30- Corruption.
In middle of nowhere, at one of many alternative dimensions, there was just uninterrupted silence, perfect for the only inhabitant: the ruler of space, Palkia. The legendary pokémon wandered through its dominion as always, until it sensed something was out of place, right before a sudden explosion next to it surprised it. It searched for the cause of it and spotted two planes heading right for it. These planes, which fired lasers once been close enough, were no others than Thundercracker and Nova Storm. Palkia summoned its shield before the lasers reached and started chasing its attackers. The two Seekers didn't try to attack it more, they just flew one side to another dodging Palkia's Dragon Pulse.
"Well, it worked, we made it mad. Now what?" Nova Storm asked.
"Hold it like that. We have to force it to get closer." Thundercracker instructed before dodging another beam. "Just a little longer. Wait for it, wait."
Then Palkia, seeing it wasn't doing anything firing like that, decided to change tactic and attack them by close hand, something Nova Storm saw. "Well, I think we have waited enough. Thundercracker…"
"Now!"
Suddenly, a ground bridge portal opened right in front of them. Both Seekers moved aside almost entering it, making the legendary pokémon to cross it by accident. Palkia got surprised when it found itself not on its home anymore, instead it was upon the Nemesis, still with some marks of the damage Thunderwing inflicted, landed on a deserted island in middle of the ocean. Impromptu, something hit it from above, making it fall on the warship's deck.
"Now, grab it!" Thundercracker commanded.
The rest of the Seekers launched cables around all Palkia's body trying to immobilize it, but the legendary pokémon was not going to allow itself to be captured.
"Don't give up, maintain your stand strong!" Darkscream demanded, seeing the scene from the deck's exit.
"It's resisting!" Hydrostorm noticed.
"Something expected from such powerful creature." Slipstream retorted.
"We will have to force it to surrender." Sunstorm suggested firing his flamethrowers.
"You just have read my mind." Ion Storm joined firing his electric weapons.
Besides the effects of the Seekers' weapons, Skywarp used his teleporting skills to strike Palkia hard on the head to make it lost focus and stop trying to break free using Dragon Pulse. Spacestream also assisted by wrapping her electrified whips around its neck. After a while feeling all that…
"I think it's working, it's starting to flinch." Red Wing noticed, feeling the cables more relaxed.
"Then the moment is now. Shockblast, I hope our project is complete." Darkscream communicated by com-link.
"I just finished it right now. Is the subject ready?"
"For the moment, so get here at once so we can test it before our chance slips away."
Shockblast exited to the deck with a strange device at hand. While the Seekers were containing Palkia, Shockblast approached it, with caution of not being bitten or grabbed by the creature, and placed the device on its chest. Immediately, the device deployed some extensions which surrounded the pokémon's neck and torso to ensure it's grip. Suddenly the device seemed like turning on, emanating a purple light the same time as an aura of the same color extended around the pokémon's body, causing it to roar in pain.
"The infusion has started. Darkscream, now!" Shockblast said.
Immediately, Darkscream's eyes turned purple, he was using his connection with dark energon. That also caused Palkia to stop resisting as the aura dissipated, before the pokémon collapsed. After some seconds looking like it was lifeless, the legendary pokémon started to rise again, but this time it seemed calm, and with the eyes of the same color as Darkscream.
"It has worked?" Acidstorm asked.
"Don't ask me, I barely know about pokémon." Skywarp excused.
"How can we be certain?" Ion Storm wondered.
"Darkscream?" Spacestream said.
"Yes, I can feel it. I feel its heartbeat, it's breath, I see what it sees." He transmitted, making everyone to look at him curious while he looked at Palkia directly at the eyes. "Now let's see how deep my link with it really goes. When I give you a command follow it, understood? First, the basic reactions: move your head at the direction I point."
Darkscream pointed his finger up, surprisingly Palkia followed it. Next he pointed it down, to the left and right, and the legendary pokémon followed it.
"Good, let's take it to the next level. Now, take two steps forward."
Palkia followed Darkscream's command and moved like he instructed.
"Great, now as proof of your loyalty to your new master, roar to the sky!"
Palkia did it, making Darkscream laugh maniacally as response.
"Yes, the symbiosis, it works. We are one!" Darkscream shouted.
Unaware of the legendary pokémon's current fate, Team Prime was having a normal day in the base.
"Wow, Detective Pikachu. That movie looks like it's going to be a blast." Max opined after they saw a trailer on TV.
"You've said, we gotta go see it on the theater once its released." Bonnie supported. "Can we go see it then big brother? Please say yes, please."
"Haha, don't think you can convince me with your usual tricks, little sister. I have learned to resist your puppy eyes."
"The same goes with you, Max. You can't keep using false tears with mom and dad to get what you want." May warned.
Both little kids groaned in defeat, making laugh the rest.
"Don't worry about that. We are older enough to go see a movie on our own, rest assured." Serena promised.
"Besides, we also want to see that movie, right buddy?" Ash asked to Pikachu.
"A Pikachu is the main character, so I bet you are eager to see one of your own triumph in the big screen." Ritchie sensed.
"Pika!" Pikachu responded excited.
"Pi pikachu." Sparky nodded.
"And why it has to be an ordinary theater? We may try to go see it on one of those drive-in theaters, it would be better to see a movie out in the outside."
"Good idea Iris, that way the Autobots could enjoy the movie as well." Misty supported.
"What do you guys think about it? You like the idea?"
