falling from Sora's face. May watched silently. The temple continued to shake.
"May!" called out Lucas, coming right back with his Pidgeotto. He stopped his Pokemon and he looked around at the destruction. "It seems that the tides have turned to our favor. That's great. Now we can-"
He then spotted Sora.
"Sora? Sora! I thought the Aura Guardian was supposed to take care of him!"
"Wait, Lucas!" yelled May. "I...um...I think it's over. There is no reason to keep fighting."
"What?"
Then something strange happened.
The walls and the rubble of the destroyed temple starting glowing blue.
It felt hot, and it felt dangerous.
Lugia exited from the temple and stopped to look.
"Aura. I see. The cannon is supposed to recharge if it misses its shot. I destroyed the point to shoot from, so the aura is just building up without an escape, and it's continuing to build up. It'll keep building up until it releases explosively."
"It would be like an explosion is every direction," said Lucas. "With the size of the temple and the force of the buildup, it could be a large destructive one. It could even reach out to Sootopolis City and obliterate us as well."
"Correct."
"But what about the power source?!" asked May. "We've destroyed this place enough and we still haven't found it. Where is it?!"
"It's within me," said Sora suddenly.
He slowly rose to his feet.
"You thought I'd be dumb enough to let it out in the open so you guys can simply destroy it like some damn heroes," he continued. "As long as I'm standing, aura will continuing to flow. I'm smarter than that."
"Sora..." said May, but she was suddenly struck by Sora with a sharp wind that knocked her off the temple toward the ocean.
Lucas was going to quickly save her, but Ash beat him to it.
Ash flew by with Staravia and caught May in his arms.
"Be more careful," said Ash.
"Ash, Sora is the power source!" yelled May. "This place is going to blow if he's not stopped!"
"You found him?!" asked Ash. "He's asking for another face pounding!"
"What about Brendan and Dawn?" asked May. "Did they come out with you?"
"Do you want me to take care of Sora or them?"
They heard screaming that sounded like a little girl. Ash turned and saw Brendan falling toward the ocean. He must've fallen out from a hole on the temple.
Dawn ran to a hole on the temple. She rammed her fist on her palm, then creating an ice air glider. She grabbed on and jumped off. She caught Brendan on top of it.
"Alright there, Brendena?" asked Dawn with a smug look.
"I...whatever," said Brendan.
"Glalie, Steelix, retreat!" ordered Lucas. Seconds later, Mega Steelix broke out of the temple by drilling through. Mega Glalie followed. Their mega forms went away, reverting them to normal, and then they were both returned by Lucas.
"They're safe," said Ash. "Now for Sora."
He flew up and went for Sora.
He charged at him, but suddenly, he hit an invisible wall. Staravia moved back and tried going in from another spot, but they hit an invisible wall again.
"What the hell?" asked Ash. "This is a-"
"Sora!" yelled May.
"I'll show you father," said Sora. "I'll show you that my power greatly exceeds yours. I...am all powerful!"
He rose his head. His eyes were blue.
"He created an air barrier around the whole temple," said Sora as he and his Pigeotto tried going in from another spot, but they couldn't get through. "It's getting tougher and tougher every second. What the hell are you doing, Sora?!"
"I'll show you, I'll show you," said Sora. "I'll show you I don't need your power! No matter the force, no matter the power, I will be more powerful! I don't need your power anymore, father! I'll show you my power right here and right now!"
"He's going to contain the explosion," said Brendan. "He's inside! He'll get destroyed, too."
"Sora, get out of there!" yelled May.
The temple started to glow brighter.
"Sora!"
With one final yell, the temple exploded with an explosion of furious aura. The explosion stayed within the wind barrier at first, but then it broke through, and the explosion engulfed them all.
Ash opened his eyes. He sat up quickly.
Smoke rose up into the air in the distance. He felt the ground bob up and down, but then he realized it wasn't ground.
It was Lugia's back.
Beside him were Brendan and Dawn. May was sitting off to the side staring at the smoke. Lucas was above Pigeotto, following Lugia, but his eyes stayed on the smoke.
"Thank Arceus you're alive," said Brendan. "I started to worry."
"We're okay?" asked Ash.
"You're alive now, aren't you?" asked Dawn.
"You children barely survived," said Lugia. "My son's barrier reduced the radius of the explosion, but I prevented it from killing you kids with my own power. Missing for a second would've been fatal."
Ash looked at May.
"Where's Sora?" he asked to everyone else.
No one responded.
"I can't sense him anymore," said May suddenly. "I can't feel him at all."
The sun was setting in the horizon.
On the shore of Sootopolis City, May and Lugia were together. Many people watched far away at the surprise that Lugia was right outside their city but they didn't dare to come closed after being threatened by Ash.
