Mewtwo's body ached without cease. The wounds and fatigue his puppeteer had inflicted upon his body were many, and the remnants of his energy were little. But far, far worse than that was the sight laid out before him.
The expanse of death laid before him sickened him. What was one a beautiful valley filled with life was flattened, filled with craters, and coated in black ashes. A massive chasm at its center swallowed up much of it and burned its sorrows mercilessly. The Tree of Beginning, which had accepted him as one of its own like an adoptive parent, now dangled over that chasm while blackened, broken, and bereft of its former beauty.
And Mewtwo had helped to reduce it to this state. Because he had been weak—because he had slipped up for only a moment—this was the result! This beautiful world and its wonderful life—all ravaged, having torn itself apart! It was his fault! Had he not been so careless, he could have fought on the right side and perhaps stopped this fruitless war!
To make sure Rayquaza and Groudon were out of earshot, Mewtwo teleported above the chasm before letting out his scream of helpless anger directed mostly at himself. It was something he had yearned to do ever since he had fallen under the control of that thing, building more and more with no voice to vent his sorrow.
Upon the edges of the chasm, people and Pokemon fought on the dead valley amidst their dead friends and family. Their bitterness, fueled by revenge, carried their bodies forward to attack with the meager strength they could manage even as the air around them held less and less life. And as he watched the small remnants of the war around him, Mewtwo could not help but wonder.
"Had I succeeded against Mew back then, would I have led to the same result?"
He was all the more thankful to Ash and to Mew for allowing him a new lease on life time and time again. Yet this only made his anger at himself for having aided in this beautiful world falling so far boil more terribly.
Now, at least, he had the power to set things right. Even with his body drained after its misuse, there was enough left for what little remained.
Near the chasm edge, a lone soldier snarled as he stumbled forward, using his empty machine gun to swipe at a lone Grotle. He smacked the hefty Pokemon across its face. With bruises and scars all over its body, this meager strike was enough to make the Pokemon's legs buckle beneath it.
On trembling legs, the Grotle clamped its teeth shut and hissed between them with great effort to keep itself standing. The man it faced staggered after delivering his strike, wobbling dangerously near the chasm's cliff. Taking in a deep breath, the Grotle summoned what little of its strength remained and charged the man.
That lone soldier looked up at the sound. With hazy eyes and through a dirty, cracked visor on his helmet, he watched a yellow and green smudge in his vision grow bigger. Then, he was stricken. At first, he didn't even realize it. Most of his body had already gone numb.
The blow sent him tumbling limply until he rolled over the edge. His attacker had no chance to celebrate. Unable to stop its own charge with its fatigued legs, it crumpled and slid over after him. The two only realized where they were when it was too late. But they were too tired to scream.
As they plummeted down toward the fiery abyss ready to swallow them whole, sorrows and all, they became encased in a faint, amethyst-colored glow. The two tired warriors were lifted out from the volcanic maw and set down beside it.
They both blinked, stunned. Their blurred minds could hardly fathom the fact that they were still alive. They looked to one another, and then out at their surroundings. Across what remained of the valley battlefield, similar events played out.
A soldier roared as he fired his final bullet at a downed Minccino, only for it to be blocked by a violet barrier. A Magmortar shifted its arm into a cannon and launched a Flamethrower at a limping soldier shielding her fallen comrade with her body, only for the attack to be directed harmlessly away by a similar glow.
The tiny, fragmented remains of the war were gradually driven to a halt by Mewtwo's meddling. And then, when the people and Pokemon were left equally confused, a voice entered their minds.
"Drop your weapons."
On instinct, guns and blades seemed to fall from the hands of the men. The Pokemon, meanwhile, retracted claws, lowered their arms, and pulled back the myriad of attacks and appendages used for battle. All eyes seemed to turn toward Mewtwo, who found himself sighing in relief once the fighting came to a close.
"Wonderful," He whispered to himself. In their minds, Mewtwo searched. He saw their pain, their loss, their will, and their motivation within their memories. Steeling his will, Mewtwo spoke again to the survivors.
"Look at yourselves!" He shouted in their minds. "Destroying one another! How little you value the lives you were given to waste it like this. You think of your families and your futures. Look upon the world around you and see what the future holds for this path. Man and Pokemon were not meant to be enemies."
His speech seemed to resonate with even the soldiers. With the air failing to give any satisfying breath, and their bodies failing, both the people and the Pokemon found themselves failing to summon the will to strike one another.
Their bodies held bitter wounds inflicted by one another. Their minds held similar scars, having watched their friends and families perish at their hands. Despite their own fatigue and Mewtwo's words, there was no possible way they could forgive so easily. Not a chance at all.
They remained wary of one another, but did not attack. That was a start, at least. Mewtwo sighed again. It was optimistically idyllic of him to think this could be solved so easily. This could not be resolved as easily as was the case with himself.
"Fine," He muttered, summoning Psychic power around him, "Let's try something else. If I can share their memories and feelings with one another, then perhaps that kind of understanding could-"
A shrill noise pierced the air. Mewtwo turned and summoned a barrier just before several lasers impacted him, making him cry out. A black jet raced past the ensuing smoke cloud with near invisible speeds before slowing to crane around for a second volley.
Within the jet, the artificial intelligence piloting it chuckled. "Not so fast," Chided the remnants of Auto. Then, over the radios and transceivers of the soldiers, he relayed a message. "Don't be so quick to believe the lies of the enemy. If my word isn't enough for you, look at the bodies of your allies and ask them if they found mercy from these monsters."
The black, automated jet sped toward the smoke cloud, readying the artificial Spacial Rend weapon along its underside. "Neither will you. This war isn't over yet. Don't forget what we're fighting for."
Ash tried to shield his eyes from the light with a trembling arm, attempting to speak out at whoever's voice rang loudly at him. Yet his hoarse voice only came out as a weak breeze against the booming winds of the propellers. He couldn't even hear himself against the blades beating at the air.
"If you are non compliant, we will have no choice but to open fire. By show of hands, surrender and drop Mew. You have on count of three." Manuall's voice then menacingly blared, "Three…"
As if Ash could even comply with his demands. He could scarcely even move, let alone lift his arms, and if he did, he'd drop Mew and she would die for sure. But if he did nothing, she would die anyway, along with him and everyone else.
"Two…"
Ash wanted to scream about how stupid all of this was. If Mew dies, they all die. Why couldn't they see that? Yet his voice would not obey him, weakening still with each effort he made toward it. He looked down to Shaun in despair, trying to plead with him to try to teleport again, yet failing to have the strength to even speak over the noise.
"One."
Ash winced and closed his eyes. From the skies, there was a brilliant, yellow flash of lightning. Upon striking the top of the Nuada, a loud thunderclap blared across the gash in the tree and made the walls quake. The Nuada was tilted down, making its weapons fire into the walls, tunnels, and empty chambers just below.
Amidst the flashing sparks, Ash saw two figures that made him question if he was still alive at all. One, a mangy wolf covered in bright yellow fur. The other, someone who Ash was beginning to think seeing again was too good to be true.