In that moment Hot Rod was the current Autobot near them, but it seemed he didn't listen Dawn's proposal, because he looked deep in his own thoughts.
"Hum, Hot Rod?" Ash called.
"Eh, what?"
"Are you okay? You seem distracted, not even heard what we were talking about." Max said.
"Oh, sorry. It's just…"
"Nothing to worry, a few of us should be enough to take you all there." Smokescreen cleared arriving with the others.
"Yeah, you can count on us. Much appreciated to give us front row seats." Sideswipe thanked.
"Hot, are you okay?" Arcee repeated.
"He has looked like that these days." Bee remembered.
"Let me guess, the Cons?"
"Yeah. They have been pretty quiet these days, not a single sign of activity. Expeditions, search for relics, pokémon hunting…" Hot Rod numbered.
"Yeah, we have had lot of calm days, and very much appreciated." Clemont opined.
"Maybe they have been very busy lately, you know with something more...ordinary." Ash suggested.
"Oh, like repairing their warship? I recall it was pretty bad when we escaped last time." May recalled.
"Hum, that's a high probability. Thunderwing might caused lots of damage to the Nemesis, so they have been forced to focus all their efforts on fixing it." Blaster suspected.
"And a huge flying bunch of metal like that warship can't be fixed on just one or two days." Wheeljack added.
"Even if they have been focused on that, that's not reason for the Decepticons to not perform other activities." Hot Rod said.
"You are right to remain alert, soldier." Ultra Magnus said arriving. "A long quiet period without activities from the enemy like this can only mean two things: one, that they just give up, seeing their effort for a motive not worthy and decide to abandon, which as we all know is it not the right one; which takes us to the other: they may be preparing for something big, new or threatening."
"You...think so?"
"Unfortunately Serena, there's no way to be certain. So as far we can only make assumptions based on our complex experience. And thus, be ready for whatever our enemies may be planning for their next move." Optimus pronounced.
"Well I think I just have found a trail or their activities." Ratchet called. "After tracking a non-protected transmission with a destination underground I think I have located one point of most general Decepticon activity."
"An energon mine." Elita guessed.
"Or a scouting team looking for one." Seaspray added.
"A simply task for acquiring resources." Warpath said.
"But if the mine has all the standard equipment, it may be connected with the Decepticons' main network." Optimus started.
"Which may have registered whatever recent activity." Fixit ended.
"Blaster, get a fix on those coordinates for the ground bridge."
"Already on it. It appears this one is located on a remote area of the Kalos region, far from most of human settlements."
"Sideswipe, Moonracer, you two are the fastest and stealthy of all, so you go ahead." Elita instructed.
The ground bridge took both Autobots into a cave. They checked their surroundings with weapons ready, but they remained speechless when they saw something.
"Em...base, I think we're gonna need the kids here with us, just in case they understand what we can't." Moonracer called, leaving everyone confused.
"Why did they say that?" Predaking wondered.
Moments later Ash, Ritchie, Tracey, Serena, Bonnie and their pokémon arrived to the Autobots' current location.
"What's going on, guys?" Ritchie asked.
"I just want to be sure I didn't infused myself too much energon this morning, because I swear we just saw pass a jumping rock." Sideswipe detailed pointing to an entrance in front of them.
"A jumping rock?" Bonnie repeated. "I think we have seen something like that before."
"Well, you can see it again now." Moon interrupted pointing to what they described.
The humans couldn't avoid laugh.
"That's not a jumping rock, is a pokémon." Serena calmed.
"It's a Carbink, small rock type pokémon which look like living rocks which moves by jumping." Tracey corrected.
"And also very cute." Bonnie added.
"Wait a minute, if we just saw a Carbink underground, then we could be at a very certain place." Ash realized.
Bonnie gasped in surprise. "You mean that…"
"Bonnie, wait!" Moonracer said as she went after her, who followed the pokémon.
The group followed them until they reached a huge chamber decorated with lots of crystals on the floor and the ceiling, with huge crystal towers connecting both surfaces.
"Whoa, look at this place." Ritchie admired.
Sideswipe whistled. "What kind of afterlife environment is this, some kind of energon utopia?" Everyone laughed at his joke.
Suddenly both Pikachu, Dedenne and Sparky ran ahead of the group, and spotted Bonnie, almost behind a boulder.
"Guys, come over here! Look who I found!" Bonnie called as she pulled something, or someone, which just Ash and Serena recognized.
"Hey, is…" Ash started.
"Diancie!" Serena saluted before the couple ran to see her.
"Who?" Both Autobots asked to the rest, who just shrugged in denial.
"Friends, you are here! It has been a long time." The special pokémon greeted taking the hands of both Pikachu.
"Is so good to see you again, Diancie. How have you been?" Bonnie started asking
"Who's that pokémon?" Ritchie asked.
"She's our friend Diancie, a pokémon which can make diamonds." Ash introduced.
"We met her when we were traveling around Kalos." Serena added.
"Wow, I can't believe it, a legendary pokémon capable of creating the strongest material known by man." Tracey expressed before approaching Diancie to make a drawing of her.
"And she's also a princess." Bonnie added.
"How is that we can hear her like talking?" Sideswipe asked.
"It's telepathy, an ability some legendary pokémon possess." Ritchie deduced.
When she put eyes on the Autobots, Diancie hid behind Bonnie. "You don't have to be afraid of them, the Autobots are friends of ours."
"Are you...are you sure?" Diancie doubted.
