"…" – Normal talking
'…' – Thinking and Pokémon talking.
Ash just stood there confused as Team RWBY continued to embrace Emerald. Ash sensed her anxiety and fear growing.
"Where've you been all this time?" Yang asked.
Emerald was very skeptical about answering right away. She sighed and looked at her in the eye.
"Repaying my debts." She whispered.
"Huh?" Yang asked.
"Everything I did before joining up with you guys against Salem, I was working on repaying my debts. Unfortunately, I was tricked and left for death. I was dumped out by that alleyway where Ash found me. Now I am completely defenseless without my weapons." She explained.
Ash thought for a moment.
"I'll be back." He said before leaving. He returned to the alleyway, where Emerald was dying, and looked around. He then had an idea. "Magnera!" He yelled while aiming Divine Elemental in the air.
An orb was created that produced a magnetic field. It began attracting objects all around until he found what appeared to be a pair of damaged sickles floating in the air. The orb dissipated, and Ash took the weapons back.
"Here. Are these them?" Ash asked Emerald while presenting them to her.
She looked at the weapons and gasped. She took them and quickly put them in the holsters.
"Yes. Thank you! I will do what I can to repay you." She said.
"Think nothing of it." Ash said.
"So wait, you've disappeared to repay your debts for a year? Why didn't you tell us?" Weiss asked.
"The same reason you all went your ways after we defeated Salem. You all chose your pathways, and I've chosen mine. I was about to finish the last debt recently but was tricked and left to die. They dumped me in that alleyway and threatened my life if I ever returned to Mistral." Emerald explained.
"Oh, Emerald. I'm so sorry. Tell you what, you can be with us, along with our friends." Ruby suggested.
"What?" Emerald asked while looking at the team leader. "Why? Even after everything?" She asked.
"You are on our side. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have been able to defeat not only Salem but Cinder too." Ruby said.
Ash watched as the team was convincing Emerald to stay with them. He had a hunch that she had nowhere else to go. There was good in here, but a lot of conflicts within her aura.
"Well! I best be off! Sunshine and I have a match coming up!" Yang yelled with confidence.
"Who are you facing?" Emerald asked.
"Let's see here…" She said while looking at the schedule. She blinked for a second and looked at Ash. "It's Misty and Max." She answered.
"Oh…..no…." Ash said as fear began to overtake him.
"What?" Emerald asked.
"Max…he's more dangerous than you think. He has a Raichu that is a Shadow Pokémon. You must proceed with extreme caution." He said.
"Don't worry! Sun and I got this! We'll take them down before they can say Bumblebee!" Yang yelled with a bigger smirk.
"If you say so. Just, uh…don't get too ahead of yourself." Ash warned her.
"I won't. Bye!" She sang before she strolled off to prep for her match.
With Sun and Yang, they were going over a game plan for their match with Misty and Max. From what they learned, Max was the biggest threat, so he needed to go first.
"So, we know what we're doing?" Sun asked.
"Yeah. Let's do this!" Yang yelled before they kissed and left for the field hand in hand.
When they entered the battlefield, they saw their opponents Max and Misty entering from the opposite side. Yang's eyes glowed red and her hair began to smoke.
"Yang…chill out." Sun said.
"Oh, I will, after we humiliate these traitors." She said before her eyes went back to lavender, and her hair extinguished.
"Seen your second boyfriend, Ash, lately?" Max asked.
"EXCUSE ME!?" Yang shouted as her anger, and semblance reactivated.
"He's already taken! Quite getting into her head!" Sun threatened.
"That cat Faunus could do better!" Misty yelled.
"No, she can't. She's been a fan of his ever since the Indigo Plateau, and she finally met him and won his heart. Why? Do you have a thing for him?" Sun asked.
This got under Misty's skin, and she was furious.
"Ask me again and find out!" She yelled while attempting to grip her weapon.
"Enough!" Glynda yelled while joining them.
