Chapter Thirteen: The Monster
"What's that, you say? Gyarados isn't a Dragon-type Pokémon? Haha, not all dragons are Dragon-type Pokémon!" - Lance, Masters EX
(Zweil POV)
I touched a forefoot to the outer wall. My senses were dulled; the wind blocked by the tower, the trees bare, and the clearing we stood in silent as a tomb. But I could feel the energy inside pulsing like a heartbeat, the different waves of life-force from each floor. When I was a small boy, Dreigo sent me to bed with the story of the beast within. That night I dreamt of riding it through a blood-red sky. Since then I'd thought long and hard as to how I would make that dream a reality, but had forever been held at bay by the knowledge that the Koganemizu no Keimusho is an inescapable death trap.
But now, thanks to Alex's book, we'd found a way through.
Six of my sorcerers accompanied me. For secrecy's sake they were all assigned codenames: Sneasel (I.W.), Pyroar (O.H.), Dragonair (W.), Legtrap Stunfisk (M.W.), Dhelmise (W.P.), and Serperior (B.D.) We were all dressed lightly in cloaks, with myself and OH carrying item bags, WP the food packs, and BD a Badge. My Kadabra hid among the trees. They would not accompany us inside.
We stood outside the doors. My left head opened the bag and removed the Sea Guardian's Seal. I felt something damp and my heart stopped because I thought the flask had leaked. No. It was just a bruised Sitrus Berry, nothing to worry about.
The others were afraid, twitchy, but I didn't raise my voice or reprimand them. I knew it'd only make them more nervous if they did. I needed to keep them calm, make them feel as safe as possible. Until they started stepping out of line.
W seemed at ease. She was aware of being my most important asset on the mission. We had also known each other since we were newly-hatched. I knew I had cause to trust her. It was she I give the honour of opening the doors to. We filed through, and they slammed shut behind us.
Nuoh no Numachi, the Marsh of Quagsire.
"It's pitch black in here," MW said, as if I was unaware due to my lack of sight. I almost laughed. I'd memorised every piece of information available about this place.
"Light the torch," I said to O.H.
The flames huffed as they lit themselves in turn. The warmth was welcome in the chill marsh air. I.W. let out a gasp.
"Oh Gods…"
I knew exactly what she was looking at.
"That'll be your fate if you fail this mission," I reminded them.
And mine, too.
I could feel the faint pulse of life coming from the back of the room, exactly where I'd imagined it to be. The Quagsire would attack as soon as someone stepped onto the first stone. I needed to be the first to approach, to show that I was not afraid. A leader may sacrifice their inferiors to protect their lives, but they must never be seen to make that choice.
I couldn't send a Spectre, either. It simply wouldn't live that long, and I had no idea what that silver magic might to do it, anyhow. I needed to make the first jump myself, but I gained no insight from Alex's book as to how far the jump actually was, nor how wide each step. If I landed in the mud, it was over for me.
I took a Plain Seed from the bag and tossed it. It landed on the stone, bounced. Stone after a gap of at most two feet. Good enough. I jumped onto the first platform.
Silver Bomb shot like a cannonball, I heard it undulating through the air. My right head's Enchanted Dragon Pulse was already on its way. It missed. The Silver Bomb lands two feet away from me, soaking the next step over. Odd.
But now I had a decent sense of the size of the step from the glow of magic radiating from it, dripping over the edges. The Quagsire was charging again, but my left head had already sent the second Pulse on its way; I heard it explode in the bronze statue's face.
"Clear it!" my right head commanded.
O.H.'s Incinerate burned away at the silver water. It would continue to spread, but we had a few seconds before the wound healed up again. W. and W.P. soared overhead while the others hopped quickly from the contaminated platform onto the next. M.W. prepared too make the jump.
"Now!"
The Stunfisk slammed down hard, sending a ripple through the floor; I could feel the magic through my feet. I heard two metallic steps backwards before Enchanted Muddy Wave washed over our opponent.
With every hop onto the next platform M.W. sent more Muddy Waves its way, a constant flood, pinning it to the wall. We filed through the doors. It sends out one last desperate attack. Mud Shot neutralised the threat. O.H. and B.D. closed the doors.
"Everyone clean?" I asked.
They give the affirmative.
"Very good."
I led them up the staircase.
Flowsel no Mizūmi, the Lake of Floatzel. O.H. lights the torches.
"Is the bridge dry?" I asked.
"Yes, sire," said W.P., although I was hoping for an answer from someone with more than one eye. Well, who am I to talk?
