Episode 31: The Sky Pillar's Master! Aliens Vs. Paradoxes!
On an island off the coast of Japan, an ancient tower rising towards the heavens, known to the natives as Sky Pillar. It is a sacred place where the legendary Pokémon, Rayquaza, was said to have saved the island from a meteorite in the ancient past, with said meteorite being the source of the ore used in Mega Stones. The tower was maintained by the Draconid people, humans that worshiped Dragon Pokémon and were some of the first known recorded users of the Mega Evolution technique.
While normally one could simply go to another Gym to get their eighth badge, there was another option as well: face a Legendary Pokémon in battle and defeat it while having the battle supervised by a League-approved trainer. One of those people happened to reside at Sky Pillar, for those brave enough to challenge Rayquaza to a battle.
"You sure know how to pick a battle, Ashton," Dylan said as they climbed up the crumbling tower. He gulped as he looked down at the ground far below. "You'd think they would make it safer to climb up this thing…"
"That takes out half the fun of it!" Ashton laughed, fearlessly skipping steps as she went up. The two were looking to challenge Rayquaza for Ashton's last gym badge, with the girl wanting the ultimate challenge. "And if you didn't know, this Rayquaza is said to know how to Mega Evolve!"
"Yeah, into the most powerful Pokémon this side of Arceus," Dylan pointed out. "I hope you at least brought a lot of healing items to this match…"
Once the duo reached the top, Aurora popped out of her Poké Ball, the Lucario's aura flaring up a bit. "I sense something… off about this place," she warned.
"The Lucario is right," said a voice. The two looked to see a girl with black hair and wearing ragged clothes standing there, a Mega Stone hooked onto an anklet prominent on her figure. "Well, what a surprise to see Trainers up here. Not many actually want to make the journey to face Rayquaza. Oh, I didn't introduce myself, did I? The name's Zinnia, and I'm the Lorekeeper of the Draconid people."
Zinnia turned around, back facing the duo. "Sorry that I have to do this, but Rayquaza isn't here right now to battle. I'm still waiting for it to return…" She looked towards the sky and pointed at an Ultra Wormhole above them. "That portal opened up out of nowhere, and Rayquaza went in to investigate. So until it comes back, there's nothing we can do about it."
"We can wait," Ashton said, sitting down and pulling out supplies from her bag. "Anything it takes to face Mighty Rayquaza." She paused and gave a confused noise when the green stone in her bag started emitting a pulse of light. "Strange, it's never done that before…"
"Wait, I've seen a stone like that," Zinnia said. "Steven Stone has one of those that he got from the Trainer that stopped the meteorite from years ago now… But that means that-"
The Ultra Wormhole suddenly made a noise that sounded like an explosion, as two Pokémon fell from it. The first was an orange and blue creature with tendril-like limbs, which landed in a heap in front of Ashton. The second was a Pokémon that looked similar to a Mega Salamence, but with larger, feathered wings and sharper features.
"A Mega Salamence!?" Dylan exclaimed.
"No… That thing is more primal than even a Mega Salamence," Aurora said, sensing the aura of the unknown Pokémon. "Its power is almost on par with that of some legends… and its anger is the most prominent."
"The power of a legend, huh?" Ashton repeated. "Hey Zinnia! If I take that thing out, can that count for my Gym Badge?"
Zinnia shrugged. "Sure. I trust that Lucario's judgement, but I get to be the one to catch it, okay?"
As the two spoke, the alien Pokémon suddenly rose up, looking at Ashton and rushing towards her. Ashton flinched and instinctively held up the green stone, making the Pokémon freeze in its tracks. "Huh? The stone stopped it…?" Ashton said. The Pokémon held a tendril out to the stone, taking it from the girl and placing the stone in its chest cavity. The alien then made a few beeping noises, before its body shimmered with new life.
"Your name is… Deoxys," Ashton said.
"You understood that it said?" Dylan asked.
"It's more like it's beaming its thoughts directly into my brain," Ashton said. Deoxys made a few more noises before turning to face the Salamence lookalike. "It says that this Pokémon is a Roaring Moon, from a different time and place from ours. Deoxys lost its core gem during a battle with Keldeo years ago and fled through an Ultra Wormhole. When I brought the gem here to Sky Pillar, it was able to sense the gem and come back to retrieve it."
"I have a few friends that fought a Deoxys before," Zinnia said. "Their core gems are important to them being at full strength. If you've been carrying that around in your bag for I don't know how long…"
"We've had it since we were kids," Dylan said. "The Keldeo Deoxys mentioned is the one that gave it to us. I think Ashton was meant to have the gem for this moment."