The two were having a talk.
"I'm sorry that he's caused so many problems for you. I should've kept a closer eye on him."
May pulled her bandaged legs closer to her face.
"Are you sad?" she asked.
Lugia stayed quiet for a bit, but then it proceeded to talk once again.
"Of course. What parent would not be sad over their child's disappearance? I can no longer feel him as well, but I know he's out there. I will search for him, and I will x
"I don't know," said May. "I just am."
"That's something you inherit from your mother. She always cared about every living thing, no matter how much evil was within them. You have most of her traits. Her kindness, her beauty, and her heart. She made a wonderful child. If you controlled your power, you would've been far stronger than Sora. Your power is more than just destruction. It can heal things, and bring things to life. You have to reach that stage in your power. I trust you to continue your mother and my goal. I know you can."
"Do you think he saved us from dying?" asked May.
"I don't know. He didn't sound like he was, but I did feel it a little bit. Just a little."
May looked up at him.
"Do you think the same way as Sora?" she asked. "Are you also envious?"
"No. I'm content with the power I have. All I care about is protecting those with what I've got. I just wish Sora thought the same."
He started retreating back into the ocean.
"I will continue to look. Take care, child."
"Wait," said May. "Have you spoken to my mother? What does she think of me now?"
Lugia stopped without turning back.
"She's proud of you. Very, very proud."
It then dove into the ocean.
A small smile formed on May's face.
"You're leaving already?" asked Brendan. "You sure you don't want to go looking for Sora first?"
"No," said Lucas, staring at the Clear and Tidal Bells he was holding. "I believe he's dead, and I would like to leave it that way."
"Where are you headed now?" asked Dawn.
"To do my duty, of course," said Lucas, with bandages in every place of his body other than the front of his face. "I will also make sure these bells are never used in the wrong ever again. Even though Sora killed many of my people, a lot weren't in the village at the time. I will look for them and build my village again. That is my goal from now on."
He then looked at Ash, and then bowed.
"Thank you. Your power truly shows you're a swell Aura Guardian."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," said Ash while trying to cover his arm with bandages. "Just get out of here."
"Be more respectful," said Dawn.
Lucas turned around and pulled out a Pokeball, releasing Pigeotto. He got on top.
"And hey," said Ash, "we still haven't settled things. The next time we meet, I'm gonna pay you back for that punch you gave me when you first saw me."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," said Lucas. He patted his Pokemon's back, and then they soared up to the sky and left.
When he was out of sight, Brendan sighed.
"Finally. The more he stayed, the longer I felt like he was going to arrest me."
"Why?!" asked Dawn.
Ash looked back at May by the shore. Lugia wasn't with her, so he must've left. He slowly walked toward her. He placed a hand on her head.
"You alright?"
"I'm okay," said May as she took his hand and held it tightly. "Thank you."
Ash nodded and then slowly helped her to her feet.
"Ash, do you believe Sora saved us?" asked May.
Ash stared at her.
"Whether or not he did, I won't be thanking him. I would've done something myself."
"You're being selfish."
"Whatever," said Ash. "Let's head back to the Pokemon Center. You deserve some rest."
"I do," said May. Brendan and Dawn waited for them. Ash led her.
She walked toward him.
"May..."
May quickly stopped and looked back toward the ocean. The wind blew past her hair and body. It felt strangely calm.
She slowly smiled.
"What's wrong?" asked Ash.
"Nothing," answered May. "Let's go take a nap."
Within the darkest part of the sea, Sora body drifted lower and lower.
His arms were covered in blue scales, which was aura stuck to his face. There was some attached to half his face as well.
An air bubble escaped his mouth, and he sunk deeper.
This was the end of Sora's journey.
(Ending Song)
Next Time on Pokemon Heroes: After so long, the day has come. The day when light within the Aura Guardian and the darkness within Sephiroth's pawn has arrived, and the battle to see who is the strongest begins. Who is stronger, and who will overcome the other: the light or the dark? Next Time: Ash and Gary 1 (Confrontation).
That was that chapter. Now this was the LONGEST chapter I've ever done! I just had to make it this long though, just to build the impact of Sora's final battle. This may be the end of him, this may not, but that will be clarified when THAT time happens. Lucas was a great OC to write about, and this is not the last time you'll see him. He may appear later as well. Now about my update schedule. I can no longer "promise" when it's going to be fixed, but I'm sure it should be fixed during the beginning of next season.
Sora was a great character to write about. Now it's time to get this season over with the last three chapters of the season, and the battle that you've been waiting for in a while.
See you next chapter!
Read and Review please :-)
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