Pokémon Radiant Sun
So yeah, I decided to take a week off of writing and get my head back into the game. Honestly, after a rather rough week and after getting some admittedly several frustrating reviews that I had to write essays to respond to (which I later revised into more civil responses), I'll admit I wasn't feeling the inspiration for the story.
Which is bad, because the next five chapters are the most important yet for the story and losing inspiration is a very slippery slope.
Anyways, I've gotten to the point where I had to take a long hard look at myself and this story and come to the conclusion that I'm done going out of my way to make people happy. Because breaking my neck explaining things in-story or altering plans to suit other people's wants for a story they aren't writing just stresses me out and people are going to complain and nitpick over what they don't like anyway.
So I'm going to write the story how I want it. To make myself happy and create the story I have envisioned.
Sorry if that comes off as frustrated or whiny, but I'll admit that it sucks that I should be absolutely pumped for this chapter, but I'm honestly forcing myself to write because I ask myself "Even if this chapter blows people away, people are going to complain that so-and-so isn't plausible or doesn't make sense" and then I'll have to justify that in the Q & A, which I'm regretting doing.
I fucking love the feedback I get, don't get me wrong. But that doesn't mean it doesn't frustrate me sometimes and honestly get me down.
Back on track.
Shoutout to those who reviewed since the last update, which includes snipmaster149, Cottonmouth25, Ultimate blazer, Angelfir3, operettaoceanic, RC-DA, Technetium2, SonicIKE, Sai Og Sus, MoonlightButterfree, BraviaryScout, Okamiden14a Guest reviewer, Ways, and Gokan123. Thank you for the support and feedback, because it's awesome and so are you.
The song "All Things Must Die" is by Jeff Williams and sung by Casey Lee Williams, and is fantastic. Giving proper credit, because both parts of this chapter include the songs lyrics.
Here's a two-parter!
Enjoy.
Chapter 65: Kingslayer Part 1
Ashton looked into his own reflection, seeing dark gray eyes staring back at him. Endless sorrow shimmered in the steel-gray orbs, a window into his very soul. The large man was dressed in his finest black suit, his short spiked black hair perfectly combed. Not a single bit of him was out of place.
Save for the silver revolver in his hands, resting lightly in his lap.
"Worthless...You think you've come so far, haven't you?" some part of him whispered, hauntingly. "All of your money, all of your power, and the wonderful friends you've made...Mean nothing. You should have died back in Alola, so you couldn't hurt anyone else!"
Ashton knew he had a problem. A crushing sadness and bitter fury at the world due to the miserable childhood he had endured in Alola. A tropical paradise for some and a nightmare for those who didn't feel like indulging in the outdated traditions of the past. No, you were either a warrior and a fighter that proved themselves, or you were dead weight. Those who had the misfortune to come from an Alolan background had to partake in the Island Challenge, while those who came from elsewhere could opt out of it. Those of Alolan blood that were born on the islands had no choice.
How Ash had wished he was one of those lucky ones. No...He was thrown onto the path he now walked, and all those years later he couldn't help the bitter feelings of self-loathing and hate bubbling forward until moments like this, where he was at the precipice of ending it all.
His most recent dealings were what had sparked off this latest wave of misery and despair. Joining Cipher officially and becoming an Admin for the group was something he never anticipated would leave such a scar on his soul. Talking Greevil into continuing his evil ways was child's play.
The man and his two sons, Eldes and Ardos, were without much in the way of money and resources after their fall from grace at Citadark Island. Ashton had met them outside of the Orre Colosseum and began negotiations for an alliance.
Ardos had been quick to convince. The man had a penchant for mayhem that was only rivaled by his father. Any chance for Cipher to reclaim their foothold of power was a step in the right direction as far as he was concerned.
Eldes, however, was far more hesitant. He seemed to have only followed in the footsteps of his father and his brother only due to them just being family. He actually seemed to have a heart, and cared for the morality of what he had done. He was worried about what an alliance and financial backing for Cipher would do to the world. However...Ashton wasn't a master businessman for nothing. In the end, Eldes was convinced, though it took many years to get him to join his brother as a leader within Cipher. Ashton rather liked the man. At least more than his father and brother.
Greevil, after seeing his two sons convinced of the righteousness of reforming Cipher elsewhere and with serious financial backing, agreed to join Ashton in this scheme.
Ashton knew the capabilities of Cipher. The strength they could possess. All they needed was the right push, the right investments, and the right leadership. In time they would reclaim power and then Ashton could move the pieces how he liked, while Greevil controlled the group as their leader. No one would be any the wiser, and while there would of course be collateral damage, it would be well worth it in the end when he achieved what he desired.
A better world.
"I'm a fool…" Ashton murmured, his grip tightening on the revolver. He had seen the beginnings of what Cipher had in store for the world, and he knew it was be terrible. They had perfected some of the most awful kind of experiments and science that made Ashton's skin crawl. And yet he funded more experiments for them.
"This has gotten out of hand...The world would be better off without me. My hopes and dreams for the world are forged from the spilt blood and lives of the innocent. This wasn't what I thought it'd be...I tried to become a hero for this world, only to become something far worse by unleashing these villains upon it anew. I'm a monster...And deserve to be put down like a monster." Ashton thought with a bitter smile, slowly raising the pistol to his temple and shutting his eyes, only to hear a sharp intake of breath behind him.
"Laura…" Ashton muttered, not removing the comforting feeling of steel from his head.
"Ash...Why didn't you tell me things were this bad?" Laura asked from the doorway, her voice a whisper. If Ashton had been facing her, he would have seen the tears running down her face and seen the abject horror in her eyes.
"Because you and Sun have to be kept away...I don't know what I'd do if I lost you both to the madness I've gotten myself into. Honey, you have no idea what I've done. The depths I've sunken to. This is how it needs to be. This world...and the two of you would be so much better off without me." Ashton replied, slowly rising to his feet with the gun still pressed to his head. "I've had to deal with this sorrow for a while now, you know that. And my recent actions have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the world would better off with me pulling the trigger."