Zeraora flew back from the Nuada and landed near Ash, skidding back on his heels. Beside him, a smaller Pokemon did the same. A little yellow mouse with their tail shaped like a lightning bolt and clipped at its edge. Ash could scarcely believe his eyes.
"P-Pikachu!" Rasped Ash.
At the call of his name, Pikachu's ear twitched. He turned and, upon seeing his first friend, at first recoiled at the shock of seeing him again. That shock soon turned to glee, and the yellow mouse quickly dashed toward his trainer and dove at him, squealing with joy.
Ash managed to open a trembling arm enough for Pikachu to leap in for a long-awaited embrace. Life returned to Ash's eyes as he felt the sparky nuzzles of his best friend. He chuckled with his diminishing strength, even managing a smile.
"Pikachu. I'm so glad you're okay…!"
There was some mix of a scoff and a chuckle from Zeraora. "Great to see you too, thanks for asking," He said sarcastically.
Turning his attention toward Zeraora, Ash let out a weighty sigh. "Thank you, too. Thank you for keeping Pikachu safe."
At that, Zeraora scraped the underside of his nose with one finger. "Well," He began, pointing his paw skyward, "This was some pretty powerful motivation."
A flash of white emerged over Zeraora's paw, summoning with it a flickering white flame of Ash's Aura. "I think this has been making me a bit soft the longer it's stuck around. At least it brought me back to you."
He clapped a hand to his head, suddenly exclaiming, "I've been looking everywhere for you! Sometimes your Aura signature would vanish or sometimes it would move somewhere else completely. You really make it a pain to save you, you know?"
Ash let out a sigh. "Sorry about that. A lot has been going on."
Looking Ash over, Zeraora saw how pale and hollow his skin looked. Not to mention the Pokemon motionless in his arms. "…I can see what you mean." Rubbing the back of his head, he turned toward the cliff edge. "Well, I'm glad I made it in time. That weird machine thing almost had you. What in the world happened?"
Glancing back, he saw again the state of the pink Pokemon in his arms as well as a Ralts hiding behind Ash's leg. "Nevermind," He grumbled. "It's probably a long story and we don't have a whole lot of time."
"You can say that again," Agreed Ash. "If we…" He wheezed a weak breath of stagnant air. "…Don't get Mew moving soon, it's over."
"Can you move?" Asked an incredulous Zeraora. Ash's response was to try to push himself off of the rock, only to slump back down upon it. The yellow wolf grumbled. "What, am I supposed to carry you? I think the shocks would do you in." But then, an idea struck him.
Again, Zeraora summoned the Aura that Ash had given him. Extending his arm, he offered it back to Ash. Ash was hesitant to reclaim it, but it was not as if he had much choice in the matter. As soon as his fingers made contact with the flame, it swirled up his arm and spread throughout his body before fading.
Ash let out a firm breath of relief and stood up, looking himself over. Then, he looked down to Mew, sighing in relief. "Thank you, Zeraora. It won't last for long, but it may get Mew to the Aura Stream at least."
"Who to the what?" Inquired the wolf, crossing his arms. He glanced down to the Pokemon in Ash's arms. "Is that Mew? Don't take this the wrong way, but what's so important about them?"
Ash glanced off into the distance. "If Mew dies, this tree dies. And if this tree dies, the world goes with it."
Zeraora's eyes widened. "That…is important."
Steadily, the propellers of the Nuada rose up once again. The beating winds from its propellers brought all eyes upon it once more as Ash and his friends stood against it.
Again came the voice of Commander Manuall. "I will not ask again. Surrender or be fired upon! I will not allow this war to continue to take more human lives if I may help it, including you."
Able bodied once more, Ash stepped up, able to at last use the extent of his voice to protest. "I'm trying to end the war! Look around you! There's no point to it! As long as you keep fighting, more lives are going to be uselessly lost!"
He extended his arm out to the exposed chambers and tunnels to show what he meant. Of the hanging people and vehicles, their battles with Pokemon epitomized in time by their corpses for all to see. Of the battle which still raged on, threatening the lives of the Pokemon and the people as they fired upon one another.
"This war has helped no one!" Roared Ash. "Why can't you see that the longer it goes on, the more of your men will die?! Killing Mew won't stop that!"
There was silence from within the Nuada for a time. Zeraora anxiously held himself back from diving down to incapacitate the men he saw if only for Ash's sake all the while. Finally, there came a response from Commander Manuall.
"…You are right." The guns along the Nuada pointed away from Ash. "To an extent, at least. I cannot allow this war to take more human lives."
Then, the air was filled with deafening buzzing as the guns opened fire. With greater rapidity than rainfall, the guns launched innumerable rounds into the chambers and tunnels, striking down many Pokemon inside as they fought with the humans.
Ash cried out in despair. "No! No!" He snarled, pulling at his head as if he were trying to tear apart his own mind as his Aura relayed the deaths of the Pokemon to him. Zeraora and Pikachu looked at him with almost as much concern as they did for the massive helicarrier.
It seemed, to Ash, that there would be no reasoning with any of these people. Pointing to the Nuada, he shouted, "Take out its weapons! There can't be any more deaths!"
Zeraora and Pikachu nodded mutually. With lightning speeds, the electric wolf sped ahead. Upon his paws, electricity surged and crackled. "Eat this!" He roared, and then planted his two front paws into the first gun. In its state, the gun instantly severed and fell.
Pikachu trailed after him, whipping an Iron Tail into the side of one of the guns at a thin attachment. Upon severing it, shells meant to be fired instead spilled down into the abyss. Pikachu leapt off of the gun to return to the cliffside before it fell.
However, these acts set the many other weapons upon them, as well as Ash, once again. Sensing impending doom, Ash quickly called, "Pikachu!" And then dove for the mouse before rolling behind the stony edge of the exposed tunnel before the bullets could fly. It was only a moment before Zeraora appeared beside them in a flash.
While bullets threatened to chip away at the stone acting as their refuge, the trio wracked their brains for ideas. Unable to tear his mind from Mew in Ash's arms, a thought occurred to him. Earlier, when he had been injured, the tree answered his cry of frustration and healed him. Was that her?
It reminded him of Ash. How he had done the same. These things had already given him much to ponder, but he hardly had the time to keep thinking about it. Spending time thinking wasn't his style anyways. So, he stood up and decided to do what felt right.
Ash looked up at him in shock. "What are you doing?!"
"Giving you two an opening," Responded Zeraora confidently, flashing an unseen smirk. He pointed out along the cliff. From where they stood, there was a large enough opening that someone could cross over toward another wide tunnel. "Mew can't afford to stay here, can she?"
Ash tried to open his mouth to retort, but it took only a brief glance down for him to begrudgingly agree. "I hate this. I hate having to leave my friends behind. But you're right. Just don't die on me. I can't lose anyone else!"
Staring down at him with pity, Zeraora couldn't help but to remember the sight of a little girl surrounded by flames. He shook this memory from his head and replied, "Relax. I don't go down easily." Then, he turned and vanished in a bright yellow flash.
Faster than any bullet could reach him, Zeraora zipped toward the Nuada Helicarrier and drove his paw through the cracked glass windshield. Immediately, wind from the differing pressures was kicked up, sending up shouts and screams of confusion from the Nuada's crew.