"I will step onto the bridge first if you wish, sire," offered I.W.
"At ease," I told my conjurer, as energy built in my chest, "I am not afraid of water."
I stepped onto the bridge. At the far wall, where that faint pulse of life glows, I heard water rushing. Then it was hurtling towards me, skimming across the water. That wasn't how it had behaved last time. But I didn't panic. My right head lets the Dragon Pulse die as my left head commands:
"Giga Drain!"
The Dhelmise' attack wrapped around the statue. The Floatzel dived back down into the water, I used my cloak to shield myself from the spray.
"Go!" both heads command as one.
Enchanted Whirlpool churned as we raced across the bridge. The life inside the statue was faint, but I could feel its struggling. Suffering. Good. We'd make it through the doors with ease this time.
I had O.H. burns the cloak off me for good measure; it wasn't worth risking any silver water getting on the skin, especially not mine. One touch and the mission was over, I think as both heads work to take the spare from the bag and tie it around me. And we're only at the second floor.
Shawās no Kawa, the River of Vaporeon.
Treacherous water trickling through cobblestones, a river winding through the room. I ask again if the stones are dry, W.P. confirms that they are. I'm still cautious. There's no guarantee that I won't step just an inch out of place and touch death.
Ask for their guidance.
No, you'll look weak!
I give both heads a quick shake. I can't hesitate any longer. I reach my foot out, and breathe two sighs of relief when it finds only stone.
The Vaporeon was running towards me as it charged Silver Gun. My left head's Shadow Ball countered effectively, while my right head used another to blind it. It was enough time for I.W. to get close to the river.
The Vaporeon obliviously dove in. Perfect. As the rest of us ran across the Sneasel's Enchanted Icy Wind froze the surface of the river. We were at the doors when the statue broke through, but Ice Shard kept it at bay it long enough for us to close the doors.
"What?!" O.H. cried. "How?!"
The spray from the river.
"Hold still!" said B.D., before Leaf Blade sliced a patch of fur clean.
O.H. sighed.
"Thank you so much!"
"Hah. Don't mention it."
They're bonding.
Stop them.
"Move!" both heads barked. I felt the fear shooting through all six of them. They followed me up the staircase.
Kamex no Shima, the Island of Blastoise. This room gave me the most trouble in the planning stage. The simple thing would be to freeze the water, but the second we tried, the statue would attack. It took me putting my heads together (get it? No? I don't care) to come up with the plan, but it was a good one.
It won't work without his loyalty.
"I'm trusting you with this," my left head said, "this is one of the most crucial parts of the mission. Without you, all this hard work is for nothing, do you understand?"
B.D. gave the blindmon's salute.
"Yes, sir!"
"Good," says my right head, "because your life depends on it."
The Serperior gave an arrogant little snort, as if he dealt with re-animated monster statues on a regular basis.
Let's hope that confidence comes with an equal amount of competence.
There was a small island in each corner, one large on in the centre. All dry, W.P. said. This time, B.D. needed to be the one to start the battle. He sprang into the air. As the statue came awake W.P. reaches out with Enchanted Power Whip, wrapped around the Serperior and flung him the rest of the way to the centre island. The Enchanted Leaf Tornado thrums; we were expecting an immediate attack.
But what came wasn't the sound of silver water, but melting bronze. Energy surged through the room, I could feel it in my bones; the Blastoise was already Mega Evolving.
Every single statue so far was attacking differently to the way Alex had described.
Did he intentionally mislead his audience, hoping his enemies would be among them?
Hah, don't be ridiculous. There's no way he's smart enough for that.
I shook both heads again. They weren't normally this… chatty.
A shockwave of energy rippled through my body. My conjurers called out a warning half a second before three Silver Cannons launch. W.'s Aqua Tail took out the one heading to our island, Muddy Water dealt with the other. I hear B.D.'s body slither away. He didn't cry out, he must not have been touched.
"Attack!"
Thick roots rustled and rasped as they climbed out of the ground. The power of the Photo Badge pulsed through the room like a heartbeat, and petrichor filled the room as grass sprouted and flowers bloomed and writhing vines wrapped around the Mega Blastoise and tied it to the ground.
W. and W.P. carried us across the water. The Dhelmise hovers back to carry B.D. to the door. The huge statue was thrashing, kicking and clawing at the earth. Each shake of the ground disturbed the water around us, and I warned my Pokémon to be cautious of spray as they worked on the doors. After a few moments the roots ripped away, but a second later the doors slam shut.
