Chapter 13: The Final Stretch – Part 2
It all comes down to this! The potential end of Lawrence's horror and tyranny is slowly drawing near for everyone against him and he, without a doubt, is fully prepared for whatever may be thrown at him. He knows it won't be easy to get Hatterene back, but he is ready and willing to do whatever it takes. He'll even take on any challenges with his own bare hands, if necessary.
For Hop and Calyrex, there were literally just a few miles away from the facility and the anticipation was making the younger brother of Leon slightly shiver, even though he remained focused on his steering of the submarine. Calyrex was floating beside him with full determination in his eyes. He already knew about the mythical Diamond Domain Princess Diancie held against her will by the evil madman. He was face to face with Karthaniel's parents, Behemoth and Extonia Davis, during the raid and capture of the Jewel Pokémon. Somehow, their pokémon were too overwhelming for him, Regidrago, and Regieleki to handle altogether. It angered him then and he's got a counterattack planned this time to make absolutely sure that it doesn't happen again by the time they finally reach the facility.
As for Karthaniel, Hatterene, and Jennifer, their Wailord driver had just arrived within the Crown Tundra limits, but they were full of all of the tenacity their souls could muster. Within Sir Davis' mind, everything that happened after the shipwreck all made perfect sense now, especially since that they now have a new ally that's been taken against her will. Rescuing her was their top priority, but killing Lawrence is an even higher importance. He saw that factor brewing in his beloved Hatterene's mind by the regal glare of bravery in her eyes. She knew that having her and, now Diancie, as victims of Lawrence Charleston Vanhart, she was willing to do everything in her power to make sure that he'll never reign supreme again, but one more main concern was on her mind that she kept to herself:
Despite the fact that Sir Davis' parents have been against us this whole time, I'm willing to risk my life to get them reunited as a loving family once more. He… deserves that more than he deserves me.
Back at the hidden facility…
Hop and Calyrex had finally parked the sub into the facility's harbor and saw many more subs parked in the same area. After the two got out, they immediately hid behind a stack of boxes when they saw two black cloaked guards at the main entrance just ten feet ahead of them.
"Those aren't Sir Karthaniel's parents, but they do need to be executed before we can enter and rescue everyone." Calyrex warned with a regal glare in his eyes. Hop nodded twice in response.
"No kidding!" He whispered. "They look tough, though. How do we get past them?"
"Let me see if they have pokémon within their possession." The King Pokémon did exactly that for a full thirty seconds before he turned his attention back to Hop. "They each have one: The one on the left has a Rhyperior and the one on the right has an Electivire. They're both at level 70, male, and are exceptional physical attackers."
"Well, we can clearly get by the rhyperior, but what about electivire?"
"Your Galarian Rapidash does have High Horsepower as one of her maneuvers. You can use it against the electivire while I take care of rhyperior with my Giga Drain."
"Oh, yeah! Well, let's take 'em out!"
Meanwhile, inside the facility…
Sonia, Leon, Peony, and Peonia were still locked away in a roomy cell with no windows. Leon was the only one up on his feet and pacing back and forth before the others, having Peony embrace his only daughter with all the hope in the world. Sonia was in full observation mode as she kept her green eyes on the Galar Champ.
"Safe to say that this Lawrence guy is the real deal." She started casually. "I'm really starting to wonder why he's doing all of this after a divorce."
"Is that what the motive is?!" Peony asked with absolute shock, making his daughter pay attention to the conversation closely. "He's doing all of this because he didn't take a divorce very well?!"
"Yep! Apparently, a woman named Jennifer Marie Hazleton had been married to Lawrence for about five years until some unforeseen disagreements led up to the divorce, which happened twelve years ago. The information on those arguments remains a mystery, but I can tell you this: Jennifer is a HUGE poison-type fan while Lawrence is obviously a fairy-type lover."
"Humph! The bastard! Calling him a lover of fairy-types is putting it nicely at this point. Wasn't Hatterene used for favors?"
"That serene transformation she got wasn't just for show to him, ya know."
"Ugh! Disgusting pig! He's giving us men a bad name for both humans and pokémon! He NEEDS to be stopped!"
"He needs to be KILLED!" Leon finally spoke after, what seemed like, forever for the others before him. "As soon as we're finally free by our friends, he'll have nobody to turn to for support and have no choice but to surrender."