Those cries were swiftly cut short as a flash of lightning zigzagged from person to person faster than anyone could blink, sending shocks coursing throughout their bodies. The last one to fall was Commander Manuall, who was thrown onto his back by the electricity coursing through his body.
It stopped when a claw hoisted him up by his suit. The commander opened his eyes to see the sharp grin of Zeraora who seemed pleased with himself. "Tell me how to stop this thing," Ordered the wolf, "Or get fried."
Commander Manuall coughed, scowling up at Zeraora. "When Mew dies," He rasped hoarsely, "The war ends, and my men no longer need to die." His hand clamped around the wolf's wrist. Meeting his attacker's gaze, the commander declared, "That is worth more to me than my life, monster."
His words caused Zeraora's jaw to hang slightly. Not expecting such a response, he scoffed and kicked the man away before zipping away in a flash of lightning. A metal door leading away from the bridge was thrown open loudly as he disappeared into the Nuada's depths to find his answer out for himself.
Emergency alarms soon began to blare, not even allowing the bridge crew to return to their feet. As Manuall dragged himself up by the railings, he rasped out a growl. "Did that thing find the engine room already?!"
Outside the Nuada, the weapons ceased firing. Electricity sparked from their hinges as they were rendered inoperative. No longer hearing their rapid bangings, Ash grabbed Shaun, rolled out from behind the rock and began sprinting.
"C'mon, Pikachu!" He commanded. His partner chirped his name in acknowledgment before running after him. As they ran, Ash sent a final, worried look up into the Nuada before forcing himself to turn away. Bowing down his head, he pressed forward.
He remained unaware of a creeping shadow approaching from behind. Three men walked into the light from the tunnel Ash had come from. Two of them wore red suits from head to toe, draped in wounds and burns. The third man held not even a scratch.
As Manuall managed to push himself back to his feet, he saw the three men and recognized one of them. "You're-!" He coughed, unable to sputter out the name he desired. Instead, he pleaded, "An unknown Pokemon is wreaking havoc in the Nuada Helicarrier! We need reinforcements!"
Nova asked the man only one question. "Where did the boy take Mew?"
Quickly, Manuall pointed to his left, showing Nova the exposed tunnel Ash had run to. "That way, sir!" A wince crept across the commander's face upon hearing, again, the screams of his men from the nearby chambers without the Nuada's weapons to ward off the Pokemon. "Please! There aren't many more of our men left!"
Nova nodded and gave a hand signal that sent the Red Suits into action. A slight twinge of relief fell upon Manuall as he saw them approach. But then, the two men suddenly turned and sped off after Ash at inhuman speeds. Nova began to run after them.
Manuall could hardly believe his eyes. "Wait, sir! Sir!" But his cries were for naught. The man was out of sight before long.
Latias, Serena, and her team fell down into a deep chasm of which there seemed to be no bottom. Most of them screamed until their voices were hoarse. Latias was the first to recover. Sweeping them up with Psychic, she quickly maneuvered out of the way of a Dragon Claw from a crimson-colored assailant.
As she weaved past the attack, the claw crashed into the side of the wall as they fell. Rubble was dragged up by the sharp energy. Latias went to retaliate when she noticed another stone falling as fast as she did. Glancing up, a gasp escaped her, and screams from the others, as they saw a hail of stones falling after them.
Grimacing, Latias took a nosedive and shot down, yanking the others alongside her. The Red Suit leapt out from the wall after them, scraping past a strand of Serena's hair as she fell. Latias turned and spat up a Mist Ball that impacted the Red Suit and sent it up into the falling stones.
Latias shot down with those she carried until she breached an exit. She flew outward to avoid crashing into the ground as she came upon a dark chamber with a relatively low-hanging ceiling. Just as the last of Serena's team was pulled away, the stones rained down onto the center of the chamber and piled higher. They only stopped when the path back up was clogged with stones.
The red glow around Serena and her Pokemon faded steadily when all became quiet. Once dropped to their feet, they let out a series of sighs before glancing around.
The chamber they found themselves in was dark. Hardly any light entered it, only breaching a myriad of long, diagonal gashes along the tilted walls. Serena wondered if they were from the tree's movement, but she quickly dashed that from her mind.
With Latias floating down beside her, Serena spoke shakily. "Th-thanks, Latias. Without you, we'd be goners." Seeing how jagged the pillar of fallen stones were, she shivered and hugged her own shoulders.
Latias nodded, but looked to the sealed ceiling with dismay. "We can't get back to Ash that way. I hope he's alright."
For another time, Serena sighed and looked over her Pokemon for injuries. As she inspected them, she replied, "Ash will…" It took swallowing a great lump in her throat to finish her thought. "…Be fine. He's strong. Still, we need to leave."
There was a crackling from the rubble that caught their attention. Their gazes snapped toward it and grimaces quickly washed over their faces once the inevitable struggle that would come of it fell upon them. From the stones, there was an eruption of fire. A swirl of flame rose high and scorched the ceiling. At the base of the fire was the Red Suit.
It turned from them toward one of the gashes on the wall to its right, then lurched for it. A red glow encumbered it and pulled it back from the air where it met Latias's Dragon Claw. It was sent careening into the ground, but quickly rose once more in a burst of wind.
"Where do you think you're going?" Questioned Latias with narrowed eyes.
Serena glanced between the crimson monster and the gashes in the walls. "Is it trying to go for Ash? Or Mew?"
Latias scowled at the creature. "Either way, we can't let that happen. Both of them have too much to deal with." Floating down beside Serena, she and the trainer exchanged a mutual nod. The other Pokemon gathered near, and they awaited the next move of the Red Suit.
Kneeling down, the Red Suit seemed to vibrate at its legs until the ground cracked beneath it. With a powerful Bounce attack, it leapt again for the gap, this time shrouding itself in a Dark Pulse attack to keep Latias's Psychic grip off of itself.
Scoffing in annoyance, Latias rushed up and tackled it. She yelled out as the dark energy coating its body afflicted her. The two crashed into the ceiling and bounced off of it, skidding in opposite directions. Though she coughed up dust, Latias managed to shout at Serena, "Stop it from getting away!"
Nodding, Serena pointed her finger out toward the Red Suit as it rose. Just looking at its mask reminded her of the stolen face beneath it, making Serena momentarily lose her nerve. Knowing what was at risk for faltering kept Serena from hesitating for more than a moment.
"Sylveon, grab it! Pangoro, Bullet Punch! Everyone else, get around it!"
With an array of nods like their trainer's, her Pokemon flew into action. While her other Pokemon ran off, Sylveon shot out her feeler ribbons and Pangoro gave chase after them. Those ribbons wrapped around the ankles of the Red Suit and yanked it toward her.
Before it could make a move to sever them, Pangoro stomped his foot into the ground, twisted his large body, and with a deep scowl, aimed his remaining arm. A silver sheen coated that arm. Determined to put it to good use, Pangoro gave a fearsome battle cry.
"Go-rorororororo!"
