AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. This one sees the continuation of Blake on her quest to help Absol. This will be the conclusion, but will she get herself a new partner? As well, Weiss has ventured into the Max Raid dungeon in hopes of finding the Pokemon that sent her and her friends to this world. Is she in over her head, or is the white heiress about to get a powerful new team member? Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
See the most recent Save State Chapter for Cover Art details.
Chapter 29 – Hope and Despair
Blake continued to run in search of Absol before catching her breath. However, upon scanning the area, could not find the white ram Pokemon. Suddenly, she heard a familiar cry in distance, "Sol!"
"Oh no," Blake said before rushing towards the sound, making her way to the edge of an icy shoreline. There, the Absol faced off against two more Pokemon. One was a four-legged flattop iceberg Pokemon with yellow eyes. While the other was a blue walrus Pokemon with a white head and yellow tusks.
"Walrein!" the blue walrus Pokemon said before unleashing a ball of ice from its mouth. Absol jumped out of the way from the attack but had taken its eyes off the other Pokemon.
"Avalugg!" the iceberg Pokemon said while crashing its body into the white ram Pokemon.
"Sol!" Absol cried as her body was slammed into the shoreline, followed by Avalugg jumping back to stand next to Walrein. The two icy Pokemon then looked away from the white ram Pokemon, instead of casting their gaze towards the direction of the town. However, as they started to make their way, a voice was heard, "Ab…Sol…" they looked back to discover Absol standing back up, "Absol!" The white ram Pokemon said in a defiant stance, but as the icy Pokemon each charged a ball of ice, her teeth were grit.
"Shedinja, use Mud-Slap!" Blake called out as she sent out the shed Pokemon, who quickly flung a pile of wet dirt into Avalugg's eyes. The iceberg Pokemon recoil in discomfort, launching the ice ball to Walrein's head. The attack caused the blue walrus's ice ball to fire off target, missing Absol. The white ram Pokemon then looked over Blake, who ran over to her, "I finally caught up to you." She said before looking over to the icy Pokemon duo, "This was the disaster you were talking about, these two are going to attack the town." The shadowy girl then looked back to Absol, "If we want to stop then, we have to work together."
"Ab…" Absol said while looking up at Blake, then glanced over to see Avalugg and Walrein regain their focus. The white ram Pokemon then turned back to the shadowy girl with a nod, "Sol."
Blake smiled before focusing on the battle, seeing both icy Pokemon had recovered. Walrein and Avalugg focused on Shedinja, each unleashing a ball of ice towards it. However, they gasped as the ice balls passed right through with no effect, "That ability really is useful." Blake commented on the Wonder Guard of the shed Pokemon, then pointed, "Go, use shadow sneak on that one." she called out her Pokemon dove into the shadows, trailing across the ground before emerging in front of Avalugg and ramming its body into the icy head, "Now follow it up with shadow claw!" Blake said with Shedinja slashing the iceberg Pokemon with an uppercut of darkness.
"Ava!" Avalugg spoke with its teeth grit, then charged towards the shed Pokemon for another takedown. However, the iceberg pokemon's body went through the target, "Lugg?" it said while Absol was waiting on the other side.
"Sol!" Absol spoke while dashing in, her left claw glowing in a black aura as it slashed Avalugg in the face again. The attack launched the iceberg Pokemon into the water, in which it started to float away.
"Wal!" Walrein called out in a gasp, then gritted its teeth towards its opponents, "Walrein!" With that cry, it unleashed a beam of ice towards body targets. Absol dodged out of the way while the attack simply went through Shedinja's body again, "Walrein!" the blue walrus Pokemon cried out.
"Is it calling for backup?" Blake commented, "Even so, they might have no moves that hit Shedinja. Which means we can win if we-" suddenly, the shadow girl felt something hit the top of her hardhat, "Huh?" in looking down, she saw it was a small piece of ice, then noticed more falling from the sky, "Is this hail?" Blake said before she felt the ground tremble.
Blake and Absol then turned to see something approaching. It is almost like a walking frosted tree Pokemon approaching them, one with a snow-white body with green arms and legs. Its bloodshot pink eyes glared at the two, while the blue walrus Pokemon grinned, "Abomasnow!" the frosted tree Pokemon roared as the hail grew stronger.
