Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be seeing more of Naruto's and May's time in the Mirage Tower, as well as getting some backstory on how it was created. So, without further ado.
I own nothing
"Finish it with Bitter Malice Zorua!" Naruto said, pointing at the Pokémon along with the Phantom Trainer.
"Zor…" Zorua then lifted his front paws up as the energy then began swirling on the ground around him.
"…UA!" Zorua immediately slammed his paws down, causing the swirling energy to expand outwards across the entire corridor.
The attack sending the enemy Pokémon crashing into a wall before they hit the ground with swirls in their eyes, the Phantom Trainer looking at their Pokémon in shock before glaring at the Uzumaki.
"Bastard! I still have more Pokémon to-" Said the Phantom Trainer, pulling out another Pokéball.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've already heard it all before! Ralts use Hypnosis!" Said Naruto, having heard the same thing from all the previous Phantom Trainers they'd run into.
"R-Ra-Ralts!" Ralts nodded before light blue silhouettes of her eyes shot out towards the Phantom Trainer and hit them, putting them to sleep.
"G-go-good…good job, guys." Said Naruto, his energy from the battle leaving him as he looked at his Pokémon, seeing how tired and beat they looked as well.
"Z-Zor-Zoru-a…" Zorua simply nodded while trying to hide how tired he was from the constant battling, along with sensing and disabling traps.
"Tr-Trap-Trapin-Trapinch…" Trapinch nodded as well, feeling exhausted from the battling, plus having to save everyone from a few more pitfalls and traps in the floor they encountered.
"R-Ralts…" Ralts only smiled weakly at her Trainer, feeling not only physically but mentally exhausted as well, due to her having to sense the emotions of any Phantom Trainers and Pokémon they encountered, leaving her tired from all the negative emotions she's sensed.
"Way to go…Naruto, you all are doing…really great. That's already eight Phantom Trainers we've beaten. Who knows, maybe we'll get to see all our Pokémon…evolve before getting out of here, right Torchic." Said May, smiling tiredly while still doing her "May's Expeditions".
Having started doing it again after their encounter with Dosu, Zaku and Kin as a means of light escapism, to make everything seem less dangerous and that they had it handled. As well as a means to try and cope with the fact if they didn't hurry, they'll be trapped in here forever.
"T-Tor-Torchic." Torchic nodded tiredly in agreement with her Trainer, with Naruto frowning at the two seeing they were just as tired and beat up as he and his Pokémon were.
"Are you both alright?" Naruto asked, the brunette and Chick Pokémon nodding in response.
"Perfectly fine, now let's keep going. We still have a lot of floors left to cover and who knows what other secrets we'll find here!" Said May with a smile, the Uzumaki sighing before nodding as they continued on their way.
After their encounter with the first three Phantom Trainers, as they've taken to calling the Trainers that are trapped in the Mirage Tower, they've been working to find a way to escape. Eventually they were able to locate a means to start ascending the tower. Since if they couldn't go out the way they came in, then may they'll find a way out the higher up they go.
Unfortunately, they still had to deal with several traps and the Phantom Trainers, with things becoming more and more difficult with each new battle. With their Pokémon growing more tired after every opponent. Making Naruto and May relieved they stocked up on plenty of Super Potions and other healing items to restore their health and heal any status ailments they're hit with. Though it didn't do anything to get rid of their exhaustion.
With the two Trainers had gotten several more close calls with the traps they encountered, along with the Phantom Trainers since they didn't care about fighting dirty and tried attacking them. Leaving them just as tired and bruised as their Pokémon. While knowing they couldn't stop and rest, either from the chance they'll be found by more Phantom Trainers or worse, they'll run out of time and be trapped in the tower.
'Hopefully we'll find a way out soon.' Naruto thought, looking at his Pokémon in worry before stopping when he saw how slowly they were moving, even stumbling a few times.
"Okay, that's it. All of you are going back in your Pokéballs." Naruto stated, pulling out their Pokéballs, making Zorua, Trapinch, and Ralts look at him in disbelief before shaking their heads.
