Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon. That right belongs to Nintendo.

A/N: Thank you for the reviews and feedback. Well, it's not too much to ask for more, is it? All of you help me keep the story going. Hopefully I'll be able to finish it. :D

A/N: As a reminder, references to Pokémon Generations I, II, III and IV will be made every now and then, along with the events of Pokémon Black. Yeah, I haven't played Pokémon White yet. I've been playing Pokémon FireRed though.

A/N: The poll's still up.

A/N: I know that the opponents participating in Tag Team Battles in the games carry up to three Pokémon. But I want to make it six on both sides.

A/N: I think that's everything, so moving on to chapter 20 (chapter 21, but w/e). This one will be kind of short, particularly because N and White are in a Pokémon Battle. Well, enjoy!

N's PoV.

Half-panicked, half-afraid, I sprinted through the heavy sandstorm, my clothes gradually becoming laden with dust. It was even going into my eyes, me blinking furiously. I wasn't even thinking about protecting my eyes (even though I had a facial mask on). All I was worried about were Lucario and Cobalion. "Lucario?" I said shrilly.

No answer.

"COBALION!" White shouted. "Where are you? LUCARIO!" There was a cough, instantly stifled. "The d-dust," White said weakly, "it's – it's . . ." She started coughing again.

I turned around, seeing her hands clapped over her mouth, doubled over. "Get out of the sandstorm," I suggested, the wild winds caressing my face, messing up my hair, making my mask a little lopsided. "LUCARIO! COBALION!" I shouted. Lucario, Cobalion, where are you? I hoped one of them would pick up on my thoughts.

No answer again.

"I suppose." White started to wheel around, her hair slapping against my face. I smelled lavender and dust. It took everything I had not to breathe in the intoxicating, flowery scent. I turned around too, intent on finding both Pokémon.

Seconds later, White released a bloodcurdling scream. "What's wrong?" I asked, turning around. I was barely able to discern White's silhouette through the thick sandstorm.

"Haven't you guessed it yet?" said Bethanne sharply. "They're not answering! How dense can a boy get?" In my mind's eye, I imagined her gloating, smiling triumphantly.

"Are you saying -?" Evan began to say. The rest of his sentence was drowned out by White calling my name. I rushed over to where she was, the seconds seemingly passing into eons.

My heart beat faster with each step I took. As White came into view, I saw she was hovering over two still figures, her head bowed down. "I c-can't believe this," I heard her mumbling. "Damn! N, take a l-look at this – this." She stepped out of my way, her hand clutching onto a Repeat Ball.

My heart dropped.

Both Lucario and Cobalion had fainted. "LUCARIO!" Even though I knew she'd fainted, I sprinted over to her side, kneeling down onto the concrete, which was starting to mend itself from the effects of EARTHQUAKE. I brought her close to me, shaking her frantically. Her head lolled around in response. "N-No!" I cried. "W-Wake up!"

"Cobalion, return!" The Repeat Ball hit Cobalion's unconscious form, sucking him back into the capsule. Instantly, it boomeranged back to White. "I c-can't believe this happened. You deserve some rest," she said gently.

I, however, stood rigid. Staring at Lucario, I instantly wished that I could somehow have the ability to bring her out of her fainting spell and back to full strength. But any moment, White would regain her cantankerous nature and insist I switch Lucario out with another Pokémon. "White -" I began to say. I stopped when I felt a sudden kick in my torso, shocking me.

Uhhh . . . , Lucario moaned. Her eyelids were scrunched, her lashes fluttering madly like a Butterfree's wings when angered. The boss needs me . . . I can't faint on him . . .

"Open your eyes," I insisted. Instead, Lucario brought herself into a fetal position, her eyes still shut. "Lucario! Open your eyes!" Abruptly, I shook her, which caught her attention.

Lucario yawned heavily. Then, she opened her eyes in wonder, alert. She locked eye contact with me, apologizing for causing me unnecessary worry while wondering how she could've survived EARTHQUAKE when Cobalion – much stronger than she – didn't. "It doesn't matter," I assured her. "However, what do you want to do?"

White came to my side then. I directed one eye toward the brunette, seeing her eyebrows knitting into one, her eyes cold as ice, void of emotion. "It's a miracle," she breathed before coughing fitfully. "Urgh! GO ZEBSTRIKA!" A neighing came moments later.

