The rising sun over the sea sparkled with the warmth of a new day. With new days came new chances, and with those chances come opportunists. A lot of people mistake opportunity as something that can be taken for granted. The ones who take opportunity seriously are those of success. And this was an opportunity that neither side could pass up. Taking one's ambitions lightly would cost them great. And beyond the sun's rising, the rays showcased the opportunists and their conflagrations unfolding.
"LET'S GO!" Natsu jumped into the air, in which Happy picked him up with his Aero Magic. The Exceed. and Dragon Slayer combo proceeded into the heart of battle.
As the pair traveled through the air, the knights and warriors under Melchior looked up, seeing a fast-moving projectile blitz after them. One of the cadets pointed at them. "Fire!" Under his command, many warriors aimed their magical weapons, firing elemental blasts at them.
"Give it a little more gas there, Happy!" Natsu shouted.
"No problem! Hang on!" Happy ascended higher, evading the blasts and spears thrown. He glided downwards with Natsu. His speed picking up further. "Max Speed!" He instantaneously dove into many of men with Natsu as the battering ram. The wake of the glide through the forces created a shockwave as Natsu provided a double lariat to knock down unprepared soldiers.
"So fast!" a soldier yelled.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Natsu smiled. "Now I've got a fire in my belly!" Happy arched back into the air, shooting skywards and arching overhead. In a prolonged surged of speed, the warriors readied magical weapons and spears.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!"
Natsu and Happy shot across the battlefield again, this time Natsu using whip-like flames that lashed into various parts of the army. Roaring blazes eviscerated numbers as the shockwaves threw men around like charred ragdolls.
A soldier on the ground not far from Natsu found an opening. He aimed his ring to use his Ring Magic, a magic seal showing.
"Ice-Make: Freeze!"
Before the soldier could deploy his magic, he was frozen on the spot in a massive pillar of ice, along with a dozen other guys. With them trapped, the air around them was frosting over, and with a snap of fingers, the ice slabs containing them suddenly imploded, spraying shards of ice down on other soldiers below.
As bodies fell like rain, Gray stood in the center, a cool expression on his face. Beside him was Bergmite for battle.
"You guys seriously need to chill out." He scoffed. "Bergmite, Sharpen!"
"Sharpen." He repeated robotically. The points on his body intensified, making him stiff and edge into refined parts. A red aura enveloped his body, increasing his Attack.
"Okay, just like we practiced, okay?" Gray looked back at Juvia. "Juvia, you have my back, don't you?"
Currently using her Water Lockspell to trap the warriors surrounding them, Juvia was wearing her girdle and looked over her shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll be just fine." She grinned.
Grinning at her, Gray nodded and faced forward, conjuring up ice. "Okay Bergmite, get set! Ice-Make: Ice Geyser!" He slammed his hands into the ground, causing an immense tremor that shot ice spikes towards Bergmite. Along the way it knocked down warriors too close until it reached him. Suddenly ice shot up beneath Bergmite, creating a spiked tower that pushed him into the air. Once the tower had reached critical point, the harsh stop pushed Bergmite into the air in suspense.
"Now, Take Down!"
"Falling." Bergmite murmured, his body igniting in an orange and gold forcefield. "Descending. Take Down. Impact." With the momentum of being so high, the energy used for the attack was intensified. Close by, a large dust cloud exploded as several men too close were hammered by an intense falling slab of ice.
Watching the scene, Gray smirked again. "Nice."
Behind his back, Juvia whipped a harsh stream of water to repulse a warrior. With added room, she pulled out a Poke Ball of her own. "Now, go my Vaporeon!" In front of her, Vaporeon appeared ready for battle.
"Hi, Juvia. Ready!" the evolved Water-type confirmed.
Juvia nodded and pointed at the spheres of water containing the men. "Then use Aurora Beam!" Vaporeon lurched her head back and created a dark green and black energy sphere. Once ready, she planted her forelegs on the ground and shot a colorful beam into the air in an arch. The icy attack went across the many spheres, grazing into them and fading. When she finished her attack, she watched as they all were suspended for a moment before each bubble burst, exploding sprays everywhere.
As it rained water and men, Vaporeon nudged herself from the spray. Juvia looked on, confidence in her posture.
"Push through, everyone!" Erza shouted, rising Houndoom into battle. She swiped her sword to deflect iron arrows aimed for her. Once they were gone, she glowed.
"Requip!"
She jumped off of Houndoom into the air, revealing her Heaven's Wheel Armor, along with 50 other swords. She glided above Houndoom as the two raced into battle.
"Houndoom, Inferno!" she ordered.
"Can do!" Houndoom reared his head back and took in a deep breath. In the maw, swirling blue flames were seen gathering around the throat before the maw shot wide open. A howling blaze of blue, broiling fire traveled across the ground, swallowing men in agonizing burns and damage.
Soldiers lost in the wake of the blue shockwaves were blinded by the heat and their weapons. With no cover, they were unfamiliar with slits being cut through the fire.
"Blumenblatt!"
In a massive wake of swords, the several blades at Erza's command above dove through Houndoom's intense attack, burning up inside and coming out as flaming blades that rained in a vast spray throughout the battlefield. Litters of blue explosions impaled the ground, along with men unfortunate.
Erza requipped the swords and her armor away and landed on Houndoom as he continued his path forward. "Nic, cover me!"
"Right." Not far behind, ducking a sword swing and back-kicking a guy's chin into the dirt, he glowed. In an epic pulse, he was a bright green bolt that shot pass Erza and Houndoom.
"Lunge!"
Beaming clean through numbers, Nic was revealed in his Insect Form. The shock of his massive speedy bolt made the many falling men covering a range far deep into the army.
Those who weren't close still felt the winds of his lunge. As a solder was covering up from dust and men flailing overhead, he was disoriented. 'Where did all that speed come from?' He attempted to move, but found something sticky weighing him down. 'What the-?' He looked down, his shock rising as he was on thin web-like thread all over the ground. 'Where did this come from?'
All over, men were being weighed down a certain area of Astral where Nic and Erza were charging through. They were very slow, and blue auras enveloped them.
As dust covered Nic, there was a dark visage on him as he was fully obscured. He was thinking back to those traps he set earlier when he mesmerized the townsfolk. Not just Spikes and Spider Web, but Sticky Web.
'We're not taking chances this time.' He declared. "Night Slash!"
In a span of less than a second, Greninja suddenly appeared beside him, his bright purple needle sheathed before it slowly slipped into a fake scabbard in his hand. Upon the dispel, Greninja's blank eyes didn't fade as dark gashes and cuts were in dozens all across the battlefield. They exploded, sparking the ground with people falling onto their backs, gaping as their magical weapons plundered.
'This won't be like Alvarez and Glacidia. This time, we're prepared.' He glowed, shifting into his Splash Form beside Greninja as their glares deepened in unison. 'Nobody's gonna give an edge this time. We won't allow it.'
Volans smirked. "Heh, I don't expect any less from those two."
"Yeah right, they look even stronger than before!" Corvus awed.
"Then we better keep up." Lupus kicked a guy away before dodging a bisento. He evaded it until he got his foot under it, pinning it to the ground. "Sonic Howl!" He opened his mouth, expelling enlarging midnight blue ultrasonic waves that shook the earth, pushing the bisento wielder and dozens more behind back.
"Agreed." Volans palm struck a guy away.
"Then let's get going!" Corvus shot into the air, coming down with a kick to a guy's face.
"Glad to see you guys still got that spirit." Cana mused, holding tarot cards. "Well then, guess we better get this show on the road! Purrloin, Assist!"
Purrloin huffed, waving her paw in the air before a jet of bubbles shot out ahead, via Bubble Beam. Together with Cana's tarot cards, they created large explosions that took down men getting too close to them.
Lucy used her Fleuve d'etoiles whip against her foes while Klefki used Metal Sound, creating ear-splitting shockwaves that distracted men to be taken out by Staryu's Swift from above.
Nearby, Wendy blasted men with her magic, with Carla providing physical offense.
"Keep going guys!" Natsu declared, facing the king's direction. "Because by the end of the day, they're gonna get free…I swear it!"
…
As everyone was rushing into the heat of battle, forces were being blown away like candlewicks. Smoke clouds erupted and elements raged all around. And in the back, watching in the higher vicinities of the flat part areas, Melchior and Oberon stood side-by-side. Oberon watched with his chin closer to the sky.
"Look at them, milord. Typical Fiorian mages." He criticized. "Barbaric."
Melchior silently nodded as he continued observing. He was witnessing Nic morphing into water and spiraling through a long row of men, slaying them in a pose with Liquidation, the water sword shimmering in the thin sunlight.
"I say we give them credit for their efforts but still." Oberon looked up to the Celestial King and Zodiac around them. "What do you say their chances are again?"
"Oberon." Melchior mused. "That is enough games. These mages, believe it or not, once had a power in their own holds that was said to surpass the Celestial Magic itself."
Oberon humbly nodded. "Of course, sire. I'm just pointing out the facts as you have."
"It's fine. However, educating them will be much more difficult. So then…" The crown glowed, the Zodiacs all raising their heads and staring blankly. "Let us teach them what it means to be a true Celestial Mage!" At his call, the Zodiacs all rushed into the fray, their eyes as bright as Melchior's future.
The atmosphere inside the cave was damp so to speak. Unlike the brimming dawn that was on the surface, Ophiuchus' caverns were humid and lucid. The massive pseudo-Zodiac was in coils around the chamber, providing ample room for Yukino as she was staring up at her estrange spirit.
The caverns suddenly lightly vibrated. Yukino looked down to see a stone quiver from a magnitude.
"Hmph. Sounds like your friends are causing a ruckus up there." Ophiuchus scoffed.
"Yes, they rather are, aren't they?" Yukino agreed. She held her fist close to her chest, anxiety showing on her face. After everything that's happened she had every right to be worried. Ophiuchus wasn't gonna harm her, but it wasn't her well-being that was the problem. It was Ophiuchus.
Swallowing a lump, she steeled herself. "Ophiuchus, are you sure this is what you want to do? Just be alone here, there's a world out there that could really use your strength."
Ophiuchus flicked her tongue. "Hmph, couldn't have said it better myself."
"What?"
"Humans. Celestial Spirit. None of that matters at this point. Look here and listen well. I've seen plenty from this bottomless pit to know that no matter whose side you're on, at the end of the day, you're but a puppet to your own kind. Humans say the same thing, over and over. 'We can work together. Bonds. Feelings. All that stuff that makes Celestial Spirits who they are!'." She turned away from her master. "Well if that's the case, then what am I? If I didn't need those things like your little Zodiacs did, then why bother wasting your time on me, when you can use that so-called bond to free them?"
Yukino furrowed her brow. "Ophiuchus…"
"We're from different worlds, human. All three of us. You asked earlier if I had an obligation as a Zodiac, did you not?"
"Hmph. Didn't you hear me before? I'm not one of them. So why should I feel obligated?"
"Because that's your fellow spirits. If you have any connections and are a Zodiac, then you should help!"
Ophiuchus' tongue slicked across her face. "Is there a rule here saying that I should? I fail to see how I'm affected by this."
"Celestial Spirits follow a lot of rules, human. Laws are just created because a group of people came to agree on opinions. And once laws are made, everyone is expected to follow them. The Zodiacs and the Celestial King were the ones to have agreed on the rules and laws of spirits. So why wasn't I?"
"Ophiuchus…?"
"Hmph, I've asked myself that same question. For hundreds of years. Maybe I was forgotten…maybe I was a mistake…or maybe…this is a punishment of its own."
"You can't be sure of that!" Yukino rebuffed. "Maybe humans do misuse others, but there are those that care, too!"
Ophiuchus continued lazily looking away. "Apparently not enough. Face it, kid. We're from different worlds. We don't have reasons to care. I don't…so go focus on your own species and keep your fights to yourself."
Yukino's sympathetic stare softened with every detesting syllable Ophiuchus spoke of. She was trying to find sympathy, but the humungous snake turned away, looking in another direction to sleep. She was too tired from the battle. Even if Yukino wanted her to, it was clear Ophiuchus wasn't keen on helping. She wasn't entitled like her master or her friends. She had to find a way to calm her spirit down.
As she was searching through her options, she was thinking back to before the Grand Magic Games so long ago. She wasn't inducted into Sabertooth yet but she was thinking about it. In a small stream, she still remembered a golden key that was at the bottom of a rockbed.
'Ophiuchus…'
Similarly, Ophiuchus was lost in her own train of thoughts. She was stuck on some kind of matter herself; more specifically, when Nic used Purify to heal her paralysis. If he figured she could heal herself, why bother doing it for her. It rattled her, but like wounds and time, that'll heal.
"Hmph."
Blue glows resonated around the undergrounds. A dark, gurgling bellow came from the blue amorphous beats with one massive eye fixed dead ahead. Its sclera shrunk, then expanded back to place. It viewed Joey, Dereece, and Kevin as Ella stood at the base of the being. What she had just said still puzzled the boys present, and from the looks on their faces, they were still trying to process it.
Joey blinked. "Uh, guys…?"
"Yes, Captain." Dereece asked, equally as petrified.
"Please tell me that my hearing aids are jacked up this time, because for a second there I thought Ella said that thing was her Mama."
"Oh…okay. I thought I was hearing things too. Good to know…"
Ella blinked at the confused men before looking at Kevin. The man was too stunned for words alone to admit. There wasn't a single syllable he was capable of saying.
"E-Ella…sweetie…?" he nervously spoke. "I, uh, I think you need to lie back down, okay? Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure that your 'Mama' is supposed to be…"
"It is not crazy, Papa." Ella intervened, looking back at the gelatinous monster. "It's as I have said, this is my Mama. Hello, Mama." The mysterious larger entity gurgled at her, her low, bloodcurdling bowels vibrating the mass on her body. "Mama says that I have been a good girl." She smiled.
"Okay, I am officially lost, and very much worried at the same time." Joey worried. "Um, Ella?"
"Yes?" She turned slowly towards Joey, a hollow smile plastered on her face. Her face looked a lot paler than the usual skin tone she had. It creeped them out further.
"This is really getting so wrong now. Somebody tell me what's going on?!" Dereece panicked.
Kevin swallowed a lump, his brow furrowing. He stepped up and glared Ella down hard. "Ella, listen. And I wanna know the truth. What is going on, and more importantly, why is that thing your Mom?"
The giant amorphous looked down at Ella, moving her tentacle to her back. The Freaks and Kevin cringed when they saw Ella's body quiver as the tentacle molded and embedded itself into her back. Around her body, running down to the arms, the veins on her body were glowing bright blue.
Her eyes slowly opened, revealing bright blue. The look on everyone's faces showed genuine horror.
"Hello, flesh feeders. At last you have entered my domicile. Welcome." Ella said in a double-layered voice. It was a mix of her own voice with a much deeper, echoing tone.
"Gah!" Dereece flinched. "Ella?! Is that her voice?!"
"No, can't be." Joey gritted his teeth. "That's gotta be that thing attached to her."
"I think it's using Ella to communicate to us." Kevin realized, eyes widening further. "…like some translator."
"Indeed I am." 'Ella' said. "My humblest thanks for you taking care of my offspring for me. But now, your tasks are over. You can now rest."
Kevin furrowed his brow tighter. "Enough hocus-pocus. Who are you? What are you?"
"I, you compulsively hormonal human, am an amorphous magical species that has been on Earthland for generations." The entity explained. "I am what's known as a Parasia. We are an evasive and endangered species, and we do what we can to survive."
"A Parasia…an ancient magical species?" Joey stared in awe at what he was seeing. He knew magical animals lived in this world, but not infections. 'So it's like a virus that has magic too?'
"Hold on now, the job requests we took said that this island was uninhabited before the Pokémon arrived." Dereece reminded them. "Are you saying that no one knew about this?"
Kevin was stunned speechless, allowing the Parasia to continue translating through Ella.
"My kind has been dwindling in numbers throughout Earthland's time. A hundred years ago, we thrived on the humans amongst the shores, but since the Ethernano in the air has grown, their magic and powers grew too much. We were hunted down, ended…but I found salvation. On a peninsula, years ago. I was pushed into the depths of the pits. They used their powers to cut off the island completely from shore, to leave me adrift forever."
Dereece's eyes widened in astonishment. 'Wait a sec. When we were given the job request…we checked the map on the way here! That map didn't have an island on it this far out.'
"Sooo, you're like this super rare homicidal beast thing, am I right?" Joey questioned.
"Homicidal, you say?" Ella chuckled darkly. "No, far from it. To you humans it may seem like that, but the virtues are no different for us. It is a food chain. To feast. To produce. And to thrive." The massive eye of the 'Mama' looked down at her. "And in order to find the right food, I have evolved to help every means possible. From the land that is stepped on, to the bait to lure prey."
Joey raised a brow. "Um…could you use simpler words, please?"
"Wait a sec…" Dereece was piecing it all together. His expression was blank before it turned to shock. "Wait, don't tell me…"
His mind flashed back to when they were on the island's high cliffs. They could see everything, including how far and vast the island reached. To Dereece, he especially picked up on the terraformed parts. And more recently, that landslide. His eyes shrunk to the size of grains.
'So that thing knew we were here the first steps we took on the island, and then it manipulated the geography to make it come to it?' Dereece gasped. 'Oh no…'
"But wait a sec!" Kevin backlashed. "This doesn't make any sense! Okay so you've evolved and all, but what does that have to do with Ella?"
"'Ella', you say?" the amorphous repeated. "I see. So that is the name you have given to my offspring."
Everyone's eyes shit wide open. The shock they had before was starting to turn them over. Ni matter what direction they turned in, more revelations would just keep popping up.
"I presume your humanoid intellect isn't computing. Very well then, allow me to detail." Ella turned towards Kevin. "The reason this offspring exists, is because you touched its egg."
"I…!" Kevin's eyes shot wide open. He was recalling the other night when he trapped over something. He didn't realize the blue egg-like object was something that dangerous. He gravely misjudged the situation. 'So when I touched the egg, that created Ella…'
He looked at Ella, her firm position still standing.
"My species allows us to create eggs that contain our ability to mold DNA. The forms that the offspring takes are those of humanoid offspring, that way our prey would have lower guards. Once the victim makes contact, even a hair would sap the single strand of DNA, and in turn create life."
Dereece turned to Kevin accusingly. "Kevin…is what she saying true?"
Kevin was just as dumbfounded, proven by his shuddering gaze. He was too busy listening on what was happening. This left Joey and Dereece to exchange worried gazes with one another.
"The child would not only have the direct link with its biological producer, but also the carrier of her DNA. It would be able to tell the victim's thoughts, feelings, and intelligence. With that, the mother would guide the child and her prey back. And together…comes the feast."
"No way…" Joey gasped.
Dereece knew something was wrong, he just knew it. He told himself a thousand times over that thus island was messed up, but he should've trusted his gut and left while he still had the chance. Now they were here.
Joey shook his head. "So then…all those people back there…they had children that looked like them that brought them here, too?" His eyes slowly widened. "And…they were all fed to you?"
"That is correct, human. And with each new human that is drained. As does their species' ability to adapt and evolve. The intelligence that is ingested is transmitted to the current offspring through the earth, in order to make their jobs easier of bring us new flesh to drain."
Kevin breathlessly gasped. Something before clicked inside his mind.
"You did it, Papa. Congratulations." Ella complimented.
Kevin smiled at his daughter. "Thanks."