"Zor! Zorua-Zor-Zor-ua-Zorua!" Zorua shook his head, refusing to go back into his Pokéball, not while they were still in danger.
"Pinch! Trapinch-Trapinch-Tra-pinch-Tra-Tra-Trapinch!" Trapinch also refused, knowing he could still fight some more, not to mention if they run into more traps they could get stuck in.
"Ralts-Ralts-Ralts-Ralts!" Ralts rapidly shook her head in refusal, not caring if she's tired, only caring that she made sure their Trainer and May got out of the tower.
"I'm sure none of you want to, but you are. Even if we heal your injuries after every battle, you're all still tired and exhausted, and you need to rest. If you don't, then things will be much worse if none of you are able to battle or even pay attention to anything around you. So, you're going back, return." Said Naruto before returning the three to their Pokéballs, despite their attempts to avoid being pulled back in.
May frowned at this, but could also understand that Naruto was right, they needed to at least make sure their Pokémon could rest. Before the brunette looked at her Starter and pulled out her Pokéball, making Torchic's eyes widened and back away.
"Torchic! Torchic-Tor-Tor-chic-Torchic!" Torchic looked at May pleadingly, not wanting to return to her Pokéball and leave them alone.
"Sorry Torchic, but Naruto's right, you all need some rest. Return." May said, returning Torchic as well, before she looked at her friend.
"They aren't gonna be happy when we let them out, again." Stated May, knowing their Pokémon won't be happy they forced them back into their Pokéballs.
"Better they're rested and upset than tired and gone." Naruto replied, refusing to let anything happen to Zorua, Ralts, Trapinch, or Torchic, something May agreed with as they continued on their way.
Luckily, though, it seemed they've gotten to a spot where there weren't many dangerous traps, having gotten good at being able to locate and avoid the more obvious ones. Allowing Naruto and May to keep walking without much difficultly. With the whiskered blonde glancing at May a few times, seeing how tired she was getting as well.
"If we manage to find another room, maybe we'll be able to take a moment and rest a little." Naruto said, aware that they needed to take a break as well, otherwise they'll really be in trouble if they pass out or are caught off guard by any Phantom Trainers or traps.
"No, that's fine. Besides, now we can even move a lot faster with our Pokémon back in their Pokéballs. Meaning, we'll be out of here that much quicker!" Said May, smiling reassuringly at Naruto that she could keep going, only for Naruto to give her a look.
"May, we need to rest just as much as our Pokémon do. It doesn't have to be a long one, just enough for us to recover some energy and eat something. After that, we'll keep going." Said Naruto, May's smile faltered before she eventually sighed and nodded.
"Alright, a short break to gather some energy and eat something, then we'll keep going." May replied, with Naruto nodding in agreement before they began looking to see any doors or rooms they could rest in.
It took them a while to find an empty room they could rest in, having had to go up to the next floor before they found one. Though before going inside, they checked the surrounding corridors and any other rooms, wanting to make sure they were really alone. Once both Trainers were sure they were alone, they returned to the room, closing the door behind them before sliding down against a wall.
Neither of them being able to deny the relief at being able to sit down, with May pausing the camera as well, not wanting to keep recording, before putting it away.
"Okay…yeah, we really needed this. I never thought I'd be so happy to sit down." Said May, feeling how sore her legs had become, with Naruto nodding in agreement.
"Yeah. Even with all the exercise we do in Fortree, it feels great to get off my feet." Naruto replied sighing as he leaned against the wall, before grunting as he pinched his arm tightly, knowing they couldn't risk falling asleep.
"If it wasn't dangerous, I'd really like to just fall asleep right now…and not get up for a week." May stated, given if they did fall asleep then there's the chance when they wake up, they'll be trapped in the tower forever.
"Here, this should help keep us from falling asleep, at least until we start moving again." Said Naruto, pulling out some ration bars and energy drinks, passing some of them to May, with the brunette nodding in thanks as they began eating the ration bars and drinking some of the energy drinks to keep their strength up.