I have no choice but to join in the fight now, Lucario said seriously. She made a boneheaded move, boss. Don't take me out, all right? As I surveyed White with utter disbelief, I loosened my hold on Lucario, allowing her to regain her footing. I followed her lead in standing up.

White took one good look at me, shrugged and darted over to where we originally were before the fateful EARTHQUAKE struck Cobalion just several minutes before. She left Zebstrika in the midst, her mane crackling with electricity. Oh, White, Zebstrika sighed. I'm weak against Ground-type moves and you know that. What's going on with you? Cobalion . . . I'll take your word and be careful. I'll do whatever I can not to faint because if White – Zebstrika wheeled around and galloped over to White, her poise graceful and elegant.

I grasped Lucario's hand, steering her through the sandstorm and leading her to where Zebstrika and White were, the latter regarding me with a piercing look before breaking eye contact. "Let's go," she said flatly.

Letting go of my Pokémon's hand, I stared at White disbelievingly. "You know . . . Well, let's go!" Zebstrika absently kicked the concrete with her hooves, waiting for White's say-so. Lucario, on the other hand, danced around, doing a pirouette like a ballerina, grinning toothily.

I gazed at the barely-visible Bethanne and Evan, both ogling Lucario with confusion and outrage. "Swalot," I heard Bethanne growl whereas Evan said Seismitoad's name lightly. "Get ready," both of them instructed. "We cannot fail Lord Ghetsis and Lord Gorm!"

I scowled. "And I can't let you two win," I retorted.

White said nothing. Doesn't she care about Cheren and the others? I wondered. When the bespectacled boy appeared into my head, I shook my head, wanting nothing more than to knock those glasses off his arrogant face.

"ZEBSTRIKA, USE THUNDER ON SWALOT!" Zebstrika whinnied, bringing her body upward, kicking the air profusely with her hooves before trotting off into the sandstorm, the sky growing darker by the passing seconds.

Looking at Lucario, I said calmly, "USE AURA SPHERE ON SESMITOAD!" Lucario stopped her episode of immaturity right then and there. She whirled around, her frame alight with aura energy. As she took off after Zebstrika, her hands began glowing.

"SWALOT, USE BODY SLAM ON ZEBSTRIKA!"

"SEISMITOAD, USE BUBBLEBEAM!"

The sky was stormy gray now. A moment later, a forked lightning bolt cleaved the dull clouds, looking rather wicked, aglow with blue light. "I hate sand." I gestured at the sandstorm, relentlessly roaring on, the wind whistling, blowing the hair on my skin up.

I hoped White would answer, although she said nothing. What's with her? I couldn't help thinking. I was about to open my mouth to speak when I'd noticed that Lucario and Zebstrika were facing Swalot and Seismitoad, their forms barely discernible through the sandstorm. Thunder clapped seconds later.

This was going to get interesting.

Chapter 20: The Descent Part I

White's PoV.

Thunder was clapping. The sandstorm waged on, with no signs of stopping soon. Natural disasters were raging around me. Out of all Pokémon Battles, why use Tag Team Battles? They must know I prefer battling one-on-one, I thought. It didn't matter, though.

Swalot threw itself at Zebstrika, growing larger and wider in size. I had to admit, the expansion of its gelatinous body was pretty disgusting, but for some reason, I was reminded vaguely of Jell-O. It was quite a shame Swalot weren't edible. But then again, I wouldn't want to wolf down a Poison-type Pokémon as dessert. I might die of poisoning. But I needed to live another day while fighting for my freedom. Not only my freedom but N's, Cheren's, Bianca's, my mother's and Red's as well. When I immediately thought of Red, a frown line appeared on my forehead, deeper than the norm. Personally, I didn't know what to make of him.

Zebstrika barely jumped out of harm's way, letting Swalot take the full force of BODY SLAM. There was grunting rippling from the Pokémon, who started to moan in agony several moments later. "YOU PATHETIC POKEMON!" Bethanne was yelling her head off. "Get up and fight Zebstrika!" Swalot tried to obey her by attempting to press its amorphous hands against the sidewalk, which was coated in grime and slime colored electric purple. Its whiskers quivered at breakneck speed. Swalot appeared to be disoriented. It tried to propel itself upwards once more, but failed miserably.