Laura shook her head and said, "Do you truly believe that? You have so many people who are counting on you. Who care about you. I don't care what you've done, Ashton, because there's so much you can do!"
"..."
"Ash, you're doing so much to help the world right now. Your investments in all the right places to help people. Your company on the verge of taking off into something truly special. And your son...How would Sun feel, knowing his father had taken his life without any consideration for how he feels about this?" Laura asked Ashton, who sighed shakily.
"He'd be better off...Laura, I don't want Sun to grow up with a father like me. I thought I was doing better, for the longest time, but I'm not. The pain has only festered, bubbled under the surface until it's burst out. I'm tired, Laura. I'm tired of hurting." Ashton said quietly, tightening his grip on the pistol.
"Then what about me? Ash...I love you. I would do anything for you. We can get you help. We can help make the pain bearable, honey. Please don't give up." Laura begged Ashton, who grit his teeth as the maelstrom of emotions raged within him. He didn't answer verbally though, which Laura sigh raggedly.
"If that's the case...then come with me. I want you to see something. If you're still set on this...I don't want you to suffer. I want what's best for you. But come with me, and let me show you something that I think can make you reconsider." Laura said firmly to Ash, who slowly turned towards his wife and dropped the gun to his side.
"You'd let me go...Just like that?" Ashton asked, with Laura looking away.
"I love you, Ash. So, so much...But you've been hurting for a while and sometimes there's nothing anyone can do about someone that far gone. But I'm going to try and save you from yourself, dear. Come with me." Laura beckoned Ashton forward, and the man numbly stepped across the room, where his wife grabbed his free hand and pulled him down the hallway. The couple made their way through the mansion, with Ashton in a daze of sorts as he wondered where Laura was taking him. Finally she led him outside to their backyard, with the heat of the day washing over him as he stepped into the sunlight.
Laura continued to drag Ashton away from the house before she finally stopped right at the edge of a cluster of trees at the edge of their garden, and what Ashton saw made a small laugh escape his throat.
Sun was curled up in a ball and sleeping in the shade of the trees, resting against Damien's belly as the Pokémon slept alongside the four-year old boy, his unkempt black hair blowing slightly in the breeze. Ashton felt the tears welling up in his eyes at the sight and couldn't look away, a broken smile flickering onto his face.
"I was wary at first about letting Damien watch Sun by himself, but I have a feeling that Pokémon would rather die than let any harm come to our little boy." Laura said as she slipped her arms around Ashton from behind, pulling him into a hug. Ashton made a noise that could have been a chuckle or a sob, but it was the fact that he dropped the revolver from his hand and into the grass which Laura took note of.
"That stupid mutt loves Sun as much as we do. Damien promised me that he would protect Sun no matter what. It's...funny, now. Such a grumpy Pokémon that acted like such a buzzkill so long ago would be happy to be used as a pillow for our little boy." Ashton said in a tone full of wonder as Laura rested her chin on her husband's shoulder.
"See? This is what you would have missed out on if you had taken that awful step forward. Dear, you have so much to live for. So much to offer the world. You have made mistakes, yes. I may not know what exactly, but...You can make things right. I know you will, because I love you and have faith that you will succeed. But you...Please, honey. Let me help you. We need you. The world needs someone like you. Someone willing to do whatever it takes to help make the world a better place. You have power, Ashton. You have the resources. And you have the heart of a hero…"
Ashton stood there for a time, watching his little boy sleep alongside Damien in the garden. Laura never moved from her position behind him, silently supporting him as he tried to make a decision about his future.
"I don't know...Can I fix my mistakes before they get worse? Can Cipher really be the key to my dreams for this world?" Ashton thought as his gaze turned towards the beautiful cloudless sky. Ashton watched the Pidgey flock overhead before he looked back down, seeing Sun stir a little bit beside Damien. The Pokémon cracked an eye open, and Ashton smiled a little.
"Ever-alert, as always. I can always count on you to protect my precious ones, my old friend." Ashton murmured to his Partner, who offered him a small smile before shutting his eyes again. Ashton turned his gaze back to his child, so pure and innocent and so full of potential. Ashton loved the boy without reserve, and it really struck him that if he ended everything...He'd never get to see that child again. He'd been hurting that sweet little boy with the gray eyes that mirrored his own. He would do whatever it took to ensure the child's happiness, even if it meant his own was effected.
"As much as it hurts...I have to keep going." Ashton whispered, twisting in Laura's grasp and returning her embrace. "Help me. Please. I want to be there for him. For you. I can't do this by myself, Laura. I can't shoulder this burden alone."
Laura pulled away from the man and kissed her husband deeply on the lips. After a moment she pulled away with a teary smile.
"We will get you through this. No matter what happens I will always love you, Ashton. Sun will too. You care so much about everything. Us. Damien. The world as a whole. If you left it all behind, the world would be a much darker place. We need you. Don't ever forget that, my love." Laura whispered as she hugged her husband again.
Ashton never forgot that moment. When he was at his weakest, it was his wife and child that had reminded him of what he fought for. Why he sought out Cipher in the first place.
The world was a terrible, evil place full of people who wanted to subjugate others to their dark will. Ashton had the power to stop those people and create a better world, with the resources at his disposal.
While he would waver, he knew that giving in would ensure the world's demise because someday, somehow...Someone would succeed in bringing the end. Ashton would be the one to stop all of the bloodshed for good. He would put a stop to the violence and hurt, even if it took sacrifices.
Because at the end of the day...If his wife and child could live in a world free of strife, then it would all be worth it. To protect them from the greater evils of the world they lived in. So he would have to live with his choices and his suffering, the wounds from his old home that had never quite healed…
And endure.
"Dude, seriously. Just ask her out! Not that complicated."
"It's not that easy, okay!"
"Psh. Right. If I had a girl that was as into me as your friend is, I'd be all over that shit."
"I am going to ask her out! I just...need to find the right time to tell her my feelings."
"If you keep procrastinating, someone's gonna beat you to the punch."
"I know! It's just...ugh. Can we change the topic?"