"But, what about Karthaniel's parents? Since there's a chance they'll be involved somehow, what should we do about them?" Sonia asked.
"As much as he's been through since he crashed here in Galar, I just can't imagine his parents on this madman's side. He would be positively crushed and probably wouldn't have the will to fight them, even with our support."
"True." After that word was said from the young professor, an alarm sounded through the walls and that made all four of them look at the door in high alert as they also heard voices through the PA system.
"MASTER LAWRENCE!" Sounded out a distressed young male voice with the usual British accent. "WE HAVE INTRUDERS AT THE ENTRANCE! THEY HAVE TAKEN DOWN THE TWO GUARDS AT THE GATE! THEIR POKÉMON HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY CALYREX AND SOME YOUNG BOY WITH THE SAME GOLDEN EYES AS THE CHAMPION!"
"What about the guards themselves?!" Yelled Lawrence through the same intercom.
"Calyrex used its psychic abilities to toss them into the frozen waters at the harbor. They froze to death instantly! They're on their way to free the prisoners!"
"DAMN IT! HOLD THEM OFF! I REPEAT, HOLD THEM OFF! I'VE GOT BEHEMOTH AND EXTONIA ON THE WAY ALONGSIDE ME! My humble assistant, Trevor, will guard Diancie within my office! Make sure they don't reach the cells!"
"10-4, sir!"
"It's Hop!" Leon exclaimed after it went silent. "He's gained some help from Calyrex! How in Arceus' name did they get here?!"
"One more submarine was probably still out there." Peonia finally spoke. "What I'm wondering is who are Behemoth and Extonia?"
"Karthaniel's parents…" Sonia semi-whispered in a melancholy tone as she stood up and approached a now severely distraught Leon, leaving Peony and Peonia speechless. "…you feared this would happen."
"…no." Leon replied with absolute shock in the same tone as the young professor. "How could they have…?"
"They've must've been just as mentally delirious as their son after they survived the shipwreck. They panicked, had no one else to turn to, and Lawrence was able to easily convince them to join his cause somehow."
"Unbelievable!" Leon turned towards the professor and the other's behind her and just had one thing to add it all up: "Well, all we can do is just sit here and wait. We'll only pray that Karthaniel will gain the strength to fight against his parents just this one and only time. Whatever happens… happens." All three of them nodded once simultaneously in agreement with regal glares of determination in their eyes.
Meanwhile, back at the harbor entrance…
"Reinforcements are on the way." Calyrex warned after the successful attack and they had just gotten into the main doors, hearing those said reinforcement's hasty footsteps approaching. "And so is Karthaniel Davis."
"How far away is he?" Hop asked as he and the levitating King Pokémon were now hiding behind a decent stack of boxes within the hallway.
"He'll be here within five minutes. He's got Hatterene and Jennifer with him. She has her elite team of poison-type pokémon alongside her as well."
"Whoa! Who are they?!"
"Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Venusaur, the Amped Form of Toxtricity, Drapion, and Toxicroak. She truthfully claims that this team has been undefeated since she started many years ago."
"Awesome! Ya think it'll be enough?"
"Of course. I have no doubt." The footsteps were really close at this point and the two immediately got silent without peeking around the boxes. Two minutes later, they stopped and it was uncomfortably silent for the next three. Calyrex was able to turn invisible before taking a peek anyway and was stunned to see the totally unexpected: "It looks like they're on to us."
"What do you mean?"
"Behemoth and Extonia Davis are here and they know we're hiding here. Behemoth looks just like Karthaniel, except he's completely bald with blue eyes. Extonia is a beautiful brunette woman with matching brown eyes, she appears to be well into her upper 40s, and her long brown hair glows like a peaceful flame, stopping at her knees. Behemoth's got his shiny Metagross at the ready and Extonia has a female Sylveon alongside her this time. If we step out now, we will surely fail."
"Aww, man…" After that last word was spoken from Hop, they both got quiet once more as they heard the footsteps slowly coming closer and they both anticipated for the worst, having only Hop to close his eyes with horror in his heart. Calyrex never cowered, but kept his eyes on the couple and their pokémon. A few seconds later, he was baffled to see them walk right past them, keeping their presence oblivious to them. A simple couple of taps on the shivering younger brother of Leon was all that was needed to show that factor and they both watched in silence and with caution.