"Of course, the Autobots are our friends. We trust them with our lives." Ash answered.
"Hi there your little highness, nice to meet you." Moonracer saluted crouching to her height. "Is this your home?"
"Yeah, this is my kingdom, the Diamond Domain." Diancie presented. "I apologize for my reaction, it's clear you are nice individuals if Ash, Serena, Bonnie, Pikachu, Dedenne and their friends side with you."
"No worries, first impressions are usually like this." Sideswipe tranquilized. "But why you reacted like that?"
"Well, you see…"
What Diancie told them was that somewhere else on the Diamond Domain were some Decepticon miners performing their task: they were using their lasers to cut the crystals, thinking it was energon. But it wasn't as they believed.
"Arg, not this too. It's just another terrestrial ore." One miner complained after examining the piece he cut.
"This is the thirteenth we check, and still no a single energon piece. All this place has is just earthling copies." Another criticized. "Were the ship's scanners well when they detected it?"
"All the mineral composition of this place seems to be interfering with our sensors, but if it detected some energon there must be. Only we can detect its unmistakable signature."
"Well, it is not going to be possible to establish a mine with all these giant crystals all around in middle of the way." The other continued until they saw a storm of little rocks pass in front of them. They turned and saw a group of Carbink attacking them with Stone Edge. "Alongside this moving rocks bothering us."
Before the pokémon attacked again, one of the miners used his mining laser to obliterate a little amount of crystals in front of them, scaring them and making them flee away. At the same time, Diancie was now guiding the group around the tunnels.
"Those other giants seemed to be searching for something, thought I don't understand why they can't be more careful and destroy everything in their way." Diancie related.
"That's what the Cons do all time, they don't bother as long as they obtain what they want." Sideswipe answered.
"What would they be looking for in a tunnel network full of diamonds?" Warpath asked through com-link, sign that everyone else was now aware of this too.
"Their expedition for energon must have guide them into that domain." Ratchet deduced.
"By what Diancie has told us it seems they are having issues in locating that energon deposit." Tracey continued.
"How stupid are they not to differentiate between a diamond and energon?" Bonnie asked.
"Surely they didn't saw a diamond before." Ash suspected.
"And being underground its natural luminescence can make it be confused with it." Moonracer suspected.
"So, are you saying those have been around here for a while?" Serena recalled.
Diancie nodded. "And honestly I'm troubled they could cause irreparable damage to my kingdom if they continue that way."
"I will not worry that much in case they find not trail energon, in that case they will leave at once. It's that if they do find it which troubles me." Ultra Magnus reasoned.
"You are right, old friend. If the Decepticons find enough energon, that would be reason enough for them to establish a mining operation, which would cause more damage, both because of the process and for the defensive response to possible setbacks." Optimus supported.
"So, how about if we make sure there is energon in that place or not to be certain?" Iris suggested.
"I'm on it." Fixit said typing into the terminal. "What it's sure is that the Decepticon warship still has its scanners fully functional, because there is indeed an energon signal, strong but scattered."
"It seems they haven't searched on the right spots yet." Blaster added.
"And it better goes that way. We have to extract all that energon before they discover it or they will never leave that sanctuary in peace." Elita decided.
"Wait. I also want to take out the energon so the Cons don't get it and leave Diancie's home, but how are we gonna do it safely?" Bonnie pointed.
"Yeah, we can't do like them, making holes and break crystals in order to reach it, it will not make us much better than them." Ritchie supoorted.
"Perhaps not by standard ways."
"Doctor, do you have something in mind?" Predaking asked.
"If only we can extract the energon without material ways, the environment will be untouched and alterations will remain at minimum."
"Haven't we have a relic which can get the job done that way?" Wheeljack recalled.
"The energon harvester, it supposes to remove raw energon from any surface." Smokescreen reminded.
"True, I can tell you from personal experience." Warpath nodded.
"Then we better make sure there are not trails of dark energon within it, after what happened with Unicron who knows." Arcee advised.
"We will get it ready." Bee said leaving alongside Smokey and Hot Rod.
"Very well. We are going to get ready to extract the energon and clean the area of all its presence. Meanwhile, you handle the Decepticons."
"Got it, Prime. We will call you once we are done, over and out." Moon ended the transmission.
"Looks like we are up for a little hunting." Sideswipe announced, making everyone look at him with faces of determination, Diancie included. "Oh, that reminds me. Moon, do you think you can persuade your sparkmate Smokey to let me borrow his favorite toy for this task?"
"What do you mean with sparkmate?"
Moments later, the two Decepticon miners returned to the rest of the group, gathered in a cavern with multiple passages. There was only a few guards with them supervising while the miners made their recon. Suddenly they heard a whistle coming from inside one of the entries, so the Vehicons instructed the miners to remain together while they went to check what it was. Once they were there, one noticed someone touching his shoulder so he turned to see Sideswipe next to him smiling, right before he punched his face. The others got alarmed, turned and saw their companion down, and when two of them went to check his state Sideswipe reappeared through the wall above them and smashed their heads together.
"Haha, I got to recognize Smokescreen, this is a more better way to face the Cons. And funnier."