Sun was surprised that his newest traveling companion was someone he got along with right away. The brown-haired, purple-eyed girl known as Jen was a fairly down-to-earth girl that, while not a Trainer, still knew a bit about the Trainer lifestyle. She was an immigrant who had just moved to Alola, having gotten citizenship not even two weeks ago. She was originally from the Almia region to the north, which explained the rather odd accent she had. Aside from the that she was completely...normal.
Jen shrugged, though she was smirking. "Sure. Not much fun poking at someone else's love life anyway. So, how'd you get your Pokémon?"
Sun looked up at the two birds circling above them, chattering about something or another. The Kanto-native grinned and said, "Well, Oliver was my Starter. He actually attacked me while I was picking my first Pokémon out and well...Yeah, I kinda went with it. He's been great, aside from the odd times were he doesn't listen to me and just acts like a jerk."
"Sounds like a handful. I'm glad Lilith doesn't act out. Do you, girl?" Jen cooed to the small Petilil, who cried out happily in response.
"Well, then there's Penny. I caught her about a week after Oliver. She and Oliver talked beforehand and I guess Penny liked what Oliver had to say about me, because we battled and she joined my team." Sun explained, grinning as the two birds swooped down to their level. "She's really well-behaved and is super driven. Plus she helps keep Oliver in check."
"I'm right here, you know!" Oliver chirped in an annoyed manner.
"We're aware. It's not like we can't hear you from Melemele Island or anything." Penny remarked, earning a glare from Oliver and a snicker from Jen and Brago. Sun was just smiling, feeling that darkness within fade a bit as he continued to wax on about his team.
"And then Brago...Man, that's a story. So, I ran into Brago while he was fighting some insane Cipher assassin lady named Amber."
"Pull the other one."
"No seriously, I mean it."
"Right, right. And there's a eldritch abomination masquerading around Alola as...I don't know. A Heliolisk or something."
"Well, we actually fought that assassin lady after she shot Brago. After we got some help from Professor Kukui, we took him to the hospital. When I had my Grand Trial against Kahuna Hala some time later, he apparently snuck out of the hospital despite being hurt and watched me battle. He was so impressed he joined my team." Sun explained as he reached down and scratched Brago behind the ears, making the canine incline his head slightly and shut his eyes in pleasure.
"Yes...I was very impressed. Pokémon will show respect to those who show respect to us in turn, and we follow those who have strength. We see the strength in you, Sun, and that is why we follow you. You've earned our loyalty through your kindness." Brago replied with a small sigh.
"How so?" Jen asked Brago, who grinned ferally at the girl, which made her shrink back.
"He could have fled with his friends, but he stood beside me to fight. He could have left me behind to die, but he instead captured me and saved my life. Despite the suffering he has endured, he has remained kind. And that is something I respect. He is our Alpha. Our leader, who will ensure we obtain our greatest strength and potential under his care." Brago explained as they continued to walk, making Jen hum thoughtfully.
"That's really cool. I think it's great that your Pokémon have such a high opinion of you, Sun." Jen remarked, grinning at the boy.
"They're pretty awesome themselves." Sun replied as the boy waved to a nearby police officer walking by. "So what about your Petilil?"
"Oh, her? She was a gift from my Mom when I got here. I never had a Pokémon before and my Mom figured I'd be lonely in this new region so...I got Petilil. She's been great so far, haven't you?" Jen said sweetly to her Pokémon, who cried out happily in response. "I think she's pretty young, but that's fine. I don't want to be a Trainer anyway, I think."
"Then what do you want to do?" Sun asked the girl, who shrugged.
"No idea. I'll figure it out someday, but considering I'm still getting used to my new home, I couldn't care less for now." Jen replied with a smile, which surprised Sun. But then he thought about it and realized that not everyone had that sort of pressure of those who were Alolan-born or had families that pressured them into one profession or another.
Night had fallen by the time Sun and Jen saw Konikoni City, a glistening collection of buildings adorned with lights that lit the sky like a beacon from the distance. Sun and his newest companion made their way to the city, eager to be out of the wilds and within the comfortable grip of civilization once again.
Sun was once again blown away by the diversity in the culture of Alola, where many of the cities had been founded and settled by those from different regions, showing off a unique blend of ideas from other parts of the world and those formed in Alola. Despite the size of the city, it gave off a vibe of tranquility and peace, with the ocean slowly humming and crashing gently against the cliffs nestled beside the city. Oriental-themed buildings rose out of the stone pathway that wound through the city, which began through the archway that Sun and Jen walked through.
"Wow…" Sun muttered, taking in the sights. Merchants were peddling wares at their stalls while lanterns illuminated the streets. A sitar somewhere strummed gently, creating a relaxing background noise that made Sun smile despite himself. The boy returned his Pokémon and looked at Jen, who sighed quietly beside him.
"It's good to be home. Even if it hasn't been home for long. You know?" Jen asked Sun, who nodded in understanding.
"Yeah. I know what you mean. I only moved here a few months ago, and it was so weird getting used to everything. My friends helped me get over that." Sun said to the girl, who slowly nodded.
"Mmm...I should probably try and go out try to make some more friends, huh?" Jen said quietly, smiling a little.
"Well, you've already got one. I'm sure if you asked, Hau wouldn't mind being your friend too. People in Alola tend to be really friendly. Or incredibly insane. But hopefully you won't run into the Fossil Man anytime soon."
"The Fossil Man?"
"Don't ask."
"...okay?"
With that, Sun and Jen made their way through the city. To their surprise, they spotted a familiar blue-haired girl chatting with one of the vendors while holding a fishing rod over her shoulder. Lana spotted Sun and smiled at him, giving him a brief wave. After bidding the vendor farewell, she ran over to Sun and hugged him before stepping away.
"Alola to you both." Lana said, waving her hands in the traditional greeting. Sun did the same, with Jen repeating it a few moments later.
"So, you finally made it. Where's Hau?" Lana asked, a noticeable bit of disappointment in her voice at not seeing Sun with her crush.