"You've used that Z-Move almost perfectly. It's very impressive."
"'Z-Move'?" Kevin questioned. He turned towards Joey and Dereece, but they shrugged in confusion just like her. He raised a brow. "So, uh…why'd you call it that, sweetie?"
Ella tried to make an excuse. "Oh…it's just something that I thought would sound…cool, as you would put it. Does it not fit?"
Joey raised a brow. "Actually…Z-Move has a nice ring to it." He grinned. "I like it!"
He didn't realize it until now, why Ella named that last attack Sewaddle did back then that. That could only mean one thing.
'Someone must've known about the stone and crystal before they died. And so Ella…'
Dereece swallowed a lump. His own suspicions back then were confirmed as well, but that didn't make things any less creepy. 'So that's how she knew. She knew it all along. So all this time…'
The beast leg go of its grip on Ella and slunk a tentacle back to its body. Ella stood motionless as she stared at the three men.
"Ella, please…" Kevin murmured. "Is this all…really true?"
Ella tilted her head, giving them both a sincere smile. "Papa…" The blue veins on her body didn't recede, unnerving the boys. "It is okay, really. Everything will be alright…"
The Freaks and Kevin looked on as the large monster behind Ella was starting to eye them now. The sides of her large, doughy, jelly body were glowing. Odd blue waves were seen rippling from her frame into the earth all around and beneath the men, who looked more anxious than before.
"You said it yourself. Once I find my Mama, everything can be set back into place. You can be rid of me as you have first wanted."
"E-Ella. This isn't what I meant!" Kevin spat. "I never said that!"
"Thanks to you, my Mama can feel fulfilled. And because of you, Mama is proud of me." Ella's arms began morphing, much to their horror. They were petrified when they were seeing Ella's arms become gel-like blue tentacles. "Thank you for everything…Papa."
"Kevin, duck man!" Joey yelled.
"Now…" Her voice grew dangerously low, her eyes showing a devoid darkness that stunned them. "Let Mama thank you."
"grOOOAAAHHH!"
The Parasian shot tendrils from her gelatinous body that shot pass Ella towards their prey. Kevin gritted and braced for the blow, but Joey slipped in front and created a barrier to protect them. The tentacles went back into the gelatinous body, the creature scowling.
"What's the matter, Uncle?" Ella questioned in an eerie tone. "Will you not let Mama show her appreciation?"
Joey lifted the barrier, regrouping with his friends. "Guys, this is way bad. We gotta scram, and fast!"
"I'm with ya there, Captain." Dereece agreed. He turned around, only to stop stiff. "U-uh…"
"What's wrong?" Joey turned around, only to gasp in horror. "Oooooh…."
The blue orbs on the walls were glowing haphazardly, slowly cracking and glowing. Slowly moving towards them, almost zombie-like, were gelatinous humanoid creatures, no bigger than children, or rather Ella's size. From the counts that were sauntering towards them and growing from the eggs hatching, they looked to count to over hundreds. Each humanoid blue slime with dark blue spots and slight pink dots meekly scowled as they were all coming around.
The mother Parasian let out another howl, her minion-babies hording around her sustenance.
"What the heck?! Where did they come from?!" Joey panicked.
"I don't know!"
Kevin looked left and right, seeing the numbers and compositions gather around quickly. 'These guys! They look just like…!'
He recalled yesterday evening, seeing Ella saunter towards the underbrush. He recalled the uncouth, shriveled up corpse of an off blue figure. It was like a raisin back then that Sewaddle easily took down in a fragile state.
'These creatures…those are what Ella are.' He realized. 'Now I get it, that was her sibling she was trying to communicate to. Ella.' He looked back at the female child lookalike, a deep epiphany splattered on his face.
"Come on, Papa." Ella cooed. "It's okay, we won't bite." She started to change her colors, her clothes also changing shape. They vanished, and instead she took the shape of her true form. She, like the other monsters, became a child-sized blue humanoid gelatinous mass. "We just want you to stick around…just a little longer…"
"Ella…"
Ella reached towards Kevin, shooting her tendril arms at him. He evaded, but was very stunned. "Ella, stop! You don't have to do this!"
But try as he might, Ella shot more tendrils at Kevin. The other creature were doing so as well, surrounding them in incoming tubes of death.
"Barrier-Make: Ball!"
Creating a ball of turquoise ball, Joey shielded his friends from the tendrils all around him. The creatures' attacks were bounced off, bouncing right back at them.
They all scowled at the pain inflicted, but the mother Parasian let out a harsh howl that shook the caverns. Blue waves shot beneath her like veins, reaching beneath all the creatures beneath her. Instantly those that fell arose.
"You've gotta be kidding me! Can they even feel pain at all?!" Joey exasperated.
"Captain, we need an exit plan, and quick!" Dereece quipped before flinching from a tendril slamming against the barrier.
"Uh, okay! Let me think!" Joey looked at his surroundings, seeing nothing but blue and darkness everywhere. He bit his lower lips as he could barely make out anything around him.
However, his eyes widened when he spotted something pass the Parasians. He saw running water coming from a thin opening that traveled down an open canal in a tunnel.
"There!" he pointed. "Everyone roll with me! We're making a getaway!"
"We're swimming, really?" Kevin raised a brow.
"Correction, we're swimming. Mr. Cheater over there is gonna use his magic." Joey pointed a thumb towards Dereece.
"Really?" an unamused Dereece groaned. "W-whatever. Just move!"
"Okay! Okay!" Joey took a deep breath, calming himself. He glared ahead, a serious disposition taking over. "You guys better keep up. It's gonna be a bumpy ride!"
The creatures continued whipping and slapping the ball-like barrier Joey had made. Many were converging and latching on like Treecko. They looked even more ugly in front of their faces as their purple dots blinked like robots.
"GO!" Dereece yelled.
"Okay, hang on!" Joey started running, getting the sphere to move with him. Slowly, it began rotating towards the direction he was going for. It started to revolve the creatures that were getting on into the ground. The roll was crushing the blue blobs, leaving them as splattered gel that glazed the dark ground.
Joey kept running, trying his best to ignore the squishing sounds beneath him. What mattered was getting his friends to safety, and him especially. There wasn't time to worry in a life-death situation. That's something Broly taught him.
'Almost there…almost…'
He continued rolling a path, bathing the rock beneath in blue ooze and shriveled Parasian remains. The creatures were racing after them, trying to jab with their tendrils and latching on, but that only caught them in the roll.
"NOW!"
Joey rolled the sphere over the oceanic river, the sphere dissipating. In midair, time slowed down as they were all seen falling with Parasians that were dragged with them. Some attempted to snatch at them still, but they were too late. They all plunged into the current, holding their breaths as they stay submerged.
The Parasians that were dragged into the saltwater were limp, just like the three men. However, unlike them, they were twitching and shriveling. They all scowled as they disintegrated into the waves, unable to bear the water levels.
They surfaced with deep breathes, their bodies being dragged down the stream slowly. The Parasians gathered along the shores to glare at their prey making their getaway.
"Bleh! Seawater!" Dereece coughed.
"Dereece! C'mon, let's go!"
"Right!"
Joey pulled up a Poke Ball, unleashing Magikarp. Dereece pulled out Seel and Stunfisk. Joey gripped onto Magikarp as he swam away, with Dereece using Seel to aid him rather than use his magic.
As Kevin was last behind, he looked back over his shoulder one more time. As the Parasians vanished in the distance, he stared with dismay as he watched the mother Parasian come close as well, and with her, Ella. He could feel his grief rise as he knew what this felt like: Heartache. Amongst the Parasian, he could detail which one was Ella…and see was watching him sail with a blank stare.
"Ella…" He murmured, his eyes squinting. He shut them and turned away. With a grunt, Stunfisk dragged him away. He had to.
As they raced along the saltwater river, the Parasian mother let out a scowl at her prey getting away. Ella watched them take off, her stare solemnly on Kevin as she could see the pain in his eyes through his glasses. "…"
The winds howled as the morning dawn casted a shadow on the higher peaks of the mountains. Still walking in the shadows, where light has yet risen to bathe, Sophie, Duncan, and Crime Sorciere were making tracks as they continued their ascent.
After what felt like a while, they all felt a large surge of magic afar. Sophie looked up, her gaze averting towards the sky. "Does everyone else feel that?"
Duncan stopped in his tracks and looked towards the direction of Magic Power flaring. From the strong sensation he could tell where it was coming from.
"Seems as though our other end has made an impasse." Bellona hummed.
Jellal turned towards Erik. "Erik, can you hear them out on what's going on?"
Erik's one eye glanced away nonchalantly. "Well, I don't need magic to know that Natsu's making a lot of noise. They're all in the city limits being contained. Forces are quickly spreading thin and slowing down. Wherever they step sets off either explosions or they're stuck."
"Then it sounds like they've prepared quite well." Jellal smiled.
Bellona smirked at Jellal. "You make it sound like you were worried for a minute there. What's the matter, shouldn't you have more faith in your little friends?" she teased.
Jellal nervously turned away, grunting. "Anyways, they're doing their part. Sophie, have you been able to detail anything in the scriptures so far?"
The Memory-Make blonde was looking at Kadabra as he continued holding onto the books with his telekinetic powers. She was shifting through all the books and bookmarks, but eventually gave up. "I'm afraid it's no good." She sighed. "It's as I said, just legends and skepticism."
"So we're going in blind is what you're saying." Duncan said. "If that's the case, then you better watch your back."
Sophie raised a brow at Duncan. "Watch my back?" she repeated before chuckling. "Well that isn't gentlemanly at all now, is it? After having your back in that last event, I figured you'd have a little more faith in me."
"I never said I didn't." Duncan shrugged. "Just saying to take care of yourself."
"I know that, I remember your words very well." To Sophie it meant a lot with what Duncan said back in the library. About how their conversation dwelled from his points to the way they all rely on each other. She wasn't going to press it because now wasn't the right time, but in her mind she knew she had to lay down the fort. "I'll watch my back, if you can watch your own. Otherwise I'll be there. That's part of being in a guild is after all."
Duncan turned away, scoffing.
"My, my. Trouble in paradise?" Bellona teased. "Oh how the mighty have fallen."
"We're wasting precious time. We should keep moving." Jellal said. With his treks the group continued up the passageway, with Duncan and Sophie frowning. But that didn't stop Erik's hearing from hearing the thoughts in their minds.
Sophie's story was something alright. She sounded more open. Duncan, on the other hand, there was a black gate steeled in front of his heart. It creaked very low to allow him faint whispers of a voice he was unfamiliar with, and I caused him to steel himself and his guard further.
"Interesting…" he smirked.
…
At the top of Wyscan Hill, the rays of sun were beaming on a tattered black cloak that refused to shift in the winds' mighty wake. Anything at that height would be flailing like crazy, yet Tophet's cloak and hair were moving in sync, like a breeze was stroking him instead of a maelstrom. He stayed motionless as he looked down the mountain path, seeing the travelers afar head his way. He looked up to the sky, watching it slowly fade to blue. "I doth winder, Tetrabiblos, amongst all their hearts…whom do you see value in?"
…
As the group continued walking, they came across a clearing before the trail resumed. Once they walked towards the center, the ground lit up with a large golden magic seal.
"What's this?" Duncan looked down in awe.
"Everyone, remain calm! This is a Magic Seal!" Jellal shouted. "We triggered some kind of trap spell!"
Bellona's brow furrowed. "Then does that mean…" she bit her lower lip. "Of course, we wouldn't be given off easy. His Majesty must've known."
Duncan turned away. "So then my hunch was right." He reached back, gripping the makeshift metal bar he had for a weapon. "That king doesn't want us getting near the hill. It's only natural you'd set up a trap to make things go your way."
"Looks like we're in for a rude awakening." Erik grunted.
Sophie spread her legs. "Kadabra, get ready!" Beside her, Kadabra gently put the books down and stood ready in front of Sophie, holding up his spoon.
A low, disgruntled shout was bellowing around them. The center of the Magic Seal shined a bright white, causing everyone to get back and take stances. The white glow was causing the ground to stream golden energy into the light, causing its shine to tint to gold.
"That's…" Sophie awed.
"Celestial Magic." Jellal concluded. "It's taking the force of the earth and magic, in order to create shape."
They all watched as the golden light drew on more power. The land beneath them started to crack some, making fissures rise. Dust and minerals were sweeping in from the crevices into the spherical shine the light was giving off. It continued expanding, creating a hemisphere of a mixture of golden energy that brightened more. It created a large flash, blinding everyone there.
The flash soon receded, revealing a dark shadow that slowly loomed over them. It continued growing, until it slowly took shape.
They all looked skywards, the color on their faces turning pale. Sophie was amongst them. "What…is that…?"
A pair of red eyes glinted, a maw that was widely defined and vastly large in size overall. The entity stood about 25-feet in height, with a body bulk constructed of dark stone. Its muscular upper body had golden accents and runes all over in neat format. The lower half is also made of dark stone from the earth beneath, explaining why around them there was a crater where the magic seal was originally. It had constructed itself to create the mass of this golem, with broad arms and a third eye atop the broad forehead. The large, hollow maw barely opened to reveal darkness as it unleashed a palpable roar.
Jellal was seen biting his lower lip, as was Bellona. Erik sneered annoyingly, as to where Duncan braced himself with Sophie clutching her fists. They all didn't like the looks of this.
"You've gotta be kidding me." Sophie grunted.
The giant golem's three glowing eyes looked down at the many mages afoot, taking in the sights. Once it processed what it was supposed to do, the accents on the body shined brightly for a heartbeat.
"GROOOOAAAH!" The giant beast raised a large hand, readying to swat at its enemies.
"Everyone take cover!" Jellal shouted.
Sophie gritted her teeth, swiping her arm. "Kadabra, Kinesis!" Her Kadabra raised his large spoon and focused his kinetic energy into it. He made the foe focus on the spoon as an illusion of it started bending off to the side. The illusion made a blue aura envelop the beast, lowering its accuracy.
The raging monster followed through with its punch, but that status attack caused it to slam a rock-hard fist into the earth in front of them. But the force was strong enough to send rock flying at them.
Duncan pulled out a Poke Ball and threw it. "Gastrodon, Muddy Water!"
The Sea Slug Pokémon appeared in front of everyone and let out a strong cry. As the rocks rained down, Gastrodon summoned a whirlpool of brown murky water that expanded, picking up the debris and swirling it around. The cyclone spread to repulse the golem, the waves making it impossible for it to see through.
"Good call, he won't be able to keep an eye on us." Jellal realized.
"That won't hold him for long! Everyone, get around!" Bellona warned.
They all rushed with gusto within the vortex that Gastrodon held up as cover. Jellal's body glowed golden as he suddenly blitzed off.
"Meteor!"
In a golden spritz, he dashed across the air through the brown surge. Everyone else followed along and ran under the guise of murky water. The raging cyclone was continual and left a short distance covered.
"Everyone, this way!" Sophie guided.
Erik kept running, but his hearing picked up a less than appealing sound. He stopped in his tracks, looking up. "I wouldn't count on that, doll…"
Their eyes widened.
The waves to their freedom were breached when a giant hand reached through, ripping the waves and Gastrodon's chances apart. The hand smacked Gastrodon into the air, sending him wailing. Duncan made quick work in turning and recalling back the flailing slug.
"Duncan, ahead!" Sophie warned.
Duncan turned ahead to see one of the golem's large hands swatting in his direction. The Trainer's brow furrowed as he steeled himself. He kept charging, reaching back for his steel bar he had for a weapon. Once the hand was close enough, he gripped tighter, surging his Holding Magic to the tip. Just as he raised his arms high, he was expected to hit it. However, at the last second, he slammed the staff's end into the ground, propelling him over the appendage and landing on a knee. He shot ahead with the others, racing for his life.
"It's coming back around." Kadabra warned.
Sophie and Duncan looked back to see the golem turning towards them, the intense gleam in its eyes warning them of its monstrous wake. The creature, though slow, had registered them and reached to intercept them.
Sophie had no choice but to slide to a stop, the books she was holding in one hand barely supported. She pointed her other finger to her forehead, readying a Memory-Make spell.
Before the hand moved any closer, a golden glint from afar shimmered. It suddenly zoomed in, breaking the rock hand to pieces. Jellal continued his course until he landed, leaving the monster to hum.
"Jellal!" Sophie gasped. Duncan looked equally as shocked.
The man looked back up, seeing the golem look at the one disembodied hand. The eyes glinted bright red before it turned towards him. It raised its other hand, but before it could finish it felt stunned. Something had made it stop moving.
Erik gave a toothy smirk. "Nice work, Arbok. Couldn't have timed it better myself." Beside him was his newly evolved Arbok. The poisonous purple cobra gave a loud hiss as her belly pattern was glowing red, via Glare.
Yellow static surrounding the giant, paralyzing its movements. With it completely unguarded, Bellona stood directly beneath, a sly smirk on her face.
"Sentient Bolt!"
A dense pillar of raw Divine Empress Magic flared into the skies amongst the hills. In the place of the golem, an enormous female battle warrior with accents stood before the pillar caused the ground the shatter. Everyone covered up s the shockwaves of Bellona's attack were making it hard to keep leveled.
"Sophie! Now's your chance! Get moving!" Jellal ordered.
"What about the rest of you?" the blonde worried.
"You shouldn't have to worry. We can handle ourselves just fine." He faced the light of Bellona's magical overflow. "You're the only one who has the knowledge to know how the wishing can be nullified. If you don't leave now it may be too late. Everyone's counting on us, so go!"
Sophie wanted to argue, but she knew the mission took priority. "…okay then" She turned around, facing the upward slope. "Kadabra. Duncan. You both coming?"
"As you wish, Sophie." Kadabra obeyed.
Duncan scoffed. "No point staying here when it's covered."
The three made a break for the far ends of the slopes leading towards the path. With them leading off, the few remainders of Crime Sorciere regrouped as the dust of the attack cleared. The debris from the golem rained down around them as pellets of loose gravel.
"Well, I say that went rather well." Bellona confidently teased.
Arbok hissed in agreement.
"Quit milking it, you two. It's gonna make me sick." Erik chimed. "I can hear it still."
Jellal raised a brow. "What?"
The gravel around Crime Sorciere started to shake as Jellal's question was being answered. Erik could hear the commands of the crown loud and clear, and they were telling the magical celestial to not lose. They watched as the granite and dark stone materialize back into a large sentient again, the three eyes glowing red, with the golden accents across the body flaring.
"Looks like we've pissed him off." Erik said. Arbok leaned closer to his side to be on guard. "Easy now, this fight's just getting started."
The giant glared down at Crime Sorciere with the eyes shining brighter. On its arm, a golden celestial magic seal showed itself. As the seal faded, it revealed a shimmering silver shield with dark gray trimmings and accented curves that flowed into one another. In the center of the shield was a red eye-like core similar to Caelum. It was laced on the giant's arm, the red eye brightening with his call.
"Grooooaah!"
"What's that supposed to be?" Jellal inquired.
Bellona put a hand to her hip. "Seems we're about to find out, won't we?" She widened her stance, her arms swelling in nebulas of her Nightmare Magic. "So then, you boys ready for one more round, for old time's sake?"
"One more for the road, huh?" Erik's arms turned scaly and dark, with milky white undersides. In the claws his Poison Dragon Slayer Magic enflamed. "I'm down for that. Let's make this big guy scream for mercy!"