What they saw was an absolute stunner:
"Mother… Father…" Started a familiar deep male British accented voice with a brooding tone that was eerie for all to hear. It was Karthaniel, who had just arrived with Hatterene on his left side and Jennifer on his right, having the humans dressed in the usual warm attire for the Crown Tundra. Hatterene wasn't cold at all with her usual beautiful dress. "You have absolutely NO IDEA how difficult it was to believe that you two were still alive all this time, even after the inspirational messages you've given me through spirit alone. How could you join this negative cause through false pretenses?"
"Lawrence gave us utmost confidence that it was too late for you by the time we ran into him after the wreck." Behemoth replied in the same male voice as his only son, except it as fifty percent deeper. "How did you survive?"
"That won't be of any concern to you if you're against me. Once we're a family again, then I'll be more than happy to tell you. Cease and desist now and let our friends go peacefully!"
"We cannot do that, son." Extonia protested in her heavenly female tone of a mother thar Sir Davis remembers so well. "Master Lawrence has simply ordered us to take that Hatterene of yours back alive… by force if necessary."
"If he wants me so bad, he'll have to come and take me himself!" Hatterene protested bravely as she stepped forward with her hat claw at the ready, intimidating Metagross and Sylveon almost instantly. They still never moved from their defensive stances, though. "Show yourself, Lawrence! I know you're here!"
"Clever as always, Hatterene." A mysterious male voice came in from behind the Davises. After that last word was spoken, there was Lawrence himself standing between Behemoth and Extonia with his ultra ball within his hand at the ready. "Good to see you've taken the wrong side."
"Seems right to me, you chauvinist bastard! How dare you take away the only source of family Sir Davis has left in his life?"
"I heard they were the best in their types and I just needed their support after you escaped."
"And then you nabbed Diancie!" Jennifer exclaimed after she released her Nidoking and male Toxicroak, having them stand before her with fury. "Where is she?!"
"Oh, she's safe and sound in my office alongside my humble assistants. One of them is guaranteed to keep you away from her." Hatterene never cowered as she allowed her blue eyes to glow for approximately ten seconds before she kept her game face on and said without remorse:
"Chairman Rose, is it?" That made the humans in the room gasp only, having Lawrence quickly show his smirk of confidence afterwards. "Where in the bloody hell did you get him?"
"That is none of your concern, Miss Hatterene." After that was said from the madman, he tossed up his ultra-ball and what came out was totally unexpected:
"CHARIZARD?!" Everyone, except Behemoth, Extonia, Nidoking, and Toxicroak, exclaimed. The latter two pokémon only eased off with absolute shock while Jennifer alone continued: "That's Leon's! What did you do to him?!"
"LET HIM GO!" Screamed out a young boy's voice from the halls. Lawrence made a quick sideglance towards the source, which was Hop, running towards him with anger. He chuckled with amusement as he silently commanded Charizard to stand his ground alongside Metagross and Sylveon, blocking him completely. Calyrex was at the ready behind the boxes, prepared for anything while remaining invisible for now. "That Charizard is my brother's! GIVE HIM BACK!"
"Humph! Over my dead body." At that last word, Charizard prepared a Flamethrower aimed at the young trainer, but a barrier blocked it at just a few millimeters away. This shocked everyone behind them and Calyrex revealed himself next to Hop by the time the flames were gone. "WHAT THE…?! Calyrex! How did you get here?!"
"That is of no importance to someone who rages with anger all because of a meagre disagreement with Jennifer over there." The King Pokémon spoke with utmost nobility as usual. "You have the entire Galar region against you at this rate. Surrender, free our friends and Princess Diancie, and you will be safely apprehended."
"Never!" Again, at that word spoken from Lawrence, Charizard roared with fury as he released a Heat Wave this time, which prompted Calyrex to sent up another shield to protect Hop. During that time and without any words spoken, this was the young trainer's chance to get to Leon, Sonia, Peony, and Peonia while he had the opportunity. When he was gone, Karthaniel couldn't resist it anymore as he released his trusty Magnezone and commanded him to charge up a massive Zap Cannon shot towards all of the opposition, including his own parents! This shocked Hatterene and Jennifer to the fullest, having Hatterene force her hat claw upon her beloved trainer to keep him from going any further.