"He wanted to train more in Diglett Cave. He's skimped out on his training a bit, so he's making up for lost time. Pretty good idea, honestly. I have a feeling Olivia is going to be brutal." Sun said to Lana, who smirked knowingly.
"She's definitely not one you want to trifle with. Olivia is a master Rock-type specialist. Working with such a disadvantageous type is difficult, but Olivia has made it her own calling. She'll be your toughest challenge yet." Lana said seriously to Sun, who nodded.
"That said, I'm pretty confident. My team hasn't let me down yet. Plus I've got Oliver, who hasn't lost a battle since that Amber thing happened. We're going to keep that streak going." Sun said with a grin, which made Lana smile as well.
"Confidence is good. Just don't let it get to your head. But you know that. So, who's your friend?" Lana asked, looking at Jen, who looked a bit nervous.
"Um, I'm Jen. I think I've seen you around here, but I didn't know who you are." Jen admitted, shrugging with a small smile. "I just moved here to Alola, so I'm kinda trying to figure stuff out. I met Sun and Hau in Diglett Tunnel after they saved me from some dorks called Team Skull."
"New huh? Well, allow me to officially welcome you to your new home! If you want, I can show you around a bit and give you the grand tour." Lana offered, which Jen thought about. Sun decided to chime in and help the new girl out.
"I'd recommend it. Lana is one of the Trial Captains of Akala Island, meaning she knows a lot about the island and its customs and stuff. Plus she's really respected in the community as well. And she's an awesome friend." Sun said to Jen, smiling slightly as Lana blushed bright pink at the praise. The bluenette wasn't quite used to cute boys complimenting her so much.
"Alright. Um, thanks for all the help today Sun. See you around?" Jen said to Sun, who grinned and held out his fist, which Jen smiled at and punched lightly.
Lana turned to Sun and said, "Lillie and her friends should be here in two days. Oh, and Lillie mentioned to me that there's going to be a big televised concert that night in Kanto that she wants all of us to watch together. You should call her when you get the chance!"
"I plan on it. Also, what concert?" Sun asked, confused.
"Crimson Dawn, her favorite band, is performing live at the biggest stadium in Kanto. Kind of weird that a concert is televised in such a manner, but Kanto does things like that sometimes." Lana shrugged, smiling again. "I'll see you a bit Sun."
"Thanks again for helping me, Sun. See you around!" Jen said to Sun, grinning at him. Sun bid the two girls farewell and made his way towards the Pokémon Center, ready for a good night's sleep and to begin preparations for his Grand Trial.
Two Days Later…
"Hey Lillie?"
"Yes Aria?"
"Once you help Nebby get home...Well, what do you plan to do after that?"
Lillie looked at Aria with a confused look on her face, though she thought about it as they walked through Konikoni City after arriving at the city an hour prior. She honestly had no idea what she wanted to do. She looked down and frowned, disappointed that she didn't have any goals after saving Nebby. Could she go onto bigger things? Maybe try and save Mother and the Paradise?
Hugh offered the girl a sympathetic smile and put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't stress about it." Hugh removed his hand and said, "She asks because we were talking about what we should do next. I think if everything goes well tonight, I'm going to see if I can get Aria approved for the Island Challenge. If she can harness Z-Power, it'll be a massive help against Cipher."
"I imagine it would be. Aria's really strong too, so she'd likely be able to use it well." Lillie mused, with Aria chuckling in response and giving the blonde girl an affectionate one-armed hug as they rounded the corner. They were on their way to meet up with Professor Burnet and the others at the Pokémon Center in a little while, though Lillie had requested to see more of the city. Aria and Hugh had agreed to watch over Lillie and explore together, hence their current trek.
"Well shucks, Lillie. I'm glad you think I'm strong." Aria remarked after a small pause, though she looked over at Hugh. "Hugh, look behind us. Try to be casual about it"
Hugh did so and frowned as he spotted two figure dressed in black approaching them from behind, though they suddenly split apart and ducked behind different buildings.
"Looks like we're being followed...How'd you notice?" Hugh asked Aria, to which the woman shrugged in response.
"Saw them as we rounded the corner. Do you know anyone who stalks people while dressed in black?" Aria asked Hugh, who rolled his eyes.
"International Police. I didn't get a good look at them, though. One of them had purple hair, that's about all I could tell." Hugh said to Aria as the trio stopped.
"Do they want you for the...um, concert tonight?" Lillie asked Aria quietly, earning a small nod from the Snagger.
"They probably want to meet in a less conspicuous place. Let's help them out and speed this process along." Aria said to Hugh and Lillie, and began walking towards the edge of town where there were boats floating next to the docks.
"Send out Samson. Just in case." Aria muttered to Hugh, pulling out a Poké Ball of her own and sending out Sophie the Jolteon. "Sophie, we're meeting with International Police. If something goes wrong, get Lillie to safety."
"You got it." The Jolteon replied as she looked at Lillie, who reached down and pet the Jolteon on the head. Aria smiled at the little girl as Hugh called out his Samurott, who snorted as it walked alongside them. The group made it to the docks a few minutes later and didn't have to wait long for the two figures dressed in black to finally arrive.
One of them was a man in his early 40's, dressed in a trench coat. He had black hair and brown eyes, and had two Poké Balls clipped to his belt. His eyes seemed to dart all over the place, as if he was wary of being watched or seen.
The other figure was a young woman around the same age as Aria, if not a few years older. She had long lilac-colored hair with eyes of the same color. She was dressed smartly in a black and white suit with black shoes and gloves. Six Ultra Balls were clipped to her belt, and she seemed to have a more relaxed expression on her face. Aria could tell she was incredibly strong, though.
"Thank you for taking this somewhere more private. Wes taught you well." The man spoke with a strange accent that none of the trio recognized. "However, our time is brief and we should get to the point."
The young woman beside the man nodded in agreement. "Very true. My name is Anabel. This is my subordinate Looker. We are with the International Police, and were hoping that-"
"You could use me in the big fight against Cipher at the Kanto Superdome tonight?" Aria said, cutting Anabel off. The woman blinked twice in surprise before she sighed, shaking her head.