My sorcerers leaned against the wall. B.D., by far the fittest Pokémon in the room, was breathing heavily.
"I know you're tired," I told them, "but we have no time to rest. It may be easy to forget so far from the heart of it, but we're in the middle of a great battle."
"We need five minutes, sire," M.W. said.
"We don't have it. Anyone who wishes to be left behind may do so," I made my way up the stairs, "but I will not rest until our Kingdom is safe."
W. followed without question. The rest trickled up after her.
Rapras no Rinku, the Rink of Lapras. Try saying that five times fast. With both heads.
"Now we're talking," said I.W.
Again, I had to wait behind. The Sneasel would start the battle.
Better her than us.
I was stunned into stillness. No. There is no "us." There is only me. One Zweil.
I.W. skated onto the ice. The Lapras pushed itself from its podium and glided out to meet her, throwing its head back. I.W. pulled away; she was only the decoy.
O.H.'s Incinerate met Silver Brine in the middle of the room. The rest of us eased ourselves onto the rink and headed for the door. The Lapras was ready to attack again but I.W. bought time with Enchanted Dark Pulse.
"Fire!"
A burning ring of fire drew itself in the centre of the rink, and the room was thick with steam. I heard the spitting rush of Silver Brine, the spattering against the wall, far from where any of my conjurers should be. I returned with a Shock Wave, which from its perspective could have come from any direction.
We slid to the door. The Stunfisk's metallic body scraped loudly against the ice. Another Silver Brine hit the wall just behind us. We closed the doors.
I was already up two steps when I heard a yelp behind me.
"It's on me! It's on me!" the Stunfisk cried. "It's spreading! Zweil, help me!"
"It's on her body," W.P. clarified.
"Then there's nothing I can do," I said.
"You can't just leave me like this!"
"You won't be here for long," I said gently, trying to be reassuring, "releasing the Gyarados will release the prison's magic, you'll all be set free."
"Are…" she gulped. "Are you sure?"
No.
"Escaping the prison's influence stopped the silver water spreading across the Skarsgard Commanders," I said, "once it's destroyed, there will simply be no influence left."
Or so we hope.
"Okay…" M.W. said meekly.
I continued up the stairs. The five remaining sorcerers lingered only a brief moment before following.
The Sky of Lugia. Rugia no Sora (not "Sora no Rugia," Alex. That would be "Lugia of the Sky." Idiot.) The final floor.
I.W. let out muffled scream.
"Alvie! That's them! That's my sibling! Alvie!"
"They'll be free too," I said. I confess, my heart went out to her. If it were Dei there, frozen in silver…
"What does that mean?!" I.W. demanded. "Does that mean they'll be alive? They've been missing for years, how can they still be…"
Silence. The pule of the prison's life force. I couldn't tell where it was coming from, or if any, at all, was coming from the bodies stolen by silver.
"You don't even know, do you?!" she yelled.
My left head's Enchanted Shadow Ball slammed into her stomach, throwing her against the door. She coughed, then started sobbing. I heard someone approach her.
"Leave her!" my right head barked.
The guardsmon fall in line, leaving the Sneasel to pick herself back up. This is why I never put friends together with friends on a mission. It slows everything to a crawl, and in a place like this, you run or you die. Wouldn't you agree, Feather?
I stepped onto the platform. It felt like marble. The Lugia came charging forward, shaking the prison with each step. I'll confess, when I felt it barreling towards us, even I felt a stab of fear through my heart.
"Look out!" O.H. cried.
We jumped out of the way just in time as two bronze arms crashed down.
"Move through the gap between—" I started to say.
I heard its body swing around, feel its tail smack into my side, sweeping me and the rest of my party up with it. We were marbles scattered across the floor, scrambling to our feet as the room turned cold. The clouds were rolling in.
"Ima!"
W. took to the sky. The room warmed as the clouds departed. The Lugia roared in outrage, an earthquake in the air.
"Get to the door!"
Two wings slammed down either side, scraping along the floor towards us.
"Frenzy Plant!" my right head commanded.
Roots sprang from the ground and lifted us up, allowing us to jump over. It was a long drop that rattled my bones. I listened for the sounds of my conjurers landing beside me, but of course, B.D. didn't have my energy left. As the rest of us made for the door I heard a scream as the Serperior was tossed against the far wall.