The golem expelled a deafening roar, the three members of the Independent Guild ready to make their last mark in the shadows of the mountain.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" With an explosive hook, Natsu's raw strength caused the charging Deneb to shoot back into the crowd of men, erupting in blazes. The Dragon Slayer looked far from warmed up, even from that blow. "Alright, where's that king?" he questioned, his nose wrinkling. "I can smell him here somewhere…"
As he stood in place, there was something moving behind hm closing in. It looked camouflaged as it sneaked across the ground to Natsu's back. However, despite not being able to see fully above, Happy noticed footprints heading behind.
"Natsu, behind you!" he warned.
At the last second, the spirit revealed itself to be Chamaeleon, one of the spirits Nic and his Kecleon beat down back in the Celestial World. The spirit hissed and braced his claws, but suddenly a hand grabbed his face, stopping his movements completely.
"Don't think that I couldn't smell you a mile away." Natsu smirked, not bothering to look back. "Sorry pal, but you're barbeque!" With a harsh grip of the lizard, he exploded flames at point-blank range sending the reptilian spirit in a fiery stream across the ground through a horde of men in the way.
As the dust settled, Natsu's scarf whisked in the air, his face brimming with seriousness. "You guys might be working for that so-called king because of that crown." he snarled. "But I promise you, you'll know who your friends are once I melt that stupid crown off his head."
Suddenly his hearing spiked with something coming from the side. Suddenly flipping, he narrowly avoided a humungous palm eviscerating the earth with a toned slap. The attacker was Hariyama, whose Force Palm was so close to making contact.
He landed on his heels, gritting his teeth. "I thought you'd be here."
Hariyama lifted his palm and stepped away, allowing its partner to step forward. Caius walked with fists clutched and his disposition as firm as hardened soil. He stood meters apart from Natsu with a stone-cold gaze in his eyes.
"It would seem that our paths have crossed once more." Caius declared.
Natsu narrowed his eyes. He remembered this guy from before. "You may have gotten us off guard before." He proclaimed. "But this time my eyes are wide open."
Caius spread his legs, swiping one heel afoot to brace for his foe's wrath. "I commend your fighting spirit. However, my position still stands. As long as I stand, thou shall never come close to my liege."
"Then we'll just have to make sure you stay down." Natsu tossed up all three Poke Balls. "Guys, help me out here!"
The three capsules exploded, revealing the healed Pokémon. Charmeleon bared his claws and roared, with Darumaka on one leg with an eager expression. Tyrunt stomped on the ground with his neck craning for his roar.
"This time, we're gong all out! No losing a second time!" Natsu proclaimed.
"Right!" Charmeleon agreed.
"Then so be it." Caius calmly said, raising his palm. Similarly, Hariyama did the same. "Then come, and face thy judgment once more!"
A fellow soldier charged with a magical sword, but his shouts of honor were slammed shut by a whip of magical water. He fell flat on his face as the whip retraced for Lucy. The celestial blonde held her whip tight as she stood with Plue at her side.
"Stay close, Plue." She told the Celestial Spirit.
"Puuuun." The little dog responded. "Pun?" He turned around suddenly.
"What is it?" Lucy turned back around, but was caught off guard when a soldier jumped in midair, readying a magic sword as lightning crackled around it.
"Let's see how celestial water fairs against lightning!" The soldier slammed the sword into the ground. "Lightning Slicer!" The streaking ray blazed across the ground, but Lucy was fast enough to skip to the side as the ground was weakly cut open with static crackling in the dust.
"That was a close one…" She didn't have time before a shadow pounced over her, the same soldier holding up his blade overhead. The blonde wasn't gonna make it this time.
"Astonish!"
Klefki suddenly appeared in between, her face dark with a grim aura that sped outwards. The intense, dark wake caused the soldier to close his eyes, flinching.
"Nice work, Klefki! Now…" Lucy brought her heel around as she charged towards the soldier. "Lucy Kick!" She kicked the soldier in his exposed chin, sending him reeling onto his back, blacking out from the shock.
Off to the side, Staryu's core brightened as multicolored energy turned into Psywave. The attack blew down several numbers at once, giving them all a fair distance.
"Nice work guys, let's keep it up!" She was more than prepared to continue the fight for her Celestial Spirits, but suddenly she started feeling sleepy. Her senses started dulling as a yawn escaped her throat. "Huh…o-oh…" She blinked several times, but the sudden drop of strength was only increasing. "What…is this…?"
Kleki and Staryu both began showing signs of wear. Klefki levitated low as she felt her energy wane away, while Staryu's core was getting dimmer. Plue was already on his backside, a drool drip hanging from the corner of her mouth.
"Guys…quit it. This isn't the time for…" Her dreary eyes saw something bright heading their way. Before she could react, a yellow blur darted into her, sending her on her back.
"Lucy!" Klefki squealed. She was completely unaware as yellow electric rings went in her way. She looked forward and was struck by them. She flinched as ripples of electricity went around her and a sense of paralysis overcame her.
BEEP! Staryu looked in shock as Klefki cringed.
A yawn caught the starfish and a groaning Lucy's attention. "So this is where my little Plue ran off to."
"Puuun." The quivering dog spirit shifted behind his owner. Lucy grunted as she glared at Vita as she and her Pikachu walked up to the enemy.
"You. I remember you." Lucy growled. Immediately she picked up Plue and held him close. "You're that girl Gray and Juvia fought."
Vita chuckled. "Yup siree. Name's Vita, at your service." She beamed with pride…saggy pride. "My…" she yawned loudly. "…Uncle is gonna make Celestial Mages live again. And I think he's very upset that you aren't following his rules."
"Is his rules basically tormenting Celestial Spirits into his bidding?" she sniped.
"Oh don't be so dramatic, we're only borrowing them. Afterwards he plans to make sure everyone shares them, that way we all can have spirits. Now…" she pointed at Plue. "If you don't mind, I wanna take my nap. And I wanna take it with my new pet. So please, give him back."
Plue cuddled closer to Lucy's chest, his unbeknownst fear showing. Lucy made sure her grip was tighter than ever. "Never gonna happen."
BEEPBEEPBEEP-BEEP! Staryu stood in front, protecting both.
Vita tiredly puffed her pouty cheeks. "You again. You took my wittle Pwue away." She childishly pouted. "So then…*yawn* Let's teach you meanies not to steal. Pikachu."
The yellow mouse's cheeks crackled with electricity as she stood on all fours. A waning Staryu and a paralyzed Klefki readied for battle as well, while Lucy struggled to keep her eyes awake.
Wendy jumped into the air, whirlwinds rampaging around her arms. "Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!" She spun sideways, lashing tempests that slammed into soldiers locked in place. They were blown off their feet, allowing Wendy to land with wide spacing.
"There's more coming, Wendy." Carla warned in her human form.
"Yeah, I can see that." She turned towards the wave of magical blasts heading her way. Fire, water, and compressed air shot from all directions. Carla spread her wings and picked up Wendy at lightspeed, evading the magical barrage.
From the air, Wendy took in a large breath of oxygen that spiraled into Magic Power.
"Sky Dragon's Roar!"
From the ground up, Wendy released a thin whirlwind blast that disappeared into the distance. A second later, the ground onwards bloomed in an explosive maelstrom that made the soldiers' shouts of agony inaudible.
In the wake of the earth-bending winds, they were starting to fade into grains of sand, much to their surprise. Wendy and Carla gasped as they saw someone stand through the winds.
In a swirl of sand, a pair of red eyes gleamed as what looked like a globe of fast-moving, dense sand dissipated. From the look on his face he was raring to go.
"Wendy, that spirit…" Carla warned.
"I know, Carla." She answered. "That's Scorpio."
The empowered spirit got on all fours and aimed the nozzle on his tail skywards. The nozzle widened as a typhoon of sand roared into skies after them. With deep mobility they began maneuvering around the sand swirl as it chased them through the skies. Through control, Scorpio's sand suddenly diverged into several smaller streams to corner them. Before they realized it, sand blackened their vision until nothing was left.
In the skies over Scorpio, there was a ball of dense sand that no one could make out. Scorpio was silent as its orders were to eliminate those who opposed. So that's what he's doing.
Suddenly the thousands of kilograms of sand erupted into a hectic dark purple swirl, causing Scorpio to cover up. The sand spirit couldn't see through the sand at all, but as the winds grazed his face, he could feel sizzling on them.
He looked up again, but there was nothing there.
In a flash, Wendy and Carla shot back down, getting the controlled Scorpio's attention. Unbeknownst to him or his knowledge, he saw Wendy's hair changed to a vermilion color, purple and crimson winds gathered swirling around her in her Poison Sky Dragon Mode.
Normally her now vermilion eyes would be sending chills that could burn a person's eyes. But being controlled, the spirit felt nothing of the sorts. He only looked on to attack.
"So what's the plan?" Carla questioned.
"I have an idea." Wendy reached out, pulling her Poke Ball out. "Go!" From it, the Poke Ball summoned forth Amaura, the Tundra Pokémon standing with a timid look in her big blue eyes. "Just follow my lead, okay Amaura?"
Amaura looked back nervously. "Um, okay…" she looked back ahead, but to her shock a swirl of sand rushed at her.
"HRAH!" Coming down with an axe kick, Wendy's shockwaves made the venomous winds split the sand in half, saving her Amaura from the damage. "Let's stop him together, okay?!"
Seeing her Trainer's brave face, Amaura shook her head and spread her legs. She nodded. All three were ready to stop Scorpio.
Scorpio's nozzle adjusted, unleashing a harsh blast of sand that rushed in after them.
"Bergmite, Bite!"
"Vaporeon, Bite!"
The two Pokémon jumped for the same soldier, their mouths glowing bright with biting force as they chomped down on both pectorals. The guy was pushed down as both Pokémon landed in front of Gray and Juvia.
"There aren't many left in this area, we should pick it up soon." Gray commented as guys in the background were either frozen in ice or were knocked out bluntly by his Bergmite.
Juvia smiled confidently, soldiers around her drenched and unconscious. "Yes."
Vaporeon's sensitive hearing suddenly flipped. Her gaze went towards the ground. Her paws felt the earth vibrate smoothly, but it was rather close to the surface. It trailed beneath her and Bergmite, tracing it to their Trainers.
"There's something coming!" she warned.
Gray's eyes suddenly widened. He felt an intense spike of magical pressure beneath that caused the ground to crack. From below, Virgo shot up in an uppercut, time slowing down as her eyes were hollow as Gray reeled his head back to avoid said blow.
With time still stuck, Gray was caught stunned. "Virgo…"
Though he was successful with dodging her uppercut, she spiraled in place, lashing Gray across the face with her chains, sending him rolling across the ground.
"Gray, no!" Juvia shouted. Suddenly her senses picked up on a strong magical pressure. Turning around, she was suddenly blasted by a jet of water that didn't seem to harm her thanks to her body made of water.
The source came from Aquarius, the spirit's water jug pointing straight at Juvia to keep her sustained. The Water Mage gritted her teeth as she knew she had to stop her.
With a swipe of an arm, Juvia dispelled the water, leaving suspended drops between her and the spirit. Her eyes showed seriousness.
"I know you might not recognize me, Aquarius, and personally I do not wish to fight you." She said calmly. "But for Lucy and everyone's sake, I'll have to stop you. Please, forgive me."
Gray got up on a knee, wiping the blood from his mouth. Virgo's chains packed a punch, ironically. "Yeah, okay. Nice shot." He snorted. "But you know, as much as I am into maids, that wasn't cool." He put his hands together, ice congregating. "Get ready."
Aquarius and Virgo's eyes gleamed red. Virgo charged for Gray while water rushed from Aquarius' jug. They stood by their Pokémon as their attackers drew closer.
A black tornado raged throughout the area as soldiers were blown away easily. As the tornado dissipated, in midair was Corvus as black feathers danced around him.
"Man, just how many are there?" he asked himself. Suddenly an arrow passed him, nearly grazing his cheek. "Huh?" He looked down curious, seeing where it came from.
From below, another arrow was fired. With quick thinking he kicked it away with his talons, but another grazed his side. Flinching meekly, the spirit got a closer look, seeing Sagittarius aiming for him.
"Sagittarius?! Are you kidding me?!" Corvus comically outraged. "Of all the spirits I had to attack it had to be this guy?!"
Sagittarius fired several more arrows, ignoring his comment.
Gritting his teeth, Corvus flapped his wings. "Night Storm!" The black whirlwinds surged as they applied a counter. The arrows coming for the crow spirit went barreling back to Sagittarius, with added wind pressure that caused the spirit to cover up as arrows grazed his horse costume. Cuts were seen on the side of the heads, as well as the leg, and the rib cage.
That's when an idea came to Corvus. 'Wait a sec.' A realization dawned on him as he pictured Sagittarius with his arrows. 'If all he uses are arrows, then he's vulnerable up close. Maybe I can use that.'
Sagittarius fired, but once again Corvus repeated the same attack. A tornado of black winds eradicated the arrows, causing the Zodiac to flinch. Corvus sought the opportunity and dove right in with a kick ready.
'This is my chance!'
As he was mere feet from the target horse, a moment of suspense left time to slow down. The dusk winds were eradicated, revealing a humanoid bull with an axe and red eyes. Corvus was left stunned as he barely processed how fast that was.
SHING!
With a narrow duck, the crow spirit narrowly escaped a diagonal cut from Taurus' axe. The shockwaves of the attack instead reached out towards men afar, dicing the ground and splitting open armors.
Corvus was paralyzed by slight horror at how close that cut was to decapitating him. Beads of sweat poured down his face as he hastily flapped for his life to get back into the air. He looked down with bulging eyes and loads of sweat down his face.
'GOOD GOD! I SAW MY LIFE BEFORE MY EYES…AGAIN!' he wheezed. Once he calmed down, he realized the two Zodiacs facing him. 'Great, it's bad enough with someone who can skewer me, but now someone who can chop me up and serve me on a plate.' His teeth gnashed together. He had to remind himself why he's here. 'No Corvus, focus! The others are counting on you to free them. If I fail here, it'll be no good.'
He took a deep breath through his nose, and then out the mouth. Once he was calm, his gaze darkened beneath his hat.
"Okay…" He flexed his black wings. "Let's dance with the crow."
Pisces' two head howled like ghouls coming back to haunt the damned. They arch into their foe, but two large, blue hands stopped them cold. Volans was using all his brute strength to keep them in check, in return the wake made the ground tremble.
It was taking all his muscular frame to keep himself from getting crushed between the empowered Zodiacs. Not did their bulks and large fish sizes made it difficult for them, but also made it hard to stop them. If he broke concentration, even for a second, he'd be crushed.
'Their…strength has increased. It must be…the crown's effect.'
In a Mach speed blur, Cancer appeared in a striking stance for Volans. The winged-fishman realized he had to dodge. Having no choice, he flexed his wings and shot skywards, allowing Pisces to slam into the ground to cerate a large dust wake. Within the wake, it split open when Cancer snipped it with his twin scissors.
In the air, Volans flapped his wings and looked down. Even from the heights he could see the glow of control in their eyes. There was a deep lock that wouldn't be picked lightly.
In two harsh streams, Pisces shot at Volans with fiendish scowls. The flying fish showed an impressive aerodynamic display as he dodged left and around. The two fish danced and surrounded him, yet he escaped their holds before they could strike.
Cancer crossed his scissors and made a break for it. He ran up along the white Pisces' spine, leading towards Volans. As the black Pisces circled around, he jumped onto him and ran down the spine up towards Volans.
Volans reeled an arm back as Cancer closed the distance, his scissors snipping before he crossed them.
"Trench Shredder!"
With a brazen slash of his large, finned arm, a blade of aquatic and dense energy collided with Cancer in midair, creating a large blue flare that could've been seen from the ground. Cancer and Volans battled for dominance, yet the pairs of scissors wouldn't break – surprisingly enough. The attacks cancelled out, with Cancer descending onto one of Pisces' heads as they slung back in the air to attack.
Volans grunted as he prepared to intercept. As they came up, he was going to have to smite them down.
Lupus was a wild wolf. He ran on al fours through hordes of men and pounced on one, using him as a springboard to ricochet onto another and strike. He repeated the process as he barreled towards the other side, landing on two feet while men faceplanted.
His hypersensitive hearing suddenly kicked in as he raised his head. Turning, he barely evaded a blast of pink wool that erupted in his spot. He landed, only to jump again as a plumage of wool erupted. He landed on all fours, shaking his head to get that last shock out of his system. He looked ahead, seeing Aries standing close by with red eyes gleaming at him.
"Well I hate to do this, but you know what they say." Lupus said. "Better to kill germs with hot water instead of cold."
Aries pushed her arm forward, sending a rush of pink wool towards Lupus.
"Sonic Howl!"
The wolf expelled an ultrasonic soundwave that exploded in front of him. Midnight soundwaves ripped open wool and blew it apart around Aries. Lupus used the opening to break the distance with a big jump. With an acrobatic flip, the wolf came down with a claw.
With Aries open it looked like it was gonna work, but suddenly a classy heel stepped in his way. The wolf collided with the hell, making him land close by. As he regained his bearings, he saw a being step up. To his mild surprise, it was Capricorn, his shades glowing bright red as he adjusted his handcuffs.
"Aries and Capricorn huh?" he inquired, his teeth baring. "Heh, suddenly I'm getting the munchies. How's about you both behave or I'll settle for some lamb chops for breakfast?"
Capricorn charged for Lupus with his fists reeled back. The humanoid wolf evaded the humanoid goat's advances left and right, until Capricorn was able to anticipate Lupus ducking and spin-kicked him across the face.
"GAWOH!" The wolf went sliding back on his side, his senses momentarily dazed. He snarled beneath his breath and glared daggers at Capricorn.
"Okay then…if you wanna play it that way…" He arose on his two feet, craning his neck high. He expelled a loud howl that echoed throughout the atmosphere. He waited for a second for his pack to come to him.
But nothing happened.
"Huh?" He looked around, seeing is his summon was accurate. "Wait a minute, where are they-!" He caught his guard down when Capricorn almost punched him across the face. He jumped using his forehead and backflipped for distance.
'This is weird. They always come at my howl. I'm their Alpha again…wait a minute.' He started piecing matters together. 'If that king was there, and I just sent Canes back…oh crud.'
"Oh great, where did she run off to now?" Purrloin was looking from a small hill along Astral's range to look for her Trainer. Within the few hours that went by the cat had fallen asleep while her Trainer was Fortunetelling. She thought a little catnap would do her good. Though she failed to realize how much time had passed. "Stupid sun…it's too early for you, too."
A rustling from the bushes behind made her ears flicked. Someone was coming.
"Cana?" She turned around, expecting her Trainer there. But it didn't strike her as odd until a few seconds later. 'Wait a minute, why would she be in a bush?'
She saw the shrubs move apart to show who was stalking her. When she saw a snout and drooling fangs, she immediately regretted being so careless.
Emerging from the hedges was a certain bunch of canines that Purrloin nor Happy would've wanted to meet again. The dozen of hounds in Canes' group had large red eyes that eyes Purrloin like an all-you-can-eat buffet. And unfortunately for this cat, she was the entrée.
After swallowing a lump, the feline thought grimly. 'Why me?'
Cana could use a good booze right about now. The whole night had been a complete wreck.
The Card Mage was fighting back armed soldiers, using her cards to induce sleep when they got too close. When her back was turned, wide awake soldiers came to attack with magical handhelds. They were so close to striking until a metallic trail stretched across, intercepting them.