"We've got a leak!" Looker hissed, taking a step back with his face showing one of abject shock. Anabel shot the man a sharp look and he calmed down, and then turned her attention to Aria.
"Someone's in for a reprimand...Anyway, yes, Miss Cooper. Our operatives in Kanto are gearing up for a large-scale battle tonight. We were hoping you would be willing to join the fight and help even the odds. You'll of course be compensated for your time and for putting yourself at such risk" Anabel explained, crossing her arms. "Given your history with them, I don't see a reason why you wouldn't want jump at the chance to put Cipher down once and for all."
"What makes you think you'll be able to do that much damage to them? And why would they attack a concert anyway? Yeah, Zoey's a enemy of theirs but it doesn't make any sense to go through so much trouble." Aria asked Anabel, who crossed her arms and sighed after a moment.
"I'd rather not go into specifics with others not directly involved present." Anabel said pointedly, looking at Lillie.
"Hugh, take Lillie to the Pokémon Center, would you?" Aria asked her boyfriend, who frowned and opened his mouth to protest, though Aria cut him off and said, "I've got this. Don't stress."
Hugh sighed angrily, but didn't argue. Instead he stepped forward and kissed Aria on the lips for a brief moment before he began walking away, with Lillie staying put for a moment, looking back and forth between the two Trainers. She looked up at Aria and suddenly hugged the young woman tightly.
"Please be careful, Aria." Lillie said quietly, stepping away from the Snagger.
Aria grinned in response and replied, "Always. Keep an eye on things for me, would you? I'm counting on you, Lillie."
The girl seemed surprised at this, but managed to smile back at the older girl and nod. "I won't let you down! Good luck!"
Lillie jogged off after Hugh, and Aria's smile faded. She turned her attention to Anabel, who she was disconcerted to see was staring at Lillie as she departed.
"I feel...What was with that girl? I felt something familiar." Anabel muttered, putting a hand to her head.
"Everything okay, ma'am?" Looker asked, concerned. Anabel shook her head, drawing her hand away and letting it fall to her side.
"I'll be fine. Back to the point of this discussion. The concert takes place in three hours, at the Kanto Superdome in Saffron City. We believe Cipher is targeting it due to the popularity of the band in question and the fact that it's at the biggest stadium in the region. Zoey Cairdelly's history of being an enemy of Cipher doesn't help things." Anabel explained to the Snagger, who scoffed.
"Yeah. Plus Zoey is a huge role model with kids, since she's always spouting stuff about never giving up and rising against adversity and all that. Killing an icon like her on live TV would get press coverage for ages. So what aren't you telling me?" Aria asked, crossing her arms.
"After the abduction of Samuel Surge, the son of the Vermillion City Gym Leader Lt. Surge, we believe that Cipher will attack the venue and those attending the concerts for another televised act of terror. Amber Fontaine informed us of their plans beforehand, and said she would return Samuel in return for the Shadow Moltres we captured after the Celadon City attack. We believe Cipher did this in an attempt to force Champion Lance intervene at the Kanto Superdome and capture him, though for what purpose we're unclear of." Looker explained to Aria, earning a scowl from her.
"Is he planning on actually going?" Aria asked, with Anabel shrugging and Looker sighing.
"Perhaps. The Champion's intentions are not known to us, no matter how much we wish to know. We do know, however, that Cipher is very confident that they will succeed. We plan on exploiting that overconfidence by overwhelming them and killing as many of the Admins and Grunts at that stadium as we can." Anabel continued as she walked past Aria and stood at the pier's edge.
"How confident are you that you guys aren't just walking into a slaughter?" Aria asked, earning a hard look from Looker. "Apparently your last operation didn't go too well, since a little kid got kidnapped."
"This time we have quite a bit more on our side than before. Some of our best agents will be on hand to battle Cipher, as well as several Gym Leaders and others. Besides...At the venue, the League is playing their trump card. Cipher won't know what hit it." Anabel said as she turned to Aria, a smirk on her face.
"Trump card?" Aria asked, looking back and forth between Anabel and Looker. The man chuckled softly and put a hand on his hip.
"You think Cipher would get away with terrorizing Kanto without attracting some of the greatest Trainers in the region? Things will get very nasty for them tonight. Our question is whether or not you are willing to join us in saving the world from Cipher's wrath. And if so...are you ready to fight?" Looker asked Aria with a smile. Aria held out her right hand, which was encased in the Snag Machine, in response. Both Looker and Anabel looked at her expectantly, but were both surprised when the Snagger shook her hand…
Only for a thin black blade to suddenly spring out from the side of the device, extending just far enough to appear an inch in front of Looker's face. Anabel smiled as she admired the weapon extending from the Snag Machine, eyeing the razor sharp and jet-black metal blade with curiosity.
"Interesting...I never knew the Snag Machine supported features like that." Anabel remarked, looking at Aria as she moved her hand down and retracted the blade from her hand with another flick of the wrist.
"It didn't, at least at first. But Wes made bombs for fun. Wasn't too hard for him to figure out how to incorporate some improvements into the Snag Machines design. And he taught me everything he knew about this thing." Aria replied, matching Anabel's smile with one of her own.
"So you are ready then?" Looker asked, smiling now. Aria nodded and Looker held out his hand, which Anabel grabbed with her own as an Alakazam suddenly teleported into existence beside them. Aria reached forward and clasped their hands, and with that the trio vanished with the Alakazam far away from Alola, to a place gripped within the fires of a revolution of the darkest kind…
Lillie arrived at the Pokémon Center with a worried Hugh walking alongside her. The older Trainer didn't vocalize his concern for his girlfriend, but Lillie could see it on his face.
"Aria will be okay, right? She's so strong...Cipher won't hurt her, will they?" Lillie asked Hugh, who looked down at the girl with a small smile.