The Vehicons fired at him, but he simply stood there with arms crossed as the shots passed through him. While this happened, the miners, focused hearing the shots, didn't noticed the Carbink sneaking around them until they started using Stone Edge, surprising them. They tried to crush them stomping on them, but the little pokémon managed to dodge in time. Some miners followed the pokémon into a tunnel without exit, trapping them, until they were zapped by the gang's electric pokémon. Other miners still dealing with the Carbink were attacked by Scyther, being taken down from the air with X- Scissor; others followed the Carbink to a little maze of crystals and now were searching for them, until Sylveon and Pancham attacked them by surprise with Quick Attack and Ice Punch. Back with Sideswipe, he simply continued letting the Decepticons fire at him without effects, courtesy of the phase shifter, until Moonracer ran over them in vehicle form, taking them down before transforming and finishing them with her blasters, as Sideswipe too. One of the bodies of the Vehicons was sent out of the tunnel that the miners saw it before the Autobots emerged. Being now in a disadvantage, the miners had no choice but to try to escape. Meanwhile, at the Nemesis…
"Wow, such magnificent creature. Who would believe that the being which forged space is now under my command? Oh, maybe I can imitate humans and act pokémon trainer style, as I did before with my personal squadron. Ah, wait, what a great idea I just had."
"Huh, care to share it with us, Darkscream?" Hydrostorm requested.
"Shockblast, summon the Predacons. I have a special task for them."
"What kind of task?"
"I wish to ensure our new active will be able to stand against our enemies, and what better way to check it than face it against the most powerful cybertronian within our ranks."
"Your argument is most logical, Darkscream." Shockblast agreed before turning on his com-link. "Ser-Ket, Darksteel, Skylynx, your presence on the upper deck is required."
Moments later the three Predacons joined them.
"Well, here we are. What do you need us for?" The female Predacon asked.
"I hope it is worthy, I was having a nice nap. So if is just a none-sense…" Skylynx started.
"Ejem." Spacestream coughed as she pointed, making them to look at the legendary pokémon.
"Wow, you already caught one of those so demanding pokémon?"
"Ha, what's so special about that mindless creature which maybe doesn't understand what we say?" Darksteel mocked.
"That's what we want to figure out. You three are going to help our new beast with a special training, so it learns the necessary to combat our kind. Do not restrain yourselves, use all your Predacon might." Darkscream instructed.
"So, you want us to battle like we always do?"
"That's exactly what he's saying, idiot." Ser-Ket clarified before they transformed.
"Let the training commence. Palkia, go get them!" Darkscream commanded.
Palkia roared in response before charging at them. Darksteel acted same way, hoping to push it back, but he underestimated the legendary pokémon's strength and ended being the one pushed backwards. Skylynx was next, charging a fire beam which he fired at Palkia. It seemed the beam impacted on it, but when the smoke cleared it showed it protected itself with its shield, leaving the Predacon surprised, and with not enough time to react when it started launching Aura Sphere. That provoked the Predacon to charge at it, but Palkia simply stood aside and grabbed his tail, next it swung him around and threw him against Darksteel.
"Impressive." Darkscream complemented.
Ser-Ket took flight and started bombing with fire balls, making Palkia to do the same and follow her. The two started rumble in the air, clashing together until Ser-Ket tried to use her claws on her opponent. However, Palkia grabbed her claws with its hands and before she could use her tail it grabbed it with its mouth and dragged her from it. It finally released her with a Dragon Pulse, and next fired a beam which evolved her completely into a sphere of energy, she tried to escape from it, but she wasn't doing a thing.
"Magnificent." Darkscream admired.
Next, still trapped in that sphere, Palkia sent her down back with the other Predacons, leaving them in a stuck situation. Situation it took advantage and started to charge the pearls of its arms with energy, preparing to release its signature move: Spacial Rend, and it did. The unleashed move made a direct hit on the warship's deck, and when the smoke of the impact cleared it seemed the Predacons were unable of battle more.
"Are they sure this is a proper training? It looks more that the pokémon seems to be making a world of pain for them to me." Acidstorm opined.
"Excellent, you are indeed powerful, Palkia." Darkscream celebrated as the legendary pokémon approached him and allowed him to caress its head. "With a mighty being as you alongside me, there will absolutely nothing which will stand against us."
"If a single legendary pokémon has managed to handle our three Predacons, imagine what we could do with many more." Skywarp expressed.
"You said it, bro. Shockblast, think you can make more of those dark energon controllers?" Slipstream asked.
"This one is actually the prototype. But now that I've seen its effectiveness at submitting the host's mind as well infusing dark energon, I may be able to replicate it and increase its production." Shockblast confirmed.
"And better make it happen, if we are keeping up our intention of increasing our ranks with more of these powerful creatures." Darkscream nodded.
"Generals, we have received an emergency call from our mining team deployed on the new emplacement on Kalos." Stinger reported coming.
"It seems they have been attacked by the Autobots." Nightbird added.
"We will handle them. Give us a platoon and Shatter and I will get the job done."
"Actually, Dropkick, I have a better solution. This is a chance we shouldn't waste." Darkscream preferred looking at Palkia, smirking.
Back into the Diamond Domain, the remaining Decepticon miners continued running until they reached a dead end. It appeared their chasers didn't follow them.
"Hey clankers, up here!" Bonnie shouted them.
The Cons looked above them, and saw falling at them a huge diamond. Being as dumb as they were, they didn't react in time and ended crushed.
"Woohoo! You did it, Diancie!" Bonnie congratulated.
Diancie smiled, now in her mega form. "I'm glad of have been able to defend my home as its princess."
"We just disposed off the other Cons back in the cavern." Sideswipe reported returning alongside Moonracer.
"We have taken care of the miners here." Ash added.
"And there are no signs of other ones around." Tracey said.