Rapidly, Pangoro's metal fist drove into the Red Suit's body. Sylveon removed her feeler so as to not get in the way, but the enemy adapted to Pangoro's speed quickly. It grabbed his arm to stop it and brought up its fist to use Focus Punch, but then a red glow coated it and it fell into the ground on its back.
A smirking Latias nodded to Pangoro. "Go for it!"
Eagerly, Pangoro returned the gesture before quickly setting his attention back upon the Red Suit. He roared ferociously before smashing his fist down upon the Red Suit's chest. A plume of dust shot up from the force of the punch. Soon after, a plume of darkness threw Pangoro back.
A flash of realization fell over Serena's face. "Sylveon, Moonblast between it and Latias!" She quickly shouted.
Her Pokemon did not question her order and raised her head, opening her jaw wide to manifest a gleaming whitish-pink orb before spitting it at the empty area. From the dust, the Red Suit lurched, bathed in Dark-Type energy upon its arm as it prepared to strike Latias with Brutal Swing.
It turned in response to a bright light and was struck in its side by the Moonblast, sending it skidding across the stone floor. It did not have time to recover, as the moment it turned its attention upon Serena, Latias's Dragon Claw sent it flying again.
Serena cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, "I think its typing changes when it uses attacks!"
"How do you figure?" Called Latias in turn. "And this thing has a type?!"
Unsteadily, Serena watched with a grimace as the Red Suit stood still for a moment before a green glow coated its body, steadily easing the wounds adorning it. "When it tried punching Pangoro, it became more vulnerable to your Psychic powers. And when it went for you, it reacted to Moonblast."
Latias set her sights on the monstrosity and took in a deep breath. "Good to know. But how do we stop it from healing?"
The Red Suit appeared unsteady once its Recover move faded. It stared vacantly at its adversaries from behind its mask. In its sight, there was only darkness and outlines of its enemies. They were vague shadows in its way.
Seemingly recognizing that it would be unable to fulfill its mission as long as there were obstacles, the lone Red Suit updated its own mission parameters to include an extra step before eliminating Mew: eliminating those in the way of that goal. Within the bounds of Nova's orders, these were acceptable conditions for operation.
It shot a quick Dark Pulse out at Latias, forcing her to evade upward to avoid the explosion. Then, satisfied with the distance it now had, it began to drag the attack around itself with one hand and spewing Smokescreen with its other hand. The result was a nefarious black haze that stripped the dark room of the little light it had.
It skulked though that darkness, dashing from place to place, no more visible than the peripheral blur of a shadow in the night, toward Serena. The weak link. Serena, meanwhile, clapped a hand over her mouth to avoid breathing in the dark smoke.
Sylveon's feeler ribbons twitched in response to its movement and she launched another Moonblast into the smog. Its brilliant light parted the smoke and impacted something in the darkness. Hot wind rushed past Serena's face that forced her to close her eyes.
The second she reopened them, the Red Suit, bathed in glittering smoke, was upon her. Her eyes shot wide as she saw it reaching for her neck. Latias's Psychic grip yanked it back before it could finish the girl off, though its fingers had nearly clamped around their target.
Just as it was turned around, the Red Suit prepared another Brutal Swing, and it was met with the jet-like speed of Latias racing toward it with Dragon Claw. That claw drove into its crimson mask, and in turn, its dark fist surging into the dragon's face.
A reverberating boom knocked Serena and Sylveon down as Latias and the Red Suit shot off in other directions. The rest of Serena's team abandoned their positions to return back to her, though not before Rhyperior managed to catch Latias. She cried out on impact. It wasn't as if Rhyperior was the softest landing.
The Red Suit, meanwhile, careened across the chamber until its head struck the wall on the other side. From where the others were, the darkness of the chamber obscured their vision from just how far it had gone.
It hung limply in the dark, it's head buried in the stone, for a time. Orange beams of light shined out from the cracks, and then, a bellowing boom shook the chamber. Serena's eyes widened as she saw an orange glow growing brighter and larger.
Quickly, she dove to the ground and covered her head. Her Pokemon and Latias weaved to the side to avoid a Hyper Beam that sailed past them. It shot out through one of the gashes in the chamber walls and impacted something. There was a loud crackling noise from whatever it had struck.
The sound of rumbling stones from ahead set their eyes upon the darkness once more. A ripple of stone moved across the ground toward Serena. "It's using Dig!" She warned. "Latias, get everyone up except Rhyperior! Rhyperior, use Earthquake!"
Latias wasted no time in carrying out the order. Once everyone but the hefty Rock-Type was in the air, it lifted a foot and smirked. The second its foot crashed into the ground, a ripple shook the ground almost as if it had been liquified.
The ground churned and swayed. All around them, the unstable chamber began to change shape. Many of the stones blocking the exit were juggled by the ground. Amidst the stone floor's remnants, the Red Suit was helplessly battered on all sides, being thrown against its whims.
It erupted from the ground in an explosion of fire that tore the stone on top of it apart before jumping at Serena again. She gasped, but Latias flew in the way and summoned a Reflect screen. The Red Suit's blow shattered the barrier and sent itself and Latias tumbling, as well as Serena.
She let out a choked cry upon falling to the ground. Rolling along her side, she scraped dreadfully across the now uneven ground. As she picked herself up, she felt warm wet spots along her body that made her hiss in discomfort.
Her Pokemon swiftly went to her aid, looking at her new wounds with horror and anger. "Don't worry," She assured them, forcing herself back onto her feet. With a grin meant to assure them of her health, she added, "A few bad scratches won't take me down."
Then, she turned toward the Red Suit with a steely gaze. She backed away, allowing her Pokemon to take the front so she could check on Latias.
"Are you alright?" She asked, earning a nod.
Latias growled, then floated back into the air to give the Red Suit a glare. "I'll be fine."
Serena stood at her side, mirroring her expression. "But this thing won't be."
"You took the words out of my mouth!"
Latias took off, kicking up wind that set Serena's hair fluttering. As she spat a Mist Ball at the recovering enemy, it evaded and twisted its body around hers, but she did the same. Her Dragon Claw met with its own, and the two danced around one another in an emerald colored flurry of draconic sparks.
White ribbons wrapped around the wrist of the Red Suit before it could throw another Dragon Claw, allowing Latias to land a clean shot that scraped across its body. Green sparks flickered across a threefold gash on its chest.
As it staggered back, the Red Suit looked down at the ribbon on its arm and grabbed hold of it. "Blaze Kick!" Shouted Serena, and suddenly, a flaming kick shot into the side of the Red Suit's head and made it stagger slightly, giving Latias enough time to hold it with Psychic and strike with Dragon Claw again, sending it flying.
When Sylveon attempted to remove its feelers from it, the Red Suit grabbed hold of them again and earned a yelp from the Eeveelution as it suddenly began flying alongside it.
With one hand, the Red Suit shot a Dark Pulse down at Serena. Latias's eyes went just as wide as everyone else's did. Forced to choose between Sylveon and Serena, she used Light Screen to shield the latter before a thunderous explosion rang out.
With no one to save Sylveon, the Red Suit swung her around in the air by her ribbons before smashing her into the stone floor. Sylveon gasped out in pain as the air in her lungs was forced out by the impact, but she received no reprieve.