"Anyone can get hurt anytime, anywhere. Aria's one of the toughest people I've ever met. But she's going into the first large-scale battle she's been in since our final fight against Cipher and Neo Team Plasma in Unova. Anything can happen, even if you're as good as she is. But I have to have faith in her and those she fights with. If anyone can put Cipher down for good, it'll be Aria." Hugh said with a note of pride and affection in his voice. It then struck Lillie how close the two of them were, and it reminded her of the relationship she and Sun had. They absolutely believed in one another, despite their failings and faults.
Speaking of…
"Sun!" Lillie called out, seeing the boy reading by himself at the cafe. Her crush looked up and smiled at her, giving her a small wave. Lillie happily sat down across from Sun while Hugh went to get something to drink, allowing the two friends to talk.
"How was your trek through the Diglett Tunnel?" Lillie asked her friend, who shrugged.
"Interesting. Met a new friend, fought Team Skull. The usual." Sun replied with a shrug, putting away his book. Lillie saw it was a book about Pokémon Training.
"Sounds about right." Lillie said with a smile, opening her bag and seeing a sleeping Nebby. Lillie scooped up the Cosmog and set him into her lap, which woke the small creature up.
"...pew?" Nebby mumbled, leaning against Lillie sleepily.
"Aww. Little guy tired from traveling today?" Sun asked with a small laugh.
"Not really. He goes back and forth between being incredibly hyper and sleeping for long periods of time." Lillie explained to Sun, who nodded slowly.
"Considering how little we know about him, that might just be how Cosmog are. Speaking of knowing little about things, what's the deal with this concert thing in Kanto?" Sun asked Lillie, who frowned, considering how to explain this to Sun.
"Well, my favorite band is performing tonight in Kanto, but...I found out Cipher is planning to attack during their performance." Lillie said quietly to Sun, who paled in response. "But I've also heard that a lot of people are going to be there to stop them. If everything goes well, then Cipher is going down for good tonight!"
Sun calmed down a bit at that and seemed thoughtful. Hugh sat down with a bottle of lemonade and a bottle of Moomoo Milk, the latter of which he passed to Lillie, who thanked him.
"Maybe we'll finally be done with this tonight...Worrying about them. I guess I just have to have faith and hope for the best." Sun said quietly, to which Hugh nodded.
"Just stay determined, Sun. Nothing lasts forever, and that includes Cipher. I'll be watching that concert tonight with the hope that Greevil and his buddies get put in the goddamn ground." Hugh said with a small scowl. There wasn't much either child could say to that, so they contented themselves with waiting for this concert to happen. To their surprise, Hau and Lana walked through the door about two hours later, chatting happily together. Lillie couldn't help but smile at this sight, as she was happy one of her closest friends was giving such a nice girl like Lana a genuine chance at winning his heart.
"Hey you three! Howzit going?" Hau asked cheerily, putting his elbows on Sun's head and using him as a armrest, which only mildly annoyed the boy.
"Not too bad. Hoping tonight goes well." Hugh remarked, with Hau looking confused.
"What's going on tonight?" Hau asked, with Hugh sighing slightly.
"It'll be explained in a bit. The concert's happening soon." Hugh said as he looked over at the large TV in the lobby. The Pokémon Center was mostly empty at the moment, but that of course could change at any moment. The group of Trainers and Lillie made their way to the TV area and sat down, keeping an eye on the television and waiting in preparation for whatever was to come.
"So, Lana…" Sun said, trying to calm his nerves as he waited for Cipher's next act of destruction. "Any word on Mallow?"
"No. I've called her several times over the past few days and she hasn't picked up. I've even gone by her house, and her parents told me she's been training whenever she isn't doing her duties as a Captain. She's really worrying me." Lana said quietly, looking down at the floor.
"I actually saw Mallow on my way into the city. She saw me and ran away though. I lost her when I tried to follow her." Hau said sadly, with Lana sighing angrily.
"What's with her? She's never been like this!" Lana remarked, though Hugh quirked his head slightly in confusion.
"Mallow? The Grass Captain, right? She seemed pretty happy the other night when she was trying to mess with everyone. Did something happen after we left?" Hugh asked the children. Lana explained her kiss with Mallow and how the girl bolted from the room afterwards, with Hugh frowning.
"Odd. I'd say give her some time. Something is obviously bothering her, but maybe she wants to figure it out on her own. Either way, just let her come to you." Hugh said to Lana, who slowly nodded.
And with that, the group saw Adrian Battlestorm appear on the TV and inform them that the channel was cutting over to a live-feed from a concert in Kanto, where a band was preparing to perform and two opposing forces would clash to determine the fate of the region.
"I hate crowds."
"But...Miss Amber, where's my Dad?"
"Relax, kid. He'll be here. And then you'll go home with him. Simple as that. We just need his help."
"Okay…"
Amber hated crowds and she hated children more. Maybe it was something about their innocence, but Amber really despised the fact that she had to sit this one out. Instead she sat within the crowd near the middle row of the massive Kanto Superdome, which was sold out and filled with thousands upon thousands of screaming and excited fans, awaiting the beginning of the Crimson Dawn concert. Amber was clad in black jeans and a t-shirt with a leather jacket over her shoulders. Her normally light-blue eyes were now gold, thanks to contacts provided for her, and her normally red hair was blonde. Given her rather infamous reputation, she needed to be disguised.
Beside her sat the son of Lt. Surge, Sam. The blond-haired child had been easy to manipulate, and was calmly sitting besides the assassin and waiting to be reunited with his father. As long as Cipher got what they wanted, she was content to give the child back to his father. Borlath had ordered it, and she didn't care either way, so she decided to at least be civil with the child and not terrify him.
Amber felt a presence touch her kind and head Avis, her Xatu, whisper into her head. "Everyone's in position. We've confirmed that Moltres is here, but we're not moving yet. Various International Police agents spotted within the crowd. No Elite Four presence yet, but we think they're hidden."
"Stay alert. I'm counting on you to back me up here, since I'm...at a disadvantage." Amber nearly growled, infuriated that she was without any weapons save for her Pokémon and only had one usable arm. It was so strange for the assassin, but given her injuries, she had to play her part as a secret weapon within the crowds. Hopefully she wasn't needed and they could complete the extraction and capture without too much trouble and create as much fear as possible.