"Thank you!" Yang yelled while calming down again.
"The next match is about to commence! Yang Xiao Long and Sun Wukong Vs. Max Maple and Misty Waterflower! This is a four vs. four match, and whichever side loses all four Pokémon will end the match. Furthermore, there will be no substitutions throughout the match." Glynda announced.
"Alright! Misty calls Gyarados!" Misty yelled while sending her sea monster out onto the field.
Gyarados LVL 96 Water/Flying Intimidate
Rain Dance Bite Hydro Pump Hurricane
"Let's get this over with! Snorlax!" Max yelled while sending out his giant sleeping beast onto the field.
Snorlax LVL 97 Normal Thick Fat Leftovers
Giga Impact Body Slam Rest Sleep Talk
"Let's heat things up! Infernape!" Sun yelled while sending out his starter.
"Time to bring in the brute! Hitmonchan!" Yang yelled while sending out her boxer onto the field.
Hitmonchan LVL 96 Fighting Iron Fist
Drain Punch Thunder Punch Ice Punch Mach Punch
The moment all of the Pokémon were sent out, Gyarados roared at the opposing team, making them lose their attack stat due to the Intimidate ability.
"Battle commence!" Glynda yelled.
"Go, Hitmonchan! Thunder Punch!" Yang yelled while pointing at Gyarados.
Hitmonchan began to channel electricity in his fist. He shot himself towards it and dealt a powerful punch right to the gut, making it roar in pain.
"Now, Max!" Misty yelled.
"Use Slam!" He yelled.
The Snorlax rushed towards Hitmonchan and fell on top of him, crushing him and dealing a serious amount of damage.
"Got it off of him with Fire Punch!" Sun yelled.
Infernape screeched as his fist turned to flames. With a powerful punch, he caused Snorlax to roll off of Hitmonchan. Infernape helped him up and they got their distance.
"Try this on for size! Rain Dance!" Misty yelled.
Gyarados fired a ball of water into the sky. It exploded and dark clouds formed above them, making it rain. Infernape began to feel weird due to the rain coming down on them.
"Hang in there bud! Try to keep up the pressure!" Sun said to him.
"Use another Thunder Punch on Gyarados!" Yang yelled.
'Eat my fist!' Hitmonchan yelled while dealing another punch with galvanism flowing through him right at Gyarados, knocking it out.
"Gyarados is unable to battle! Infernape and Hitmonchan take the win!" Glynda yelled over the cheers.
Misty withdrew Gyarados and prepped her next Pokémon.
"Time to take it up a notch! Misty calls Kingdra!" She yelled while sending out her next Pokémon.
Kingdra LVL 95 Water/Dragon Swift Swim
Dragon Pulse Hydro Pump Dragon Dance Outrage
"Use Hydro Pump on the Infernape!" Misty yelled.
Kingdra inhaled deeply and shot out a powerful torrent of water from its snout. The torrent came out so fast that Infernape couldn't dodge it fast enough, making him get doused and sent flying into a wall. He was knocked out in the process.
"Infernape is unable to battle! Kingdra and Snorlax take the win!" Glynda yelled over the cheering crowd.
Sun was stunned to see his starter fall so fast.
"Oh man…well, I guess it calls for this." He said while bringing out his next ball.
"Do it, Sun. Time to fight fire with fire." Yang said before slamming her fists together.
"You got it! Poliwrath, go!" He yelled while sending out his next Pokémon.
Poliwrath LVL 96 Water/Fighting Swift Swim Expert Belt
Circle Throw Hydro Pump Close Combat Ice Beam
"Poliwrath! Use Circle Throw on the Snorlax!" Sun yelled.
'Get over here!' Poliwrath yelled while rushing towards Snorlax and grabbed him. He turned around and used his mighty strength and threw it over his head. 'SMASH!' He shouted when he slammed Snorlax hard onto the ground, enough to knock it out with one shot.