"You know, I'm surprised we haven't encountered any Pokémon. I mean, besides the ones owned by Phantom Trainers. You'd think at least a few would have ended up wondering inside, here." Said May, having thought they'd encounter wild Pokémon by now.
"Maybe. It could be that Pokémon avoid this place, being able to feel that something's wrong with it. Plus, given how it randomly appears and disappears, some of them might not even know it exists." Naruto said, with May nodding at this.
"Probably." May said before looking at the whiskered blonde.
"Hey Naruto, what is Mikoto like? Since I can get a good idea from the call you made to her, but else can you tell me? And you mentioned you had a godfather too, what about him?" Questioned May, curious to learn more about his godparents, making Naruto look at her for a moment before looking forward.
"Well, you could probably guess that Aunt Mikoto can be pretty…teasing, but she's also kind and caring, being the best mother anyone could ask for. Though that doesn't mean she can't be stern and scary when she wants to be, having never let me, Sasuke or Itachi get away with doing anything dangerous or foolish. And if she caught us doing anything like that, then her punishments would be even worse." Replied Naruto, shivering a little at remembering the times Mikoto punished him and his adoptive brothers if they ever got into trouble.
Mostly him and Sasuke, since Itachi was always the more responsible and level-headed one among them.
"As for my godfather…he's a traveling writer." Naruto said, making May look at him in curiously.
"He's a writer?" May asked, interested to hear his godfather's a writer.
"Yeah, he's travelled to a lot of different regions, cities, towns, and villages, all to look for…inspiration, which usually gets him into trouble most of the time." Said Naruto as May gained a confused expression.
"What kind of inspiration would he need that'd get him into trouble? What kind of books does he even write?" Questioned May with a frown.
"Trust me, you really don't want to know. Just that it's nothing dangerous or illegal." Naruto replied, knowing the only person in danger is his godfather if he's caught peeping, with the brunette nodding slowly.
"Okay. Then how did your parents meet them?" May asked, wondering how his parents met his godparents and trusted them enough to take care of their son.
"My mom and Mikoto were actually rivals when they were younger, having started their own Pokémon Journeys at the same time and had their first battle against each other. After that they kept battling each other whenever they met up, before they started travelling together. While my godfather is actually a lot older and was a mentor for my dad, teaching him everything he knew about Pokémon and being a Trainer." Said Naruto, making May smile at this.
"They sound really nice, and I can't wait to meet them in person." May said, with Naruto chuckling, slightly.
"Don't let Aunt Mikoto hear that, otherwise she may be the one who locks us in a bedroom." Naruto replied, the brunette giggling a little and nodded.
"What about you? What're your parents like? And you mentioned someone called Max when you called them." Asked Naruto, also interested to learn more about her family.
"He's my little brother. It's his dream to become a Pokémon Trainer, so he'd begun studying and researching everything there is to know about Pokémon to prepare for when he can get his own Starter. He even wants to become a Gym Leader one day. My dad's also a Pokémon Trainer and specializes in using Normal-type Pokémon." May replied, only to stop when Naruto laughed and shook his head.
"Sorry, I'm not laughing at what Pokémon he uses. It's just…I heard your mom say his name is Norman, and he uses Normal-type Pokémon. Norman the Normal-type user." Naruto said, causing May to laugh as well.
"Yeah, that's a little funny. But he prefers using Normal-type Pokémon, seeing them as being really well-rounded with how many different moves they can learn, along with not having any major weaknesses compared to other Pokémon besides Fighting-types. And mom isn't a Trainer herself, but she does help take care of my dad's Pokémon." May said before looking down.
"I…I really…I really miss them." May said, her walls starting to come down, terrified and depressed at the chance she'll never get to see her family again.
"Yeah, I know the feeling. But we're gonna get out of here, May." Naruto said, also feeling scared that they'll be trapped in here forever.
"But what if we can't?! Our Pokémon are getting too tired, there are always Phantom Trainers waiting to attack us, traps that'll kill us if we aren't careful, and we don't even know if there is a way out the higher we go! It could just be more time being wasted and the only way out being that entrance! Who knows if the tower's already vanished and we're already trapped!" Said May with tears in her eyes, wondering if trying to escape is pointless and they're already trapped forever.