"Optimus, the place is secured, all enemies have been eliminated."
"Roger Moon. I'm on my way now. We'll meet at the outside."
"Diancie, you know all the crystals which compose your kingdom, right?" Serena asked.
"Each and everyone of them."
"Good, then maybe you can help the Autobots locate the hidden energon crystals."
"It will be my pleasure. But, what is energon exactly?"
"They will explain it once they reunite with you. Tell them we send you." Moonracer instructed before the team made their way to the exit.
Once at the outside, the team found Optimus waiting for them.
"Where are the others?" Ritchie asked.
"They bridged at your arrival position. Ratchet and Clemont are leading the recollection team, guiding everyone inside the caves searching the energon readings." Optimus explained.
"Pi? Pika pi!"
"What is it, Sparky?" Tracey asked.
"Something is coming." Serena pointed to the sky.
A plane approached at high speed and transformed almost landing.
"Darkscream." Ash recognized.
"Leaving so soon?"
"You're late, Screamy. We have already taken care of your forces, whatever energon lies down there is now out of your reach. We won today." Bonnie warned.
"Oh really, then why I took the bother of coming here? Oh, perhaps it was to show you our newest recruit."
"Whoever new Decepticon has joined you it would not impress us." Ritchie answered back.
"Who said it is a Decepticon?"
Suddenly a ground bridge portal opened next to him, so everyone expected someone else to come out. But when it happened they didn't believe what it was: Palkia emerged from the portal, now with most some parts of its body covered by a light armor with the Decepticon emblem. The legendary pokémon walked next to Darkscream, the gang was speechless from what they were seeing.
"Is...is that?" Tracey started.
"Palkia!?" Ash recognized.
"No way!" Bonnie exclaimed.
"So, I guess you also know about my new pet." Darkscream taunted while he stroke Palkia's head.
"Why is it with you? How did you manage to get it?" Ritchie demanded.
"I suppose the almighty ruler of space saw the greatness of our kind and decided to join the winning team."
"There's no way Palkia will side with you by its own! You have done something to it, release it now!" Ash ordered.
Darkscream chuckled. "If you wish its freedom, then you must earn it, by your own way."
Everyone, Optimus included, got confused by Darkscream's words, until Ash got what he meant.
"Are you...challenging us to a battle?"
"Very clever Ash, as always. I challenge you to a pokémon battle, one trainer to another. If you win, you can have all the energon storage in there and Palkia. But if I win you will leave all our operations once and for all and I will choose my prize."
"There's no way we are going to negotiate with you, Darkscream."
"But Optimus, this may be the only way we can free Palkia."
"Ash, I admired your concern for the pokémon's well-being, but you know as well as I that Darkscream is not to be trusted."
"Besides, if we agree who of us is going to battle him? He's commanding one of the toughest pokémon of all." Ritchie pointed.
"I will."
"What? Ash, are you sure?"
"Come on, Bonnie. You know as well as everyone how such a good pokémon trainer Ash is." Serena reminded.
"You're right, he's practically the strongest of us all, specially with Pikachu." Ritchie pointed.
"Besides, this is not the first legendary pokémon they face." Tracey added.
"It will be alright Optimus, you can count on us. We got this, right buddy?" Ash asked, earning a thumb-up from his pokémon.
At the end, Optimus agreed. "Very well Ash, you can proceed."
"Alright Darkscream, we're in. Pikachu and I will be your opponents."
Darkscream smirked. "I was hoping you were the one. Okay then, please someone be the referee."
"I will." Tracey volunteered, getting in a side of the center of the field while Ash and Pikachu positioned themselves at one side and their opponents on the other. "The battle between Ash and Darkscream are about to begin. Each one will use just one pokémon, and the battle will be over when one is unable of keep battling."
"Come on, Ash!" Bonnie cheered.
"We know you can do it!" Serena added.
"Teach that Decepticon how we earthlings battle." Ritchie followed.
"Good luck you two." Optimus wished.
"Battle begin!" Tracey announced, starting the battle of Pikachu versus Palkia.
"Alright Darkscream, I will allow you the first move." Ash said.
"Wrong choice, kid. Palkia, Aura Sphere!"
Palkia followed Darkscream's command and made the first move.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack to dodge." Ash instructed calm.
Pikachu moved fast evading Palkia's attacks as he approached.
"Don't let him get too close, crush him!" Darkscream commanded.
Palkia tried to crush Pikachu with its hands, but he dodged and climbed on its back.
"Now, Iron Tail." Ash said.
Pikachu used his steel type move and inflicted a direct hit on Palkia's back. The legendary pokémon roared in rage and tried to grab him, but Pikachu got off first. Palkia tried to crush him with his feet, but Pikachu managed to hit one with Iron Tail again.
"Nice work, buddy." Ash congratulated.
"Don't get too cocky boy. Palkia, time to take the fight seriously, take flight." Darkscream commanded.
Palkia extended its wings and flew at enough height, still looking at its rival.
"Bomb the ground with your Dragon Pulse until there's nothing left." Darkscream ordered.
The legendary pokémon fired a constant beam which moved around the battlefield.
"Move side to side, buddy. Don't let it hit you, use the dust as cover!" Ash shouted.
Pikachu followed Ash's guidance and managed to evade any harm.
"Now, use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu hit Palkia with his electric attack, although it didn't affect it much.
Darkscream laughed. "You actually made a waste of energy with that attack?"
"That's what you think." Ash reproached.