The Red Suit, upon landing, yanked Sylveon out from her crater and swiftly delivered a Poison Jab that sent her flying, only to be again pulled toward the Red Suit by her ribbons. Again and again, Sylveon was struck with savage toxic blows, bounced repeatedly toward and away from her attacker until a red glow at last pulled the Red Suit away in the same manner.
While Latias handled the Red Suit, Serena ran for her downed Pokemon. "Sylveon!" She cried, falling to a slide on her knees to pick her up. "Are you alright?!"
There was no response. Grimacing, Serena bowed her head and returned Sylveon to her Pokeball so that her situation would not worsen. That grimace frozen upon her face, she stood again and turned toward the Red Suit with the rest of her team.
Her next words came out like a raspy whisper. "Alright. We can play like that too. Latias, throw it over!"
Latias evaded another Brutal Swing that sailed past her head. Its dark remnants flew out and struck the ceiling. "Alright," Growled Latias, digging two Dragon Claws into the sides of the Red Suit. She swung around and around before tossing it as requested. "It's all yours!"
Her face unchanging, Serena pointed up and ordered, "Rhyperior, Rock Wrecker! Braixen, use Confusion! Pangoro, charge a Focus Punch! And Clefable?" Serena glanced down at the Fairy-Type Pokemon and exchanged a steely stare with it. "…Metronome."
Clefable grinned excitedly.
Pangoro growled as he charged energy into his arm. Two holes in the palms of Rhyperior's hands spewed heated stones toward one another, gradually growing together and melding together. Upon firing the stone up at the Red Suit, a thunderous explosion rang out which Serena shielded herself from.
As it flew back, the Red Suit found itself in the Psychic grip of Braixen for a change, who yanked it up into the ceiling before throwing in a Flamethrower for kicks. It fell from the smoke, turning up its head towards its attacker with a Hyper Beam in hand until it heard a loud bellow.
Just as it turned, a Focus Punch was delivered into its mask. There was a loud crack as the damaged mask was crunched under the force of Pangoro's punch. It was sent flying and stopped by Latias's own Psychic. Taking it upon herself, she zoomed toward it and drove a Dragon Claw into its chest, piercing the wound she had made previously.
Clefable kept on tilting its fingers from side to side, keeping a smug look on its face.
Latias sped across the ground, dragging the Red Suit through its jagged, uprooted folds. With the Dark energy of Brutal Swing, the Red Suit instead used it to grab her neck and turn the tides. It pushed flames from the soles of its boots to accelerate as it pulled her up from the ground and into the walls.
A white glow covered its body, making its form begin to blur. Latias's eyes went wide when she realized it was using Agility. Suddenly, the Red Suit was dragging Latias across the walls of the chamber in circles with such speeds that the flames from its feet became a solid ring as it went around and around.
Looking upon this with worry, Serena called out to Clefable. "Metronome, now!"
All too eager to deliver, Clefable shot its fingers up. A foggy light, cloaked in gridlock, shot out from its body in all directions. As it passed the Red Suit and Latias, their speed suddenly crawled nearly to a halt. Everyone in the chamber glanced around in confusion until Serena realized what had happened.
"Trick Room!" She laughed with glee. "This is perfect! Great job, Clefable!" Her trusty Pokemon blushed, rubbing the back of its head bashfully. Giving it a thumbs up for its efforts, Serena turned to look up at the nearly frozen Red Suit with a dark grin. "Now's your chance, Rhyperior!"
Rhyperior nodded. When it took a step forward, its eyes went wide and it nearly tripped. Never had it moved with such speeds, not even during its days as a racing Rhyhorn. Suddenly, it matched its trainer's devious grin.
The Rocky Pokemon pulled its body back, standing upon one foot, and then raced around the chamber in a circle with even greater haste than what the Red Suit had managed. It leapt up at that man in red and ripped it off of Latias with its large hand before driving into the ground and sliding it toward another wall.
"Finish it off!" Encouraged Serena. "Horn Drill!"
The drill on Rhyperior's nose began to spin rapidly. Its revolving incurred a gust of wind. Pulling its head back, Rhyperior wasted no time in delivering the blow. It smashed its head, and by extension, Horn Drill, into the Red Suit's chest.
Using the leverage of the wounds Latias had already made in its chest, Rhyperior was able to easily rip apart the Red Suit's armor and plunge the attack through. It struck true, and the Red Suit soundlessly trembled as the One-Hit KO move worked its magic.
With a satisfied smirk, Rhyperior pulled away. The Red Suit sank to the ground, motionless and limp. Soon after, the Trick Room faded. Everyone watched the Red Suit with bated breath, but with a new hole in its chest, it didn't seem as if the Red Suit would be moving any time soon.
"Alright!" Triumphantly, Serena shouted that word of victory and pumped her arm into the air. Her remaining Pokemon did the same, minus Pangoro who opted instead to lean against a nearby wall. However much he wanted to keep up his act, even he could not resist the smirk arising upon his face.
Latias pulled herself from the wall she had become embedded in and sighed. She looked at the fallen body cautiously, then shifted her attention toward Serena. "That was incredible! How did Clefable know how to make Trick Room happen from Metronome?"
At that, Serena could only giggle and shrug. "I don't know." Turning toward Clefable, who wore a smug look on its face and puffed out its chest with pride, she added. "Clefable has always kind of been lucky with that move."
Studying Clefable for a brief moment, Latias allowed herself to sigh in relief. "Well, let's not congratulate ourselves too soon. We need to get back to Ash as soon as possible."
The smile fell from Serena's face at that. "…Right. He must be going through a lot worse by now. But how do we get out of here?"
Everyone's eyes steadily congregated upon the gashes of the chamber walls. Serena looked to Latias apologetically, surmising already that flight was likely their only way out. Once more, Latias sighed, but made no objection. So, off they went.
Pangoro removed himself from the wall to follow the others when he heard the sound of rustling stones. Slowly, he turned and found the spot where the Red Suit had been laying now empty. His heart sank. Whipping his whole body back around as fast as he could manage, he bellowed out a warning cry to the others.
Crimson boots stamped toward their blonde-haired target with speeds no longer restrained by Trick Room. Hearing Pangoro's warning cry, everyone turned around. Their speeds were sluggish in comparison. Serena turned with widening eyes when she was met with half of a crimson gas mask and a single void for an eye. That, and Rhyperior managing to step in the way.
A terrible, fiery red energy surged upon the Red Suit's body before striking Rhyperior with Counter. The blow was decisive. Its heavy armor was shattered in an instant as the power of what should have been a single shot victory became redirected back upon itself. Rhyperior's eyes whitened, and a loud bang of finality echoed throughout the chamber. Then, Rhyperior's legs buckled, and it fell.
Serena screamed its name.
With a dark snarl, Pangoro stampeded toward the monster in red. He threw another Focus Punch at the Red Suit, but only managed to catch the wall behind it as it slipped away. While Pangoro and the remaining Pokemon looked for where their enemy had gone, Serena fell to her knees over Rhyperior.
Clefable staggered back as it's eyes shot from place to place, attempting to spot where the Red Suit was. It managed that only too late, when its metal-coated fist was already pulled back in front of Clefable's face.