"Is that Pokemon changing the weather!?" Blake said before looking over to Shedinja, who was pelted with hail before falling over onto the shore, "Shedinja!" she called out to her fainted Pokemon, "Return." She said while recalling her Pokemon back to its ball, then took out a new one, "Go Ninjask!"
"Ninjask!" The cicada Pokemon said as he emerged, flying next to Absol.
"Ab," the white ram Pokemon said while looking over to Ninjask, who looked back at her in joy. The two then looked back to their icy opponents.
"Wal!" the blue walrus Pokemon spoke while unleashing a ball of ice.
"Aboma!" the frosted tree Pokemon said while firing shades of ice at their foes as well.
"Dodge it," Blake called out with Ninjask and Absol moving out of the way, "Now, Focus on that one." She said while pointing at Walrein, "Ninjask, use Dig." The shadowy girl said with the cicada Pokemon burring through the snow and underground.
"Rein," Walrein looked around for the cicada Pokemon, but then focus on Absol quickly charging in. "Wal!" Walrein began to charge a beam of ice, but then faltered as its body mass shifted, "Wal?" it looked down to see a hole with the cicada Pokemon emerging to uppercut the blue walrus Pokemon, "Walrein!" Walrein screeched in pain, ready to redirect the attack towards Ninjask, but then gasped as Absol was about to unleash its attack. The white ram Pokemon slashed with its dark claw across Walrein's head, sending the blue walrus Pokemon toppling near Abomasnow.
"Aboma." Abomasnow said as it looked down in disappointment at the blue walrus Pokemon, then focused on Ninjask and Absol, "Abomasnow!" the frosted tree Pokemon said before opening its mouth wide, unleashing a power stream of frozen air. It was almost as if the Pokemon has called forth a blizzard that was targeted towards all.
Absol, Ninjask, and even Blake recoiled at the cold winds of the blizzard, "This is bad, Ninjask, use Dig." She said with the cicada Pokemon burrowing underground again to escape the cold air.
"Ab," Absol weathered the attack, trying to focus on its opponent. She then saw something massive approaching, then jumped just before the object could crash into her. She readied to attack what she thought was her opponent, but as the blizzard settled, it revealed the massive object was Walrein, "Sol?"
"Did it throw its unconscious partner as a distraction?" Blake commented with slight anger in her voice at the thought, then gasped at seeing Abomasnow near a still unaware Absol, "Look out!"
"Sol!" Absol turned to see a grinning Abomasnow with its right arm reeled back, which glowed in a green aura. The frosted tree Pokemon then slammed its arm into Absol's body, rocketing her back at high speed, "Absol!" the white ram Pokemon screamed in pain before her body slammed into a large rock, which cracked on impact as Absol's eyes widened. She sides to the ground, unable to push herself up before seeing Abomasnow approaching for a second attack. "Ab…Sol…" She said while struggling to stand. Suddenly, she looked over to see Blake standing between her and the frosted tree Pokemon, "Sol?"
"I won't let you hurt her anymore!" Blake said with her arms stretched out, causing Absol to gasp.
"Aboma," Abomasnow said as it stopped before Blake, who looked up at it with a piercing glare, "Aboma!" the frosted tree Pokemon said before raising its right hand over its head, which glowed green again with a powerful aura, "Snow!" Abomasnow said as it brought the arm down, but Blake remained unmoving as Absol had a look of panic. Suddenly, Abomasnow's stance faltered as its attack stopped, "Aboma?" it said before looking down, discovering a hole near one of its feet.
"Now Ninjask, use Fury Cutter!" Blake called out as the cicada Pokemon appeared behind Abomasnow, slashing it in the back.
"Aboma," the frosted tree Pokemon said in pian before turning in anger, "Snow!" it said before firing shards of ice at the cicada Pokemon.
"Dodge it and use Mind Reader," Blake called out.
"Ninjask," the cicada Pokemon answered while doing so. His eyes focused as he evaded all the shards, focusing on its opponent to make sure the next move would land.
"Abomasnow!" the forest tree Pokemon yelled as it called forth a blizzard.
"Ascend higher to dodge it," Blake called out with Ninjask doing so, weakening the effect of the cooling wind on the cicada Pokemon.