Before she leaned into Naruto when he wrapped an arm around her.
"May, I promise that we will get out of here, we've already come this far and there will be a way out. After all, why else would we be running into more Phantom Trainers if they weren't trying to stop us from finding an exit? Why would they even still be attacking us, if we're already trapped. Meaning, there's still a chance for us to escape and we will escape. So, we're going to keep moving and we're going to get out here, alright." Said Naruto, despite sharing May's fears and worries, he knew that he needed to be strong for her and wanted to make sure she didn't lose hope that they'll get out.
"Y-ye-yeah…w-w-we-we'll…we'll g-ge-get ou-o-out." May muttered as she leaned into him, feeling a little better but still feeling like they weren't going to be able to escape.
Naruto merely rubbed May's back to comfort her for more minutes as she continued to cry, letting out all her inner turmoil before deciding that they should start moving again. Though when he looked at the brunette, Naruto saw that May ended up falling asleep, making him sigh.
'She was already physically exhausted, and after that she's emotionally exhausted too. But we also can't sit around any longer.' Naruto thought before standing up, picking May up bridal style, figuring she deserved a chance to get a little sleep.
*Later*
'That one was too close!' Thought Naruto panting as looked over the edge of a pit, seeing razor sharp spikes at the bottom.
After leaving the room, Naruto had continued on his way through the tower while carrying May, choosing to let her keep sleeping. And luckily it seemed there weren't any Phantom Trainers around, having not encountered anymore since leaving the room. Though he couldn't say the same about the traps, having had a few close calls due to the added weight of carrying May while making sure he didn't lose his grip on her.
But the Uzumaki was able to avoid them, with the newest one being a pitfall where the floor started falling apart under him. Having had to run as fast as he could to outrun the collapsing floor, barely managing to make it to the other side.
'I really hope there aren't more, like that.' Naruto thought, sighing as he turned to keep walking, only to tense when he heard footsteps running towards him.
"Where the hell do you think you're going trash?!" Shouted a familiar voice, making the Uzumaki stop and slowly turn around, only to scowl when he saw Zaku standing on the other side of the pit.
"You again?! Didn't we leave you at the bottom of a pit with your friends?!" Naruto said, not believing Zaku was back, with the Phantom Trainer smirking at him.
"As if something like that would stop me! I was able to get out thanks to Loudred before returning him to his Pokéball, and now we'll be finishing you off, permanently!" Said Zaku.
"What? Don't wanna wait for your friends to catch up? Fine, I'll beat you that much faster." Said Naruto mockingly, thinking Zaku ran ahead of Dosu and Kin, only for the Phantom Trainer to scoff.
"Like I'd have wasted time saving those losers! That weakling Kin would've only gotten in my way again and Dosu can stay trapped in that hole for thinking he could tell me what to do!" Zaku retorted, with Naruto's eyes widening at this before glaring at him in disgust.
"Then the only one who's trash here, is you. No, you're not even trash, you're worse than trash if you actually just left them trapped in that ant pit. You're worse than trash and you aren't worth anymore of my time." Naruto said, turning to leave since he had no reason to battle Zaku, and with the pit in between them, it'd be impossible for him to follow.
"Don't you dare turn your back on me, trash!" Zaku yelled before Naruto heard his footsteps again making him in stop in shock.
'Don't tell me he's actually…' Thought Naruto in disbelief before looking back, his eyes widening at seeing Zaku had moved back away from the pit and then ran towards it.
The Uzumaki's eyes widened further when Zaku then jumped over the pit with Naruto immediately taking off running, not wanting to risk the chance if Zaku does make it. Knowing if he does, he couldn't afford to actually battle him, not while he's carrying May and their Pokémon are still exhausted. And Naruto knew he's in no condition to actually try fighting Zaku, himself.
"That's right, run, trash! It'll be more fun when I catch you and have my Pokémon tear you apart!" Shouted Zaku as he began chasing after Naruto.