"Huh?"
"Use Electroweb."
The Thunderbolt distraction allowed Pikachu to surprise Palkia with that move, wrapping it completely.
"Now hit it on its weak spots with Iron Tail." Ash continued.
Pikachu concentrated his attacks on Palkia's pearls on its sides, going one way to strike the other, causing it great damage.
"Prove them you are greater, break free from their trap." Darkscream cheered.
Palkia used all it strength until it broke the Electroweb, surprising Pikachu and hitting him with its tail.
"Thunderbolt, hurry!" Ash yelled.
Pikachu did it again, not inflicting much damage again. However, this time electricity remained around Palkia's body, sign that maybe it now had the Paralyzed state.
"Enough with games, time to show your whole might. Use your mightiest attack of all: Spacial Rend." Darkscream commanded.
Palkia's pearls started to shine before its wrist charged with energy, ready to unleash it.
"Ash, be careful, it's going to use its signature move." Ritchie warned.
"But it may take it to long to use it properly. Look, it's paralyzed, Ash may have thought of using it to go a step ahead." Tracey analyzed.
"So it means they have an advantage." Bonnie understood.
"That's Ash, he always has a plan." Serena nodded.
"Pikachu, use Electroweb on the floor." Ash instructed.
"What? Are you not gonna try to stop us from using all our power?" Darkscream asked confused.
Pikachu followed Ash's instructions and deployed an Electroweb in front of him, making some kind of elastic bed.
"Now wait for it." Ash said.
"As you wish. Destroy him!" Darkscream shouted.
Palkia finished canalizing the energy to its wrist and unleashed the energy right at Pikachu.
"Wait for it, buddy." Ash repeated.
Pikachu was not going to move until Ash say it, he trusted him and he knew what he was doing. When the energy was almost reaching him…
"Now!" Ash shouted.
Pikachu jumped over the Electroweb, ascending way over where Palkia signature move impacted, getting away without a scratch.
"Now Iron Tail, one more time!" Ash said.
Pikachu hit Palkia, not able of moving because of the Paralyzed state, this time on the head, causing it disorientation and dizziness.
"Okay, now the great final." Ash announced as Pikachu landed in front of him, preparing his Z-Power Ring.
"Is he going to use it?" Tracey asked.
"Oh yes, a Z-Move. Darkscream has already lost the fight." Bonnie spotted.
"Go for it Ash, finish them off!" Ritchie cheered.
Ash placed a gray Z-Crystal on the ring, making it to start shining before he and Pikachu coordinated the same set of moves. That made energy to canalize from Ash to Pikachu.
"You're not going to use Palkia for your sinister purposes, Darkscream. We are gonna release it from your grasp. Go for it Pikachu, Corkscrew Crash!"
Pikachu started to spin at high speed, going for his opponent.
"Oh no, not that again. Quickly Palkia, get out of the way!" Darkscream ordered.
But Palkia couldn't move because of the Paralyzed state, and Pikachu ended hitting it directly in the chest. After the impact smoke cleared and Pikachu landed next Ash, everyone saw Palkia standing, with its body all covered in scratches, before collapsing.
"Palkia is unable to battle, Pikachu wins. The victory goes for Ash and Pikachu." Tracey announced.
"I...I don't believe it, they did it. They have beaten Palkia, a legendary pokémon." Ritchie expressed in disbelief.
"Great, they won!" Bonnie celebrated.
"I knew they will make it."
"So did I, Serena. So did I." Optimus said proud.
"Well done, buddy. That was a great battle." Ash congratulated hugging his pal.
"Pika pika."
"Okay Darkscream, we won so you now set Palkia free."
Darkscream's answer was not as they expected: instead of shouting in rage, he chuckled.
"Huh? What's so funny?" Ash questioned.
"You believe you have succeed, but this isn't over yet." Darkscream said as his eyes turned purple.
Suddenly the device from Palkia's chest shined with the same color pattern.
"Arise, my creature!" Darkscream summoned.
A purple aura covered the legendary pokémon as its eyes shined the same as Darkscream's, it started to get up and when it did roared with all injures completely healed, ready to battle again.
"What? How it can do that?" Serena asked in disbelief.
"I don't get it, it wasn't unable to fight!" Tracey said.
But Optimus understood what it was, once he deduced where the purple bright came. "By the Allspark Darkscream, what have you done?!"
"I simply established a deep link with Palkia, one which none of you will never be able to imitate. I can see what it sees, I command every small detail of its will."
"By using dark energon?"
"What? He has infected it with that matter?" Bonnie asked.
"Are you crazy? That's poisonous for organic beings, even pokémon!" Ash protested.
"Pika pika!"
"Oh please, as you have witnessed the dark matter allows me to return it all its energy to keep fighting, even when my enemies think otherwise."
"That's also an abuse of energy, Darkscream. You just force it to keep fighting at expenses of its own strength, consuming all its life." Optimus pointed.
"That's cheating!" Ash complained.
Suddenly the dark energon aura started to cause another change on Palkia: its arms enlarged and moved down while its wings remained on the arms' place, its tail shortened as its thorax and some extensions grew around it, its head was also covered by some helmet (its Origin Forme).
"What just happened?" Ritchie asked.
"Palkia just…changed form?" Tracey tried to respond.
Darkscream laughed. "Well well, it seems my creature had more than one surprise. Spacial Rend, one more time!"
Palkia charged and launched its signature move, this time not giving Pikachu enough time to react. He ended receiving the whole force of the attack, ending very injured.