"Sorry, love…" Karthaniel apologized as everything was calm once more. Turns out that the attack only harmed the pokémon, but paralyzed the humans. "…I just can't stand seeing my parents against me any longer." After that last word from Sir Davis, the anthropomorphic Silent Pokémon reluctantly decided to let him go and he casually approached his temporarily incapacitated parents, kneeled down towards them, and was about to continue to speak, but Extonia's Sylveon stepped in between the three of them while Behemoth's Metagross stood on their left side. Hatterene then gently intervened by a soft signal that only the two opposing pokémon could hear and that made the two ease off, having Sylveon move out of the way casually and sit like a well-behaved pet alongside the now calm Iron Leg Pokémon. "I was unconscious after the ship capsized. I'm wondering how I survived myself." Hearing those very words made his parents look at him with the sincerest gleam in their eyes. "But one thing's for sure: I never forgot about you two. You even spoke to me within my mind every once in a while, telling me that you were fine all this time and that you never lost hope in me. You may not remember that, but I sure do and I thank you for it." The three then shared a loving family embrace that seemed like it touched everyone around them. Lawrence saw this from a good distance away and he knew he had lost the services of the Davises at this rate. He broke out of his paralysis and tried to escape back to his office, but Hatterene and Jennifer were not having it. While the Davis family was still in their everlasting hug, Jennifer's Toxicroak and Nidoking stood in the way of the madman right when he was just getting past Calyrex, who floated behind the two poison-type pokémon with authority. Hatterene made absolutely sure he didn't make any sudden movements by putting her Psychic hold upon him as she casually approached him alongside Jennifer.
"You had it coming, Lawrence." Jennifer quoted as she stood before her ex-husband between her two trusty pokémon, having Calyrex floating between her and Nidoking now. "And to think it was all because we were of totally different types and you were actually a poképhile towards fairy-types all this time. A man like you doesn't deserve to live."
"Humph! I knew you were just too toxic for me!" Lawrence exclaimed as he struggled to free himself from Hatterene's powerful Psychic grip, but it was to no avail as the conversation continued. "It's alright, though. I still have a higher authority alongside me."
"And you will lead us to her right now!" Hatterene spat from behind the madman as he was now allowed to stand, but was still kept under the Silent Pokémon Psychic grip. After that last word was spoken from her, Behemoth and Extonia were finally free from their paralysis as well when they stood up with their only son with incorruptibility within their souls this time as they too approached the group with the highest authority. "And I'm sure Chairman Rose will follow you out of here when we get there."
"You have absolutely no idea…" It was said in Lawrence's darkest tone and this baffled everyone around him before Charizard took it as a command to unleash another massive Heat Wave towards his opposition, but once more, Calyrex was able to block it with an even bigger shield with some assistance from Metagross this time. The commotion allowed Lawrence to escape towards that fateful office of his alone.
When he was gone, Magnezone didn't waste a moment after two minutes of that fire attack and shot out an even bigger Zap Cannon towards Leon's trusty Flame Pokémon and he instantly became unconscious upon impact, causing the atmosphere to be calm once again. Seconds later, Hatterene casually approached the Davis parentals and took off her famous hat in respect before she slightly bowed down with honor while Calyrex and Extonia's Sylveon both volunteered to heal the fainted Charizard and Jennifer decided to go and assist Hop first while this was happening.
"It is truly an honor to finally meet the parents of such a fragile soul." Hatterene started sweetly in her tender British accented voice. "Ever since we met, he's had only one demon interfere with his hopes of your survival. The Wonder Guard Demon, we called him, would occasionally lure him to his suicidal thoughts whenever he started to lose the confidence in you. Prior to coming here, we finally defeated that evil bastard with the assistance of Piers and his shiny Grimmsnarl and his younger sister, Marnie's, shiny Pheromosa. During our journey towards that historic moment, Karthaniel and I have developed a relationship that's much similar to yours. We… even made love on a few occasions, especially after I discovered why I was sought after by Lawrence and his goons in the first place. My role as the Silent Pokémon came in full steam that night and I literally ripped some members of his family to shreds simply because their research equipment was too noisy and I was just trying to sleep. Rest assured that I will not harm you and neither should you towards me in return. I swear it!" Extonia and Behemoth were emotionally moved by that entire speech and they both looked at each other for about ten seconds with smiles of gratitude before they both approached Hatterene and gave her all the love in the world with the most heartwarming embrace she's ever experienced in her life. The jubilant tears were practically squeezed out of her as she took it all in with all the exhilaration in her heart. Even Karthaniel couldn't help but join in to make her feel even more loved than before. After another three silent minutes, Hatterene continued while nestling into Behemoth's broad left shoulder: "Thank you all so much for your acceptance. It truly means a lot to me."