My Pokémon tilted her head up high in the sky. Mere seconds later, another thunderbolt appeared in the stormy sky, alit with blue. As Swalot finally pushed itself up onto its indiscernible feet, the thunderbolts Zebstrika had summoned flickered on and off with incredible speed, illuminating the clouds. I could've sworn I heard a crackling sound but a deafening BOOM made me think otherwise.

They merged together to form one wicked-looking thunderbolt, whiter than snow. With speed faster than light, the huge bolt zipped through the darkened sky, the sound of thunderclaps amplifying drastically for some peculiar reason. Damn, I hate thunder and lightning! Thoughtlessly, I shut my eyes, seeing light flash through my eyelids. I didn't need to open them to know Zebstrika had dealt the final blow to Swalot.

I expected to hear Bethanne howl with rage, despair. But there was nothing. Forcing my eyes open, I saw Zebstrika kicking the ground, a crestfallen disposition exuding from her. I tore my eyes off my magnificent Pokémon to see a flat black circle, the concrete uneven from THUNDER'S impact. Swalot, on the other hand, inched away, leaving a trail of slime behind. "Yuck. Zebstrika, don't be discouraged," I added kindly. "You'll zap that blob into nothingness, don't you worry!" Zebstrika turned around; galloping over to me with doleful eyes (I could only see her because her whole body was glowing through the sandstorm).

Seismitoad and Lucario seemed to be throwing daggers at each other. For Lucario, it was understandable. After all, Cobalion did faint at that overweight hideous Ghetsis look-alike's hand. I wouldn't blame her for wanting to avenge him. Seismitoad threw his head up, making an earsplitting gurgling noise from his mouth, minute rivulets of water flowing down from those oversized lips. A split second passed before the Pokémon opened his mouth, spraying crystalline bubbles that looked exactly like saliva at Lucario. They skated through the air a couple of times before hitting Lucario, popping on her very skin.

Lucario staggered slightly, but she held her ground. She counterattacked with AURA SPHERE, the ball slamming into Seismitoad's belly so hard it dug itself into the skin. Seismitoad gazed at Lucario with shock before collapsing, AURA SPHERE freeing itself from the Pokémon's belly. It went straight for Lucario, who jumped into the air, performing another somersault before landing back onto the ground. "STOP THE ATTACK!" I shouted at N, the boy flicking his bangs arrogantly.

N shook his head before regarding me with worry, reassurance and a mixture of other emotions I couldn't classify. He gave me an, it's-okay grin, gesturing at AURA SPHERE. All of a sudden, the sphere collapsed in on itself. In less than a second, it was gone. I heard Evan cursing before recalling Seismitoad back into his Poke Ball.

Lucario bolted over to us, smiling. Several times she leaped into the air blissfully before stopping in front of N. "Your Pokémon should cut down on the caffeine," I suggested. Lucario rolled her eyes, looking adoringly at N. N beamed, undisguised pride on his face.

I blinked, unconvinced at what I just saw. For a brief moment there, N seemed more relaxed, less tense. His smile was gentle, about as soft as his eyes were before Ghetsis betrayed him. As far as I was concerned, he appeared handsomer, free of all the darkness. To be honest, he looked nothing like the hardened, bitter guy I had been on the run with. Closing my eyes, I burned that image into my mind, afraid to lose it. When I opened them again, N was scowling, his emerald eyes as cold as ice, his expression carefully composed. No point trying to deny it, N, I thought grimly. You're still a being of light, the embodiment of Idealism. If you think you're far gone, I have evidence you're not.

But I can't force you to face that. I have to find my parents and friends. Also . . . I stared at Zebstrika. Zebstrika stared back with penetrating eyes, waiting expectantly for her next move. I also must win this Tag Team Battle, no matter what! As I mulled over what attack Zebstrika should use next, the sandstorm subsided simultaneously with the clouds, leaving a starry night sky in its wake. No more doom and gloom. "YOU'RE UP, RATTATA!" Evan threw a Poke Ball at the ground as if it was a curve ball.