Naruto didn't care which way he went, only running as fast as he could, cutting every corner he came across to try and throw Zaku off of their trail. Along with purposefully triggering any traps he saw, quickly avoiding them and hoping they'll slow Zaku down or stop him.
'Gotta keep running! Gotta keep running! Gotta keep running! Gotta keep running! Gotta keep running!' Thought Naruto, gritting his teeth as he kept running, despite how it was getting hard to breath and like his legs were going to give out any minute.
Taking a chance, Naruto looked back only to see Zaku still chasing them with a crazed looked on his face, only for his attention to turn back forward when he felt the floor starting sinking under him. Realizing it's another trap, Naruto instantly jumped forward, turning around as he landed and slid across the ground, holding onto May to make sure she didn't get hurt.
"I've got you now tra-aaaah!" Zaku said wickedly, only to scream when something suddenly locked around his leg, causing the Phantom Trainer to fall to the ground.
Looking at what stopped him, Naruto saw a metal restraint had locked itself around his foot, after Zaku stepped onto the same tile he had that triggered whatever the trap was.
"Looks like you aren't getting anything." Said Naruto, with Zaku glaring at him murderously as he tried breaking the restraint.
"You bastard! This isn't going to stop me, I'll get out and I'll…" Said Zaku, only to stop as the section of the floor he was on started sinking into the ground, making his eyes widen.
Unable to help himself, Naruto set May against the wall before standing up and going over to sinking floor section.
"What the fuck is this?!" Zaku demanded, looked around at the hole he's now stuck in, before paling when the walls on either side of him slowly started closing in.
"No! No, no, no, no, NO! This isn't happening, I'm not dying in this shithole tower!" Yelled Zaku as he held his arms out to try and keep the walls from crushing him, gritting his teeth to try and hold them back.
Only to scream in complete agony when his efforts didn't even make the walls pause, causing his arms and hands to start breaking as he kept trying to force the walls back.
"NO! Stop now, I'm not letting this happen! STOP! PLEASE! KIN, DOSU, HELP ME! You, look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said! Please, don't let me die like this!" Zaku screamed as the walls grew closer and closer, tears leaking out of his eyes as his former bravado started to fall apart, before he screamed even louder once they got close enough to him and his bones started breaking from the pressure.
Eventually, the Phantom Trainer was silenced as the walls finished closing in, crushing his entire body and sealing the hole, permanently. With Naruto having looked away the moment he realized what was happening, but was still horrified as he heard Zaku's screams and body being crushed. Having been tempted to help him, but knew it was too late the moments the walls started closing in on him. As well as knowing from Zaku's previous attitude and actions, he'll either turn on them the moment he saved him or try to pull him in to get crushed with him, out of spite.
'We…we really dodged a bullet, there.' Naruto thought, as while he was horrified at Zaku's death, he also couldn't deny feeling some relief that he and May were able to avoid that happening.
Though when he went to pick up May, Naruto grunted as he couldn't stop himself from falling to his hands and knees. Feeling what little energy and strength he had left leaving him after that chase.
'D-da-da-damn…i-i-it-it…' Thought Naruto, trying to force himself to stand up, only to end falling to the ground, falling unconscious before hitting it.
*Later*
Naruto and May both groaned as they started waking up, their eyes fluttering open only to grow tense when they found themselves in what looked like a room, one they didn't recognize. Before they turned towards each other, relieved to see they were alright.
"M-May…are you alright?" Naruto asked while slowly sitting up, the brunette doing the same and nodding in response.
"Y-yeah, I'm…I'm alright, and I feel much better actually. But where…Torchic?!" Said May, only to stop when she saw her Starter along with Naruto's own Pokémon on the ground, asleep.
"Zorua?! Ralts?! Trapinch?!" Naruto said, concerned at seeing their Pokémon out of their Pokéballs.
With the sudden cries snapping the four Pokémon awake before seeing their Trainers were awake as well.
"Torchic!" Torchic quickly ran over and jumped onto May's lap, snuggling against her in relief that her Trainer was alright.