A resounding crash rang through the chamber as Meteor Mash impacted Clefable. All eyes flew to the sound just in time to see the Pokemon fall from the wall it had become momentarily embedded in. Then, the Red Suit set its hollow gaze upon the rest of them.
"Clefable, no!" Wailed Serena. She returned Rhyperior to its Pokeball and stood again. Pangoro and Braixen stood between the enemy and their trainer defensively, wearing grimaces of dread.
Unwilling to take any more losses, Latias dove at the Red Suit with two Dragon Claws primed. She let out a ferocious scream as she swung, using Psychic to hold it in place, but it unleashed a Dark Pulse around itself in a dome. Suddenly, Latias was on the defensive, forced to bring up her energy-coated claws against the dark waves.
Her eyes went wide. Through the darkness, the Red Suit plunged forward through its own attack, uncaring of the damage it was incurring. A Brutal Swing was sent into her chest. She choked and sputtered before being sent into the roof. Upon bouncing off of it, the Red Suit leapt up to her level with a charging Hyper Beam held before her face.
The dark chamber became very bright for the briefest of moments. Latias, coated in burns, sailed through the air and crashed into the pillar of stones blocking the roof exit. She scarcely had the time to look up before those stones rained down upon her.
Serena could only continue to cry in helpless despair. "Latias, no!" With despair quickly rising in her heart, she choked back tears and turned to face the Red Suit. It was adorned with injuries. Burns coated its body nearly as much as scars did. Its suit was almost in ribbons. And of course, there was a massive hole in its chest.
Yet it kept moving, marching toward its mission. It looked at Serena, Braixen, and Pangoro with its empty, soulless void for an eye. Just in its grasp was the completion of one mission parameter. One step closer to success.
Serena stepped back. In her mind, she screamed at herself a million times. Orders after orders to her team rang in her head almost as ceaselessly as prayers did. Yet neither of them had any strength to be voiced. Each step the red menace took toward her stripped her of more confidence.
Braixen held out her twig and attempted to hold it in place with Confusion. For a brief moment, it stopped in place, until it began to wash itself in Dark Pulse, uncaring of how it burned its body if only so that it could continue to move toward its target.
Kneeling down, it became a blur. Then, Braixen's vision went red. She let out a terrible sputter and wheezed. The Red Suit's fist was planted in her chest, nearly breaking through. It shot her past Serena, and she bounced off of the collapsed stones before dragging to a halt on the floor.
Serena turned to where she had gone in horror. "B-Braixen…!"
An orange light emerged before her. She turned to see the Red Suit holding its left arm up with a charging Hyper Beam. Its right arm dangled limply at its side. Serena stared at the end helplessly. In a last ditch effort to save somebody, she raised the Pokeball of Pangoro, only for it to be smacked out of her hand.
Though sweat fell from his face and his attempts at stoicism betrayed the expression he wore upon his face, Pangoro shook his head at her. Turning his back to the Red Suit, he took Serena in his arm and grimaced in resignation.
The Hyper Beam struck him in his back, overtaking his body in a brilliant flare of light. It curved around him, reaching the far end of the chamber and striking it also. Serena's vision went white.
When her vision returned to her in a swirl, a black mass was lifted away from her and tossed aside. Everything was numb. Her ears rang. But she could see something red leering down at her. It opened its hand and knelt down for her neck. But then, it became covered in a red glow.
Amidst the pile of stones, Latias forced her head out. Although her body was trembling, her eyes burned red. "You…won't…touch…her…!" Then, she bolted from the stones. Her claws raked across the other half of the Red Suit's mask and tore it off, spinning the creature around as she attempted to drive her claws into its exposed face.
But the Red Suit reached out and grabbed her neck. It unleashed a Dark Pulse from the hand that held her, and she screamed as it washed over her body. The Red Suit held her still, content to let life drain from her body like this until she stopped moving.
At last, Serena's senses returned to her somewhat. "L-Latias!" She shouted, her voice slurred. "Let go…of her…!"
It was then, with the Red Suit's back turned toward her, that she saw something upon its back. Gas escaped from a hole melted in the canisters it wore. She heard a whimper from behind her, and when she rolled over to see what it was, she found Braixen crawling toward her.
"B-Braixen…!"
Serena quickly crawled over to her and held her in her arms. Her Pokemon looked up at her bruised trainer sorrowfully. Serena gave her a similar expression before turning to look again at the canister on the Red Suit's back. She and Braixen looked to one another again, nodding as the same idea struck them.
It was then that Serena again recalled Xerneas's words. Aloud, she whispered, "Something only I can do."
Hoisting Braixen so she could sit up, Serena pressed her chest to her Pokemon's and wrapped an arm around her shoulder to help keep her steady. Her expression became steely as she pointed toward the Red Suit.
Braixen opened her mouth, attempting to fight the pain of her stomach as she prepared a Flamethrower. With the last of her strength, she spewed it out at the Red Suit. The gas caught flame, shooting up into the canister itself. It was only a moment before flames began to spill from every open wound on its body.
The Red Suit dropped Latias and leveled its head. With one foot, it turned. With the other, it turned. Slowly, it came to face Serena and Braixen. The former gasped when she saw the fragments of its mask melting off the side of its face, leaving her with only the mangled visage of Zero to behold.
With one foot, the Red Suit took a step toward her. Then another. And another. It moved slowly, yet as if the flames did not perturb it at all. With wide eyes, Serena began to feel her bravado slipping away from her again. And when she looked down at Braixen, her first Pokemon was no longer conscious.
A final step brought Serena's attention back upon the Red Suit. She found herself unable to tear her attention away from its eyes. Those eyes! Her eyes! It was too much to look at but she could not tear away. The flame-ridden thing wearing the face of her friend continued to peer down at her silently.
Then, it began to make noise. A crackling noise from its throat. It began to twitch, unsteadily swaying back and forth as its body convulsed with heightening intensity. Serena came to realize that it was choking.
Soon, the Red Suit was at itself, attempting to claw open a mouth for itself on its featureless face. Yet its empty eyes remained ever open. And Serena could see with full view as flames spewed out from them too. She could not hope to look away.
At last, the Red Suit toppled onto its side where it continued to convulse in a desperate attempt to save itself. Serena watched the entire time as it moved less and less until it stopped moving altogether. It was only then when she blinked and found herself able to look away.
With a sharp gasp, she blinked rapidly and began to turn every which way. Her Pokemon and Latias remained upon the floor, all motionless. With a hoarse cry, she called their names one by one.
"Braixen? Clefable? Pangoro? L-Latias?"
But there came no answer from any of them.
Author's Note
Pokextinction Fact of the Day: Lugia's grudge against Lee has lasted longer than his grudge against Necrozma, although his mental state would have never been deteriorated enough to care as much as he does for Christopher Lee without Necrozma.
Necrozma mentioned that he was healing Rayquaza as they fought so that Rayquaza wouldn't die too easily. He did this to almost every person he fought on Earth. Lugia was quite literally beaten to death and back and had his mind fried. Lee's actions did not help. It's possible that, even if he had the full context of Nova's involvement in everything, he would hate Lee more just because of their history.