Suddenly the lights shifted on stage and the entire stadium went dark, and with that the crowd began to cheer. Amber could make out the silhouette of someone walking onto center stage with a guitar in hand, and Amber nearly smiled at the thought of ripping out the throat of the person in question. A spotlight shone down from above, illuminating the band known as Crimson Dawn, with Zoey on center stage.
"Hey there, everyone. Glad you could make it." Zoey said quietly to the thousand and thousands in attendance, who were going absolutely nuts at this point. Zoey waited a few moments before she began speaking again.
"Tonight we've got the debut of some songs we've been really excited to show you all. Some come from a bit of a darker place, but given the events of the past year or so I think that's expected." Zoey continued, with a hush falling over the crowd.
"Unova has fallen...And Kanto is in trouble. It's hurting. People are scared. Innocents are dying left and right, and even the Legendaries are no match for the evil of Cipher. Better yet...Team Rocket is helping them." Zoey remarked with a somber expression on her face, sitting on a stool behind her. The woman was dressed in a feathery black dress with crimson spikes jutting up and down the sides of it, with an electric guitar shaped like the tail of an Ampharos in her hands.
"But that being said...I don't feel like letting those morons get free reign of another region. You know?" Zoey said to the crowd, earning a few cheers. "I was there at the final battle. I saw what Cipher can do, and yeah it's scary. Really scary, but...Just because I'm scared, doesn't mean I'm not going to stand up and give these idiots one hell of a fight if they come for me."
Zoey's words had turned from calm to simmering fury, her eyes gleaming in the stage-light as the crowd watched on.
"No matter how bad things get, you can't ever give up hope that things will get better. We've all hit that low point, the lowest of the low. But you have to keep going...Unova still fights to this day. And so do I, and many of my friends. And to you...To those watching around the world and the beautiful people of Kanto, I say this. Don't give up. Like a good friend of mine says...Stay determined, no matter what. We have to stand together, no more than ever, and resist. Fight back and continue to be brave! Cipher and Team Rocket will not be forever. They too, will be cast down! Because...All things must die." Zoey said gently. Softly...like a siren's whisper as the gentle tinkling of a piano began to play in the background.
(Begin "All Things Must Die by Jeff Williams)
Amber rolled her eyes at the speech the woman gave, but couldn't help but respect the way that the entire crowd was held spellbound by her words, with her transitioning into her latest song seamlessly. While her eyes glanced through the crowd, she could see several people standing up and making their way towards the stage, and Amber smiled maliciously at what was to come even as Zoey began to sing, her voice carrying a haunting beauty to it.
Day by day it's nearer,
step by step you grow.
Closer to your ruin.
Soon your time to go.
Life is just a journey.
Yours is near its end.
Bloody evolution...
This world transcend.
Amber shut her eyes and scowled at the not so subtle message being serenaded to her by the woman on stage, clenching her fist at the indignation of it all. Despite it all, the woman couldn't help but feel as if the words held a strange meaning to them. A greater purpose. As if they were...prophetic, in a way.
Black out the sky…
All...things...must...die…
"Showtime." Amber whispered, opening her eyes.
Zoey suddenly flashed the crowd a wild grin, which was suddenly wiped away as several explosions suddenly ripped through the stadium, including the stage. Amber grabbed Sam's hand and yanked him out of his seat, with the crowd around them going into a terrified frenzy as silver-armored soldiers suddenly flickered into existence, opening fire with guns into the crowd and releasing monstrous Shadow Pokémon to attack everything in sight.
Crimson Dawn were surprised, but they reacted quickly to Cipher's attack. Everyone on stage called out their Pokémon, with a massive Blaziken standing beside Zoey as she glared down several Cipher Grunts making their way to the stage.
"You assholes really don't have anything better to do, huh?" Zoey demanded as she pointed forward. "Jace, Blaze Kick!"
"Blaaaze!" the Pokémon cried out, sprinting towards the Grunts approaching with their Pokémon. The Blaze Pokémon rushed forward as a Shadow Zangoose, Porygon, and Golduck lunged forward with shadowy auras wrapped around them. With a flurry of burning kicks, the Pokémon were dispatched with ease and the Blaziken jumped back to join his Trainer who had taken several steps back.
"Where are they!?" Zoey demanded as she glanced around her as she called out an Ampharos as well. This was all well and good, because several strangely dressed figures wearing masks made their way onto the stage, though Zoey knew who they were. Cipher's Admins, all responsible for terrible crimes and several of which she had met personally in Unova.
"Let's see...Venus, Dakim, and...No idea who you are." Zoey said with a growl to the third figure, who flapped his cape away and drew a large pistol.
"The name's Dawson, my lovely adversary. The Dashing Rogue of Hoenn has arrived to steal your life and your heart. Preferably the second before the first, because otherwise it sounds creepy." Dawson remarked before Dakim backhanded him.
"Focus Dawson." Dakim growled before turning to Zoey. "Your death has been a long-time coming. While we wait for the Champion to arrive, let's have some fun!" Dakim said with a dark laugh, pulling out two Ultra Balls and calling out his Pokémon. To Zoey's horror, the Pokémon were two strange beings made of rock and steel respectively. Venus laughed and called out another strange creature of her own, which was made of ice and also had a shadow-like cloak of darkness surrounding it like the others.
"Regirock...Regice...Registeel. All turned into Shadow Pokémon." Zoey hissed, trying to hide the horror in her voice. She held out her hand, where a glimmering bangle shimmered in the stage light. "Gotta buy us time. Jace! Showcase the power of our bond! Mega Evolve!"
A flash of pink light enveloped the Blaze Pokémon and within moments, the Mega Blaziken stood tall and glowered at the Golem Trio that had been tainted by the dark science of Cipher. Dawson hung back awkwardly, tipping his hat towards the other two Admins.
"I'll leave this to you two." Dawson remarked, turning around and firing off a shot that went through a nearby security guard that had managed to get through the stage. The shot punched a burning hole in the man's chest and made him crumple onto the stage. Dawson glanced to his side and saw Amber guiding the boy they had kidnapped onto the stage, albeit in a headlock to keep him still.