"You are very welcome, Miss Hatterene." Behemoth replied in her ear with candor. "You truly are a very special pokémon and you shall be treated as such." The hug ended peacefully as only the parents maintained eye contact with the anthro Silent Pokémon. "Especially after everything you've been through before and after meeting our son, you definitely deserve to be in a family. Since you're a psychic and fairy type and I'm the psychic expert while Extonia here is the fairy fan, you're the perfect new member we've been looking for to make us complete once more. No longer will we protest against one another." Hatterene tipped her famous hat with a heavenly smile as a thank-you before she used that hat claw to kindly shake hands with the two parents, having Karthaniel watch with crossed arms of confidence. This lasted for a full minute before the silence remained as the new Davis family didn't waste a moment longer heading towards Lawrence's office to end this once and for all, having Extonia's trusty Sylveon run after them after she had just used her Fairy Wind to heal Charizard alongside Calyrex, who decided to stay behind with the now sleeping Charizard as protection until he awakened.
Meanwhile, at Leon's cell…
"Toxicroak! Use Poison Jab!" Screamed out Jennifer's voice from the other side of the still locked door. That made the Galar Champion perk up with astonishment, making Sonia, Peony, and Peonia do the same seconds later from the other side.
"That's Jennifer Marie Hazleton herself out there!" Leon exclaimed as he ran towards the door and stopped right at it to see the commotion outside. He saw that the aforementioned Toxic Mouth Pokémon used that very move on four human guards while he saw his little brother make his way to the cell without any issues. "She's got Hop with her!"
"About time!" Sonia cheered with humor as she and the others stood up and calmly approached the champion in anticipation for the escape. "Lawrence must've been a stubborn chauvinist bastard."
"Men like him often are." Peony agreed as he held hands with his only daughter. "Looks like it's finally down to the wire."
"LEON! SONIA! ARE YOU IN THERE?! IT'S ME, HOP!" Yelled the younger brother from the other side. Leon leaned up against the door, peering through the nearly foggy circular window.
"Yeah, it's us in here along with Peony and his daughter, Peonia!" He replied back just as loudly. He was extremely elated to see his baby brother's face for the first time in, what seemed like, forever. "How did it go with Lawrence?!"
"We'll explain everything once we free ya! Jennifer's just taken down the guards and got the key!" It became silent for a brief moment as everything was calm and Jennifer easily used the one key to open the cell. The two brothers immediately embraced each other with elated tears of joy while Sonia, Peony, and Peonia respectfully walked past the loving moment to greet the brunette poison-type expert and her male Toxicroak. Sonia was the only one who volunteered to shake the woman's hand in thanks.
"Thank you so much, Miss Hazelton." The young professor started sweetly as the two ladies continued to shake hands for a few seconds longer. "You're truly quite the poison-type expert. Klara could learn a thing or two from ya someday."
"You're very welcome." Jennifer replied with just as much kindness. "It was my pleasure. I guess you already know about my whole ordeal with Lawrence."
"Every last detail, yes. Safely put: You are much better off without him. He's a freak on so many different levels and it sickens me."
"Glad you understand."
"So, what happened while we were locked up?" Peonia asked. Hop and Leon ended their seemingly everlasting embrace after that question and Hop turned his game face back on after wiping away his jubilant tears.
"It turned out to be true that Behemoth and Extonia Davis were on Lawrence's side the whole time since the shipwreck that brought the family here." He started. "Calyrex and I were ready to help Karthaniel, Jennifer, and Hatterene in any way we could. Along with Behemoth's shiny Metagross and Extonia's Sylveon, it was a real shocker when he had your Charizard by his side, too!"