The Creator- Ash, set upon his last legs, finds himself rescued by a Legend. Serena, rescued by a Legend, now finds herself on her last legs. But how much longer can they go on? How much more can they fight?
Hydra- Quite a brutal end for the Red Suit, but also very fitting. Serena finally did something only she could do and made a stand for herself, but alas it came at a cost.
G- Great chapter, so the situation is getting worse each time for our heroes, as the battle is causing that the Tree of Beginning and its denizen be suffering gruesome damages and destruction, to the point that the situation is becoming hopeless with each chapter uploaded.
Also, so Mewtwo managed to break free from Marshadow's control, finally, as the poor Clone pokemon was trapped in this brainwash since many earlier chapters, making satisfactory to see him becoming free from this influence. Well, i hope to see him helping to turn the tides in favor of Pokemon side, as Mewtwo can match the poweress of Mew in some aspects, and unlike the original template, Mewtwo isn't linked to the Tree of Beginning, taking away the weakeness of that if the Tree is injured, he will feels the effects, making me think that maybe Mewtwo could help notably in this situation.
Also, talking about situations, i am feeling a lot pity by the poor Ash, because during the ouslaught of Nova and the Red suits, he lost many friends and allies, like Latias, Serena, Keldeo and even Paul, all this only to prevent that Nova can kills Mew and this end like a checkmate in favor of Nova Branch. Well, i hope that Ash can finds a light to the end of this tunnel, because i am feeling a lot pity by him.
As other point, i have to admit that i started to admire Paul in terms of character development, because if we count the events of the anime, until this story, Paul had a notable change of personality, as he started like a cold and callous trainer that only valued the power and strength of the pokemons, disgarding other aspects like friendship or their well beings, to after begin to accepts the points of Ash about how to treats your pokemon with love and understanding, to the point that Paul even ended taking a page of Ash's book and acted like a hero, to makes the ultimate sacrifice to prevent that Nova could wins, showing how much Paul grew as person, and get better as trainer, making him a great character if you analyzes it.
Also, regarding to your point The Creator about Ash, i can't help in notes that his burden, difficulties. hardships and ordeals that he had to endure as chosen one, its like a curse for any character that shares this title in other franchises; like Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars, Gabriel Belmont from Castlevania Lord of Shadows, Liu Kang of Mortal Kombat and Artoria Pendragon of Fate/Stay Night. As all them were the chosen ones from some prophecies related to the fate of their respectives worlds, and all this heroes did everything in their power to ensure to saves their worlds from any tragedy and fulfill the prophecies.
Nevertheless, their titles as chosen ones ended being more like a curse than a blessing, as the heroes ended suffering notables losses, tragedies and even ended falling to dark side; Anakin was turned against the Jedi council, lose his wife, ended becoming Darth Vader and was responsible from the rise of Empire. Gabriel Belmont was manipulated by Zobek to do his dirty job, was forced to killed his own wife and ended becoming Dracula. Liu Kang was killed in many timelines of Mortal Kombat and even in one of them become a corrupted wraith. Artoria Pendragon had to see her kingdom being destroyed in hands of Mordred, had to deal with the grief of be a failure of a king in her eyes, was brutally tortured by Caster in UBW route, and was corrupted by the Angra Mainyu, becoming Saber Alter in Heaven's Feels route, leaving clear that be the chosen one of a prophecy, could leads you to deal with a fate worse than death in some cases.
Well, i hope that this won't mean that Ash can end sharing the same grim fate like this other chosen ones, after all the hardships that he had to suffer during the story, as the last thing that our heroes need is that their chosen one ended falling to dark side as well...
Also, Hydra, thanks again for the final battle between Harper and Moltres, it was really good to see it.
To finishes, i wonder if we'll see the other friends of Ash, maybe Mewtwo or anyone else going to the rescue of Ash and Mew, because right now, they two need an urgent rescue, before Nova Branch can kills them.
Keep the good job.
The Creator- Speaking of getting worse, look at poor Serena! These Red Suits are no joke. Even Mewtwo isn't safe from the Nova Corporation now that he's free. Liabilities must be destroyed.
I'm glad Ash got his light-ning at the end of the tunnel. For now. But there's always a shadow creeping behind. And things are only getting darker for Serena.
Paul certainly had a change of heart. Time and time again, Ash seemed to creep into his heart, even if the two rarely got along. Paul's defeat at Ash's hand, salvation by Ash and Aura, and now. With how brutal Serena's fight was, imagine what Paul went through.
Ash seems to have gotten a second wind at least. Maybe there's hope for him after all? And Mew, at that. Not everyone will get a second chance, like Moltres, but as long as there's a world left to fight for, there should be hope for a better life…right?
And like those characters, Ash was manipulated by Nova as Mr. Star, gaining information about the Legends from his stories and adventures. Thinking he was doing the right thing while only fueling the fires of war. Chosen for what, exactly?
Speaking of an urgent rescue, how better to be saved than by his best buddy Pikachu? Oh, and Zeraora too, I guess. Thanks for your awesome reviews as always.
Hydra- It's crazy how The Burned Man went from a small side character who barely even had a presence initially to a full blown villain. So many things changed over the course of coming up with ideas for the fic that started off as a small idea and turned into a massive plotpoint. Take for example Marshadow. I remember years ago in arc 1 someone reviewed asking if Marshadow would ever appear and at the time we said most likely not, but after the person mentioned it my brain started to think more and more about it and eventually viola, Marshadow became a main plot point. Just remember when coming up with ideas for a story nothing is too far fetched even if it may seem so at first.
Alrighty my question of the week for you G is a big one. How do you think this story will end? I've always been curious to hear where people think this is all going so please do share your thoughts. See ya on the next one!
SilverWolf1130- Damn. Wasn't expecting little Groudon to show up.
And Marshadow is dead. Man, so many major villain deaths in this arc.
And Mewtwo returns. Oh boy… calling it now, he's gonna go save Ash and Mew.
Nova toying with everyone's emotions by using Zero's face to keep everyone in place. Man, that's cold… but effective.
A brief moment of hesitation for Nova? Surely there's some part deep down that still cares about Ash.
Man, Ash is losing everyone here… and if Mew does die, it'll all be in vain…
Ash has gone through so much in this story. It doesn't matter wether he wins or loses, he'll likely never recover from all the trauma… and there's nothing more painful than having the weight of the world on your shoulders and being alone to deal with it…
Can't wait for next chapter. I have a feeling things will go from really really bad to worse…
Glad I stuck around. This is such a great story. One of the best I've ever read.
The Creator- So the completion of the story of Rayquaza and Groudon reaches its peak. The burden of the failure of the old finding hope in the new. An old burden laid to rest; the battles of ancient times gone and peace of the new come.
Should there be a world left to save, perhaps there could finally be peace? Rayquaza and Groudon not fighting for once. It would be a thing to see as long as Kyogre is still around.
The dominos fall one by one. Marshadow is no exception. Hubris was its downfall. And now it rests in the darkness it came from forever. Pick a fight with Mewtwo and that's what happens.