Once I stared at Rattata, I screamed, "A RAT!" I saw its purple body, red eyes and huge, sharp teeth. "N, please -"

"'Cautious in the extreme, its hardy vitality lets it live in any kind of environment,'" N read anyways. "You should've said something sooner." N looked at me, concerned. But his eyes glimmered with raw amusement, which made me grimace. "Hey, what's wrong with you?" he asked.

I tore my eyes off him to examine Zebstrika, patiently waiting for an attack to be decided. I envied her for her patience because it seemingly appeared to be immeasurable, unrivalled by any soul, human or Pokémon. However, that was probably because of the way she carried herself, with fantastic amounts of elegance and refinement that I so conspicuously lacked. "My Zebstrika acts a lot like a princess," I murmured.

I didn't expect for N to overhear me. "So does your mother's Luxray," he reminded me. "White, answer my question." His voice was steely, demanding. With that kind of attitude, I wasn't going to respond to him.

Bethanne, Evan, N and I brought ourselves up to our full heights. Both Team Plasma members were sneering at us, Bethanne wearing a repulsed look on her face. "Okay, Whitey -"

"White," I corrected her in a bored tone. "Why are you addressing me at this very moment?" I eyed Bethanne, arranging my face into what was hopefully an irate expression. To my disappointment, Bethanne was unfazed by my look. In fact, she chortled. "What's so funny?"

"I've battled against you before," she told me earnestly, "and trust me, hon, the White I'd lost to didn't battle this way."

Am I that bad? I thought. Did Ghetsis plan to destroy my confidence through and through? If so, then my all-out offensive strategy and tendency to switch my Pokémon after the opponent's Pokémon faints has been heavily affected! No, that grunt is wrong! I shook my head, attempting to push my fear and doubts out of my mind. Bethanne was playing mind games with me. There was no way in hell I was descending into a period of emotional conflict.

But N –

"Shut up, me," I said to myself. Noticing everybody was ogling me, I blushed scarlet. "No more trying to force me to descend into a period of depression," I said coldly. "We battle until one team loses. Zebstrika, make me proud!" I winked at her.

In one fluid motion, I gestured at Rattata, who was baring its teeth. "Zebstrika, use GIGA IMPACT!" Zebstrika swerved around, before cantering over to Rattata, her gait regal. The clopping of her hooves somehow echoed through the night. Rattata locked itself into place, swishing its tail back and forth, gnashing its overbite teeth. I hate rats.

"SWALOT, ATTACK ZEBSTRIKA WITH SLUDGE BOMB!"

Evan knitted his eyebrows, doing some serious contemplating. That made me wonder whether he had stolen the Rattata from its rightful owner or he'd captured it in the wild. "I don't know . . ."

"Hurry up and make your move, Evan!" Bethanne snapped. "The sooner you take down Zebstrika, the sooner we can defeat the Jewel of Unova and the traitorous N!" Evan gave no indication he'd heard her. Instead, he cupped his chin, musing. "You know what's at risk here."

I snickered. "You're after my Pokémon Champion title, are you?" I asked innocently. "Wow, I'd never thought I would see the day a Team Plasma grunt wants to take my title away from me."

Zebstrika started to pick up speed, her form turning all but invisible with speed. At the same time, Bethanne hissed, "Don't be ridiculous! You know damn well what we're after. I don't care about some stupid title fit for a celebrity. I'm not a celebrity, I'm a criminal!"

"LUCARIO, ATTACK SWALOT WITH BONE RUSH!" Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed Lucario sprinting over to where Zebstrika was at, her ears flopping up and down. In a matter of seconds, she came to Zebstrika's side.

Before Zebstrika could unleash GIGA IMPACT, Evan cried, "Rattata, attack Lucario with THUNDERBOLT!" Rattata swished its tail around before calling forth another thunderstorm, except the clouds were a lighter shade of gray than the ones Zebstrika summoned. A thunderbolt materialized into being, the brightness intense. There were a series of thunderclaps before the bolt hit Rattata's tail. White sparks danced about, sliding against blue sparks, creating electric specks. Rattata directed its tail at Lucario, smirking toothily. The thunderbolt launched itself at Lucario, Rattata making noises that had to be laughter.

I howled with laughter. Bethanne, Evan and N turned to look at me, thunderstruck. But N appeared to be more fearful than anything. "I'm not losing my mind," I assured him. "Anyways, bad move on your behalf, Evan."