"WHAT?!" Leon exclaimed with a red face. Sonia, Peony, and Peonia were speechless with wide eyes of total disbelief as the conversation continued.
"Yeah! You probably wondered where he was after you four were knocked out and kidnapped. Fortunately, Karthaniel's very own Magnezone had a mind of its own and shot down Charizard with a Zap Cannon that ended up paralyzing everyone around him without harming them. Don't worry, though. Charizard's fine now. Calyrex is probably healing him as we speak."
"No wonder he's not here." Peony pointed out matter-of-factly. "So, where's everyone now?"
"The entire Davis family accepted Hatterene into their circle officially and they're probably on their way to Lawrence's office where he's holding Diancie prisoner alongside Chairman Rose and one other guy… I… didn't get his name. He's probably not important, anyway. If we hurry, we can help them out."
"Did you bring a pokémon with you besides Calyrex?" Leon asked with a tone that only a demanding older brother could use. Hop nodded twice before his Galarian Rapidash came out on her own with a neigh as a sign of her presence. "Ah! Perfect! Let's get my Charizard and Calyrex first and then, we'll meet the rest of you at the office."
"Roger that, Champ!" Sonia exclaimed with a salute before she, Jennifer, Peony, and Peonia hastily made their way to that said destination with all the bravery they could muster in their hearts, having Toxicroak end up hitching a ride on Venusaur along the way.
Later, at Lawrence's office…
Diancie was nowhere to be seen for as it was now a silent vengeful staring contest between Lawrence, Chairman Rose, the Davises, Hatterene, Sonia, Peony, Peonia, and Jennifer for now, having the poison-type ex wife stand before the chauvinist with her strongest glare of bravery ever done in her life, even with Toxicroak and Venusaur standing next to her on her left and right respectively. Both men before the massive group never cowered and, just seconds later in silence, Nidoking popped out on his own and snarled with fury as Hatterene approached alongside him, keeping her hat claw on top of his head between his horn and mouse-like ears as a way to keep him 'tamed' until commanded to do the opposite. Now, two of Lawrence's most desirable women stood before him and he was ready to take them back by any means, but first thing was first:
"Where is she?" Jennifer bravely asked before the two evil men. She didn't care who answered. She just needed one now! Rose chuckled as he tugged at his suit jacket with confidence with a smirk that said he was absolutely up to no good.
"Who? Oh, you mean our humble Princess Diancie?" Rose asked sarcastically, making Lawrence pull off a slick smile of his own without fear. "She's in a safe place for now. We had already enhanced her abilities by the million-fold and is practically unstoppable… as well as irresistible." Hatterene lowered her eyelids to the point where she showed regal anger and was this close to releasing the seemingly untamed Nidoking, but instead:
"I knew you two were desperate all this time since my escape." She said in her deepest tone of her usually sultry voice. Karthaniel glanced his eyesight towards her with absolute shock upon hearing that deeper tone. "Your hunger for power isn't just for dominance anymore. Which one of you bloody bastards broke her already? I just know you did!"
"That's something for us to know and for you all to find out!" Lawrence spat with full authority. "In the meantime, how about we settle this like civilized trainers?" After that last word, Rose snapped his fingers and, just seconds after that was said, the sound of a door opened in the distance. A few more seconds afterwards, a mysterious man cloaked in black came out with a handcuffed Diancie walking behind him. She had been anthropomorphized, just like Hatterene. She wore a beautiful white tunic with double frilled sleeves and purple bell-bottom denim jeans. Her famous crystal crown with the 'pair of pigtails' were unchanged. Same for her golden collar and genuine pink diamond crystal at the center of it, but there was something odd about it. "Thank you, Trevor. I'll take her from here." The cloaked man bowed down once with honor before he walked out the office from an alternate exit within the room. Only the women on the hero side were stunned and flabbergasted at Diancie's current state, which was having her head bowed down, eyes closed, and the pink crystal gently pulsating a blood red color between her C-cup sized clothed breasts. As for the men, they were also horrified, but one of them was certainly not speechless. "Here's your precious princess!"
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DID YOU DO TO HER?!" Behemoth asked with tremendous fury. "I thought you only upgraded her powers!"