"Snorlax is unable to battle! Poliwrath and Hitmonchan win!" Glynda yelled while the stadium cheered.
Max returned Snorlax and began to smile a bit rather evilly. He brought out his next ball.
"Raichu! Go!" He yelled while sending out his strongest Pokémon.
Sun and Yang began to get nervous as they were told about this Raichu.
"Hitmonchan! Use Ice Punch on Raichu!" Yang yelled.
'Eat this!' He yelled while rushing in and his fist turned to dry ice. He dealt a powerful punch to him but was surprised to see that he grinned at him. 'GAH!' He yelled in pain as he felt his body becoming paralyzed from the Static ability.
"Fool. Hydro Pump on the Hitmonchan!" Misty yelled.
Kingdra inhaled and fired another powerful torrent of water right at Hitmonchan. It was a direct hit and he was sent flying into a wall, knocking him out.
"Hitmonchan is unable to battle. Kingdra and Raichu wins!" Glynda yelled.
Yang returned Hitmonchan and began to think.
"This complicates things a bit. Well…I guess it can't hurt to try this one. Go, Salamence!" She yelled while sending out her powerful dragon.
Salamence LVL 96 Dragon/Flying Intimidate Dragon Gem
Draco Meteor Dragon Claw Fly Flamethrower
Salamence roared at her opponents, making them lose their attack stat a bit.
"Raichu, use Volt Tackle on Poliwrath!" Max yelled.
Raichu began to rush towards Poliwrath, and electricity began to engulf him. It struck at Poliwrath hard like a tank firing its shell at him, sending him away, and he fainted with one shot.
"Poliwrath is unable to battle. Kingdra and Raichu wins!" Glynda yelled.
Sun returned his last Pokémon and he slowly backed away, leaving Yang to fight.
"Sun…" She said while looking back at him.
"It's okay. Just remember to go all out, and show no mercy. Do it for Blake, Ash, and everyone that you love!" He cheered.
"Blake…Ruby…Weiss…" She whispered while holding her heart. She then looked back at the traitors and began to smirk. "Alright! Salamence! Bring the rain!" She yelled.
He roared into the sky, his Dragon Gem glowed in the process. He began making glowing orange meteors form above them. Dozens of them began to rain down on Kingdra, while Raichu began to try to dodge them to the best of his knowledge.
After a bit, the dust settled, and Kingdra fell and fainted.
"Kingdra is unable to battle! Salamence wins!" Glynda yelled.
As the crowd cheered, Misty returned her fallen Pokémon and backed away. Max and Yang glared at each other. Salamence hyperventilating from using that attack.
"Raichu…finish it." Max growled slightly.
Raichu began to channel electricity through his body. A bit of darkness began to radiate from the electricity, and even from his body.
"What the…?" Yang asked while something seemed wrong.
Raichu then screamed as shot Shadow Bolt right at Salamence, overwhelming the dragon, and exploding. He fell onto the ground seriously wounded, fainting from the extreme pain.
"Salamence is unable to battle! Raichu wins! The winner of this round goes to Misty Waterflower and Max Maple!" Glynda announced.
Yang was paralyzed with shock when the fight ended. She then fell onto her knees and looked down.
"Yang? Yang!" Sun yelled while kneeling down to her.
"We had the perfect plan…that Raichu…what is it?" She asked as tears began to form in her eyes and returned Salamence.
"Come on, let's go." He said while pulling her up and taking her out of the stadium.
"Ash…everyone…I failed…" She sobbed.
The two of them returned to the hotel and went to Yang's room. Glynda just stood there and watched as her former student was so broken from that overwhelming attack. The rest of her teammates were elsewhere. She sat on her bed and looked down at her lap.
"Sun…do you mind if I be alone right now?" She asked.
"Of course. Shall I go fetch Blake, or bring you up anything?" Sun asked.
"Sure. My usual, and maybe have Blake bring it?" Yang asked.