"Pikachu!" Ash called.
"It appears I won. Now as the winner I reclaim my price: your pokémon." Darkscream surprised.
Palkia flew and caught Pikachu with the mouth before Ash could assist him. It landed on a higher hill, right where another ground bridge appeared and Shockblast walked next the pokémon.
"You just obtained another test subject, just in time for the second device I finished." Shockblast saw pulling out a device similar to the one attached to Palkia.
"Perfect timing Shockblast, for another experiment: let's see how strong your friendship really is when your friend is under my control." Darkscream revealed looking at Ash.
"You are going to put that on Pikachu?! No, you can't do it!" Ash shouted desperate, trying to go help his buddy.
"Ash, no!" Ritchie objected as he and Tracey restrained him.
"Let it go, Darkscream."
"You are in no position of demanding anything, Prime. Shockblast, you may proceed."
"With pleasure. Logically a common pokémon capable to stand against legendary ones will be a good incorporation to our arsenal."
"Pikachu is not a weapon, is our friend!" Serena defended.
"Let it go!" Bonnie followed.
"Pika pika chu!" Sparky joined.
Pikachu struggled as much as he could to break free from Palkia's grasp as Shockblast was approaching the device to him. But in the last moment, something really fast passed between them, and the next moment Pikachu wasn't there. Instead, he found himself in someone's arms, he looked up to see who his savior was and got surprised at seeing an old friend.
"There, you are safe now. Are you okay?"
"Pikachu." Pikachu nodded.
"No way, is that…" Tracey started.
"Mewtwo?" Ash ended.
"Who?" Darkscream said.
Suddenly, he saw a Shadow Ball coming right him, so he covered for the impact, but Palkia protected him using its shield. He looked for the responsible one and saw other one floating in front of them.
"You have no rights over a pokémon's destiny." It said, but with a female voice.
"Wow, there's another one." Serena saw.
"I thought there was only one." Ritchie said.
"Well, it is obvious because of the voice. It obvious that one is a girl." Bonnie pointed.
"Yeah, you're right. It's you."
"Is good to see you again, Ash. It has been a while." The female Mewtwo nodded.
"Your friend is safe and sound." The other Mewtwo added bringing Pikachu.
"Thanks a lot, Mewtwo." Ash appreciated taking his buddy. "But, how do you know each other?"
"We met while we traveled around the world by our own. We got surprised at seeing another like us." Male Mewtwo told.
"We also shared our experiences regarding humans and saw we were more similar than we thought. So we decided to travel together." Female Mewtwo continued.
"Ah, so you are a couple, right?" Serena sensed.
"A couple?" She said looking at her partner.
"We don't know what to answer about that." Male Mewtwo admitted.
"Well well, sorry to interrupt this charming encounter, but you just ruined a great moment. So, the clones has decided to finally show up." Darkscream called, making everyone to look at him.
"How do you know about us?" Female Mewtwo demanded.
"Team Rocket perhaps forgot about their masterpiece, but Team Alien managed to recover the trails which remained after your desertion. And well, one thing led to another."
"My creators followed the path of ambition and led them to nowhere, you better be wise and don't make the same mistake." Male Mewtwo warned.
"I'm not human and I know where they got wrong, so I will not. Maybe they created you as the most powerful pokémon, but even that's wrong when there are others way more powerful, such as the one which stands besides me right now, and soon it will be two more. Palkia, get them, don't hold yourself and use all the necessary power!"
Palkia roared as response before going for them, making both Mewtwo take flight. Palkia attacked with Dragon Pulse, but the female Mewtwo managed to block the attack with her hand. While this happened, her partner joined his hands and an aura of light covered his body. When it ended, he presented a different form, he turned to Mega-Mewtwo X.
"Whoa, I didn't know they could mega-evolve." Tracey admitted.
Ash laughed. "I do."
"What a surprise. I wonder which more we'll discover once they are under my will."
"Not anymore, Darkscream." Optimus announced before he tackled him, starting a fight between they two.
While female Mewtwo continued holding the beam until the other surprised Palkia with a Drain Punch on the face, allowing her to do the same and change to her own form, Mega-Mewtwo Y. Meanwhile, Shockblast saw the rumble between Optimus and Darkscream, clashing their melee weapons, and prepared his cannon to assist Darkscream, but the gang saw it.
"He's about to fire at Optimus." Bonnie warned.
"Not if we do something about it." Tracey said pulling out two poke balls.
"Guys, you two assist Mewtwo, you have to safe Palkia. We will help Optimus."
"Okay Serena. Come on, Ritchie." Ash bustled.
"Yeah, let's go." Ritchie nodded.
"Bonnie, get back to the tunnels, see if you can find the others to assist us."
"Okay. Let's go Dedenne."
"Scyther, Marill, stop Shockblast with Razor Wind and Rollout." Tracey said launching both poke balls.
"You two, Delphox, Pancham. Mystical Fire and Arm Thrust." Serena followed doing the same.
While their pokémon engaged Shockblast to ensure Optimus could handle Darkscream, Ash, Ritchie, Pikachu and Sparky looked above them, watching Palkia engaging both Mewtwo, firing its attacks flying after them.
"It looks pretty bad up there, how are we going to help them?" Ritchie asked.
"That device it has on the chest, it must be how Darkscream controls it, just as they were about to do with Pikachu. We need to destroy it." Ash deduced.
"Then we will have to get close."