"Zor! Zorua!" Zorua did the same thing with Naruto, floating over and landing on his shoulder, nuzzling against his Trainers head.
"Ralts!" Ralts went over and climbed up on Naruto's lap before hugging him tightly while burying her head into his chest, happy to see he's alright
"Pinch! Trapinch-Trapinch!" Trapinch bumped his head against his Trainers leg.
"Yeah, we're alright everyone. And I'm glad you're alright too, Torchic." May said, smiling and petting the Fire Chick Pokémon.
"And we're glad that you're safe and that nothing happened to any of you." Said Naruto petting Zorua and Trapinch, while hugging Ralts.
Before the two Trainers and their Pokémon tensed when they saw Sāra and Honoka enter the room, stopping briefly when they saw they were awake.
"Ah, you're all awake." Sāra said, smiling at the two, while Naruto and May regarded them warily.
"You two…you're the two we saw at the bottom of the tower." Naruto stated, wary of who these two women were.
"Are you two more Phantom Trainers? Are you going to try and keep us trapped here?" Said May tensely, only for the two redheads to shake their heads.
"No, we're not…Phantom Trainers as you've called the ones you've encountered already. But we are the ones who found you both passed out and brought you here to rest and recover, along with your Pokémon." Honoka replied, which only worried Naruto and May further.
"We fell asleep. For how long?!" Naruto asked, worried they may've lost their chance to escape and were now trapped in the tower.
"Both of you have been asleep for around…eight hours. While before you were wandering the tower for about three hours." Revealed Honoka, much to worry and growing horror that they've been here for nearly half a day.
"But you don't have to worry, the Mirage Tower is still present in the physical world. This is one of the few times where the tower has manifested long-term, so you both still have another day to get out at the very least, and at most two or three days." Sāra added quickly upon seeing their expressions, with Naruto and May relaxing a little in relief.
"Good…that's good." Naruto stated, relieved to hear that they still had plenty of time to get out, as well as now being rested.
"Yeah, that's good. But…how exactly do you two know how long the tower can manifest before vanishing?" May asked, looking at them curiously, willing to give them a chance since they haven't done anything against them, yet.
"We know because we're among the first people that have been bound within the Mirage Tower, so we know it better than anyone else, including how long it appears and when it'll vanish." Honoka replied, surprising them before Sāra motioned them to follow her and her attendant.
With Naruto and May getting up, following after the two women along with their Pokémon following behind. Only to find themselves entering another room, where they saw Sāra and Honoka standing in front of a large mural.
"What is this?" Asked Naruto, looking at the mural.
"This…this tells our story and how this all happened." Said Sāra as she and Honoka looked at the mural.
*Flashback*
"Honoka and I were both once part of an ancient and advanced civilization known as Rōran. I was the Princess of Rōran before taking over as queen after my mother passed. And it was during our time that this route wasn't a desert, but a lush paradise, filled with all kinds of people and Pokémon living side-by-side. And for so long, things were perfect and peaceful." Sāra explained.
"Until we were betrayed, by that fat pig, Mukade." Spat Honoka.
Sāra and Honoka were on the ground with blood surrounding them, neither of them able to move or do anything, only to able to watch Mukade and the followers he gathered stood around and altar.
"Mukade?! Why've you done this?!" Demanded Sāra, feeling anger and pain at this betrayal, while Mukade merely smirked cruelly at them.
"Oh my dear Queen Sāra, you always were so short-sighted, just like your mother. Both of you so content at what was around you, when you could've had so much more. But I'm not a fool, and now with this, we will finally establish our control over not just the world, but space-and-time itself!" Declared Mukade while holding up an unconscious Celebi that he and his followers were able to capture, with his followers cheering at the chance to control the world as well as space-and-time.
"You're nothing, but a fool, all of you! You honestly think there won't be consequences for your actions! All of you will pay for what you're about to do!" Honoka shouted glaring at them, wishing she could do something but couldn't move her body.