"ABOMA!" Abomasnow shouted before unleashing a blizzard stronger hand before
"Nin," Ninjask tried to evade but staggered upon getting hit by the hail. The cold wind then stuck his body, causing him to descend as one of the wings was slightly frozen.
"Aboma," Abomasnow grinned as it ran towards the descending Ninjask, reeling its arm back with the green aura.
Blake gasped as she recalled a similar moment in her fight against Brandon's Regice, "Ninjask, you have to break out and dodge right as it is about to swing its arm." The shadowy girl said as Ninjask tried to recover in midair quicker than that, "Trust me," Blake added.
"Nin," Ninjask then followed its trainer's words, saving its energy as it fell. Once the attack was aligned, Abomasnow reeled back its fist and went for the swing, "Jask!" at the same time, Ninjask focused its energy and shattered the ice that locked his wing, "Ninjask!" the cicada Pokemon then outmaneuvered the punch, striking Abomasnow in the face before ascending back into the sky at high speed.
"Yes!" Blake called out with a smile, seeing Ninjask flying around at high speed. However, she had a look of confusion as the cicada Pokemon gained even more speed, its body cutting through the air with streaks of clear aura, "Is that a new move?"
"Yes," a voice that was standing next to Blake said. The shadowy girl looked over in a gasp to see it was Opal, "That appears to be Aerial Ace, an effective flying move that never misses its target."
"W-when did you-" Blake said, but Opal cut her off.
"Oh, don't think about that dearie." Opal responded with a smile, "You should test out your pokemon's new move."
"Uh, right," Blake said before looking back to the battle, "Ninjask, use Aerial Ace!" she called out with the cicada Pokemon dashing towards Abomasnow, sticking it in the head again at high speed.
"Snow!" Abomasnow said as it fell back a few steps in pain, then looked up at Ninjask with a glare, "Aboma!" it said before firing one more blizzard. However, no cold air came out, "Aboma?"
"My, would you look at that, it must have run out of the ability to use that move anymore." Opal said before looking back to Absol, "You do have that Pressure, don't you?" she said with the white ram Pokemon continuing to focus on the battle, while the sweet old lady smirk.
"Now's our chance," Blake called out, "Finish this with one more Aerial Ace."
"Nin," Ninjask said as he quickly descended, then shoot off at high speed towards his target while remaining only a few inches off the ground. Abomasnow gritted its teeth, raising both arms with a green aura, and poised to bring them down as its target approach. It was about to strike as Ninjask got in range, but then the cicada Pokemon vanished out of thin air. Before the frosted tree Pokemon could process what had happened, Ninjask reappeared, "JASK!" the cicada Pokemon screamed as he landed his attack directly into Abomasnow's chest, sending the frosted tree Pokemon flying.
Abomasnow landed on the ground with a large plume of snow, "Aboma…" It struggled to stand up, then looked over the area. Abomasnow quickly discovered that Walrein had gotten up and fled with Avalugg. The frosted tree Pokemon then looked at its opponents. Blake and Absol had a matching glare, while Ninjask scowled with banishing its claws, "Snow!" Abomasnow recoiled in fear, fleeing from the battle and going into the forest it came from. After a short amount of time, the hail had stopped.
"It's over." Blake sighed before seeing Ninjask fly by, "You did amazing."
"Nin," Ninjask responded with a look of joy in his eyes, seemingly dancing in the air.
Blake giggled before recalling her cicada Pokemon. She then turned around and saw Absol, who was lowing her head, "Sol," the white ram Pokemon said before raising its head, then started to walk away. However, her body flinched as she remembered the pain from, "Ab-" Absol said while her legs shook as if she was about to fall over.
However, Blake caught the white ram Pokemon before it could fall over, "Please, you know you can't do this forever." She pleaded to Absol, "What do you think will happen next time when you don't have someone to help you?"
"Sol!" Absol responded, flaring her fangs. However, she had a look of shock as Blake hugged her, "Ab?"
"You're doing this for those townspeople. Even though they hate you, but you know it is protecting them from harm." Blake said as she hugged Absol tighter, tears in the shadowy girl's eyes, "But this will only end with you needlessly suffering. I do not want that to happen to someone else. Please, come with me."