The Lugia made its way towards us in three steps. Something snapped shut somewhere around the Lugia's leg. It was stuck, we had a few seconds. The room jumped as the Lugia struggles and thrashed. As the door opened just wide enough for me to squeeze through, the statue broke free and stomped its foot on the ground, crushing W.P. underneath it. It swung its tail around and I hear I.W.'s scream disappearing to the far side of the room.
I ran through the doors, W. flying over my head. O.H. raced in after us. The Dragonair and I moved to close them but we were too late, the statue had already reached its beak in and snapped it shut on the Pyroar's tail; she roared and screamed and scrabbled uselessly at the ground as it dragged her away. W. and I pushed as hard as we could. Mercifully, the door shut.
We paused for a moment to catch our breath. We leaned against the door, until the statue starts banging furiously against it.
No time to waste. I made for the stairs, then pause. W. wasn't following.
"What will happen to them?" she asked.
"If they're lucky, they'll be turned to silver, and freed very soon."
"And if they're not?"
Then you best hope you don't end up like them.
"Then there's nothing we can do," I said, "but make their sacrifice worthwhile."
I carried on up the stairs, and after a few seconds I hear the Dragonair slinking up behind me.
The golden dome was cold beneath my feet. The Gyarados of Gold was a looming presence above my head. Life throbs from inside its metallic casing, I could feel it like a vibration in my blood, in my heart.
Monster.
Weapon.
I shook both heads.
"It's… gigantic," said W., voice tinged with fear.
I'd never known that Pokémon to cower before anything. But she was right to be afraid. Truthfully, I had no idea what that creature would do once it was free.
"Wait in the stairwell," I told her.
"What if it attacks you?"
"What do you intend to do if it does?"
W. hesitated, then gave the blindmon's salute, and headed for the stairs. I waited until I heard the door close behind her.
I shifted my items bag over. My right head took the Sapphire Fang from the bag. An Enchanted Dragon Pulse slithered free and carried it into the Gyarados' mouth. Then it took out the flask and laid in on the floor.
Run away.
Don't you dare.
"Keep it together!" I yelled, startling myself. I'd never spoken to myself before.
The Sapphire Fang clicked into place.
At first there was a brief, faint pulse of energy. Then it was getting stronger, faster. A high searing noise filled the room. There was a bubbling sound, then something hit the floor. Dripping.
The gold was melting from her body. I grabbed the flask and ran to the far wall. I couldn't see how close it was getting but I could hear it falling to the floor in great big globs, the splashing sound as gold water hit gold water. Didn't anyone think to put in a drainage system?!
I slammed my forefeet on the ground and form a circle of electricity around me. I smelt burning. The crackling began to die and I stomped my feet down again. And again. And again. And again.
I summoned another Shock Wave and from the weak trembling in my leg muscles knew it was the last time. The gold water still hadn't hardened.
Dragon Pulse!
I released a dragon from each head and they danced in a circle around me. Up above, I heard scales rubbing against scales, fins rustling. She was so large I could even hear her eyes peel open.
Cover yours ears.
I pressed my heads together and tuck them between my knees. The Gyarados roared so loud my bones rattled and my teeth ached and I wondered if my eardrums were about to burst.
From her roar I could feel the pain inside her soul. The wound of injustice, the scar of the pariah. I felt her gazing down at me, and a warmth spread through my body. I was prepared for many things, but not this. I hear her scales slithering together as she bowed to me. The Gyarados wasn't rabid, she wasn't frenzied or vengeful or blood-thirsty. She was grateful.
"Kaihoushitekuremashita." You have freed me. "Arigatou gozaimashita." Thank you.
I didn't speak the old language well, but I knew enough to say:
"Kimi ga kurushinda koto wo shiteiru."
(I know you have suffered.)
"Kimi ga kaibutsu jyanai."
(I know you are no monster.)
"Dewa, gomennasai."
(And I'm sorry.)
My shadow stretched across the room, filled it; I felt her sudden fear as if it were my own.
"Boku wa sou da."
(But I am.)
I reached into her soul. I was SCF running through her veins, a being without shape or form or heart or soul. It felt like falling asleep and waking up at the same time. A paralysed Pokémon who's body was finally rousing. It was usually so instantaneous, but this time I felt every pain and ache of a thousand-year slumber. It really does give you a crick in the neck.
I opened her eyes. I snapped them shut again. Sight. It's often overwhelming, and I need to give myself a moment to adjust. It's hard enough dealing with having one less head. I have no idea how Magnezone do it.
I listened and waited. One voice, one mind. From somewhere deep within me, the Gyarados was roaring, fighting to free herself, though I knew she wouldn't. There was one mind controlling this body, and it was mine. Zweil's.