"Of course. Take it easy." He said before he kissed her head and left.
After a while, Blake knocked on the door and opened it. She had brought her some fruit and some tea. She set them down on a counter before going to her.
"Hey. You, okay?" Blake asked before leaning on her, to which she followed.
"Honestly, no I'm not. I feel so humiliated and confused." Yang whimpered.
"Listen." Blake said before she adjusted herself, cupped her cheeks and their eyes met. "We can still win this. Weiss and I are still in this tournament, and we will avenge you. It's clear that Max is the biggest threat. We've been through worst, and you know it." She told her.
Yang took her wrist and her forehead met hers.
"You better." She whispered.
"Come on, show me that smile." Blake said with a teasing voice. When Yang gave a forceful smile, Blake saw right through her. "Hard way it is then." She said before she began to tickle her.
Yang gasped and she began to laugh loudly. She struggled to fight her off, but Blake was too clever. It soon got to the point when they fell onto the bed and Yang was on top of her while they chuckled.
"Blake…" Yang whispered.
"Yang…" Blake whispered back.
"Don't ever leave me again." Yang whispered before she gently stroked her head.
"I won't." She said.
When they looked into their eyes and realized what position they were in. They blushed.
"Should we…?" Blake asked as they got closer.
Yang leaned in before they closed their eyes and their lips.
Meanwhile, earlier, Sun went to track down Ash after the match. He found him sitting with Ruby and Weiss while discussing the match.
"Poor Yang. First time I've seen her this devastated since she learned the truth of mom's fate and how Raven practically betrayed her." Ruby said.
"I can't imagine why." Ash said.
"Best pray that you, Blake, me, and Nebula manage to pull a win to defeat them. Unfortunately, our match is against a traitor of yours if I remember." Weiss said.
"Best of luck. You'll need them." Ruby said.
"Hey, guys. Man, that Max fellow is something else." Sun said while joining them.
"That Raichu is worse than we realized. If Ash claims Raichu is a Shadow Pokémon, then we'll need to plan around that. Except, we can't prove anything." Weiss said.
"Not yet. But I think I have a few ideas." Ash said while summoning his Keyblade.
"You think that will save it?" Ruby asked.
"I believe so. The only catch is that I need to be close enough while he's down." He said.
After a while, Ash and Sun decided to go and check up on Yang. Ash knew that Blake was there, so he knew that Yang was with the right people. When they entered, they froze up with the sight they were seeing with Blake and Yang.
They saw them standing by the bed passionately kissing each other with Blake rubbing Yang's ass, and Yang with a hand gently stroking Blake's ears, and the other on her heart. They seem to be relishing it rather nicely.
"Um…should we stop this?" Ash asked while feeling very uncomfortable seeing his girlfriend making out with Sun's girlfriend.
"You'll have to forgive them. They had been very close for years, and I knew Blake wouldn't do anything to ruin my relationship with Yang. Although, given what's going on….good idea." Sun said.
Sun cleared his voice loudly, making Blake and Yang break apart and gasped at who was watching them. Their hearts sank and their stomachs twisted when they saw their boyfriends seeing them, Blake especially since they had just got together.
"Sun!? Ash!?" Yang yelled while frightened.
"What's going on?" Ash asked.
"Ash…I…I can't…if you want to break up with me, that's okay. I deserve it, and-MMPH!" Blake was cut off when Ash kissed her.
Yang ran to Sun and kissed him passionately and hoped he would forgive her, to which he returned it and showed that he did forgive her.
"Sun, sometimes you're too nice for your own good." Yang whispered.
"Maybe, but that's just what makes me, me." Sun said.
Ash and Blake broke the kiss, and he held her wrists.
"Blakey…why didn't you tell me you were this close to Yang? If you two are like this for comforting reasons, just say something." He said.