"The only consequences will be me taking my rightful place as ruler of space-and-time, girl!" Retorted Mukade before placing Celebi on the altar as he and followers began chanting.
"We don't know how he was able to capture a Celebi, but he did and devised a ritual to take Celebi's power for himself to give him control over space-and-time itself. Believing the ritual would allow them to bend it to their whim." Said Sāra.
"They were all fools and they paid the price for their arrogance. As it was their belief that they could control space-and-time that brought their wrath down on all of us." Honoka said.
"Who's wrath?" Naruto asked.
"The true rulers of space-and-time, two Pokémon that are considered gods. The Dialga the Ruler of Time and Palkia the Ruler of Space. Both of them had felt the disturbance caused by Mukade's ritual and they appeared, before they…they laid waste to all of Rōran." Sāra revealed.
Palkia let out a roar as the pearls on it shoulders started glowing pink, its eyes glowed orange before its forearms were surrounded by glowing pink energy. With the Spatial Pokémon then swinging its arms, unleashing a wave of pink energy, slicing through dozens of buildings before exploding.
While Dialga's eyes glowed orange as well, with the diamond on its chest lighting up a bright blue before the fins on its back started growing. Before the Temporal Pokémon opened its mouth, creating an indigo ball and unleashed a massive blast of energy that carved through the ground, triggering explosions whenever it hit something.
"NO! NO! YOU WORTHLESS CREATURES! YOU CAN'T DO THIS; I AM YOUR MASTER!" Mukade screamed, glaring at Palkia and Dialga, enraged at how all his planning was being destroyed around him.
Only for the traitor to shrink in fear, when the two deity Pokémon turned towards him before unleashing loud roars as their bodies were enveloped in pink and blue energy spheres. With the spheres then bursting open, revealing Palkia and Dialga had suddenly transformed, while space and time became distorted around them.
The two Pokémon then unleashed blasts of power that enveloped the tower, Sāra, Honoka and Mukade were in. Once their attacked stopped, it revealed the tower was now completely gone, as if it never existed in the first place. Before Dialga and Palkia unleashed a powerful wave of energy, vaporizing the rest of Rōran as well as all plant life in the area, until only a wasteland was left.
*End Flashback*
"Since then, the Mirage Tower has reappeared in the world for random periods of time before vanishing and returning to the realm in between dimensions that Dialga and Palkia trapped it within. While ensuring all those within could never die of natural causes or escape, including those unlucky enough to enter the tower and can't leave once it returns to the void." Sāra said with a downcast expression at what befell her kingdom, while Naruto, May and their Pokémon looked at them in shock and sadness.
"That's…I don't even know what to say." May said, shaking her head, not believing something like that happened, and all because of the greed and lust for power of one man.
"Yeah. But why aren't you two…like everyone else? All the Phantom Trainers we've encountered, they all seem pretty crazy and determined to make sure we're trapped in here. But you two haven't done anything and even helped us." Said Naruto looking at them in confusion.
"That's because unlike the Phantom Trainers, we're true spirits. We were both at death's door and ultimately succumbed to our injuries when Mirage Tower became what it is now, our souls becoming bound to it as a result. Which allowed us to retain our sanity, while everyone else has been driven to madness. Allowing us to try and help guide out anyone who enters before it's too late. Unfortunately, that pig Mukade is still here as well, always interfering in our attempts so he can rebuild in his followers to one day escape this damnation and continue his ambition." Revealed Honoka, much to the shock of the two Trainers and their Pokémon, only to frown at what Mukade's doing.
"You'd think he'd have learned to not mess with things, he shouldn't." Naruto stated, Sāra and Honoka nodding in agreement.
"You would think so. But, unfortunately, Mukade's greed and lust for power seems to have only grown over the millennia of being trapped here, becoming even more twisted than before. I wouldn't be surprised if it had become so vile that it started leaking into the tower, itself" Said Sāra, almost certain that was the reason the Phantom Trainers became so twisted, themselves, before looking at the two.
"And there is a way out of here as well, but it's at the top of the tower and guarded by Mukade, himself." Sāra said, much to Naruto's and May's relief that there was a way out of the tower at the top.