Cana looked around, seeing her savior. "Prinplup!"
The penguin stepped in front of his Trainer, standing between them and the enemies afoot. "Hmph, you guys wanna mess with my Trainer, do you?" he challenged. "Well jokes on you! Bubble Beam!" He opened his yellow beak, firing crystal blue blasts of bubbles that exploded upon impact, sending the wake of soldiers to the floor.
Prinplup huffed as he beamed with a prideful posture. He looked pretty proud of that last ability.
"Nice catch there, Prinplup." Cana praised.
"I was nothing." He beamed. "You don't have to worry. These guys ain't getting pass me." Another soldier slashed his bisento, only for Prinplup to sideswipe with Metal Claw. With an opening he jabbed the soldier in the face, pushing him back.
Seeing her Prinplup in action, Cana knew she was safe from behind. She turned forward, smirking. "Yeah, I gotcha." She teased. "After all, I am your Trainer."
Prinplup grew a tick mark on his head. "W-what's that supposed to mean?!"
"Nothing, tough guy." The brunette looked forward, but she was met with a quick skip in the heart. She recognized something within the crowd. She noticed a bright light getting closer as the few men still standing were making room.
'This Magic Power, this can't be…'
Suddenly a golden beam raced pass Cana as she moved to the side. The light grazed through the crowd before a massive radiance of gold exploded in a bright flare. Those who were close were blown away, while many more were blinded by the bright light. Cana and Prinplup turned around to see a classy-looking Loke standing firm.
"You've gotta be kidding me…" Cana grunted to herself. She couldn't believe her luck. Of all the spirits that tracked her, it couldn't have been Aquarius, maybe even Scorpio. But Loke? If she wasn't so sober, she'd blame a really bad hangover instead. "Great. Just great."
She and Prinplup saw the red in his eyes. It was clear to the latter there was going to be no easy way out. "Cana."
"Yeah, I know." She looked dead serious into Loke's eyes. It was bad enough she had to lay waste to one friend of the guild. She could still see the pain in Mavis' eyes when she casted Fairy Glitter. Under normal circumstances she would never attack a friend. But unfortunately for the brunette she had little choice. "I'm sorry, Loke. I'd hate to this to you." She held up several tarot cards. "But it's come to this. This is for Lucy and all our sake."
Loke's fists glowed bright gold as the Celestial Spirit focused on Cana.
"Let's throw down like old times, pretty-boy!" The Card Mage and Prinplup dashed back to save their friend – Fairy Tail style!
If battling counted as a date, then Nic and Erza were having the time of their lives. They were dancing across the battlefield in harmony, with emphasis on "harm" because that's exactly what the enemies were experiencing.
"Supersonic!" Nic opened his mouth in his default form, expelling shrilling soundwaves that wrung in the opponent's ears. The soldiers in front found it hard to comprehend as the waves were messing with their heads. They suddenly started turning on each other, unable to tell who was friend or foe.
"Erza, now!" Nic shouted.
"Right! Requip!" Passing Nic in a blur, she glided through the confused men with no guard opposing them. She sped along in her Armadura Fairy Armor. She slashed her sword, deflecting arrows coming from in front. Her Houndoom pounced overhead and fired a Shadow Ball, blazing into the few group of archers without warning. An explosion of darkness enshrouds them as the ground broke apart.
Greninja side-kicked a soldier in midair, spiraling around to drag him and shoot him in a flail through dozens of men.
"How much farther until we reach that boss?" Houndoom asked. He'd be smelling him if he could, but there were too many scents in the air.
"Not much farther now." Erza instructed. "Come!"
Armed soldiers, the last around them perhaps, were all closing in with weapons to blast or puncture them. They looked dead ahead and were dutifully ready to shoot.
"Don't let them get away this time, men! We have them on the ropes!" a soldier encouraged.
"All units, prepare to fire!" The numerous clanking of weapons.
Erza and Nic continued their unison brigade on them, their Pokémon unleashing explosive and destructive strikes all around. Flames and darkness of burning intensity raged from Houndoom, and a frog-like blur passed men with gashes and shredded armor.
Time drastically slowed around them, the heat of battle reaching a peak. To Erza, this was her passion. The scarlet knight of Fairy Tail. The thrill of battle pushed her forward. The path forward was surrounded by men, and as a knight she could carve a path, no matter how long it'd take.
But Nic, he was in a standstill of his own. As he gazed at the many weapons surrounding him, he could see hundreds wanting to weigh him down. His blue eyes were narrowing, bringing back very unsettling memories that costed them a lot.
Memories of their war in Alvarez long ago resurfaced. That was almost a year ago, but the costs they suffered were tragic, all because they couldn't get to Zeref or the guild in time…they were too busy handling his sheer numbers rather than using their heads. If Nic wanted to, he should've used Teleport or became a shadow to get directly to the guild. Then maybe that would've saved time and Mavis. More importantly their Master. Fairy Tail had a habit of thinking with a lot of reliance of power; and while that does help, it can also lead to drawbacks. He can see where Natsu gets his straightforward nature from.
Then his recent blunder with Emmanuel. That was his second mistake of not using his head as often as he should've. Because of that, he was duped, and Emmanuel literally flew over his head away from the spot that was supposed to be protected.
Things in both situations could've been avoided if Nic thought smarter – not harder. Now was one of those times.
Glowing again, Nic became another cross transformation. It was his Meadow Form, but with edging of his Spooky Form. He glared ahead, his gaze calming down.
"Ready…" the soldier announced. He was unaware of Nic expelling green powder from his coat that quickly spread all around. The air was filled with an eerie green fog as everyone was blinded by this vague green mist.
"What…is this?" a soldier asked, his body getting heavy.
"I feel…like I need to…" Another soldier fell over, his eyes closing from the sudden need to sleep.
One by one, all the soldiers were beginning to succumb to the need of slumber. They wavered around as the Spore Nic induced quickly spread like a virus. The platoon around them all soon went to sleep, leaving no sustainable injuries.
Black energy surrounded Nic's hands as he raised them forward. "Nightmare!" The black energy spilled across like a swam of mosquitos that layered over the sleeping opponents. With many cluttered together, the Ghost-type status move spread easily. Many soldiers began cringing in their sleep.
"That should keep them down for a while." Nic turned towards his wife. "Erza, you got this, don't you?"
Erza nodded. Whatever Nic intended, she had to trust him. "Right. Do what you must."
Nic smirked. "I'll be quick about it."
She smirked back. "You better."
There was a small silence between them as metal and armor clanged around them. He called for Greninja to his side and he glowed again, reverting to his Erath Form. He bored into the ground via Dig. With a quick sweep of dust, the redhead watched as the winds carried the dust, leaving a hole that was quickly filled with dirt to removed traces of him.
Erza looked down and gazed slowly towards the high points of the battlefield. To the hills she saw the Celestial King and Melchior. When she remembered the look in her husband's eye she connected the dots. With their foes distracted or down, this was the straight shot he needed.
'That idiot. Stealing all the fun.' She mused.
An elegant blur swiftly closed in, which almost missed. Immediately turning around, time slowed down for Erza and Houndoom as the former's blade parried with Auriol's golden energy blade. The two made intense eye contact as their faces were fixated on the other. Their visage of rivalry was clear through their expressions alone.
They both backed away from each other, with Auriol backflipping while Erza slid along the ground, requipping to her default armor with Houndoom snarling by her side.
"It would seem that our paths have crossed once more, Miss Pularis." Auriol said astutely. "If thou wasn't so flattered by our chances thy would've curtsied.
"My word, now you're flattering me." She mocked back. "But your tongue is poison to my ears…so it's best that I cut it."
Auriol calmly lowered her eyebrows. "It seems that I failed again at keeping him at bay."
Erza chuckled with a dark leer for battle. "Believe me, even I can't do that. I tried."
A golden aura surrounded Auriol as she summoned out her Clefable again. On the opposite end was Erza with a scarlet aura and her Houndoom snarling. The magic the two produced was staggering as the air thickened. Erza wishes to support Nic, while Auriol wishes to support Melchior. But, standing in their way was one obstacle: Each other.
"For my liege!"
"For everyone!"
The two lunged for each other, Houndoom and Clefable following in their tracks.
…
Watching the carnage from high up still, Melchior and Oberon watched as the men fell asleep all of a sudden.
"Seems that our friends have more tricks than we anticipated." Oberon tested, turning towards the king, smirking. "Your majesty?"
Melchior watched, his cape still flowing. He saw the attack Nic used to wipe out that many men. More importantly, keep them from getting up. However, the king looked on calmly, the glint in his crown showing.
"Get her!" Men lunged for Vanessa from behind. The Aura Mage could've sensed them a mile away. Instead of turning around to face them, she had her eyes shut and seemed eerily relaxed.
"You should try to watch where you step the next time." She warned them.
The men, unable to get the hint, were suddenly blasted from below by glowing blue stones that spouted haphazardly. They were enveloped in smoke clouds and flew in various directions unconscious.
"Nice timing…Krookodile."
A harsh stomp crunched the ground as Krookodile appeared. He craned his head around, expelling a roar as his Stone Edge met its mark. As the men all laid in defeat, Krookodile's body was enveloped in a red aura, indicating his Moxie Ability adding onto his Attack big time.
"Let me tell you something, Astral elite soldiers! You aren't half as elite, as the beatings that Krookodile can dish on you!" the crocodile outrageously boasted.
Altair charged forward, his sword ignited in magical celestial energy. No way was he going to let his majesty's wish be challenged. He charged head-on into Krookodile, unwavering the poise. "FOR MY LIEGE!"
Krookodile turned towards the incoming soldier, seeing he was the only one willing to boldly face him.
"Krookodile." Vanessa ordered.
With Celestial Magic embedded in the glade, it followed in a golden blaze into Krookodile.
CRINK!
Altair stood motionless as he was in a slash position as the magical energy from the Celestial World faded from his blade. It was a long paused before something fell from the sky. The blade's end embedded the earth, cracking the pavement. Altair stared in disbelief as Krookodile's bare jaws snapped the blade like a toothpick, much to his horror.
Krookodile turned towards the startled man, his growling sending shivers down his spine. "You wanna swing something right? HERE! LET ME SHOW YOU HOW KROOKODILE SWINGS THINGS AROUND!" Without warning, he opened his jaws wide, crunching them into Altair's abdomen. The poor Astral elite held no chance as his bones and ribs snapped in one horrid crunch. His screams went hoarse quickly as Krookodile swung his jawline around, sending him flying overhead and into the distance.
With his screams in the distance, the sound of a thud paved another fallen. As well as gave Krookodile an addition to his Moxie Ability.
"No way…" a soldier quivered.
"Did that thing really just throw him like a lob stone…?" another soldier broke composure.
Vanessa and Krookodile turned towards the soldiers left around them, making them flinch. They watched as Vanessa's hands glowed teal and she held a stance with the wrists facing the sky.
"Lustrous Spire!"
Teal spires arose from her hands and expelled into the sky in a spiraling helix. The helix surged high up until they collided with one another. A bright teal flash erupted, causing the spire to break into several hundred smaller meteors of teal that rained down in all directions with destructive force. Many soldiers initiated protective magic circles, and others used their staves, but the endless bombardment of raining magic didn't help their dispositions.
The battlefield was cascaded in a wave of dust, covering the hundreds of fallen around Vanessa and Krookodile. The latter's hair shifted in a calm morning breeze that brushed in front of them.
Krookodile pouted. "I was just getting started."
A golden glint twinkled off to the side, and Vanessa's aura picked up on a string wave heading their way. A golden crescent suddenly broke through the dust, to which she swiped her arm to shoot a teal crescent horizontally. The golden and teal blades met in the center, flashing spontaneously until an eruption blocked their field of vision.
Krookodile's binocular vision saw something move through the dust towards them. He got in front of his Trainer to brace their opponent.
"Thou are a very perceptive maiden." A pair of metal cleats walked calmly through. Vanessa and Krookodile stared expectantly as the voice was familiar. "It'd be thy honor if thou were my opponent."
The dust faded around the metal covering Bion's body, revealing his toned, armor stature once more to Vanessa. Just like before, he had all his equipment, but this time a faint, celestial glow came from the many small lacrima on the joints on his armor. The Magic Power he had was more than last time, that much was clear.
'This Magic Power he has…something is different about it.' She noticed another matter entirely. There was an air of confidence around Bion. That same desperate aura he had was gone, replaced by fulfillment. Whatever happened in the Celestial World, she could feel the joy and power all in one. 'Just what happened?'
"Thou may have had me and Jangmo-o on the ropes…but now, we assure you. Things shall be different! Come!" He threw the Poke Ball upwards, bringing forth his choice.
Coming out in front was a Pokémon that looked very similar to Jangmo-o, only this time it was much bigger, standing at Bion's ribcage height. It had heavy armored arms, with oval yellow plates on the hands with orange centers. The neck was littered with yellow scales. The heart-shaped yellow scale on the head had grew tremendously as well into a large nail.
The creature's eyes glimmered over and expelled a large roar outwards; Krookodile snarled back.
'Who's that?' Unfamiliar with the species, Vanessa pulled up her PokeDex, analyzing her foe.
"Hakamo-o, the Scaly Pokémon. It makes noise by clanging its scales together. When the rhythm has reached its peak, Hakamo-o attacks."
Vanessa looked up from her PokeDex with a sudden realization. 'So then, it evolved.'
"It is not just I who has grown, but also Hakamo-o." Bion explained. "Thanks to his majesty's blessing, we have what we have been stripped from us. Now…" He raised his blade, celestial energy congregating around it. "It is thy sworn duty to see through to our allegiance. Hakamo-o!"
The scaled reptilian shook his body, making the sound of chainmail rattling. His body quickened in the rustling as Bion's body glowed bright with celestial magic.
A calm eddy was at the base of a rushing stream of seawater that settled for the perfect time to take a breather. Dragged to an alcove, Joey, Dereece, and Kevin were on their hands and knees as they gagged saltwater out of their mouths. Off to the side, Magikarp was in the water, resting with Seel and Stunfisk from that sprint.
After all the seawater was expelled from Joey, the Captain gathered his bearings and turned towards his friends. "Is…*cough* everyone okay?" he wheezed.
Dereece slouched back up, sighing in relief. "Well, I'm wet." He deadpanned.
"Okay, good." Joey took a deep breath of relief. "So then…CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT THE ACTUAL FRICK JUST HAPPENED?!" he shouted, his shout making everyone cringe.
Dereece's brow furrowed. "You mean aside from the fact that Ella turned out to be some weird magical parasite offspring and tricked us?"
"…okay good, I thought I was tripping there."
Kevin stared off to the side, his expression indicating he was blown out of the water. Not literally, but the implications were all there. How could he have not known sooner. His mind was racing a million miles per hour and he had no brakes. The pervert was trying to imagine the fact that this girl that they were taking care of for the past 24 hours…was deceiving them. It seemed unreal. Especially to him, how does one comprehend having so many hours of closure being stripped in just a single moment.
"Yo, Kev."
Kevin heard his name called and turned towards Joey.
"I hate to point out the Donphan in the room, bu~t…what the heck was she saying back there? Something about touching a blue egg and giving birth to Ella?"
"Guys, I can explain." Kevin defended. "I tripped, okay? When I saw it for the first time, I thought it was strange. My curiosity got the best of me, you know…?" By no means did his friends look amused, but he was trying to sway them to lighten up. "It was just a small poke, honest."
"A poke? That's all it took?" Dereece fret.
"Mister P, c'mon man." Joey frowned disappointed. "We both know you're a pervert but even I know not to go touching stuff that ain't mine." He sighed. "Where's your respect bar? I gotta scribble in a new low."
"Captain, let's be reasonable now." Dereece insisted. "Sorry, Kev."
Kevin sulked on his knees. "No, it's okay guys. You have every right to be annoyed." He looked away from their conspicuous gazes. "If anything, I should be the one apologizing. I screwed up. If had I known we were foul played, we wouldn't be in this mess…this is on me."
An awkward silence fell between the trio and the amphibians in the water. Kevin looked down at the water, vaguely seeing his face reflect on the surface. As questionable as the light was, he was more focused on himself. In a small ripple in the eddy, he saw his reflection turn into Ella. The smaller version of himself looked to him and smiled so innocently…so bittersweetly.
'Damnit.'
Joey looked towards the ground, his brow furrowed. Kevin wasn't the only one lost in thoughts.
"Something wrong, Captain?" Dereece questioned.
"I didn't realize it until recently. Remember when that big blob was using Ella to communicate? It said something…something about past intelligence of victims." He turned towards Kevin. "Mister P, you still got that stone?"
"Hm? Sure." Snapping out of his trance, Kevin handed Joey the crystal and stone that were still lodged into each other.
"Thanks. They said something about past intelligence, and when Ella said something about calling these things 'Z-Moves' – which is still catchy by the way – that got me thinking…what if that person who had these was a victim?"
Dereece's eyes widened, realization dawning. "That makes sense! That's how Ella must've known! It must've belonged to a Trainer that had those when he came to this world!"
"And that also explains that Steelix." Joey said abruptly. "I thought it was off how it battled so well. It also had Fire Fang. It's Trainer must've taught him those attacks and that battle style." His face fell. "Before he, uh…"
"Now it all makes sense. That's why Steelix was so territorial. It wasn't telling us to leave because we were invading…it was to warn us." His own eyes widened. "Which also explains why it tried attacking Ella. It must've figured out who she was and tried to save us!"
Joey looked down disgruntled. "Man, so this is what it feels like being a jerk. All it was doing was trying to warn us…" Dereece put a hand on his shoulder, easing his responsibility.
"It's not your fault, Captain. None of this is anybody's fault. Sometimes…bad things happen to everybody. And maybe you're not the best at communication, but…I don't blame you." He smiled. "We'll think of something, I'm sure."
Joey turned at Kevin. "Yo, Mister P. You okay?"
"H-huh? Yeah, yeah. I'm fine…" He said confidently. "We should do what Dereece said and plan our next strategy."
Joey and Dereece looked towards each other nervously. They knew Kevin had been through a tough time, but given his priorities – still questionable to a number of extents – they wanted to make sure. They were friends after all.
Dereece turned towards Joey. "So Captain, what are we gonna do? We can't just hide forever. Sooner or later they're gonna come looking for us."
Joey put a hand to his chin, thinking. "Maybe…but maybe not. You remember what happened when they tried following us, didn't you?" he flashed back to when they all jumped into the water. They made it downstream, but the creatures weren't so lucky. "When they jumped in the water, they shriveled up like prunes. Guess they don't like water too much."
"I don't think so. When we went to the stream yesterday, Ella drank from that just fine." Dereece paused as he processed something. "…because it was freshwater! They can't handle oceanwater! No wonder they've been stuck on this island!"
"Phew." Joey flicked sweat off his forehead. "For a second there, I thought we were in actual danger. If those things were on shore, h'oh boy…"
Kevin and Dereece stared at Joey blankly, their brows raised in question. They looked at each other, as if explaining in silence what to say. They looked back at him, Kevin taking the lead.
"Dude?" he started.
"Yes?"
"You remember what she said, right? This island is adrift. That means nothing is weighing it down. And you know what happens next, right?"
Joey shrugged. "Yeah, they keep going until they reach the edge of someplace foreign and…oh…" His face froze in realization. "…oh…" His tone turned to despair. "Oooooh…." He grimaced. He could picture in his mind something along the lines: Fires everywhere. People running and screaming. And worst of all, the screams. He could picture people flailing on the ground as blobs surrounded them and drained their fluids and magical energy. Immediately he grew serious. "Okay, scratch everything I said. We've got a big problem if we stay here too long. Who knows what they can find out from our heads."