"Ab…" Absol said before gently pulling out of Blake's hug, looking back at the shadowy girl with eyes of sorrow.
Suddenly, Opal soke, "If you are worried about the townspeople, I am sure they could manage themselves," She said, gaining Absol's attention, "If they knew, I am sure they would appreciate all the help you have given them." The sweet old lady spoke with a smile, turning to Blake, "But right now, this dearie also needs your help. And she is willing to devote herself to you as much as you will to her." Opal spoke while bowing her head towards the white ram Pokemon, "Please, give her a chance."
"…" Absol did not respond to Opal, but instead looked back to Blake, "…Sol." Absol said with a nod, causing the shadowy girl to gasp and smile with joy. Blake took out a Pokeball, offering it to the white ram Pokemon. Absol then moved his right paw onto it, pressing the button before becoming ensnared inside. Blake turned the ball around, waiting for the button to flash a few times before hearing a slight click.
"Thank you," Blake said as she held the Pokeball close to her chest, "I promise to be always there for you." She then put the ball away before turning back to Opal, "Thank you as well. I think it was your words that finally got through to her."
"I merely gave my opinion." Opal responded, "It will be up to you to live up to your promise."
"I know," Blake responded with a nod, "Still, why did you follow me here?"
"Well, you remind me a bit of myself at around your age," Opal said with a smile, "Though, my hair was much shorter than yours is now. You should consider getting it cut, Dearie."
"I'll think about it," Blake said with a giggle, "Still, I wish there were something I could do to repay you."
"Oh, then I have an idea." Opal responded with a smirk, but Blake had a look of confusion.
Meanwhile.
"Come on, I said wait up!" Nia called out to Weiss, who then stopped to catch her breath, "Yikes, what got into you just then?"
"I'm sorry, it's…a long story." Weiss responded before examining the area, seeing a vast open area with purplish fog, "Where are we now, is this still the cave?"
"We're in a max raid adventure, but you sort of broke all the rules of it." Nia responded with her hands on hips, "Normally, we need four trainers for safety and use a rental Pokemon to battle and make it to the end." She then pointed to Weiss, "But you ran in before any of that, I didn't even have time to get a Pokemon."
"Sorry," Weiss responded, "Again, I just was not thinking straight when I saw that image."
"It's fine," Nia said with a sigh, then examined the area, "Because of the last time I went in, this route of the cave was clear for the most part." She then pointed off into the distance, seeing a large cloud at ground level with purple lightning radiating from it, "That looks to be the end right there with the Legendary Pokemon waiting for us."
"Then, that's where I need to go." Weiss said as focus on the cloud, but then looked back to Nia, "You should head back, this might be dangerous."
"I ran all the way here; I'm not running back." Nia said with a smirk, "Besides, I want to see what legendary Pokemon this is."
"I already know what it is," Weiss said as she looked back to the cloud, walking towards it with Nia close behind. The white heiress approached, reading a Pokeball as she heard the crackling of thunder.
Suddenly, a red set of glowing eyes piercing through the cloud, glaring down at Weiss. With a massive shockwave, the cloud disbursed and revealed a massive Pokemon underneath. Its skin was grey with black and red stripes on its chest. Golden armaments covered its six legs and neck, as well as its head. The wings behind its back looked made of pure shadows with red spikes. "Giygogagohgwooh!" The unknown Pokemon roared a familiar sound to the white heiress's ear, the same roar she heard that same moment back in Remnant.
"T-that's Giratina, the Renegade Pokemon!" Nia commented in shock.
"So, that's what you're called. You're a bit bigger than last time." Weiss said to Giratina, who still looked down at the white heiress, "Do you remember me or any of my friends you sent here?" she said as the renegade Pokemon remained silent, "No matter, I will make you remember." The white heiress said before reading a Pokeball, "After I beat and capture you! Go, Tyrantrum!" She said with the t-rex Pokemon emerging.
"TYRAAAA!" Tyrantrum roared towards its opponent.
"GIYGO!" Giratina roared back with a shockwave of electricity through the area.
"This is going to be tough," Nia commented towards Weiss, "Do you even know your pokemon's moves?"