Evan laughed. "Give me one reason why it's bad, girl."

His question was answered almost immediately: Rattata's THUNDERBOLT, though well-timed, had barely zipped past Zebstrika. At that precise moment, Zebstrika's mane flashed purple, white, yellow and light blue. Simultaneously, THUNDERBOLT bent itself into a circular form, being drawn towards Zebstrika's mane. In the blink of an eye, Zebstrika had absorbed THUNDERBOLT, sparing Lucario from being electrocuted.

"LIGHTNINGROD," Evan said tonelessly. "I should've remembered that some Electric-type Pokémon have that Ability." Rattata sighed, discouraged at its failure. "RATTATA, LOOK OUT!" Zebstrika had collided into Rattata, knocking the Pokémon into the air. Rattata did several aerial backflips before landing into the florid meadow, completely out of sight.

"Rattata!" Evan yelled. As soon as he dashed over to the field, the clouds dissipated.

I saw Zebstrika double over, trying not to fall onto her knees. "ZEBSTRIKA!" I was about to run over when N grasped me by the arm. "Let-me-go," I told N speedily, not bothering to take breaths, "or I will -"

Shockingly, N released me. "Lucario's out there with her. If this was a one-on-one Pokémon Battle, then I would see no problem in letting you run after your Princess Zebstrika. But this is a Tag Team Battle."

"I know that," I said. "Why are you -?"

My friend bowed his head down. "Your Zebstrika has unwavering loyalty to you. Also, she fully trusts and loves you endlessly. Her love would pass the test of time. Time -"

I held my hand out. The unbroken one, I mean. "I'm not in the mood for metaphors," I tried to say as calmly as I could. "I know Zebstrika trusts me. I trust her too." N cocked an eyebrow, thoroughly confusing me. "Don't you believe me?"

N lowered my hand down, boring his eyes into mine. The way he was observing me . . . I felt as if he was trying to X-Ray me. "No," he disagreed. "If you did trust Zebstrika, then you would let her be. By not trusting her, am I to believe that you don't trust Lucario to have her back?"

I wanted to say he was wrong. But right when I opened my mouth to speak, my voice abandoned me. Satisfied, N wheeled around and went back to where he was standing, adjusting his mask. I turned around to look at Zebstrika, being shielded by Lucario, who was glowering at Swalot. The blob's amorphous body was bubbling nonstop, jiggling with each stride it took.

Lucario swirled her hand around, conjuring a doggy bone from midair. She grabbed it and swung it around several times before brandishing it at Swalot. Swalot chuckled, its body wobbling up and down. Lucario went to the left in order to halt Swalot, but the latter shrunk itself into a puddle of slime. Before Lucario could react, Swalot whizzed past her, leaving specks of sludge behind it.

There was a moan rippling from the puddle as Swalot took its original shape, waving its arms wildly like a bat's wings. Its body started to bubble. As the bubbles enlarged in size, I could see a river of sludge snaking its way towards Swalot's mouth through its transparent body. Zebstrika attempted to get up again, but she fell to her knees. She glanced at Swalot, who vomited the river of sludge, catching every single droplet with its hands. Laughing, Swalot began to craft the sludge into a black and vivid purple ball, streaked with gray. In no time at all, Swalot flung the ball straight at Zebstrika, who had barely regained her footing.

At the precise moment the ball landed on Zebstrika, I could've sworn I saw something white being hurled at Swalot. But with the sludge covering Zebstrika and bubbling away, the thing could've been a mirage.

BOOM!

The bubbles exploded, releasing a purple nebula that engulfed Lucario, Zebstrika and Swalot. "NO!" N and I yelled. But before we could run to our Pokémon's side, the cloud swiftly began to lose its density, becoming less thick. I saw a silhouette strike against another one, the second shadow falling to the ground.

"Zebstrika . . . ."

A/N: "The Descent Part I" is finished! Remember to R&R or give feedback/constructive criticism. I don't want to be flamed! Well, I'm terribly sorry for having you all wait for Chapter 21. Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanzaa!

This chapter has been reedited for grammatical and spelling mistakes. No changes were made to the plot that would affect it. All content in this chapter has been left intact. The reason this chapter has been edited is because Eventide will be coming out soon.

Edited On: 11/04/15