Dereece nodded. "Yeah, you're right. There's the guild we know, and everybody else inside…it can learn their strengths and weaknesses that we've looked at. They get us and this thing reaches shores, the guild is gonna be in danger! Captain, we need to get out of here and get help! This is way to risky now!"
"You're right, Dereece. We need to escape while we're still alive. We have to get off this island, and quick. We can get the guild, and maybe the Cambire Foundation, and we'll get everyone's help. Besides…" Joey thought briefly back to the conversation he had with Nic when he pulled them out of the mines. "I owe it to Nic-senpai to trust those outside my circle."
"Couldn't have said it better myself, Captain." Dereece agreed.
"Okay guys, get the Escape Ropes ready. We're heading out immediately."
They all reached into their items and looked through their belongings, searching for their Escape Rope. Kevin was reaching past the Super Potions and healing items he still had left when he found his mind digging deeper into a pit. More memories of Ella arose.
It was complicated to say the least for a man like him, especially one so perverted, yet these feelings were starting to sprout from these roots that came in when Ella joined their little party. He thought back to their time spent along the ways, how he and her were starting to connect. No. They were connected, the whole time. He just didn't realize it until now. From her long black hair, to her child-like disposition. Unable to bring himself to think of anything but what happened, he just let the memories flowed.
"That's what she said, Papa." The last thing Kevin thought about Ella…was that one sentence. Something that was his that was her own, more or less.
Behind him, Joey and Dereece pulled up their Escape Rope and stood up. "Okay guys, all set. Ready?" Joey asked.
Dereece nodded.
"Mister P, all set over there?" He was met with silence. "Mister P? Kev?" He looked towards him. "Buddy, are you ok…?"
He and Dereece looked over their shoulders, a sense of surprise overcoming them. The shock on their faces was clear as Kevin – the confident, overzealous loner who stalks people and beams smiles – was quivering. Small glints were on the sides of his eyes, indicating moisture gathering. He looked so intent on something as his mind was adrift in a sea of memories filled in just one day, something that not many people consider in their lives.
Unsure of his motives, Joey stepped forward. "Kevin…you good?"
"…I can't do it…" he said faintly.
"What was that?" Dereece asked, getting a whiff of what he said.
"I can't do it…not like this…" He slowly stood up, his face facing away from the two boys. "Guys, this is wrong. We can't let things go like this. We can't leave her like this."
The two caught onto who he meant. Dereece stepped up as the voice of reason. "Uh, listen, uh…Kevin. I-I know it's still a little hard, but you know this is best. We know how you feel, so-!" He reached to comfort, but Kevin backhanded him away.
"How the hell do you understand how I feel, Dereece!" he snapped in his face, startling the man.
"Guys! Get a grip!" Joey fret. Seel and Stunfisk prodded onto land to Dereece's defense.
Kevin glares daggers through his glasses and calmed down. He walked a few paces away, close to the water's edge to stare at his reflection. "…I'm sorry. Don't know what came over me. I guess I got defensive there."
The air around them fell silent as Kevin continued looking at his reflection, seemingly smiling.
"Hm, how sad ain't it? Me, of all people. Just look at me, what kind of person did I turn into?" he meekly snickered at the irony. "Someone like me could really seem to care for something else other than his needs down under, sounds about right?" While they did get the implications, they knew better than to interrupt him. "Gone on, say it. 'Mister P, you've gone soft on us.'. Heh, man the fanservice communities I went through to get to where my mind is. I thought it was pretty creepy at first with what I felt with Ella. Who'd have thought that someone like me could actually know genuine love…boy am I a sorry sight. I asked myself over and over for a while now, if it's wrong to feel this way? Is this some kind of punishment? I never liked kids too much, and never thought that I could have one."
"Kevin…" Joey and Dereece were stunned with what Kevin was coming to. They never heard him speak in these kinds of deep levels before. This was a serious time for him, so they knew better than to talk.
"I guess this is fate's way of telling me this is a sign. I thought it was a curse when we started connecting, but I thought wrong. Guys…" His shoulders started shuddering, his whole figure beginning to break down. "I know that Ella is a monster, and that she tricked us…but she's…she's still…" He whipped around, his face causing Joey and Dereece's hearts to melt. Kevin…was crying. Tears were running down his face as he gritted his teeth. "That monster is still my little girl! My Ella! I didn't ask to have anyone like her in my life, but damnit, now she is! Now look at me! How to expect me to let go of her like this?! I can't do that!" He gritted his teeth, shutting himself. "That time we had…it was fun, wasn't it? I could see it in her eyes, you all could. That bond we all shared, we can't just cast it away like some material possession. This is our problem, and damnit all to hell that I say…as her Papa, I'm seeing this to the end! Even if it kills me, it's now my job to save my daughter!"
The bottoms of Joey and Dereece's stomachs seemed to have sunk deeper into abysmal. They've never felt so broken just from speaking for once from how they felt, even if it wasn't something they were familiar with. If anything they could relate to what Kevin felt, they too had parental issues of their own to deal with in their lives. Joey never had a father because he died before he was born, and his mother was doing her thing, but now that he had time to think about it she still cared for him, she had to. Dereece could understand that plight just as much. His folks were elsewhere and left him to look after Joey. He never thought much at all because he was making sure Joey didn't blow anything up, but the message was clear. If anything happened to the ones they cared for, what could they do? It's what separated the humane, and Kevin just proved where his heart lied.
"Captain Joey…" Kevin muttered. "You're her Uncle, aren't you? You showed Ella how to dance…and I can't thank you enough for that."
Steeling himself, Joey walked over, putting a hand on Kevin's shoulder. "Please stop crying. It's all good now buddy…I swear it."
"So then, you get what I'm saying, don't you? As her family, we have to do what we can to save her…even if it means our lives are at stake."
"Right." Joey glanced over his shoulder at Dereece.
"Captain."
"I know what you're gonna say, Dereece. That what we're doing is wrong, it's stupid, and we should be thinking about the mission first." He arguably rebutted. "What I'm doing is completely wrong, irresponsible, and would more than likely prove Duncan's point of what kind of a leader figure I can be."
"Well, I…"
"Well you know what, shut it Dereece. I'm not done! This isn't about the mission anymore, this is about doing the right thing! And taking down Ella in cold blood like this is completely unfair to all of us! This is a family problem now, and you know what family means…" an image of him, Dereece, and Duncan popped in his mind. "It means, no one gets left behind. And no one gets left out!" He gave him a hardened glare. "So if you wanna abandon your priorities as her Uncle, fine! But I'm staying for her sake now, got that?!"
After a long pause, Dereece stared at his Captain, giving a sigh off to the side. "Captain…" he said softly. "You didn't let me finish. I was gonna say…even though this is suicide, you're right."
Joey blinked in shock. "R-really…?"
Dereece shrugged. "Yeah." He turned towards Kevin. "Sorry about before, Kevin. Look, if this is what you really want to do, then that's up to you." He smiled. "I'll try my best to help."
Kevin sniffled, wiping the tears from his glasses. "You bastards…you really are suckers for friendship, aren't ya?"
"Thanks." Joey said dumbly.
"But Kevin, listen." Dereece said. "We're gonna save Ella with everything we've got. But just know that if anything goes wrong…you know what we have to do."
Kevin nodded firmly. "I know. At least this way, we can have some peace at rest when this is all over." He turned around, looking upstream. His mind thought back to his daughter that has his genes.
"I got it. We'll name you after my late-grandma. So sweetie…how does 'Ella' sound?"
"Ella…?" The girl scrunched her face in confusion. "Ella…and…this is my…name now?"
"Yes. Ella."
"Ella…" The girl softly smiled, perhaps even more genuine than before. "I like it! I have a name now!"
'This time, Ella, I'm not gonna lose again.' Kevin's determination arose as he cracked his fists. 'I swear, as your Dad. I'm gonna help my daughter down the right path.' "Alright guys, let's get ready…for Ella!"
"For Ella!" Joey and Dereece chanted, their Pokémon flopping into the air in agreement.
The sun was starting to rise higher than before. The winds howling at the height Sophie and Duncan traveled could've steered any Flying-type off course. Thankfully their feet did all the work, but the howling of the winds raged.
As they continued they heard an explosion from behind. They stopped and looked over their shoulders, seeing a large burst of dust. They knew their friends' confrontation was still going on.
Duncan looked ahead, eyes shut. "You know, I'm not stopping you from going back if you're that worried."
Sophie, however, maintained a steeled posture. "I appreciate your offer, Duncan. But I'm fine. We have a mission after all. Everyone is counting on us."
Duncan shrugged. "Just saying. If this is too much of a drag for ya."
Sophie frowned. For a while now, something was crawling in the back of her mind about Duncan. It was nerve racking that pins and needles felt like a good sleeping mat. There was a certain air that Duncan exuded that made him spell his character definite. So why was he tagging along when he was a loner?
"Duncan." The man stopped when his name was called. "I know I asked you this before, but are you here?"
Duncan scoffed. "Like I said, none of your business." He faced forward. "Besides, I wanted to be sure of something."
"That's not what I meant."
The Trainer didn't budge. She sounded more forceful than before.
"Look, even though you aren't the easiest book to read, I think I know enough content to know that what you're doing is for a reason. Why else would you be coming up here than going into battle with everyone else? You're a Pokémon Trainer, just like Nic and Vanessa. You find every possible opportunity you can to battle and exploit it for your own benefit to make into your own. So why stray to one way when your way could've been your path to more strength?"
Duncan was silent, gazing into Sophie's eyes. Something about what she was saying had some kernel of wisdom to it. But like always, it didn't sit in too well.
"As if I'm anything like them." He said curtly. "Just because I need to get stronger, that doesn't mean I don't have common sense. That king has that crown that controls and amplifies Celestial Spirits. They're immortal. How do you expect to beat an immortal that's forced to keep going? Your friends may have the right motivation of saving them, but they'll only lead to their deaths at this rate."
"And how do you know this by fact?"
"Suppose you can say that losing battles makes you seek the best options for your sake."
Sophie furrowed her brow. There was a grim spike in what Duncan said just now that made her feel empathy for him. She recalled Duncan's shock upon the battlefield when he heard a voice. She must've figured something about the choices before that pushed him to now. There was also his disposition, and why he's always alone all the time. Maybe he realized that along the way battling alone was for the best?
But, as much as she wanted to know more, she knew that Duncan at this point would change the subject. "…very well then. Shall we continue?"
"Hmph, what's the matter? No 20 questions?"
"It's as I said, we have a mission, and our friends are stalling for us to find answers. We should find our own. Agreeable?"
Raising a brow at her, Duncan didn't have time as well. He'd rather get this over with, and quick. "Fine by me."
They pressed onwards towards their destination, but before they paced a few more steps forward, the air began to grow cold. Their magic sensory was picking up very dark forces around them,
"Duncan, do you feel that?"
"Looks like we're not alone up here after all." He glared forward. 'This magic, it's very twisted. So why does it feel so familiar?'
Not willing to take chances, Sophie pulled out a Poke Ball and Dive Ball. "Dewpider! Finneon!" Alongside Kadabra, the water spider emerged with a scowl. And beside him, the elegance of Finneon emerged.
"Spiritomb, on guard!" Duncan tossed up the Dusk Ball, bringing out his Spiritomb. The tamed ghost howled as she levitated above her Trainer to prepare for what's to come.
"Everyone, watch your backs." Sophie warned. "There's no telling what's coming our way."
"Whatever you say." Dewpider grumbled. He felt a shift in the air, immediately crawling in front of Sophie and hissed ahead.
The air around them turned to a black fog that shrouded them from the morning light. They were barely visible to one another, even with their adjusted eyes. They all looked around, trying to analyze who was playing mind games on them.
"Black fog…" Duncan murmured. Suddenly he realized it. 'Wait a minute, black fog? Then that means…'
'This magic, it's definitely one of them. And this dense energy is unmistakable.'
"So you've both come."
Duncan and Sophie flinched at the voice. They swiveled around, seeing a tattered cloak shifting in the breeze above them. Their eyes widened as the visage of a dark silhouette was basked in the eastern dawn. It was equally as majestic as it was terrifying.
"You…" Duncan breathlessly gasped. "Are you…?"
Tophet glared down at his guests, his whisking silence bringing everyone to an uncomfortable state of mind. Their eyes interlocked in a show that one side knew precisely what was going to happen…and it wasn't going to be the winning side.
A massive wave surged into Juvia's direction that had the radius of their guild hall. With her water manipulation, she sternly faced her palms forward and redirected the stream around her. The tons of smaller streams exploded into misty bursts in the surroundings, but no one was deterred. Aquarius kept pushing, expelling even more water than before, causing Juvia to grit her teeth.
'Her magic has grown even more. It's like she's a completely different spirit than before.' She had to defend herself, and fast. With her palms forward, a blue magic seal appeared.
"Water Cyclone!"
A tornado of pure water raged into the spiraling mesh of Aquarius' attack, causing an intense eruption of water between the two. Sprays of their clash went in all directions, leaving them at a stalemate. Their eyes met in a deep blue and red intersection, showing how serious the other was.
Juvia raised her arm out, seemingly activating a spell. Around Aquarius, the raining droplets of water around her froze in midair. "You may be able to produce strong forces of water, but I can control water!" Thousands of tiny little needles of pressurized water aimed for her, and Juvia pushed forward with a cry. The thousands of shards blasted into Aquarius at breakneck speeds, piercing the ground like bullet holes, but a torrent of dense water protected Aquarius. She directed the tidal flow at Juvia again, swishing along the ground.
"Vaporeon!"
Stepping in front, the Bubble Jet Pokémon stood her ground as the huge wave made contact with her. It would've knocked out anybody, but the strong flow was only giving her a green wave around her body.
'Thankfully I learned that Vapreon's Ability was Water Absorb.' Juvia thought. 'She isn't affected like me, but…' She looked around, seeing that all her surroundings was a large torrent that was going made. The ground was literally shaking around them as the pressure from Aquarius' constant flow of torrents made Juvia uncomfortable.
'How much water can she produce-?!' She looked up, her eyes bulging out of their sockets when a sea of water was coming down to crush her. Before she and Vaporeon had the chance they were swallowed by the spontaneous water pressure. The two were comically seen swirling in the currents as Aquarius stood motionless.
Centered above the safe zone of her spray of tsunamis, the water spirit was in full control of the situation. Her cyclones raged haphazardly on a large wall of water that protected her.
"Water Jigsaw!"
In a torrential slice, the waves suddenly sliced apart in a golden slash, The spirit's shock was unnoticed by her mask of solidarity as Juvia slammed into her, shredding cuts around the body with pressurized water blades. Around her looked like golden stars from her Vaporeon's Swift to ensure a clean hit.
The spirit slammed on her back into a puddle, with all the water dissipating around them. Juvia stopped spinning as she and Vaporeon landed on the ground safely.
"For Lucy and your sake, I'll do what I must to stop you!" she declared.
Virgo shot up from the ground like a diver and spin-kicked in midair, but Gray ducked. Virgo followed through to slam an extended chain into the ground, but again he evaded by backflipping. The force of the chain slamming into the earth created a shockwave that made large rocks dent inward. Gray landed and slid into a stop. Virgo stood in a maiden's pose and lifted her arms, summoning many earth spheres for her next attack.
"Bergmite, follow my lead." Gray said.
Virgo reached out, directing the large masses at Gray. Using his control of ice, he created a pathway of ice that he and Bergmite slid on towards Virgo. They slid around the blockades and Gray stopped his ice trail.
Grinding against the earth, he brought his hands together as Virgo looked towards him.
"Ice-Make: Ice Bringer!"
He passed Virgo with a vicious swing of two ice-like blades. They struck Virgo and encased her in an explosion of ice shards in midair. They shattered like glass, dropping the maiden head-first towards the earth.
"Bergmite, Take Down!" Bergmite came skidding up with a golden forcefield and made a small jump off the trail. Leaping, he struck the falling maiden in midair, sending her crashing into the ground.
"Now let's make sure she stays down! Ice-Make: Cocoon!" Reaching out, Gray surrounded Virgo in a thick layer of ice with spikes around it. "That should hold her down for a bit." He figured.
Bergmite blinked.
In the ice, a pair of red eyes glinted. Suddenly, the ice completely shattered, spreading into pieces that passed Gray. As he was covered up, he felt a harsh punch to the gut that made him gag. Virgo followed through, sending him doubling over onto a knee.
"Uh oh." Bergmite robotically quipped.
Gray had one hand on the ground while another clutched his wound. He spat out saliva off to the side and had one eye open. 'Man…for a maiden she packs a punch. Literally. Must be that crown amplifying her strength.'
Virgo's red eyes glimmered again, the ground started vibrating as an early sign she was going under.
Gray's eyes widened. "No you don't!" His hand pressed against the ground, encasing it in ice faster than the eye could blink.
Virgo proceeded to dive into the icy ground, but unfortunately it didn't work. For some reason no matter how much force her body packed now, the ice wasn't breaking. Looking all around, she noticed the surroundings were ramparts of ice blocking her exits.
"Hate to break this to you, but Devil Slayer ice is unbreakable." Gray said. "So, you done hiding?"
Virgo's eyes flashed red. With no choice the maiden zoomed in after Gray as he took in a deep breath.
"Ice Devil's Rage!"
In an intense beam of ice, Gray blasted Virgo with full force of Devil Slayer Magic. The maiden, still completely unaware, had went into the attack head-on, only to be frozen in place by Devil Slayer ice. She stood like a statue, completely unmoving.
Gray sighed and turned away, his breath showing frost. "Sorry."
Scorpio and Wendy were caught in a continual fight over the cyclones. Sand and purple winds surged into one another as the conflicting turbulences were empowered by spirit and Dragon Slayer. And neither side was willing to give in so easily.
Wendy added more power to her spell, making the winds expand a little more. Scorpio did the exact same, pushing more sand to make a sandstorm flourish. The whirlwinds soon dissipated, but as did they, so did Wendy.
Moments later, she appeared in front of Scorpio, venomous winds in her arms.
"Poison Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!"
Lashing both arms, the torrents of decaying winds crushed Scorpio between. The whirlwinds combined into one, sending the Celestial Spirit skywards. "Amaura, quick! Icy Wind!"
Nodding, Amaura took in a deep breath and exhaled upwards. The frosted breath sent icy chills into Scorpio, but the sand spirit suddenly exploded with sand erupting from his body, nullifying the weak winds. The spirit landed on a knee, looking at Wendy with his skin paled. Moreover, the stinger-like tail was beginning to rust over.
"Looks like Celestial Spirits can still get ailments just like humans." She figured.
Scorpio lowered his stinger and the nozzle tightened. A long stream of thin sand fired like a laser. Wendy barely dodged it, but it left a hole clean through a ruin. Looking back, she saw how much pressure was put into that attack.
'He's sharpened his sand now to cut through solid objects?'
"Wendy, look out!" Carla shouted.
Looking at the nick of time, Wendy saw the same stream beam at her. Thankfully Carla pulled her out before the attack hit her. She carried Wendy away as Scorpio kept firing. The beam of pressurized grains followed in a streak line, severing a tree trunk, even shrubs away. Some soldiers that were getting up looked or were unaware of the sand laser, and that costed them greatly.