"The nurse told me his moves," Weiss answered before looking back to her opponent, "This will not end like last time," She said before pointing, "Use Rock Blast!" the white heiress declared with Tyrantrum unleashing a barrage of stones from its mouth.
However, the stones crashed into the body without leaving a mark. "Giygogagoh!" Giratina roared before swooping towards Weiss's Pokemon.
"Dodge it," Weiss said with Tyrantrum dashing out of the way, "Now, it with Superpower. I'm sure that will leave a mark!"
"TYRANTRUM!" the t-rex Pokemon roared as its body was encompassed in the red aura. He charged in intending to ram into Giratina's chest. However, the attack did nothing as Tyrantrum went through the renegade pokemon's body.
"What?" Weiss exclaimed.
"Giratina is part Ghost Type, so it is immune to fighting and normal type moves," Nia confirmed.
"But those are half of Tyrantrum's attacks," Weiss said to Nia before looking back to the battle, seeing the t-rex Pokemon land on the ground, "Oh no, look out!" the white heiress called out as Tyrantrum looked around in shock, however over his body were massive and random objects with a dark aura. Suddenly, they all slammed into the t-rex Pokemon, creating a massive pillar of darkness, "What was that attack!?" Weiss exclaimed as she shielded herself from the shockwave.
"That was Max Phantasm," Nia commented, "It's one of the powerful moves a Pokemon gains in its Dynamax form." She said as the pillar faded, revealing a barely standing Tyrantrum, "And it did a lot of damage."
"No, please just hang on." Weiss pleaded as Tyrantrum focused, "That's it, we can still fight." The white heiress said before pointing at Giratina, "Hit it was Scale Shot, full power!"
"TYRAAAAAA!" Tyrantrum roared before pivoting its body, unleashing a barrage of scales from its tail. The scales collided with Giratina's body, exploding on impact, and staggering the renegade Pokemon.
"Yes, we can do it!" Weiss cheered, "We can wi-"
"Giygogagoh!" Giratina roared, causing its body to radiate a purple aura. The aura then concentrated around Tyrantrum, followed by an explosion that created a tornado of darkness and the wingbeat of a giant dragon. Weiss and Nia gasped as the t-rex pokemon's body was carried in the tornado before getting toss aside. As they ran over to the body, Tyrantrum was unable to stand.
"That was Max Wyrmwind," Nia commented, "A strong dragon type move like that, no way he could be left standing afterwards."
"N-no, this can't be," Weiss said in panic before feeling a shadow looming overhead. She turned to see Giratina looking down on her and Nia, "You," she said with her teeth grit, taking out another Pokeball, "This is not over, I can still-" the white heiress said, but then looked back at her hand, seeing it trembling, "I-"
"Giygogagohgwooh!" Giratina roared as Weiss and Nia looked up in a panic, but the white heiress had seen this series of events before. Her eyes widened in terror as the renegade pokemon's maw was open. It plunged towards them, but while Nia tried to shield herself, Weiss was frozen in fear. Suddenly, a barrage of rocks was lodged within the attacker's mouth, gagging Giratina. Weiss gasped before realizing what happened. She turned back to see it was Tyrantrum, who was gasping from using the last of its energy for that attack.
"I," Weiss said as the t-rex Pokemon looked back at her, causing a smile to form on her face, "Thank you." She said before recalling the Pokemon to its ball, "Just rest now."
"Weiss, we need to move," Nia said as she pulled on Weiss's other arm, "Or else that thing is going to-"
"Giygogo!" Giratina roared as it recovered from that attack, having coughed up the rocks. Weiss and Nia gasped as the events were about to repeat, "Giygogo-" The renegade Pokemon roared before a massive trunk bashed into its head.
"What!?" Weiss exclaimed before following the rest of the trunk back to massive Pokemon. It appeared to be an elephant but standing on back legs while its body was more block shaped. Its skin resembles that of oxidized copper, which ground with each of its movements. Weiss and Nia then looked down at ground level, discovering the energetic explorer with his arms crossed.
"Now, that's how you redeem an introduction." Peony said before pointing to himself with a wink, "It's okay Nia, Daddy is here to save the day!"
"You came in after us?" Nia said before looking back at Giratina, who was about to attack.