"Not us, just our pokémon."
Ash pulled out one of his poke balls and opened it, revealing to be Staraptor's.
"Staraptor, take Pikachu and Sparky as close as you can to Palkia. Pikachu, use Iron Tail all the times you need until that trinket is destroyed." Ash instructed.
"That goes for you too, Sparky. Once you get close enough use Brick Break." Ritchie followed.
Both pokémon nodded before getting on the flying pokémon and heading to the center of the action. Palkia continued trying to hit both Mewtwo with its attacks, while they evaded them and tried to counter with Drain Punch and Shadow Ball, but it stopped them with its shield. Staraptor used Quick Attack to approach the chest of the legendary pokémon, but it was very tricky when Pikachu and Sparky tried to hit the device. No matter from which angle they tried they ended hitting other part of Palkia's body.
"They seem to be trying to hit that thing attached on Palkia." Female Mewtow noticed.
"It must be what it's controlling it. Let's give them a hand." Male Mewtwo nodded.
Both Mewtwo focused their psychic energy together and employed Psychic on Palkia, paralyzing the legendary pokémon, ready for the electric pokémon to accomplish their mission: they hit the device multiple times until it started to break, being destroyed by a final combined blow. That caused Palkia roared in pain very low while it returned to its original form and fell to the ground, but Mewtwo caught it before it reached the floor.
Shockblast noticed this after some pieces fell around him. "Darkscream, Palkia's device has been destroyed."
"What?! No!"
Optimus gave him a punch on the face. "You have no businesses here, Darkscream. You better leave now."
"Perhaps, but now that we know how to accomplish our goal no one can stop us. Not even you."
The Decepticons transformed and left the area.
"Guys, I'm back with backup." Bonnie announced arriving with the other Autobots.
"Guys, something is wrong with Palkia." Ash called.
"What? You guys liberated it, don't you?" Serena asked.
"Yes, but it's very weak. It's breathing is abnormal." Male Mewtwo reported checking its neck.
Optimus realized what was wrong with Palkia. "Blaster, we need an emergency ground bridge back to base. Ratchet, get the medical bay ready, we have a serious situation: a legendary pokémon is under Decepticon control no more, but Darkscream has infused dark energon to achieve it."
"What? Optimus, I think I have a remedy." Ratchet answered.
Moments later, everyone, including both Mewtwo, were back at New Iacon. Predaking, Warpath and Magnus carried Palkia the most carefully they could to the medical berth were Ratchet was ready with the equipment.
"Is true what Ash and the others mentioned? Has Palkia really been infected by dark energon?" Max asked.
"If that's the case is really bad." Iris lamented.
"Well, at least none of them knew Diancie was there too, since she's also a legendary pokémon." Bonnie mentioned.
"Don't start dropping tears yet buddies, because today's science has provided us with the means to solve this madness."
"Did you actually invented that motto basing it on my own, Ratchet?" Clemont asked surprised.
"More or less."
"Ha, well it is pretty good actually."
"Yeah, I should take a clue from you for my own motto." Bee added.
"Do you have good news?" Misty questioned.
"After the incident of Max getting infected by dark energon at the incident with Galvatron I started working on a way to counter its effects, deploying a serum capable to eradicating all traces of the blood of Unicron and restoring the infected' status." Ratchet revealed.
"You have made a cure?" Ritchie asked.
"Well, more likely a prototype. I based it on the device I created to weaken Thunderwing."
"But the question is it will work?" Elita pointed.
"Well, that's the million energon question, I...haven't had the chance to test it previously." The Autobot medic admitted before looking at Palkia. "But we may not have another choice."
Optimus looked at his medic and nodded. Without wasting time, he started operating the mechanical appendages which started to apply some spray all over the legendary pokémon. After all spray was all over its body, it passed some time before it turned blue and disappeared, Moments later, the small pokémon noticed Palkia was breathing, and not just that.
"Ratchet look, Palkia's vitals." Clemont pointed.
"They're stabilizing. Thank the Allspark, the serum works."
"Nice job, old friend." Optimus congratulated.
"Hey Palkia, are you alright?" Dawn asked waving standing in front of it, which it responded looking at her. "Thank goodness. How are you feeling?"
Palkia responded getting up slowly but steady. It also looked at Dawn and Ash.
"I guess it also remembers you." Iris deduced.
"Well, we did pass through some events together." Ash admitted.
"Pikachu."
"Here, have these. It will help you recover your energy." May said offering some berries.
While the Autobots contemplated the huge pokémon while it ate with the children and the pokémon around it, Tracey taking the chance for a unique drawing, Predaking approached Optimus.
"It's well now, we have prevented a tragedy from happening."
"Yes Predaking, but unfortunately the situation has become more dangerous. Now we know why the Decepticons have become interested on dark energon."
"If what you witnessed is true and Darkscream has found a way to use dark energon to control pokémon, everything on this planet could be at risk." Elita added.
"We need to find a way to stop the Cons once and for all." Hot Rod followed.
"Or just remote whatever amount of dark energon remains in their possession. If that's the key element for their master plan the pokémon will be of no use for them without it."
"Let's hope for that, Blaster. As well that they haven't found any alternative ways of acquiring that sinister matter." Optimus concluded.
After checking there was no side effects from both the cure and dark energon, the Autobots showed Palkia the way out, allowing it to return back to its dimension. The same for Mewtwo, who said goodbye to the whole gang before continue their way, promising to be alert for the Decepticons or any of their activities.