"I'll admit, I did have feelings for Yang for some time. But by the time she got with Sun, I hated myself for not telling her sooner. But she and Sun knew all along. We all agreed that she and I can be like this whenever we see fit. I guess I forgot to mention that to you. Tell you what, I know what'll make it up to you. On the bed." Blake said.
"O-okay?" Ash asked while sitting down.
Blake sat on him while facing him and began to kiss his neck to the point of licking it. He began to gasp from the feeling of it.
"You'll love this next part. This'll seal your relationship forever." Yang said.
"What are yo-GAH!" Ash shouted in pain as he felt Blake teething his neck to the point of sucking it. When she released him, he held his neck. "What the hell!?" He yelled while seeing a bit of blood on his palm.
"I bared you, my mark. Now we are meant to be together forever. It's a Faunus thing when they find their ideal mates, or to seal your friendship forever with another." Blake explained.
"Really?" Ash asked.
Yang revealed her neck to Ash and revealed two kiss bites, one on each side.
"These were from both Sun and Blake. I love them to death outside my family. We're sorry we didn't tell you everything about us all, Ash." She said.
"I forgive you. Just, let me know next time." Ash said.
"Done. Anyway, ready to go cheer on Weiss and Nebula?" Blake asked.
"She's gonna need all the support she can get. Brock is the traitor that they are facing." Ash said while looking at the scheduled matches.
Ash knew that Brock was no fool, but Weiss was very clever. He and his friends knew what they needed to do and be there for Weiss when the time came.
Meanwhile, at an underground base in the northern part of Vale, Mercury was going down some stairs with a bit of a struggle due to his wooden legs. He finally reached the main floor where he saw the other prisoners that were set free due to Hasx's threat trade sitting at a conference table. He also saw Salem at the other end of the table.
Hasx slowly turned towards Mercury.
"Black, I was beginning to wonder if you'd actually come or not." He said.
"Would've gotten here sooner if I had my actual good legs." Mercury said while taking a seat next to Raven, who refused to even look at them.
"You'll get your chance soon enough. Now then, you are all wondering why I freed you all from prison. Well here's your answer: a chance for glory like you've all been stripped of. Salem here was the first as she would be proven to be most useful for my plans." Hasx said while addressing the Black Queen herself.
"What I don't get is why you brought…her here." Mercury said while looking at Raven, who just glared back at him.
"Come now. Like Cinder before you, she has something that would be of use. Of course, if she refuses to play her part, I can always feed her to the hounds." Hasx said while slowly getting up and walking towards Raven.
"As much as I appreciate you giving us freedom, what good would I do? Surely, you know that we have eyes on all of us." Merlot pointed out.
"And I can get back to my old job in Vale. I got a mafia to rally." Junior said.
"Exactly. Junior will help gain more followers, and Merlot, I have a special task for you that involves creatures called the Heartless. While you will not do anything to the Grimm…you can with the Heartless." Hasx said.
"Give me documents, and samples, and perhaps I can make breakthroughs." Merlot said while getting a bit anxious.
"Everything you need to know will be from these." He said while some of the Heartless gave him documents of these very creatures with interest.
Merlot began to read through them, and he began to chuckle.
"Now you got my attention. I can't go to my lab, though. Perhaps…it can come to me?" He asked.
"We will provide you with everything you'll need." Hasx said. He then looked back at Raven. "You continue to remain silent. Surely, you know that the freedom I gave you beats the alternative?" He asked. She continued to say nothing. "Hmm?" He asked before leaning on her chair.
"Don't bother. She's much more of a coward than Lionheart ever was." Salem said.
This struck a nerve with Raven, who shot up and threw the chair aside.
"YOU ALMOST MURDERED MY FAMILY!" She shrieked at her.
"HA!" Hasx laughed at this, making her look at him with a death glare. "And what family would that be? The one you abandoned, or the one that you never cared for?" He asked rather calmly.
"You leave them out of this!" Raven demanded.