Ashton grinned. "Well then, Deoxys, why don't you battle with my team against that Roaring Moon?" Deoxys gave a nod, before its body unraveled and reformed into a new form, Attack Form. Ashton also sent out Vulcan and Orochi to assist in the fight.
"Just so you know, Legendary Battles like this can only get you a Gym Badge if you complete it in three Pokémon or less," Zinnia explained. "Think of it like a Raid Battle, 3 on 1 style!"
Ashton nodded. "Okay team, this is our last battle before the League! It's time for us to overwhelm and win!" Vulcan flared out his flames, Orochi gnashed his fangs, and Deoxys
Here I stand, looking to the future…
Straight ahead, lies another battle…
"Go for Swift!" Ashton commanded, letting Vulcan get in the first attack by pelting Roaring Moon with energy stars. "And follow up with Flash Cannon and Hyper Beam!" Orochi and Deoxys fired off their beam attacks, Roaring Moon tanking the attacks before going for its own.
But I love taking on the challenge…
You know I want you beside me…
The Paradox Pokémon rushed forward with great speed, lashing out with Dragon Claw and Night Slash.
This thrill I feel, it will take me all the way
And now I'm reaching out to you!
LET'S GO!
"Looks like this Pokémon has an advantage over Ashton's team," Aurora said with worry.
"I'm not going to back down just because it can hit hard! I'll break on through to victory!" Ashton declared.
Oh yeah!
Keep on pushing against the fierce wind
Just keep pushing on through to the end
Never give up, don't back down
Yes, I'm okay
Vulcan used Eruption to send up lava rocks, Deoxys grabbing the flaming rocks with psychokinetic powers to throw them at Roaring Moon. The Paradox returned the attack with its own Stone Edge, Deoxys unraveling its body again to change into a leaner form.
Oh yeah!
Feel your power rising up for this fight
Feel that courage and You'll be alright
Gotta believe in you and me
We'll find a way!
"That's Speed Form! Let's keep Roaring Moon busy, Deoxys!" Ashton commanded. Deoxys used Agility, making itself faster and zooming around the Paradox. With Roaring Moon distracted, Orochi managed to get off a Hyper Beam on the beast.
Take my hand, let's move on together…
Cause of you, I know we can make It…
Greatest strength, kindness shown to anyone…
And I feel closer to you every day…
Roaring Moon slammed onto the ground, using Earthquake to attack Vulcan and shaking Sky Pillar in the process.
"Hey, stop that!" Zinnia shouted, calling out her Salamence to get into the safety of the air. Dylan called out Vex and evolved him into Noivern, pulling Ashton onto his back to get them to safety as well.
This thrill I feel, it will never go away
And now I know that we've become so strong
Vulcan was knocked off the tower by Earthquake, but Deoxys moved quickly to catch the Typhlosion, switching into a more bulky body, Defense Form, to better hold the Pokémon.
Oh yeah!
I know we will be just fine
All your worries leave 'em behind
Trust in your heart, when you fall down
Are you okay?
With the other two preoccupied, Orochi was left to face Roaring Moon alone. The Alpha Pokémon used Dragon Rush to bodycheck the Paradox, before clamping down with all three heads using Crunch. Roaring Moon beat against the Hydreigon with its wings, but Orochi refused to let go.
Oh yeah!
Keep on burning this fire inside
Always keeping our spirits so high
Taking a chance, right by your side every day!
With the distraction of Orochi, Vulcan was able to get back onto the tower, shouting out as he used Eruption again to hit Roaring Moon from below. Deoxys went for Hyper Beam again, hitting the Paradox right in the back and slamming it down onto Sky Pillar once more.
Oh yeah!
Keep on pushing against the fierce wind
Just keep pushing on through to the end
Never give up, don't back down
Yes, I'm okay
With a determined expression Ashton jumped off of Vex's back and landed back on Sky Pillar, holding out her hand to Vulcan. "It's time for us to finish this already!" she called, Vulcan nodding as he flared up his fire to blue flames.
Deoxys came to Ashton's side as well, switching to its Normal Form while gathering Psychic energy in its core. Orochi let go of Roaring Moon and joined the team as well, each head charging up one part of Tri-Attack.
Oh yeah!
Each new strategy knocks 'em all down
We are always going all out
Trust in your heart when you fall down
Are you okay?