The gold water had hardened. SCF dripped from the Gyarados' mouth and evaporated on the floor. I saw my prone body lying on the ground. I wondered if I might die, and thought that if I did, I'd take the Gyarados somewhere safe, perhaps to Kingdra Canyon where her only (known) descendent lives in solitude. My Kadabra were ready to teleport us there on command. Then I would return her body to her.
I summoned the Gyarados' energy from deep inside. Each one built to her ribcage before I let it die back down. Hydro Pump. Hyper Beam. Rain Dance. A wide grin spread across her face.
Outrage. What a perfect send-off.
The question was, how to destroy the gold? Even a Giant's dragon might not be strong enough. This was one of those frequent occasions where I was very much glad that I am Prince Zweil Varia. This Dome may have been built to withstand the Gyarados, but its magic was thousands of years old, ancient, unevolved. It couldn't take into account the power of science.
I took inspiration from the tower's own creation. (Or whoever it was that came up with Silver Water, scholars remain divided. And by scholars I mean me.) It wasn't easy. I can't say it was more difficult then scooping up a quarter-pint vial with a ten-foot tongue, but still.
The flask was filled with a water of my own creation. An acidic substance, bred from gastric and fuming acid. Born of science, moulded by magic. It would spread itself through whatever liquid it touched, possessing it, bending it to its will. Sound familiar?
I tossed the vial into the air and the Gyarados' Hydro Pump smashes it to pieces. The greyish substance seeped into the jet of water as it snakes across the dome. The gold melted away, dripping down the side of the tower. So much power just from that tiny vial. The concoction may well by greatest creation of all. I named it Royal Water.
It's time.
My roar, the Gyarados' roar, filled the sky as Outrage climbed. A great twisting beast with a slithering body, rippling fins, and a sharp snout filled with saber teeth; black scales streaked with purple. I willed it to attack the sea jasper walls. I controlled it with ease.
Confusion settled in, not helped by the fact that I was a phantom in someone else's body. I didn't risk moving, I simply lay and watched.
The leviathan ripped through the precious stone as silver water burst free. At first I was simply enraptured in the sight of those gargantuan gnawing teeth ripping through lapis lazuli like soft fruit, but then the screams of the forest Pokémon cut through the sound of crumbling stone. The silver water spreads across the land, coating the trees, spreading along the grass. Pokémon ran screaming. The water was already evaporating, but the land below was being seared away as if washed by something acidic.
Like Royal Water.
The tower finally collapsed. I snatched my true body up in the Gyarados' mouth before it hit the ground. Not too far for a creature of this size, but even so it winded me. I saw the wide wings of a Charizard shooting out of the silver smoke. Treacherously, I felt relief.
He was the enemy!
Yes, but he was kind.
What's happened to me? Even with one brain I can't be of one mind.
Then I felt something clinging to a fin. I looked down to see a terrified, shivering Pyroar. The fur on the left half of her body was coated with blood; the right all but burned away. O.H. quickly untangled herself and sprinted into the trees, dodging the pools of acid evaporating around her.
This is your fault!
This was your plan.
You led them to their deaths!
You should have been more prepared.
"Quiet!" the Gyarados roars, and the trees shake and the earth quakes.
No. There was nothing we- there was nothing I could have done differently. And I would not let their deaths be in vain.
I called for my Kadabra. They were nowhere to be seen. They must have escaped when the saw the giant cascading waterfalls of acid were heading towards them. Understandable.
I looked to the south. Grande City was in flames. From my great vantage point I could see the civilians as they run. The buildings as they crumble. The trees as they burn. And, though it may be my imagination, I thought I could here my people scream. I looked up to a sky black with smoke.
It's time to bring the rain.
With a great heaving of strength I lifted the Giant's body into the air. Flying was like swimming through treacle, and I landed at the city's edge with a heavy thump.
Steam formed in the Gyarados' stomach, rose up to her throat as it took shape as a churning ball of water. Dark Rain Dance ball shots into the air, leaving a trail of black vapour. It burst open in the sky, streaking the black clouds with purple. Black-purple water pours down. The flames had spread so far and burn so hot that the air filled with steam. I feared a flood would follow, but there was nothing more I could do. The flames were dying in place of the people. I had completed my mission. All was well.
But the fire isn't gone.
The sky was misty, but the Gyarados had sharp eyes. Flames. Grande City may have been saved, but something still burned on the horizon.