"Fool! I did so much more than that! I made it so she would only obey me and satisfy me in every possible way I can think of! Simply put: She's much more useful to me than Jennifer and Hatterene combined."
"YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE! METAGROSS!" At that sound of his name, the shiny silver Iron Leg Pokémon crawled out from behind the others and prepared for his Meteor Mash with all four of his claws, but Diancie looked up within a millisecond before impact and summoned out two of her famous crystal swords, blocking it successfully with her red with pink pupil eyes glowing that same faint red color as her chest crystal with regal rage before she used her enhanced strength to push him back with so much force, it released a shockwave that blasted everyone else to floor, pushing them back towards the main entrance. The pokémorphed Diamond Domain Princess never felt remorse for the group and maintained her position between Rose and Lawrence with her blades still within her slender granite grey hands, awaiting further commands. Seeing this made those two men laugh for a few seconds before Rose continued alone.
"Your efforts are futile at this point." He calmly reassured. "You can try with all your might to break her out of it. It'll never work."
"…ugh!" Karthaniel groaned as he shook off the damage with everyone else. "Unbelievable! We might be too late for her!"
"Not to me!" Hatterene protested as she grabbed her hat before standing up with all the bravery within her heart. "Jennifer, mind if I borrow Nidoking?"
"Sure!" The poison-type expert replied, which was an instant cue for the now snarling Drill Pokémon to stand alongside the anthro Silent Pokémon.
"Humph! What can you do about it?" Lawrence asked with no apprehension. Not a word was spoken from Hatterene as she gestured bravely with her hat claw and Nidoking didn't waste a moment preparing for his Drill Run. By the time the attack was unleashed within seconds, Diancie never cowered as she used her blades to vigorously slash an X at the precise moment of impact. This severely injured Nidoking, but he bounced back after the hit and tried once more. This time, Diancie just simply blocked it with all her might and the crystals within the swords were charging up for another strong blast. This was the perfect distraction as Lawrence and Rose tried to escape from that same alternate exit, but before they could get there…
"And just where do you think you two are going in such a hurry?" Asked Leon as he, Hop, Calyrex, and the fully healed Charizard appeared as the two just approached the door. "Don't even try to escape. We finally got Officer Jenny and her police force on the way here as we speak." At that last word, Calyrex used Psychic on the two men and they couldn't move. That didn't stop them, however.
"Mm! We beg to differ!" Rose protested smoothly before he and Lawrence both yelled out simultaneously: "DIANCIE!"
Just hearing her name made her turn towards her two masters fast via sideglance and, at the very sight of seeing them being held by the King Pokémon's Psychic grip, she still remained silent as she just used her blades to push off Nidoking again, knocking him to the floor, before she made a blazing fast dash for Leon and his small group with her swords at the ready. The Galar Champion never cowered and never uncrossed his arms as he saw this coming and made a single nod as an instant signal for Hop's Galarian Rapidash to bust in through the wall next to the door with her single horn already shimmering silver for her Smart Strike counterattack. This caught the anthro Jewel Pokémon completely off guard and the impact broke her blades instantly while it gave her severe damage, knocking her into a coma after sliding back unconsciously towards the others. This shocked Lawrence and Rose as they saw all of that unfold within minutes. They were even more stunned to see Charizard slowly approach the Diamond Princess' body and, with the help from Peony and Sonia, he was able to get her onto his back between his massive wings, having the elder Steel-type expert safely tie her on with ropes for maximum grip and safety. After that, the entire group of heroes just stood there with bravery in their hearts while only Jennifer, Karthaniel, and Hatterene approach the two bounded men, having Nidoking, Toxicroak, and Venusaur get summoned back into their pokéballs along the way.
"Confess the truth, Lawrence." Karthaniel started calmly as he stood between the two ladies, having his beloved Hatterene lay a soothing slender hand on his right shoulder. "To these two ladies here. What exactly made you break up with Jennifer and why hunt down Hatterene?"
"…" Lawrence could only sigh and bow his head with guilt. It became silent for about five minutes after that. At the third minute, Calyrex volunteered to only escort Rose out of the facility when he sensed the police force had arrived at the entrance docks, leaving the others alone to hear the confession.