"Or what? You're finally going to be the mother and wife that you could never be?" He asked, making her blood boil more. Raven attempted to attack her, but Hasx summoned Dark Reincarnation and struck her wrist, almost breaking it. "So weak." He said while she fell onto her knees and held her wrist.
Hasx and everyone else glared down at her when she was vulnerable. He then looked at another side of the room and summoned someone else to join them.
"Who's the kid?" Junior asked.
"To those of you who do not know, we are also joined here today by a young Maximillian Maple, who was once in league with Ash as a travel companion. His hatred for him began with Ash's victory against his father in a gym match years prior, which in turn unlocked his aura out of frustration. He also led the strike at Kalos after Ash won the tournament and he was crowned champion six years ago. His motivation is to use the Shadow Pokémon to wipe out anyone that gets in his way, with Ash being his main target." Hasx explained.
"Shadow Pokémon? The last time I heard of that was the outbreak of them in the Orre region. How'd you get your hands on one?" Mercury asked.
"The Raichu I got was actually Ash's first Pokémon. After the attack, Pikachu at the time believed that Ash was still alive, but we simply filled him with nothing but lies. After some time of manipulating and showing proof that he was gone, he gave in to the anger and darkness from within. At the region, I was able to make him close his heart and the darkness consumed him, transforming him into a Shadow Pokémon. My goal is to bathe the region with negativity. Should Ash release the darkness, it'll disperse said negativity and would give the Grimm all the more energy to feed on." Max explained.
Salem chuckled.
"Clever boy. I think you'll fit in well with our ranks." She said.
"As long as I get my swing at Ash, I'll be satisfied." Max said.
"Now then, it is time we formulated our phases of the plan. First, we need to gather as many followers as we can. Mercury, I have a special task for you. Take a few squads to the Xiao Long residence in Patch. Raven requires her sword. If her 'husband' and brother get in the way….kill them." Hasx said.
"With pleasure." Mercury said.
"NO! PLEASE! DON'T!" Raven screamed, begging for their lives and her eyes igniting, revealing her Spring Maiden magic.
"I don't take orders from you! Don't make me kill you now!" Mercury threatened her.
"Enough!" Hasx said while getting in between them with his Keyblade channeling dark electricity.
"We may not be on good terms, but I still love my brother and husband." Raven said as tears began to form in her eyes.
"If you want them to live, you will do as I say." Hasx said while glaring down at her. Raven slowly looked down and nodded, eyes extinguished. "Junior, I would like for you to gather your best subordinates to help join our cause. If you can get the best, that'll be useful for eyes all around." He said while facing him.
"I know some people that used to be a part of Roman Torchwick's cause. They'll be valuable." Junior said.
"Merlot, keep me informed about the enhancement of the Heartless." Hasx said.
"Of course." He said.
"Now go." Hasx said.
Everyone, minus Salem and Raven, left to complete their tasks. Salem and Hasx looked down at Raven while she squirmed. Salem raised a hand at her, She channeled electricity and fired it at Raven, making her scream in pain as she tortured her.
"Consider that your final warning. Fail me again, and I'm sure that your daughter will be the perfect new vessel for your magic or die in vain." Hasx said when Salem ended the torture.
Raven twitched madly on the ground as she was vulnerable and crippled. After they both vanished, she got the strength to crawl onto the table and pulled out a Quick Ball. She then sent out a Murkrow.
Murkrow LVL 33 Dark/Flying Super Luck
Gust Night Shade Taunt Mean Look
"We need to alert Tai and Qrow. I can't go to them, but you can. Be quick, and good luck." She said before her Murkrow took flight and left. She then held her damaged wrist and began to massage it. "Tai…Qrow…Yang…help me." She whimpered.
With the threat now being bigger than ever, Ash and his friends are about to have the fight of their lives. When will they attack Vale? Can they have the strength to fight them all off? Find out more as we get further into the tournament as the story continues.