Sadly, it seems like Mewtwo is preoccupied. "Mom, can we get Mewtwo?" "We have Mewtwo at home." Mewtwo at home: Zeraora.
Far be it from Nova to express mercy upon his enemies. Physically or emotionally. Even the blade of Ryder does not compare to the mind of Nova as a weapon. Especially since the blade of Ryder was a product of that mind.
If Ash makes it to the end, I can't imagine his ending being happy. His dream is dead and gone, and so many with it. It would be a miracle if he retained his sanity. Fortunately, it seems Serena is alive. Not well, but alive.
We're immensely glad you stuck around too. Reading the reviews of you guys makes us feel all giddy inside as we imagine how you will react to what happens next. Having people to support us is a massive help.
Hydra- You can definitely feel the build up. Something big is going to happen. Will it be good or bad? Who genuinely knows with how things are going lately. I will say this though you are going to love the final scene of the next chapter I promise you that. The build up of so much hatred is finally coming to an end. Will they rise above it or fall into darkness forever? I have the same question for you as I asked G, How do you think the story will end? Will it be sunshine and rainbows? Or eternal despair? Thanks for your review brother.
Marksmithery- This whole story so far...wow.
From Necrozma destroying the orange islands, to mewtwo's home being obliterated, then finding zero &...everything else that happened in that chapter, to then goldenrod city being bought by star corp (i cant really remember name, my bad), then the team rocket trio in the Massive rocket meowth that was extremely hard to destroy, to Necrozma killing *millions of Pokemon & people* (iirc), to LEGENDARY'S BEING SLAIN.
So much happened in this story that, frankly? I've forgotten a lot that happened even though I've only recently read this story.
To the betrayal of *ahem* who definitely is real. Yup...Just kidding! Turns out he's actually called NOVA, to be honest when i read that a random company bought the city *especially since it lost much of its Value* I had suspicion, but eventually lost that when everything with the legends happened.
Then the goddamn betrayal...
Anyway i'm here to give my opinions on a few nit-picks, one being: I feel like there"s a lot of fluff in a lot of the chapters, i cant point to a certain chapter but just how i feel.
I don't really think much else needs to be said on anything else.
Since i read every chapter up to this point so fast, i feel my opinions shouldn't matter regardless.
I'm also really bad at typing out what i mean heh.
So only thing i want to talk about i guess, Mewtwo...got infected early, huh?...only thing that i can complain about, about it is that hes Psychic, i would've expected he would put up more of a fight against Marshadow sooner (what i mean is him every now and then breaking free for a short time, possibly giving the other legends info)
Also Arceus...hm. He sure is taking his time to show up to the tree...
I have already forgotten which legends are alive at this point, heh, lugia, rayquasa, mew, mewtwo, latias*?*, The alola legends, groudon "V2" & a few others i cant recall while writing.
Oh that reminds me, Palkia V2, he at the base or was on the ship? I assume base
I wonder how Ash deals with the ship that was at the end of this chapter...
Maybe mewtwo shows up, or another legend because at this point, ash & his team just wont cut it i feel, maybe they can stall, or board it but i think a legend is required, also how the hell can he still walk after all the Running, jumping, dodging & attacking he does?
Anyway this story has been mostly great storytelling so far & i hooe you can keep up with it!
(i complain about fluff and yet, im basically doing exactly that right now, huh.)
The Creator- Glad to see you again! And a ton of good points to go over.
I guess, at the time, they were called the Star Foundation. Nova Branch was while they called themselves part of Team Rocket. And their true name is the Nova Corporation.
You read through this story quickly! Last time, you were only on Chapter 11! I don't think even I could reread the whole story as fast as you did. Thats nuts. At the very least, you seem to remember the big parts which is what's important. Whatever is most fun for you is the best way to read.
I was very eager, as I wrote Mr. Star to be a wise, funny, self sacrificial, well meaning, kind, generous mentor to Ash and to a broken world, to write the inevitable betrayal that Hydra, and later I, would plan as practically the basis for the existence of this story.
Nit picks are good! We don't mind addressing a little constructive criticism.
Fluff is a bit vague. If you're talking about the length of some Arc 1 chapters…yeah. You're right. They were extremely nuts. Which is why we decided to split them up more later. In fact, this chapter was meant to be twice its length, showcasing where Ash and Nova went as well as the final fate of a certain other character…but you'll all have to wait to see that. The Serena and Red Suit fight ended up being longer than I thought.
If it means just how overly descriptive we can be at times, I also get that. I personally just have a tough time reigning in descriptions because, in my mind, these scenes play out as if they were episodes to an anime and I want to be as descriptive as I can without visuals or sound effects.
Your opinion as a reader and especially as a reviewer who gives us feedback is extremely valuable to us, so don't hesitate to criticize.
That's actually something Hydra and I were thinking about as we wrote Marshadow's death. An idea occurred to me that, perhaps, it would have been better if Marshadow went from host to host, taking them over and getting stronger until he finally got Mewtwo.
However, Mewtwo's capture was necessary to start the Island Raid mini arc and ensure Kyogre didn't instantly end said event.
Arceus is a bit preoccupied disciplining a rebellious son at the moment. We will see the result of that…a little bit later. The time is not yet right.
Amidst the chaos of war, it's difficult to know who's alive and who's dead. I want to give you a list so you know what's going on, but that might spoil some surprises later on, so I'll refrain for now. Young Palkia, at least, seems to be in the base Arceus and Giratina are fighting over. At least, that's what Arceus has been led to believe. Giratina isn't so convinced.
Hey, the beefier your reviews, the better as far as we are concerned.
You were right with that guess. Only a Legend could have really helped. Pikachu might as well be one with his history. Oh, and Zeraora too, I suppose.
Ash is just built different. But he ain't built perfect. Sooner or later, he's gonna break.
I'm glad you're enjoying the story, especially enough to read it to the end and review! Thank you so much!
Hydra- Hello! Major props for making it this far. You caught up at one of the best times in the fics history and now you get to be a part of the monthly chapter release, how exciting! Since you're mostly caught up I wanted to ask, what's been your favorite part of the story so far and who's your favorite hero and villain? Mine is Nova and Mew which might be a bit biased since I came up with their entire plot to begin with lol.
There genuinely has been so many main stories and side stories in this fic because I always wanted to make a pokemon story that covered mostly everything of importance from the movies and the show, but it's definitely understandable that you can't remember every detail. Thanks for your review man and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
The Creator- Next chapter, Zeraora will fry the Nuada from the inside. Can his electric power take it down? What will happen when a dark face, all too familiar to Zeraora, shows itself again? Ash will find himself cold, afraid, but not quite alone as he faces off against Nova once more. Can he finally emerge victorious, or will he be left worse than Serena?
Furthermore…a terrible grudge will face its final clash. The result can only be vengeance, unless peace is miraculously chosen. What will happen? Find out on the next chapter of Pokextinction: "Nowhere to Run."
Hydra- Fun fact I came up with the entire Tree of Beginning war in the back of a Suburban listening to the same song over and over while on my way back from a trip at Yosemite. Much has changed since my original vision but its being refined to be even more crazy. That vision will come to life very soon. I hope you guys are ready for the emotional rollercoaster.