They ascended higher, getting out of range for the laser to hit them. Once Carla was certain of their safety, she nodded. "Wendy!"
She nodded. "Amaura, now! Aurora Beam!"
On the ground, Amaura opened her mouth and fired a multicolored beam that resembled a borealis. The cold, searing ray shot across the ground at Scorpio, who was still targeting Wendy and Carla. When he barely had time to look, the Ice-type attack exploded in his face, making him slide backwards across the ground.
"Poison Sky Dragon's Roar!"
A roaring purple beam of wind shot across the area, erupting a shockwave of venom that reached up to buildings across the avenue. Dust and soldiers were enveloped in this air that was decomposing them. They were helpless, as was Scorpio was the spirit was blown back.
Wendy landed with Carla alongside Amaura, the three looking ready for what might come their way.
Lupus snarled as he kicked Capricorn off him. The goat backflipped and shuffled his legs to runner's position and dashed ahead again. He reeled back a punch into the wolf. Surprisingly, instead of dodging, Lupus grabbed it at the last second with both hands. The impact still caused him to slide back several feet though. The force behind the punch could've knocked the wind out of him if he wasn't quick enough. With enough force, Lupus threw the goat overhead and crashed onto his back.
Turning around, the wolf, kicked his heels off the earth and pounced onto the goat. Snarling, he readied his claws and fangs. Before he could make it close, a bed of pink wool comforted him instead of feeling flesh.
"Gnnngh…what the…?" Finding himself stuck in wool, he was unaware of a sleek visage glaring him down.
When he looked back, the last thing he saw were cufflinks and a fist.
…
"MEOW! MEOW! CANA! WHERE THE HECK IS MY POKE BALL?!" If Pokémon could have heart attack, that's probably what Purrloin was having right now. She clung to a tree branch near the park where the whole tree was surrounded by snarling celestial hounds. Their fangs were drooling and saliva spat everywhere as they were clawing at park, dragging themselves to try and reach for their food. "I'M NOT DOG FOOD! GO TO A PET STORE!"
A hound pounced again, nearly snapping on Purrloin's tail.
"AAAAH!" She curled up at the base of a branch, her brain running faster than what a Dragonite could fly. She closed her eyes, hoping that this nightmare could come to an end. 'Cana…if I live, I promise I'll never doze off on the job again. I swear!'
The dogs began digging their claws into the underside of the tree park. They clawed skywards, meekly limping towards the tree with red eyes of demons. Purrloin kept her eyes shut as what was to come could be something she wished something no one could see.
SMASH!
Lupus went crashing through the tree branch. The bark smashed everywhere as Purrloin went flailing through the air, screaming for mercy. Lupus doubled over onto his back and slid onto the grass while a furball fell and landed softly on his chest.
The two laid in a spiraling daze, their worlds completely spinning from the loops they were put through.
"Uuugh…goat cheese next to the lamb…"
"Uggh…this is why cats don't bark. It gives you splinters up your…"
The two came around, looking directly into each other's eyes. Purrloin immediately screeched like an alley cat as Lupus remained surprisingly calm.
"NO MORE DOGS! PLEASE!" she begged. "I'M TOO PRETTY TO BE A CHEW TOY!" She heard barking from behind and turned around. Canes' pack came running up to her with fangs wide open. She let out a loud shriek as she turned around, unable to escape the dogs around her.
"Look out!"
SNAP! CRUNCH!
The insidious sound of fur snared in jaws rung through Purrlon's ears. She expected to feel the pain in a few seconds as the shock was wearing off but she didn't feel a thing. When she was fearfully opening her eyes she was stunned as she was in a muscular, yet slender arm, of Lupus as hounds were biting him instead.
"What…?"
Lupus howled as he whirled around, sweeping some of his mind-controlled minions off. They rebound and jumped for him. He backpedaled and flopped onto his back, suppressing the hounds ingraining their fangs. He rolled over them and jumped, dodging some lethal fangs some more. He crash-landed on one Canes, making it whimper. He kicked another away and leaped off to the side to avoid another pounce.
Still boggled, Purrloin could barely process what was happening. She looked over and gasped. "On your left!"
Looking, Lupus saw a lone Canes hound pounce. In midair, it eyed Purrloin, unaware of Lupus reeling his claw back in midnight ultrasonic energy.
"Sonic Claw!"
With lightning speed, he slashed into Canes, the hound whimpering before flailing into the others. "Close one. Nice eyes there, kitty." He thanked. Before he could get a response, the hounds were gathering around fast. "Hang on tight!"
They pounced, but the wolf put Purrloin on his back and sped away. On all fours, the wolf was moving incredibly fast. He was maneuvering through the park around downed soldiers. The hounds were following his trail, making sure they didn't get left behind.
"Tch, I taught them too well for my own good." He snarled. He looked over his shoulder. "Hey, cat!"
Purrloin flinched. "W-what do you want now, dog?!"
"Do something! Anything to throw them off!"
"What?!" Purrloin looked back, seeing the pack getting close. Not willing to be bait, she flicked her tail. "Nnngh…I don't trust dogs, but I'd rather be here than there!" She flicked her tail across the ground. "Sand Attack!"
She scattered dust into Canes' eyes. The dust cloud picked up caused all their eyes to cover as they were forced to snort and use their front paws to rub the sand out of their eyes.
Lupus smirked. "Good call, cat. Heh, didn't expect anything less from Cana."
The cat looked forward with uncertainty. She couldn't believe her luck, it was so ironic it was making her sick. But better sick than dead. 'My Trainer is really friends with…this thing…?' She looked ahead, eyes widening. "Ahead of you!"
The humanoid wolf looked forward and came to a screeching halt. A pink wool wall blockaded his pathway.
"What the-?!" A harsh heel slammed his face, sending him spiraling across the ground. Purrloin jumped off, landing on all fours.
She looked back, seeing Lupus sprawled on the earth. "Are you okay, big guy?!"
Lupus groaned as he was coming around, that last blow knocking the wind out of him. As he gathered his bearings, his fangs showed. Purrloin backed away nervously as the wolf stood on his hind legs.
"I'm getting really sick of being pushed around!" He turned around, seeing Capricorn and Aries together. All around them, the hounds of Canes were congregated to ensure they wouldn't escape. "Okay, that does it. Get ready, cat!" He flexed his sharp claws. "Because this dogfight isn't allowing 9 lives!"
"Uh…s-sure…" Purrloin worriedly looked around at the Canes waiting to attack. She looked back at Lupus, the wolf to her back as he eyes everyone. 'What did I get myself into?'
Sagittarius fired more arrows, attempting to shoot down the crow. Corvus blew another black whirlwind to repel the arrows, which added tailspins with the draft. As the tornado closed in, Taurus shifted in front, swinging his axe with a rampaging cowl.
"MOOOOO~!" With one swing of the axe, the shockwaves diced apart the ground as the air split in two. The winds and arrows split completely as the slice wave went up and struck Corvus. The humanoid crow screamed as he plundered haphazardly through the air, tumbling until he was able to regain balance. Shaking his head, his face showed a vertical bruise down the nose.
"Man…that cow guy really packs a punch…or should I say axe."
More arrows shot at him, beaming through his plumage. His attention drawn, he saw Sagittarius firing dozens of small arrows endlessly. Corvus ascended higher to evade the brigade.
Once high enough, he looked down, seeing Sagittarius and Taurus close and ready to take him down.
"Okay, this should be far enough!" He spread his wings, taking a readied stance in the skies. "Sorry guys, but no time to play fair! You're dancing with a sign of bad luck, and that luck's on you!" He flapped his wings, sending a black whirlwind downwards.
"Daze Wing!"
The black winds raged into Sagittarius and Taurus, causing both spirits to recoil at the drafts from above. As the wind dissipated, it showed both with their hazy red vision dilating. They were stammering, no less affected from last time.
A smirk tugged on the ends of Corvus' lips. He raised his wings once more. "Dusk Shower!" He rained down arrows of black plumage that exploded upon impact with the ground. The large array of feathers scattered around the Zodiacs gathered, making it unable so they could escape s they were pelted by the black barrage.
The ground was engulfed in a black smoke, which had a silhouette soaring through it. From above a circle tore open, revealing Corvus as he went to strike.
"I'm coming for ya!"
Volans stood in the center of a whirling helix of black and white. The two Pisces snarled as they kept the winged-fish in place. If he went up, they could attack in in any direction. With him grounded, this was going to be tough.
Catching a glint from above, a slicing beam shot straight down. He veered away and dodged the whirlwind of dust. When he looked back, in the dust on a knee, was Cancer. His glasses glinted red as he slowly lifted his head.
Volans barely had time to gather his bearings when Cancer reappeared in front of him. He went to pierce Volans with his twin scissors, but the fish-man grabbed the two pairs, holding him in place. He was amazed at how much power was packed beneath Cancer in physical strength, no doubt the crown's effect.
'I never imagined…that he'd have this much strength.' He knew he was a Zodiac, but this force was causing his footing to deepen in the soil. "Listen, I am not your enemy! Come to your senses unless you want another mishap! Do you want the humans to suffer like we did?!"
Cancer's red eyed glinted brighter, causing Volans to gasp.
SHING!
Cancer passed Volans in an X-shaped blue, causing the Celestial Spirit to feel an intense backlash as his forearms were blocking him at the expense of an X-shaped gash on either arm. The crab posed with snipping scissors while Volans' arms bled out. The recoil made him hunch over, his visage unseen by shadows.
A grim silence fell over him as everything else moved at an even pace. His calm senses were beginning to wane to belittlement.
"…very well then. If you insist on letting yourself feel restraint…"
Cancer suddenly vanished, appearing in midair behind the unmoved Volans. He slashed his scissors again in an X-formation to cleave his back to bits. How in a lightning blue flare, the glint of a slash exploded into a shockwave between the two. Volans parried in time with his blade-like elbows that glowed bright blue with great pressure. "Then allow me to rip you of your shackles by force!"
The two ceased their parry, leaving a moment for time to slow down. With cancer in midair, Volans removed his left arm from sight to reveal his right palm charging up dark blue water.
"Abyss Palm!"
He palm-struck Cancer in the chest, creating an intense shockwave of abyssal water that shot the Zodiac with tremendous force. With a bigger push he propelled the spirit across the ground through a nearby monument, reducing it to rubble in the process and burying him.
With Cancer momentarily incapacitated, a snarl caught Volans' attention sternly facing upwards, the two heads of Pisces arched down and went to attack. He slammed his hands down, his wings folded inwards.
"Deep Geyser!"
As the two heads closed in, the ground began quaking with water pressure building up from out of nowhere. The earth around the non-Zodiac exploded with two pillars of water smashing into Pisces' faces that caused them to recoil back in the air with scowls. With aerodynamic might, Volans reached one and socked it in the face, and backhanded the other. They collapsed onto the ground with thunderous magnitude, while the fish-man landed on a knee with his head down.
He snorted, getting his palms up to striking position. "If it is a war you are looking for, then you've found it…with me."
Lightning quick sparks rung between two maidens; one of gold, and one of red. Armored blades collided with heavenly blades and their movements were flawless. Their forms, postures, even the grace behind their earth-bending ferocity was clear to naked eyes. Erza wasn't letting up as Auriol was making eye contact the whole way. She wasn't going to let Erza get one wink ahead.
Erza equipped the sword she had into her Holy Hammer, raising it high and breaking the ground with intense light force that Auriol skillfully evaded. When time slowed down between the two, it showed their serious visage they competed against. Even with levitating gravel as a minefield between them, it was clear that neither refused to let the other have an inch.
Houndoom pounced off of Erza's back in midair, getting above Auriol. He craned his head around and fired a Dark Pulse, making a back airwave from his intense force. Using her Meteor speed, Auriol evaded the dark blast, in disappeared below for second. The next instance, the ground bloomed in darkness.
Erza felt Magic Power behind and turned around, realizing Auriol was there. With her arm out, she created magical golden blades around her.
"Jiu Leixing!"
She sent them lightning blades at Erza, who requipped into her Lightning Empress Armor when pivoting. With her resistance and her spear conducting the blows, she was splicing through until they eviscerated around her. She posed with Houndoom, the hound snarling at his foe.
Auriol swung her arm back. "For the name of his grace, I will dispose of you! Clefable, Focus Blast!" Her Clefable created a bright hemisphere in front of her palms and focused all her power into it.
Erza pointed her spear forward. "Houndoom, Shadow Ball!" Houndoom opened his maw wide to create a large ball of darkness with a purple and white core.
Clefable shot her sphere first, then Houndoom followed. Their attacks met in the center, creating a deafening boom as their individual forces were waged on one another. The ripples and bright flashes ascended skywards, where the blast conducted since Houndoom aimed a little lower. The two spheres ascended, creating an intense, brightening flash that enflamed the skies.
As the dust raged, Erza jumped through in her Purgatory Armor, swinging her mace with deathly force. Auriol dodged with a backflip. In midair, se made intricate hand signs that Erza immediately recognized.
'Those signs. Is she going to…?' She looked down, seeing bright magic seals in a celestial pattern.
"This time, Mrs. Pularis, you will not be saved!" Auriol put her signs next to each other, the tips of her middle and index fingers glowing. "May the seven stars bring judgment upon you! Grand Chariot!"
Looking skywards, Erza's eyes shrunk as the incoming of star-like beams rained down with voluminous force. The earth shook beneath her as she adjusted her chance, changing into an armor as the beaming lights closed in.
The ground flashed in milliseconds of light before it faded. A split second later, a dome of golden rays erupted into a spiraling pillar skywards; the pressure causing the ground to cave in the process. Eruptions of gold fissures scattered creatively as Auriol's force even made her own dress shift. She stared complacently as she watched her attack diminish without a bat of an eyelash.
Safe in the distance, Houndoom looked at the dust and down the crater. Staring into the center, he smelled something. He pounced down to step around the dust stack and lash his tail possessively.
When it started fading, Auriol's brow furrowed. The glints of heavy armor could be seen clearly. To her shock, Erza was on a knee, clad in her Armadura Aggron Armor. She calmly stood up, looking unfazed entirely.
"You surprise me. Never have I met such a knight as skilled as you." Auriol admitted. "Your forms and your reactions are of the greatest levels. I can see why you are called Titania."
Erza held up her gear-like swords, a frown on her face. "I thought I made it clear, I'm in no mood for flattery."
"It's not flattery, it is a statement." Auriol corrected. "Tell me, is this what you have learned from being in Luminous' world?"
Erza furrowed her brow. Something about where this was going was starting to give off a bad tune.
"I ask you, have you been to his world?"
"Yes. I have." She answered curtly. "It's much different from Earthland, a little more advanced than say what we are used to. But that's where I've met my Pokémon." Beside her, Houndoom smirked pridefully.
"I see." Auriol closed her eyes, processing what she said. "So you're implications are that you wish to live in that world?"
"What are you saying?" Erza demanded. Her patience was running thin.
"If you were given the choice of two worlds, which would you desire to live in?" she paced around the crater, her eyes nonchalant as Erza and Houndoom glared. "This world…this land we tread on…it is filled with the ugliness of man that augments every day. Even now, the lives of innocence are being used for the pitilessness of the greed. The fortunes of others are turned into the misgivings of others. Tell me, what is fair about any of that?"
Erza's skepticism arose as she glared at Auriol. There was something different about the way she was looking, it was clear in her eyes this was hitting a personal point, but she couldn't dwell on it.
"Dark Pulse!" She ordered. Houndoom opened his maw and fired more dark beams, only to be stopped at the last second when Clefable stepped in front, creating a turquoise shield that thwarted the attack.
Houndoom snarled. "Annoying fairy."
"What I am speaking of is humanity. A meaning that defines human beings. They take. They steal. And they use others for the greater good of themselves. When you have lost everyone, even your will to live, you begin to realize the kind of person you really are. You seek out the desperation to abide to human nature in order to survive. It is a relentless…endless cycle that must be purified!" She swiped her arms, sending golden spears at Erza. The knight easily swung her blade, cleaving them without hesitation.
Reaffirming her stance, Erza looked up towards Auriol. "…you're right about one thing, Auriol. Humanity is a very cruel thing." Her glare hardened. "But, that doesn't give you the right to take it out on those around you!" She ran up, slamming her heavily armored blade down. Auriol created a golden blade to parry, the two interlocked in a stalemate. "Tell me! What do you hope to gain from all this? What has your king promised that you would allow yourself to stoop so low as to go blind to the good of man?!"
Auriol pushed forward. "You don't understand! His majesty's goal is to purify our world's history!" She followed through, causing Erza to slide on her heels a few feet back. "I've only had one wish, and he granted me it before he allowed his own ambitions to come first."
"And what was that wish?"
"To go to the Celestial World. To embrace a world of purity, where one can feel free from the shackles of man…" Auriol sighed. "All my life…my dream was to one day find peace in our world. I've seen the riots and scuffles, even the flames of man's hate through my own eyes. I've learned the hard way, that peace can only be brought on by an end. And after that end, comes the new era."
"So then…your majesty promised to make the Celestial World your new home?" Erza gasped. "That's insane."
Auriol's glare hardened. "Maybe to you degenerates, but I have seen the Celestial World myself. It's human free. If the king can create a world where man and spirit can coexist, then I'll follow in order to see it to make me stay. He will see to it that we all get our desired happiness, and not you nor your inhumane barbaric friends will ever have the chance to see it!" She shot at Erza with her Meteor speed. "YOU AREN'T WORTHY!"
Erza held her sword up, gritting her teeth. To some degree she empathized with Auriol's ambitions for purity and peace, but that was a small part of her. She knew true peace was something only a fool would believe exist. For her sake, she had to stop her, and fast.
Vanessa extended her arm, creating teal energy.
"Nugatory Burst!"
A harsh pillar of teal aura erupted from beneath Bion with thunderous wake. The attack's impact was creating a strong force that would've knocked the winds out of any mage. However, one swing of Bion's golden blade dissipated it like a gust.
Vanessa's eyes narrowed at how easily he swatted away her attack. 'His magic resistance is more potent than before.'
Bion raised his blade over his head and brought it to the ground, sending a linear shockwave of gold at Vanessa. The Aura Mage created panels of teal aura that she used as leg lifts and evaded the attack as it continued into a faraway wall, breaking it to ruins.
Bion pointed his blade at Vanessa's position. "Hakamo-o, Sky Uppercut!"
Hakamo-o raced across the battlefield with his large claw reeled back in bright blue. He tapped his foot on the ground and soared at Vanessa's height. Realizing the effects of the Fighting-type move, Vanessa jumped off the aura platform, which shattered like glass upon Hakamo-o's impact.
"Krookodile, Stone Edge!"
"Let me tell you something, Hakamo-o, new Pokémon whose name is barely comprehensible to Krookodile-!" The two-legged croc reeled his fist back. "YOU'RE GOING DOWN! OR RATHER, UP!" With a harsh punch to the ground, the earth trembled as massive stones went spiking towards Hakamo-o as he descended. The Dragon/Fighting-type saw the attack timed just as he was about to land, but at the last second he flipped off to the side, landing on the ground while the attack continued towards Bion.
His blade charged with celestial energy, Bion faced the incoming stone wave with his eyes outlining in gold for a second. With a loud cry, he clashed vertically, cleaning the pillar in two.
Vanessa landed on the ground safely using her aura control to make another platform a few feet off the ground. It faded, allowing a safe landing besides Krookodile as the battlefield was cleared conveniently.