"This is it… go for a Triple Finish!" Ashton commanded, each of her Pokémon firing off their attack: a Psycho Boost for Deoxys, Tri-Attack for Orochi, and a new move for Vulcan- Blacklight Eruption. Each of the attacks lashed out against Roaring Moon, the Paradox trying to push through the beams with all of its strength.
Oh yeah!
Feel your power rising up for this fight
Feel that courage and You'll be alright
Never look back, come what may
Going our own way!
There was a bit of a struggle between both groups, before Roaring Moon was finally overwhelmed by the three attacks, falling onto its stomach in a daze. "That's it! Now for the capture!" Zinnia cried, tossing an Ultra Ball at the Paradox. The ball shook as it sucked in Roaring Moon, before clicking shut to indicate a successful capture. "There we go! No more rampaging and trying to knock down Sky Pillar for you!"
Dylan ran over and gave Ashton a high five as soon as he landed. "Ashton, that was crazy!"
"Yeah it was!" she nodded.
"No, I mean it was literally crazy. You somehow used a Psychic type move against a Dark type," Dylan pointed out.
Ashton shrugged. "Meh, doesn't really matter to me. All I care about is winning! And that wouldn't have been possible without Regulus here." Deoxys made some confused beeps. "Well, if you're going to be my Pokémon, you gotta have a name, and I'm going with Regulus."
"A kingly name for a mythical Pokémon," Zinnia nodded.
Ashton pulled out a Poké Ball and tossed it at Regulus, the Deoxys catching it in its psychokinetic grip before carefully tapping the device with its tendril arm, letting itself become part of Ashton's team. "Now whenever Rayquaza shows up, I have a new heavy hitter to use against it!"
"As if your team isn't only heavy hitters," Aurora rolled her eyes.
"You did well today, Ashton," Zinnia nodded. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a badge, tossing it to Ashton. The badge depicted a Keystone on it. "Take this Mega Badge as proof that you completed a major battle of fate here at Sky Pillar."
Ashton nodded, before calling out all of her Pokémon and posing. "And with that, I have eight Gym Badges! Pokémon League, here we come!"
"I still have to get my last badge first," Dylan chuckled. He looked to Zinnia before pointing up at the Ultra Wormhole. "Should we be concerned about that portal still being up there? We've had our fair share of problems with them in the past…"
"I can handle anything that comes out of it," Zinnia said. "Plus I have to wait for Rayquaza to come back. You don't have to worry about me."
"I'll be back someday to battle Rayquaza, I can promise you that," Ashton said with confidence.
"Now that this is over, we can rejoin Kris to see how Suicune is doing," Dylan said. "I'll find my next Gym Challenge after we check in with her." As he said that, a bolt of lightning came out of nowhere, striking the tower. The humans all flinched at the strike, only to stare in awe at the Pokémon that appeared from the bolt.
It was cat-like in appearance with white and teal fur, yellow accenting its face, chest, and paws. The Pokémon turned to face them, looking seriously at Aurora. "You… the Pokémon from my vision…" the Lucario gasped.
"I'm finally here to test you, bearer of the Ancient Stone," the Pokémon spoke. "Meet me in the city that never sleeps and face the Colorless Dragon to prove that you are indeed worthy of the power you hold." In another bolt of lightning, the Pokémon vanished.
"City that never sleeps… that'd be New York," Dylan said. "Luckily Kris is there as well, alongside her teacher. It'll be interesting to finally meet the guy."
"Then let's not waste any time! I wanna see what that electric cat is all about," Ashton said.
"Me too," Aurora nodded. She frowned before looking around. "I can't help but feel like there's a bigger plot going on, for Legendary Pokémon to be calling on us."
As the duo left to reunite with Kris, a Rotom Drone watched them from a distance, a sinister figure watching from the other side. "So those kids are the ones Team RedHot have been after?" the figure chuckled. "It does not matter if the Legends are calling on them now. Once my research is complete, I'll be the most unstoppable Trainer in the world, bigger than the legendary Red, the unbeatable Leon, anyone…"
Author's Note
While this story was written Gen 9 finally came out, so I got the chance to add in a battle with a Paradox Pokémon here.
The song used here is "Battle Frontier" one of the Japanese Pokémon Anime themes from the Advanced Generation era. The English lyrics come from the cover done by Silver Storm on Youtube.
The Deoxys from the start of the story comes back here, paying off Ashton's stone that she obtained as a child. The lightning Pokémon Aurora saw appeared as well, and our big bad is finally making his plans known to us readers.