"Thank you, you really have no idea much it means to know there's a way out, along with all the help you've given us." May said, knowing they likely owe Sāra and Honoka their lives.
"Yeah, we really owe you two a lot. But…what about you two? Neither of you did anything and don't deserve to stay trapped here, forever. Isn't there something we could do to help you both?" Naruto asked, looking at them in concern, not wanting to just leave Sāra and Honoka trapped here, not after how they helped them and the fact they were innocent in Mukade's plans.
"If you wish to repay us, then make sure you both get out of this cursed tower." Said Honoka, with Sāra nodding in agreement.
"Honoka's right. We've already accepted what's happened, all we can do is try to make sure no one else suffers the same fate. So please, go and get out of here while you can, and be careful." Sāra said, with Naruto and May frowning before nodding.
Knowing there wasn't anything they could do and didn't have a choice other than getting past Mukade if they wanted to escape.
"Okay, and thank you both again, for everything." Replied May, Sāra and Honoka nodding in response before the two Trainers turned towards their Pokémon.
"We're…also sorry about putting you all back in your Pokéballs, like that, too. But we didn't want anything to happen to any of you." Naruto said, the brunette nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, we're sorry, but you all needed to rest and recover from all the battling." Added May, with the four Pokémon frowning before shaking their heads.
"Zor-Zor-Zorua-rua-Zorua."
"Ralts-Ralts-Ralts-Ralts."
"Pinch-Tra-Tra-Tra-Trapinch-Trapinch-Pinch."
"Torchic-Torchic-Tor-Tor-Torchic-Torchic-Chic-Torchic."
While the four of them were annoyed at their Trainers forcing them back into their Pokéballs despite the dangers of the Phantom Trainers and traps. They also understood they did it for their sake and wanted to make sure they were safe.
"Okay then. Ready May?" Naruto asked, looking at the female Trainer.
"As I'll ever be. Let's get out this place." Replied May before they exited the chamber and began the journey to the top of the tower and hopefully freedom.
With Sāra and Honoka watching them leave before they vanished, hoping that both of them will be able to escape.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see Naruto, May, and their Pokémon have been forced to keep running through the Mirage Tower, dodging traps and battling Phantom Trainers to try and find a way out, leading them to start climbing to the top of the tower hoping they'll find a way to escape. Before returning their Pokémon to their Pokéballs after seeing how exhausted and tired they were, with the two Trainers also deciding to take a break knowing they won't be able to do anything if they collapse from exhaustion. Leading them to find a room they can rest in, before they tell each other more about themselves to pass the time, before their walls start coming down and showing how scared they were, with Naruto comforting May and assuring they'll escape.
Then we see May falling asleep from the physical exhaustion and emotional turmoil, with Naruto choosing to let her sleep and carry her the rest of the way. Leading to a few close calls with some traps, until Zaku appears having escaped the ant pit while leaving Dosu and Kin behind, much to Naruto's disgust only to be forced to start running as Zaku chases him. With the chase leading to another trap that Zaku gets stuck in, which then proceeds to kill him. Unfortunately the chase took what little strength and energy Naruto had left before he passes out.
Next we see Naruto and May waking up, finding they'd been found and tended to by Sāra and Honoka along with their Pokémon. With the two then revealing the origins of the Mirage Tower, how it was part of Rōran, until they were betrayed by Mukade who intended to use a Celebi and a ritual to take control of space-and-time. Only for his plans to fail and lead to Dialga and Palkia to appear, laying waste to Rōran and the surrounding area, before trapping the Mirage Tower in between dimensions, leaving those within unable to die or leave, while those that enter when it returns to the avoid are trapped as well.
Finally Sāra and Honoka reveal there is an exit at the top of the tower, one that's guarded by Mukade himself who intends to build up his followers of Phantom Trainers to try and find a way to escape his imprisonment. With Naruto and May thanking them for their help before they begin making their way to the top of the tower. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story. But thanks for giving the story a chance anyway.
Storm out