'He's even strong enough to block Krookodile's Stone Edge when his Moxie Ability increases the Attack.' Vanessa could feel his aura pulsating with force. 'It's not the armor. It's different.'
Bion raised his blade and slashed at Vanessa, sending another crescent of celestial energy at her.
"Aura Guard!" She created a teal energy field around her that took the flashy attack head-on. It dissipated, leaving Vanessa safe behind her dome.
"Formidable defense as well as offense." Bion stated. "Your magic, it is the embodiment of yourself, is it not? That's how you're able to sense thy magic, correct?" He saw Vanessa unfazed with a calm glare. "Then allow me…to show you the gift that his majesty has gifted to me!" He raised his sword into the air, summoning a cosmic glow.
Vanessa could feel a change in the atmosphere. The atmosphere around her and Bion suddenly warped into a blanket of cosmos. Stars shined brightly around Vanessa as her blue eyes traced the aura emanating around her.
'This magic…why does it feel so familiar? Its aura is spiritual, but is it really…?' She glanced back at Bion, who had the blade pointed at Vanessa with his eyes shut.
"Those stars far and wide that embody the Heavens. By the radiance reveal thy form to me. I implore you, oh Tetrabiblos, ruler of the stars. Let your unrestrained rage flow!"
'This magic. Don't tell me…is he really…?'
"With the 88 heavenly bodies…" Bion's eyes widened, showing a golden seal in place of his iris. "Shine! Urano Metria!"
The cosmic surroundings around them shined brightly as Bion's celestial force shined through the planets. They all were sent hurling at Vanessa at the speed of light as she braced herself. The teal aura shield held up for a short while against the full power of the 88 constellations in planetary form, but after half of them ran into the shield, it shattered like glass. Vanessa's glare was fixed as the incoming planets reflected in her vision.
Several glints flared in the area that transformed into constant explosions. The celestial energy flourished through the atmosphere. Bion watched with a subtle glare as his opponent was swelled into smoke and dust. Hakamo-o returned to his side and they awaited for the results.
There was a silhouette inside the fading dust, which shined bright teal. Suddenly a teal beam shot clean through. Bion sidestepped to avoid the blast. He looked back, seeing where it came from.
To his and Hakamo-o's slight surprise, Vanessa's palm was sizzling from that release of aura. She was on a knee aiming around Krookodile, who used his back as a shield. His entire back sizzled, but as he turned around he looked more annoyed than hurt.
"Clever maiden." He heard the sound of creaking behind his back, making him slowly turn around. He saw a small rock mound that Vanessa's attack punctured was bending onto him to crush him. His eyes widened in shock. 'Her attack missed on purpose…just for this?!'
In a swift blue blur, Hakamo-o's Sky Uppercut smashed the solid structure to pieces that rained down around their feet. The dragon descended next to his master, both unfazed.
"Thank you."
Hakamo-o nodded graciously.
Krookodile uncovered Vanessa as she arose. "Krookodile, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." He snorted. "But these two are seriously annoying."
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Bion again, her disposition darkening. She could feel something about him was different than before. That last attack proved it. 'I'm sure of it now. Now it all makes sense.' The dust between her and Bion leveled, his stance firm as the celestial glow in his lacrima shined bright. 'He's a Celestial Mage.'
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu's flaming fist rammed into Caius' chest, creating an impact so strong that ground diced beneath them. The blow made his clothing tatter almost instantly, but the king's advisor didn't dare move. Natsu gritted his teeth as he kept pushing but with no luck.
Caius slowly brought back a palm and gathered the kinetic energy within it. He thrust it, something that Natsu learned to avoid as it slammed into the earth. The Dragon Slayer, however, wasn't safe from the explosion of rubble that erupted. He flew with the rubble, backflipping onto a knee.
The Dragon Slayer and Palm Mage shot glares at each other, seeing searing determination in the other's gaze.
Charmeleon rushed with Scratch, with Darumaka with Headbutt, and Tyrunt with Bite. They closed in on Hariyama as he pushed his open palm back and used Arm Thrust. Pivoting in the blink of an eye, three thrusts altogether sent the three Pokémon doubling over onto their sides.
"C'mon guys, get up!" Natsu shouted. "We're just getting started!"
Charmeleon kneeled and arose with the others. "Right, Natsu…" the Flame Pokémon grunted.
"I admire your optimism and endeavors." Caius said with arms crossed. "I find these traits to hold truth to a warrior's appeal for battle. However, just as to where heart lies into leverage, so does power." His Hariyama smacked his palms together, pulling his signature stance for combat.
Natsu wiped the spit off his lip as Happy floated over his head. "Happy, go help the others." He said. "I can hear Lucy. She's not far from here. You should go check her first."
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Happy worriedly asked.
Natsu's glare never let up an inch. "Yeah, don't worry. I can take him."
Happy wanted to stay and help, but he knew he'd be no good in a confrontation with a man like him. He flapped his wings and went in the other direction to search for Lucy. This left Natsu and Caius alone.
"Now, where were we?" Natsu cracked his knuckles, a show of eager evident.
"For generations…my family has been in sworn allegiance with his majesty." Caius said coldly. "It is our sworn duty to protect our majesty with our very lives. That is my reason to live. And that alone is my wish."
Natsu furrowed his brow, confused by his statement. "Huh?"
"To all of us, his majesty means more to our beings than anything else. He has risk his being to ensure that we, his advisors, are not left out of his fulfillment. We all have our dreams and wishes, for that we serve his majesty."
"I don't know what you're talking about with all of this wish crap." Natsu rebuffed, igniting his fists in flames again. "But I know one thing, wishes aren't gonna come true themselves. You wanna make a wish happen, you gotta do it your own way!" He jumped into the air, somersaulting until he landed in a crouch below Caius' waist line. "Not by allowing some wannabe king telling you what to DO!" His elbow ignited in flames as he pulled it back.
"Fire Dragon's Flame Elbow!"
He jutted the attack into Caius' abdominal region, creating an intense force that seemingly knocked the wind out of him. However, like before, he was completely unfazed, his chin raising at the Dragon Slayer. Natsu backflipped at a constant to get away in case of another palm strike. He still remembered what kinds of damage they could do.
'Gotta keep his strength down for his Pokémon.' He thought. "Tyrunt, use Charm on that Hariyama he's got."
Tyrunt snorted, sending steam out. "Fine!" With a gruff turn, the miniature fossil gave a meek but very adoring head tilt, a pink background around him that caused Hariyama's Attack to go down.
"Do you insist that lowering my strength shall waver my changes of letting thy majesty crumble?" Caius insisted.
"No, but it will make it easier when I do this!" Natsu reached out. "Charmeleon, Flame Charge! Darumaka, Fire Fang!" Charmeleon bent and surrounded himself in flames before charging across the battlefield. In pursuit, Darumaka opened his fangs wide, broiling flames searing within.
"Use Vital Throw!" Caius shouted.
Hariyama stood his ground and used his bare hands to block both assaults. Charmeleon and Darumaka blasted into the appendages with explosive flames, but neither's attack did anything. Hariyama seized them both and pivoted, sending their figures into the ground and gagging as they tumbled toward Tyrunt.
"Guys!" Tyrunt gasped. He looked up at Hariyama, his surprise surmount. "Tyrunt mad now!"
Hariyama slammed his heavy heel into the ground, causing a shake in the earth. "Though is tough. But your flames mean nothing against my body!"
Natsu gritted his teeth. He had completely forgot about Hariyama's Ability. 'Right, I forgot! That thing's got some stupid fat that cuts the power of Charmeleon and Darumaka's fire attacks. This is gonna be a pain.' He turned towards Caius, dodging another palm strike that rippled through the air. Natsu slid back and inhaled deeply, gathering an intense fire breath.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
With the maw opening wide, the flames bloomed out like a one-way explosion. The destructive blast of flames closed in Caius as the ground was melting way.
The man brought his stance to a firm, bringing his palm back. "Chop Hanging Palm: Bearing Straight!" He struck his palm dead ahead, creating a shockwave of magic pressure that managed to push the flames around him. As Natsu roared, the flames consumed the surroundings around the Palm Mage, leaving everything incinerated. Natsu let out and heaved out a large dose of steam. He glared ahead to see the steaming remains of the earth in a trail that lead to Caius, leaving a small island the Palm Mage had left for ground with his palm slightly singing.
Natsu's brow furrowed. He could see that while Caius' body sustained no damage, the palm was sizzling with some char. He was surprised it wasn't burnt to a crisp.
Meanwhile, Hariyama brought his palm back. "Arm Thrust!" He closed in on Tyrunt, thrusting his palm once into the face. The gagging dinosaur was reeling from the second strike, then the third, then finally a fourth palm strike shoved him along the ground, his claws unable to keep him up as he fell backwards.
Looking back as his ally was taking damage, Charmeleon growled and gathered draconic energy. "Dragon Rage!" Craning his head around, he opened his maw wide, unleashing a draconic black and blue beam that raced after Hariyama.
The large Pokémon turned around and saw the attack heading his way. He took in a deep breath and thrust his palm via Force Palm. The attack's wake was just strong enough to make the beam dissipate into thin air in front of him. However, Darumaka was already ready to attack, his body curled up in a ball.
"Rollout!"
The Fire-type rolled directly into Hariyama's chest, causing the larger beast to grunt. He was surprised with how much power the little guy packed. But, that gave him an opening.
"Not…GOOD ENOUGH!" Using Arm Thrust, he shoved Darumaka into midair with one blow, then a second with greater power to send him flying back with a shout. Charmeleon and Tyrunt barely had time before Darumaka slammed into both of them, grounding all three at once.
"You guys okay?!" Natsu shouted.
"It's no use." Caius retorted, getting Natsu's attention. "No matter what thou attempts, my position stands. As long as there is even a single foe before me, I will never let down my guards."
Natsu spread his legs. Whatever he was saying he wasn't liking, and neither were his Pokémon.
"Unlike the others, my wish was fulfilled as soon as his majesty has named thee his advisor." He could still remember when he was 16. It was only after his father's passing, and two weeks after the grieving, the king asked him into his throne room. "It's been my family's legacy to ensure that the king lives to see another day. And from my great-grandfather, to my grandfather, to my father, the torch is up to me to keep lit!" He brought his palm back, a fire in his glare. "And now that I have my wish, I can see to it that his majesty fulfills his!"
Hariyama stood tall, acknowledging his Trainer's pride. He balled his fists, ready to strike.
"Hariyama…BRINE!" Taking in a large breath, the massive muscle used all his breath to expel a straight shot of saltwater from what one could guess was the mouth.
Remembering this was the attack that knocked out Charmeleon, Natsu's eyes widened. "Charmeleon, get out of the way!"
His head throbbing from that collision, Charmeleon barely heard Natsu. "Gnnngh, what the-?!" He heard the sound of rushing water, making him unnerved. Turning around, the attack closed in on him. "Not again!"
Suddenly from the sides, Darumaka and Tyrunt stood in front of Charmeleon their arms spread wide. The Brine attack rushed into them instead, leaving Charmeleon and Natsu shocked.
"What are you guys-?!" Charmeleon gasped.
"Guys, get out of there!" Natsu screamed.
But Darumaka and Tyrunt didn't listen. They screamed in agony as they kept their arms wide and shielded Charmeleon with all they had. The attack ended with an explosion of salted mist, raining in front of a stunned Charmeleon. He was a stone statue as Darumaka and Tyrunt stood before him. Moments later, they both fell onto their sides, swirls in their eyes from blacking out.
"GUYS, NO!" Natsu screamed.
Charmeleon was speechless. He saw his allies take the big hit and he stood there like nothing. "They…they fell protecting me…" He looked away, his claws balling from frustration.
Natsu turned towards Caius, his eyes sharp and the sides seething with embers. His teeth gritted so hard they could bend steel.
"So now you see. There lies a boundary between man and his ideals. The key to those ideals for man to obtain, is through his hard work, for those who is deemed worthy of his life."
Natsu's fists balled tightly. He wanted to completely crush this guy so bad, and the provocation was getting to him. However, before he could make his move, an image of Lucy appeared in his mind. His eyes widened, thinking of his previous experiences with Griffon.
Strangely enough, this didn't upset him. Rather, it calmed him down – though his fists remained tight.
"You know what pal, I actually understand how you feel." He answered, making Caius raise a brow. "About wanting to protect the people that you care for the most. About Fairy Tail. That person that you are sworn to protect…he made my friend Lucy upset. King or no king, your sworn leader or anyone for that matter…" The flames around his body returned, hotter than ever. They were so dense that it was making Natsu look more intimidating by the second. "You guys hurt my friends. And no one gets away with that!"
"That makes two of us!" Charmeleon arose, roaring with a vengeance.
"We shall see." Caius declared.
Natsu pointed dead ahead. "Charmeleon, Scratch!" The Flame Pokémon darted across the battlefield with swift fury, thanks to his earlier Flame Charge increasing his Speed stat.
"Arm Thrust!" Hariyama huffed as he pulled back his palm, thrusting it forward to collide with Charmeleon's claws. The palm blocked Charmeleon, and he veered away from the second palm strike.
He gritted his teeth, angered by the large defenses. 'Still not fast enough!'
Natsu bent his knees and charged forward, the flames concentrating into his fists. His lungs was reciprocated as Charmeleon followed his lead, the two dashing with all their might.
"When will you ever learn?" Caius grunted. Natsu's eruptive fist collided with Caius' pectorals, engulfing the man in blazes. Again, no damage as they simmered away. However, Natsu's fist was still connected. "It's like thou spoke! The borders of ones ideals, are closed to all that aren't worthy!"
Together, Caius and Hariyama struck their palms forward. Time drastically slowed down for Natsu and Charmeleon as they sidestepped. The appendages were millimeters away from their cheeks as they locked onto their opponents. Natsu glared, reeling back his fist.
Charmeleon did the same for his Scratch, however, the recent thoughts of getting speed to a sure hit caused the blue irises to shrink, locking on Hariyama. Suddenly he disappeared in blinding speeds, reappearing below Hariyama's chin.
"Wha-?!"
A flaming fist socked Caius' diaphragm, while a blurry white punch from Charmeleon bashed into Hariyama's stomach. They both went wide-eyed as the attacks buffered them several feet back, leaving trails in the ground. Their abdomens had bruises, showing damage.
Charmeleon landed, looking at his claw. "Huh? That wasn't Scratch." He looked at Hariyama, seeing the Fighting-type clutching the super effective wound. "…no. Even better." He smirked. "I think I learned Aerial Ace!"
Caius grunted low, seeing his abdomen sizzling. "But how…?"
"It took me a while…" the Palm Mage turned towards Natsu. "But I finally figured out how your fighting style works. I noticed that you don't attack until I do, and how you weren't feeling pain. I thought you were using some kind of absorbing technique or some muscle power, but then it hit me. You have Shock Absorption."
Caius went wide-eyed, confirming Natsu's skepticism.
"Whatever damage your body takes, you conduct that damage into your palm strikes and send it back. And there's my long-range spells, too. My roar for example." He flashed back to how Caius used his palm strike, with the end sizzling. "You can't absorb long-range shock attacks as well as up close ones. And even then, your arms can only take so much shock at one time."
Caius didn't look like it, but he was getting frustrated. His composition almost broke as Natsu figured out the key to how he was hanging on better than he did. "Most impressive." He complimented. "Thou has more perception than what has been pegged." His visage darkened. "But still, shall it be enough?"
Natsu darkly smirked, embers turning to flames around him again. "We'll just see. Let's find out how much shock your body can take!"
Their eyes interlocked in an intense sparks. That same spark flashed, and Natsu darted into the opponent. Their final clash had begun.
With a roaring battle cry, Natsu slammed his fist into Caius, the shock so massive the flames and ground bloomed from behind. Caius went for a palm strike with the force being channeled, but Natsu parried with a quick jab, shockwaves blooming between. The two were in an intense parry, fists and palms moving at lightning speeds to overpower the other. Around them, flames erupted and mixed with the winds, making it impossible to go anywhere near them.
"It's go time now!" Charmeleon rushed through the winds after Hariyama with the same rush Natsu had. As Hariyama braced himself, the running lizard cloaked himself in flames.
"Flame Charge!" Charmeleon shot in a flaming comet into Hariyama, the large brute taking the full hit and not budging.
"Vital Throw!" Hariyama went to seize Charmeleon, ripping through the flames to grab him. However, he wasn't there. "What?"
Feeling a draft behind, he harshly turned around. Charmeleon's body was streaked in a blur, via his new Aerial Ace. The lizard swung his tail into Hariyama's palm as both attacks never miss. There was a harsh power struggle between, until seconds later, Hariyama felt his strength waning.
'No, I can't resist!' Charmeleon's attack followed through, the tail swinging through with success.
'Thanks Tyrunt, for lowering his strength for me.' Charmeleon pulled back his fist. 'Which makes it easier to take him DOWN!' He punched Hariyama in the face, immediately grounding the bulking beast. As he gagged from the Flying-type move, Charmeleon landed on a knee behind.
Charmeleon turned around, seeing his opponent rolling over onto his knee. The damage that he had taken earlier was beginning to catch on. The big guy wasn't sure he could properly stand.
Not willing to take a chance, Charmeleon pivoted. "Ember!" The sparks collided with Hariyama's face, causing him to grunt.
"I…thought I told you!" he stammered. "Your flames cannot do harm on-!" Suddenly he erupted in large doses of flames, causing him to scream out in violent agony.
Charmeleon smirked. What he had intended finally happened. He watched the flames dissipate, showing Hariyama staggering. "Just because you're tough doesn't mean you're invulnerable." He said. "So my Trainer is doing what I am gonna be doing to you! Break you down!"
Natsu and Caius were still going at it, their fists and palms making breaks in the shockwaves between them. Their beings were opposing one another; their prides for those they swore to protect on the lines. Both were unbreakable walls that couldn't be taken down, but today they intend to prove the other wrong.
Natsu kept up his flurry of broiling flames with no end, Caius countering with palms made of the shock Natsu was dishing out. However, Natsu's ballistic speed was getting a few good blows to buffer him. Caius' eyes showed red as he charged another palm strike, bit Natsu suddenly decked him across the face, stopping him and nearly dislocating the jawline.
Caius stepped back, attempting to get his bearings, but he was decked again, and again. 'He's moving faster at a rate that I can absorb the shock! Is he really trying to outspeed me than just power me alone?'
Natsu punched, but Caius was able to block with a palm strike. He yelled violently as he unleashed palm strikes in a hectic flurry.
"Chop Hanging Palm: Twin Hummingbird!"
The repeated jabs were blowing Natsu, some sharp blows getting to the collar bine and grazing the scar on his cheek. Natsu let out a draconic roar as he let the pain all out. He slammed his heel into the ground, his volleys so fast they looked invisible.
"I'M GONNA MAKE YOU WISH YOU WERE KNEELING TO ME THAN THAT CRAZY KING, YOU HERE?!"
The Dragon Slayer increased his flurry to ones Caius couldn't keep up with. Natsu's blows were raining into all his body parts, pounding him so many times a second that he wasn't able to react in time.
"Crimson Lotus: Fire Dragon's Fist!" The flames in the fists flickered before they were erupting into explosive charges with each strike. Whip-like blazes raged across the ground as Caius was petrified with each blow that was too fast for him. The man's mouth was beginning to gap wide open as Natsu's furious look was intensifying with the blood rush.