"…I definitely need help." Lawrence started with a low voice of shame. "You see, I'm a desperate man with a secret that I just cannot hide anymore. I am indeed a poképhile for fairy types only and, having met Jennifer first, I thought she would be the perfect candidate for helping me find the perfect fairy type to meet my sexual desires. More than 12 years later into our marriage, she finally tells me that she's more into poison types and has become a professional trainer of that type, but not at the rank of a gym leader. She's been telling me every single day since we got married that she would help to satisfy me if I helped her keep her five star reputation of a poison expert alive in return. It was all so suspicious to me all those years and I finally find that out, which made me divorce her. The reality of that part is… well…"
"I filed for the divorce." Jennifer finished matter-of-factly. "At first, I did think that your obsession with fairy types was all that it was, but I just couldn't stop suspecting so much more than that throughout our marriage. I suspected as such when I saw how hungry you looked when you were just watching a battle on TV where a Sylveon was duking it out with Leon's Rhyperior."
"I remember that battle all too well." Leon added. "I won, of course, but it was a cutthroat duel. Now, about Hatterene…"
"Not too long after the divorce, I kept hearing anonymous rumors about a specific hatterene that was already born a hatenna with extra special powers that were uncommon compared to other wild ones within the Glimwood Tangle. She has Magic Bounce as her ability, but it came with an additional effect."
"The severity of the reflected status condition multiplied by the 20s." Hatterene added softly, making Karthaniel turn his attention towards her with astonishment. "Which basically meant that if Toxic were to be reflected, the poison effect would make the opposition faint instantly. It's an… ability that I feel proud of being born with, but I also feel compunction as well."
"How come, love?" Karthaniel asked humbly. Hatterene lowered the brim of her hat to hide her melancholy eyes from everyone.
"My now-deceased hatterene mother mated with a ditto years before I was born and that ditto in particular was infected with seemingly harmless bacteria that was codenamed 'Pokérus X2' by every scientist within the Galar region. They never thought it would be passed down to the offspring, but it did obviously. Lawrence's additional enhancements upon me made me even stronger after he finally captured me, but it was too heavy of a burden for me to carry whilst being imprisoned with him. I had no choice but to escape and see if I could maintain myself on my own. Turns out I did and Karthaniel needed me that day we first met. My abilities were successfully tamed after that first temporary defeat of the Wonder Guard Demon." Everyone around the Silent Pokémon were stunned to hear this story from her, but Karthaniel never turned away. In fact, he gently forced her hat up to show her that her face was full of tears of regret and he didn't waste a moment giving her a loving embrace that was heartwarming to witness. Even Lawrence started to smile just a little bit. "I'm so sorry I never confessed any of this to you, Sir Davis. Please forgive me."
"I already did after you made your statement about the Pokérus from your mother. It's alright, Hatterene-love. What's important is that you are alive, healthy, and are just right for those who aren't associated with Lawrence… especially me." He slowly ended the embrace and held her face with his hands with compassion, having his thumbs wipe away her tears, which made her smile. "Don't let your past change the way you view your present and future. Just call your self a very special and serene Hatterene with a human soul that cannot be duplicated in any way."
"(sniff, sniff) …thank you so much, Karthaniel. I feel so much better now."
"Well!" Leon came in after so long. "After everything that's been said here, it's safe to say that all's well that ends well. Lawrence, are you willing to confess all of this again before all of Galar after your imprisonment?"
"Yes." Lawrence replied humbly. "My sick ways are over. Karthaniel, here's hoping you life a happy and healthy life with Hatterene. You truly deserve her more than me. And I'll be more than happy to get the professional help I need as well. Jennifer…" That said brunette looked at him with apology written in her bright brown eyes. "…will you provide that help for me?"
"Only if you accept my poison-type prowess." She playfully replied, which made the two chuckle with humor. "Don't underestimate me."
"I surely won't and thanks."
With that in everyone minds, everyone finally left the hidden facility with pure peace all around. Now the final steps for Karthaniel were on the table:
Get his parents to truly catch up on everything that's been happening since the shipwreck, battle and defeat Raihan in his final Gym Challenge, and do the same against Champion Leon.
What will happen next? Only Hatterene knows…
…and she's not telling anyone, not even Karthaniel, until it all goes by.
To be continued…