However, a fourth person made their voice heard, "Emboar, use Heat Crash!" the voice called before a massive ball of flames rammed into Giratina's chest, pushing it slightly back. The ball of flames landed near Weiss, dissipating to reveal the flame pig Pokemon inside, "Wasn't expecting you to rush in without thinking first." the white heiress turned to see it was Hilda speaking.
"Heh, it's a bad habit I guess I picked up from a good friend." Weiss said with Hilda smirking "Still, thanks for showing up at the right time."
"Anytime." Hilda responded before seeing Peony walking up, "What do we do now against this?"
"Just leave it to me," Peony said with a smile before looking over to Giratina with a glare, "You were about to attack my daughter and her new friend," he said before pointing at the renegade Pokemon, "Time for you to know why I used to be champion. Copperajah, use G-Max Steelsurge!" He said with the massive copper elephant raised its trunk. The ground suddenly became filled with liquid metal before enormous spikes emerged in a line. The spikes collided with Giratina's body in a cross-shaped pattern. Weiss and Nia gasped at the renegade Pokemon to toppling over, while Peony smirked.
"That's unreal," Weiss before realizing Giratina was struggling to get up, "Now's my chance." She said before readying an empty Pokeball.
However, Giratina's eyes flashed red as its body radiated a purple aura, "Giygogagohgwooh!" it roared as a massive shockwave ran through the area. Peony quickly ran over to shield Nia, while Emboar protected Hilda and Weiss. The white heiress could not throw her Pokeball, losing slight of the renegade Pokemon as this sudden storm that carried them away.
Some time later.
"…Heh?" Weiss's eyes opened as she regained consciousness, "Where are we?" she said upon seeing Hilda, Peony, and Nia looking over her.
"Back at the entrance max raid dungeon." Nia said with Weiss standing up, seeing then monitor close by, "We were blown out of the adventure by Giratina."
"W-what?" Weiss said in shock, "I have to go back in and-"
"It's already gone." Peony answered, "The researchers confirmed that Giratina left without leaving a trace behind."
"N-no, that can't be!" Weiss said before looking down at her clenched fists, "I was so close to catching it, then maybe we could have…Damnit!" she said before punching the wall of the cave, "…Ouch," the white heiress said before rubbing her left hand in pain, "How does Yang do that so casually."
"Hey, it's going to be okay." Hilda said as she walked over, "At least you know what the Pokemon is that you are looking for. That's something good you can tell Blake when we meet up with her."
"Yeah, you're right." Weiss responded, "That Pokemon had to flee to somewhere, and we will find it."
"That's good to hear." Peony said with a smile, "Now, what's say you and I have a Gym Battle?"
"Huh?" Weiss commented.
"You're a gym leader?" Hilda added on.
"Well, technically not anymore in Galar," Peony responded, "But I still got some pull with some people in the organization and can let you challenge for a steel badge." He then looked over to Weiss with a wink, "Consider this opportunity as a thank you for saving my Nia." The energetic explore said before crossing his arms, "But don't think that means I'll go easy on you."
"Thank you very much," Weiss said with a bow, then looked back at Peony with eyes of determination, "And I promise to give it my all as well."
"Good, we'll set up the match outside." Peony said with Weiss and Hilda nodding, then walking out of the cave. He was about to follow, but stopped at seeing Nia walk up, "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing," Nia said, breaking eye contact, "It's just… it looked cool back there when you saved us."
"Really?" Peony said as his eyes glowed with joy, "You think your old man is cool!?"
"N-no, I was just talking about your Copperajah!" Nia responded with a pout, "You're still so uncool," She said before walking away, "And for the record, I will be cheering for Weiss to wipe the floor with you!"
"Hehehehe, such a rebel," Peony laughed back smiling, "Wonder who she gets that from?" He asked before walking out of the cave, preparing for his upcoming match.
AN: There you go, Blake finally catches the Absol. Not only that, but Ninjask got a new move in Aerial Ace. Opal has a little proposition for the shadowy girl, that may yield another reward. At the same time, Weiss came face to face with the renegade Pokemon. While she lasted longer in this battle against a legend, she ultimately lost. However, she did gain some valuable information and now can potentially get a second badge. Next chapter will see if either girl is ready to conquer the challenge. The next chapter will also be the last chapter before I go on a break from this series for a while. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.