Hariyama staggered back up to glare at Charmeleon, who was going in for one final charge. His shouts were grating his ears, and Hariyama had to stop him while he had the chance.
"Brine!" With his last breath, the Water-type attack gushed out of his mouth when Charmeleon was close enough. But as he sprayed, Charmeleon suddenly appeared below, his fist reeled back for a blurry Aerial Ace.
With a violent sock to the gut, the gush of saltwater he outsped stopped. Hariyama lurched forward, the air knocked right out of him. "This one's for Darumaka!" He swung his tail across the face. "This one's for Tyrunt!" He swung his tail the other way across the face. "And this…is to remember us by!"
Hariyama and Caius' eyes widened. Their respective opponents were building up so much fury and flames they could barely see their figures in the sea of fire pluming. They only saw two draconic glares, which scared the both of them.
Caius' teeth gritted as his eyes shrunk from the visage of Natsu reeling back his fist in a sea of fire. 'My liege…I'm sorry! Forgive me!'
Natsu's foot depressed the ground as he pivoted into Caius, his fist of flames compacted into the shape of a dragon.
"Fire Dragon King's Demolition Fist!"
He caught Caius in an immobile condition as his fist connected, creating a destructively massive explosion of flames that exploded into a large-scale blaze straight ahead. Charmeleon pushed off the ground and smashed his whole body into Hariyama's face, sending him in a grizzly trail across the ground straight into a wall. That same wall was obliterated by Natsu's destructive attack, leaving flames to turn to smoke.
The whole battleground was reduced to charred earth that was melted. Natsu's body was seen with several bruises, but his fist was out as he was catching his breath. He and Charmeleon were glaring at the end of the trails, witnessing their opponents on the ground in charred ruins. They were battered bad, with Caius devoid of pupils and Hariyama with swirling eyes.
They had finally won the battle for ideals.
Managing to shake off the pain they felt, Natsu and Charmeleon looked to each other, giving confident smirks. The reptile let out a loud cry of victory, with Natsu smirking proudly.
"And that's just a small taste of what's coming to your king." Natsu retorted. "I'm gonna knock that crown off his head like I did you…and no wall is gonna stand in our way."
The battlefield was quickly depleting of enemies, faster than what was predicted. Oberon and Melchior continued observing as they saw Caius' downfall.
"It appears that our enemy has gained ground quite fast, your majesty." Oberon warned, shooting his king a glance. "So, how do you insist that we counter?"
Melchior smirked. "It's nothing. Just a small trifle." He looked towards the Celestial King standing behind him. "Isn't that right, my friend?"
The Celestial King didn't respond until the red jewel in the crown shined. His red eyes glowed bright, as if understanding the command. The Celestial King raised his blade high, creating a bright, golden shine. He plunged the blade into the ground, sending golden ripples through the ground across the battlefield.
Gray looked down as the golden waves were shimmering through his ice. "What's going on?"
All around, the radiant glow was enveloping around the ice. Slowly, the ice began fading, leaving solid ground again. The Devil Slayer ice covering Virgo was dispelling on its own as well, leaving the spirit's red eyes to glow.
"No way…"
Close by, Aquarius' body was enveloped in the golden waves as well. The damage she took from Juvia was dissipating, allowing her to levitate once more.
"She regenerated?" Juvia gasped. Before she had the chance to process the attack, Aquarius lifted her jug and her body was outlined in a large golden shine. From behind, a narrow but very deadly tsunami wave arose overhead, rushing into Juvia. The rain woman gasped as the attack swamped her, rushing her body and Vaporeon away.
"Juvia!" Gray shouted. With his gaze turned away, he realized his mistake as he turned around. Floating around him were several hemispheres of earth that appeared to be no less than a hundred. Virgo's red eyes shined, sending them hurdling into him.
As his eyes reflected the visage of earth coming at him, Gray's world went white as hundreds of small, condensed cannonballs of earth rained down like meteors, causing the ground to engulf in a duststrom.
Wendy was releasing poisonous winds at Melchior that mixed with Amaura's Icy Wind. The combined assault was causing the sprit to hold his guard up while frost slowly enveloped the body. The rust on his tail was expanding, to where it was impossible to get a condensed shot.
As the golden waves traveled beneath, the winds dissipated suddenly, much to their shock.
"What happened?!" Carla gasped.
Amaura recoiled, completely overwhelmed by the shock.
Wendy was in equal shock as a golden light enveloped Scorpio. When it faded, it showed his conditions completely erased. The rust and pale skin had been erased by the celestial energy that gave him greater strength.
"Guys, look out!" she warned.
Scorpio widened his nozzle aimed at Wendy. From it, a titanic flood of sand rushed across the battlefield at her. Carla spread her wings again and picked up Amaura, with Wendy fleeing as the ground was awash in a tsunami of sand.
The golden light raced up to Loke, empowering his fist in an even brighter shade of his Regulus Magic. Cana closed her eyes as her retina were almost fried from looking into them directly.
"Such…strong light!" Prinplup grunted. "It burns!"
'His Magic Power, it's growing even higher than before!' Cana could feel the heat of Loke's light as his body was nothing but a sun, blinding with radiance. 'Just what is that king doing to our friends?!'
Pisces was surrounded in the golden light as they shot at Volans again like torpedoes. He slammed his palms into the ground, using his Deep Geyser spell again. However, unlike last time, they powered through no problem, causing Volans to soar high at the last second.
In midair, he looked down perplexed, but that left Cancer to get above with a golden shine. Eyes widening, the fishman was passed by a splicing assault by Cancer as he was seen on the ground, leaving a harsh gash through Volans' side as the fishman screamed in agony.
The golden light shook off the haze Sagittarius and Taurus had as the smoke cleared. Corvus was stunned as he felt a harsh power level rise. "Hold on, what?"
With one swing of his axe, Taurus created a shockwave so powerful that the ground diced into shreds. A massive wave of raw magical energy blasted into Corvus, sending the spirit through a whirlwind away in screaming pain.
Aries and Capricorn were empowered with this same light, enchanting them with greater abilities. Lupus snarled at them as Purrloin had her head turned at Canes, the dogs all glowing with their fangs sharpening.
Noticing a peculiar stir in the atmosphere, Erza looked around for a second. "This power, where is it coming from?"
Auriol smiled. She knew precisely what was going on. "Isn't my majesty glorious?"
Vanessa sensed a large mass of flowing power all around. She looked towards the Celestial King, the source of this grand force.
Watching as the spirits were gifted with greater power, Melchior was in full pride. Oberon turned to him with a gracious smirk of his own. "I do admit, sire, I am very impressed with how skillful you are." He said. "Your coordination with the Zodiacs knows no bounds."
"Thank you, my friend." Melchior stated. "But, there is still much to do."
Oberon nodded. "Yes, there is. However…" he noted, getting the king to turn towards him. "If you'll allow me. I am rather perplexed. If the spirits are in fact empowered with this level of strength and you persist on the coarse of fighting, then why not end it with Libra? Surely her gravity would crush everyone standing before us."
Though he was taken back slightly from the question, Melchior obliged to answer. "Why, you ask?" he repeated. "Well, certainly, you are aware of all our goals. The answer is simple Oberon."
Oberon did as told, looking at the advisors and spirits pushing back the Fairy Tail mages with all their might. They were the only ones left apparently as the rest of their troops were taken down.
"The answer lies in them. If Libra befalls her holy gravity, that would possibly harm my associates as well. I'd rather keep them in play while their wills let them."
"I believe that I understand, but as you know, true victory isn't without sacrifice. We have dedicated our lives to you, so we fight on for what you believe in."
"That may be. However, I am a man of my word. I wish to see those who truly acknowledge and follow the ways of the Celestial Spirits be granted the wishes they so deserve."
Oberon raised a brow. "Even my own, sire?"
"Yes. For a king to feel fulfilled, their own must acknowledge their promises made."
Unbeknownst to the king, Oberon was smirking. The advisor was looking at his majesty was engulfed in the heat of his soon-to-be victory. His smirked tugged on both ends of his lips tightly.
"Your majesty…" He reached down towards Melchior's feet. "You have no idea how much that means to me."
Melchior felt something off. Turning around, he saw Oberon's hand in a small green magic seal. "Oberon, is thou okay-?!" Suddenly the king felt all his muscles stiffen sharply. His eyes widened as he dropped to his knees in a green magic seal spinning around him. He could feel his whole body shutting down and unable to lift even a single finger.
He gaped his mouth wide, staring at Oberon as the mage smirked at his majesty.
'A paralysis spell…' He struggled to get up, but found it hard with Oberon keeping the trap enabled. "Oberon…what is thy meaning…of this?"
Oberon raised his chin, looking at Melchior grimly. "I do very much apologize, milord. You mean exceptionally well to me for all these years…but you know freedom is never free itself."
His teeth gritted from the paralysis. "Why…?"
"Milord…do you remember the wish I made, years ago? Back when I was still captive in Bosco?" He began thinking back to his unkempt cell he was in. He could still see himself in rags, sitting alone on a rusty bench with handcuffs to the walls. He was the only one in there, the two other inmates had long since perished. "My only wish…was to experience true freedom; to no longer feel the oppression of others weighing me down. I wanted to find some way to get free…and that's where you came."
Outside the cell, the sounds of swords clashing was heard. The shadows of bodies spraying blood could be heard from yards off as the thuds played like a rhythm. A battle within the dungeon ensues, and leading the charge was Melchior.
The young king bypassed a polearm and shot his sword through a guard's throat, killing him on the spot. He placed his heel on his fallen chest and removed his blade from the man's Adam's Apple. He looked down, staring at the wide eyes of horror on the dirty man's face.
"What an unfaithful sight this is…"
"Milord!" a fellow soldier called. Melchior turned as the soldier stood tall. "Milord, we've rounded up all the prisoners in the cells! They're being escorted out by the evacuation tunnel as you directed."
"Good work." Melchior turned towards a cell nearby, noticing a shadow in the corner. He noticed how the figment's head was down, like he was asleep – perhaps dead.
"It seems we have missed one." Melchior walked over quietly towards the cage, his shadow casting over the groggy prisoner.
Oberon noticed the shadow over him. He glowered up, expecting it to be a guard. However, it wasn't. It was a king that looked a little older than him. This still didn't light his spirits.
"Young man, can you hear my voice?" Melchior asked.
"Huh…?"
"I have come to free you all." He reached out his hand. "Please, follow me."
The boy gave Melchior a stone-cold stare, turning his head away in despair. "What's the point…? I'm just gonna end up dead anyway. They always do."
"Your masters have all been slain. There is no need for your reluctance. If you wish to be free, there is nothing stopping you now."
The teen got into fetal position, clutching his arms tightly. He was honestly too scared to move from his position. The years of being a slave really took a toll on his psyche and mentally, almost to where neither mattered. He had nothing anyway, not even family…they were decapitated when the slave raiders came to apprehend him. Even if he left, he'd have nowhere to go.
Melchior took a moment of silence, trying to find a means to the boy before him. He straightened his posture. "Young man, have you ever seen the stars?"
The kid looked up.
"When one looks at a star, they make a wish. If one truly wishes to make that wish come true, they must do more than believe. They must put their faiths in themselves. You see, I came here to free you all. That was a wish I've made into an action. I promised thy self to eviscerate the shackles so that you all can feel free. So, do you have a wish?"
The boy looked down, looking unsure. It's been so long since he's seen stars. "…I don't know…"
"Then tell me, what do you want? What do you feel that you need at this instance?"
The boy swallowed a lump. He wasn't sure, but this man's questions were digging into his empty stomach. Nobody asked him these kinds of inquiries, which were challenging enough to process. But the more he thought about it, the more Oberon could feel something stir. This man…what he was proposing…it could possibly be his one chance.
Finally, the boy looked up, a plea turned to seriousness. "To no longer have weights on my life."
Melchior raised his hand out again. "Then I ask you once more…join me, and together, that wish shall come true."
"That day, I realized my wish. That in order to be truly free of oppression, one must take more than just the lives sworn to them." Oberon's fists balled in growing angst. "I never wanted to feel oppressed like that again. I wanted to feel myself be free and not weighed down by anybody…I never expected you of all people to be holding so much weight on his shoulders that it'd keep me from feeling that freedom."
Melchior held his tongue as his pain was subsiding for now. But his gaze on his long-term ally had never faded.
"But milord, as you said, to make way for the new era, there must be the path of clearance. To that means no holding back, and to make sacrifices necessary. So, if you aren't wiling to do so…then I shall!" He darkly smirked. "Allow me."
He reached for Melchior's crown, getting ready to grip it. However, as he wrapped his fingers around to pry it off, his hands started to feel numb.
"Hm?"
At the deepest grunt, Melchior had his own smile.
A massive red electrocution flourished around Oberon, making the man scream out in agony. The pain he was feeling was aching so bad that his nervous system was short-circuiting itself. The man cried out as he floored hard onto his back, his paralysis seal around Melchior fading.
"What…happened…?" the stunned man quivered.
"I believe that you are familiar with Body-Link Magic, are you not?"
Oberon's eyes widened. He glanced up, seeing he was on the floor while Melchior stood tall, the effects of the spell completely gone.
"You see, a king isn't without precaution as he is with wisdom. To tell you the truth, I've been watching you closely, ever since you've returned with the crown." When he received it, he could still see the dark smirk Oberon had at the corner of his lips. "My tailor looked at the crown for me and realized that it was laced with a sail-safe paralysis seal on it…embedded with your magic signature. So, I prepared a Body-Link spell…so that no matter what, this crown will never be removed by anyone but myself. And those who do, shall feel the wrath of a thousand burning suns."
Oberon stared dumbfounded. He knew the king was wise, but he didn't peg him to have him figured out from the get-go. He swallowed a lump.
"I suppose that this is my fault. It seems that I didn't interpret my beliefs on you as I have should've about the importance of loyalty." His glare darkened. "After all, numbers do matter as much as power in a war."
"Sire." Oberon gasped. Libra suddenly appeared besides Melchior with her scales up.
"Those who willingly follow me above the stars are spared, for they have been enlightened. But you, Oberon, seemed to have forgotten that principle…allow me to educate you on your misguidance. Libra."
His crown shined red, with Libra mimicking the shine in her eyes. Weighing one scale up and another sown, a massive pressure of gravity was crushing Oberon/ The traitor cried out as he was being pressed hard into the ground as it was depressing slightly from the massive force of gravity.
"I hope you realize something after this." Melchior said, frowning as he watched Oberon get suppressed. "Be careful with what you wish for."
BOOM!
A large wake of dust surged as dirt spread everywhere behind the king. With his back still turned, Melchior's cape flared inside the wake of the shockwaves. He seemed unfazed as the mushroom clouds of dust scattered into a dense layer of fog that made it hard to see.
As if knowing, the king smirked. He turned around, minding Libra still holding down Oberon as punishment.
"And it would also seem…that there are others who are to be brought realization as well."
The dust cleared, revealing blue eyes opening, next to red ones that showed seriousness. The dust dissipated, revealing Nic and Greninja, the former in his default form.
Their glares fixed on Melchior – and this time no headache was going to get in their way.
All around the island, it was a mad scene. Along the surface as the sun's morning rays were glistening the dewdrops on grass, they were absorbed into moist bodies that moved sluggishly forward.
Parasia were patrolling the island, looking around for their victims. As many were prowling around, others were digging themselves sup from straight under. Under the queen Parasia's command, they had to find them, and make sure they didn't leave the island.
In the queen's huge chamber, many other Parasia were present, huddling close to their mother as she was conserving her strength. She had her cyclopean eye shut, her dormant state making sure nothing was to stop her.
"Ready?" a whisper said.
"All set."
"Okay…let's get this show on the road guys."
Someone's finger pressed onto a boombox.
[Linus Dotson – Me and My Crew]
The music started playing, immediately alarming the scouts in the area. They all started coming around after so long. The queen opened her eyes, hearing the music play. She looked left and right, wondering through growls where it was coming from.
As many Parasians were sulking, suddenly the wall to the chamber shot open, creating a shockwave that instantly killed off a few. The dust created a smokescreen that the Parasians all stared at.
Inside, there were three silhouettes walking beside one another, seemingly in slow motion. Their strides were almost in sync, as much as their dispositions. Around them were many other silhouettes that came into view.
As the dust faded, the Parasians backed away for caution. They saw the dust simmer to show earrings shimmering; a red headband with long strands waving about; glasses that were heavily shaded refracting light. The was the men from before, and around them were several Pokémon – all of them. All their Pokémon were standing/floating for battle. Yanma was perched on Heracross' horn, but she seemed ready enough. Beedrill jabbed the air as Swadloon was down below with Krabby and a jittery Raticate. Stunfisk and Seel were aboard as well. Around Joey, Tranquill was in the air while Quilladin and Trubbish were in front of Joey, the Trainer's arms crossed.
With their entrance made, the cyclopean queen's eyes focused on the men that got away before.
Joey held up his hand, which in it was none other than Magikarp – even he looked serious. "Yo! Queeny! We got something to say to ya, so hush up y'all!" he pointed Magikarp at them. "We're here to do our job and take names at the same time! So if you wanna take ours, we're right here! But know this, we Freaks don't go down without a fight!"
The queen gurgled, sending two Parasia at him. As they came forward, Joey took in a deep breath.
"I warned ya."
The Parasia reached out at him and extended their arms to seep and drain Joey. With one hand, Joey activated his barrier, making the limbs retract. Raising Magikarp high, he used him like a bat and smacked them away, sending them crashing into other Parasia.
"There's plenty where that came from." He raised Magikarp high, swinging him around in circles with his whiskers. "Guys…LET'S DO THIS!"
"I'm with ya, Captain!" Dereece tightened his headband, his Pokémon roaring in agreement.
"You guys up for it?" Kevin asked his Pokémon.
"I sting yo face!" Beedrill buzzed, jabbing the air.
Krabby held up his pincers, which apparently held up a checkered boardgame again. "I hope they like losing at Checkers!" he insisted.
"Woooooah~! Look at all of them! Haha!" Raticate quivered. "There's so many! This is so cwazy~!"
"Oh yeah, you speaking volumes." Swadloon hummed. "Let's see how much they'll be squealing when we get a little rough then."
Kevin glared towards the back of the Parasian army they were facing, his eyes set on the prize. Somewhere in the back, he knew his little girl was there…and he was going to risk his life to make things right. 'Ella…I swear to you…as your Papa, I won't give up!'
The queen Parasia let out a shrilling roar, her tentacles quivering erratically. The child-sized hatchlings started moving forward towards battle.
"Let's party! ALALALALALALAAAAH~!" Joey let out an Indian howl as he raised Magikarp to attack.
The final confrontation was amongst everyone as the sun kept rising in the east.
Hopefully this chapter didn't take too long. Like I said two weeks at most. And as you may have guessed, it's been exactly two weeks. Thank you guys for your patience, and I hope this chapter really was enjoyable.
So as you can see, there's a crap ton of fights that are gonna throw down, and I'm gonna make sure I level as many of them as possible next chapter. Of course there's the few exceptions, including something very special that I'll be putting Sophie and Duncan through coming up.
And for The Freaks' half, talk about a shock. So Kevin technically is the father of Ella when you think about it if that's his DNA. So now they're in a battle to stop the Parasia queen, and how will Kevin get to Ella, and what he will do to her will be shown soon.
Hope you guys liked what I did, and please, reviews are very much appreciated. Hope to make the last two chapters of the arc as quick as I can! Till then! XD