"Where's my Dad!? I don't want to be here! It's scary!" Samuel screamed and thrashed, only for Amber to grab the child by the neck and hiss into his face.
"Shut it! Or else I'll send you back to your father in a coffin!" Amber snarled, to which she received a sob in response. Dawson was a bit more sympathetic and yanked Samuel away from Amber, though he kept a firm grip on the child's neck.
"You're terrifying. Go help the other Admins." Dawson said to Amber, who gave him a flat look. "Right, forgot who I was talking to. Go kill people then. The International Police finally made it to the stage."
Amber whirled around and scowled as she spotted three men garbed in body armor with a Stoutland and two Arcanine flanking them. Amber scowled and took a step back, loathing the fact that she couldn't engage them directly. However...
"Dawson, deal with them. I think I'll follow your advice and mess with that damned songbird." Amber said as she made her way back to the battlefield, which was a mostly destroyed stage. At this point, the stadium was filled with dead patrons and Pokémon, with International Police and the odd Trainer battling in the stands. Dawson sighed and called out his Pokémon, though he also began firing shots at the dog Pokémon attacking him, dealing much more damage in one shot than any of his Pokémon could do to the well-trained Pokémon of the International Police.
Zoey and her band were fighting for all they were worth, but it was obvious they were overwhelmed by the Legendary Golems. Jace the Mega Blaziken delivered a brutal Sky Uppercut to Registeel only to get hit by a Hyper Beam from Regice for his trouble, the blast sending the Blaze Pokémon crashing onto the ground next to Zoey, where it reverted to its normal form and passed out.
"Damn it...Where are they!?" Zoey demanded, taking a step back as her Ampharos threw out a Protect shield around the three of them. Zoey looked back at her fellow band-mates and yelled "Bail guys! Teleport out!"
"We're not leaving you, Zoey! Not until the others arrive!" one of the them shouted back, even as a Flamethrower from a Shadow Talonflame erupted from above them, only to be blasted out of the sky by several bolts of lightning. Zoey and everyone else on stage looked at the offender and saw that it was a very pissed off soldier.
"Where's. My. Son?" Lt. Surge growled as his remaining team crouched beside him, awaiting the command to attack again. Venus and Dakim laughed and pointed their Shadow golems forward as Zoey jogged over to Lt. Surge, the shield around her and Ampharos fading away.
"Bail now! Backup has arrived!" Zoey barked at her band, who reluctantly teleported away with a Kadabra, leaving Zoey with Lt. Surge.
"Give me back my son!" Surge bellowed at Dawson and Amber, who both shrugged.
"Give us Shadow Moltres and you have a deal." Amber responded dryly. Lt. Surge scowled and pulled out a phone. After tapping a few numbers and muttering something into the phone, a fearsome screech erupted from outside the stadium. After about thirty seconds, a massive burning bird suddenly landed on the side of the open stadium, flaring its wings and letting out a fearsome screech.
"There! You got your damn Shadow Pokémon back! Now give me Sam!" Lt. Surge yelled at the Admins, who exchanged looks before shrugging as one.
"No, I don't think we will. Much more fun to let you squirm." Venus responded, with Lt. Surge beginning to walk forward with hate burning in his eyes. "Kill his Pokémon and the singer girl. We can capture and torture him later."
"I was hoping to do this alone. But...Now." Lt. Surge said as he crossed his arms. Before any of the Admins could respond to that, a massive Braviary suddenly slammed into Dawson and knocked him to the ground. Samuel Surge let out a scream as the bird flapped its wings hard and sent Amber crashing to the ground and grabbed the child in its talons.
"Sammy!" Surge yelled out, a note of relief in his voice.
"Stop them damn it!" Amber shouted to the others, with Dawson sighing and taking aim with his pistol. He fired off a shot and to his annoyance, a floating sword and shield suddenly flickered into existence behind the Braviary and created a barrier to protect them from the shot. With that, Samuel Surge was dropped into the arms of his father, who hugged his child tightly and broke into tears of relief along with his child. The Aegislash and Braviary hovered near the father and son before the Aegislash suddenly whisked the two of them away by using Shadow Sneak, carrying them away from the fight.
"Idiots! The one time I can't fight and you blow it!" Amber shouted at Dakim, Venus, and Dawson. They were interrupted when a familiar voice cleared their throat, drawing their attention to a nearby figure wearing body armor and a bowtie at his neck, a sniper rifle aimed at the four of them.
"Hey fuckers. Remember me?" Oliver asked casually as he shifted his aim to Dakim and fired a sniper round directly into the man's forehead. It somehow rebounded off of the man's mask, but made him stumble backwards with a snarl of pain.
"Regirock! Registeel! Kill him!" Dakim bellowed, throwing his arms up as Venus did the same with her Shadow Regice. All three Legendary Golems surged forward with robotic cries, only for a several of explosions to engulf to the two Pokémon and send the three of them crashing to the ground, barely conscious as it became apparent a series of attacks had hit the trio at once.
"Not on your life!" yelled out a small, old woman that was suddenly standing on the other side of the stage, surrounded by Pokémon. At Agatha's side was Bruno and Karen of the Elite Four, both of whom looked livid and had their teams ready to attack again.
That was, until they heard the sound of malicious laughter echoing through the stadium.
"Fantastic! Now we have the heavy-hitters out on display! But in the end...It's all pointless!" cackled a voice from above. Everyone looked skyward to see Greevil and Giovanni descending from the sky atop something that could only be described as a monster.
At the most basic level, it could have been described as what was once a Noivern. However, thanks to the same monstrous venom that had corrupted Amber's Shadow Rhyperior, the Sound Wave Pokémon owned by Greevil had been mutated to a point nearly beyond recognition. The color of its body had morphed from black and purple to grey and black, with face turning an awful shade of reddish-brown. It's soulless eyes were ringed with insanity, its body covered in wriggling spikes that had no right to be there. The beast let out a echoing scream of fury that made everyone on stage clamp their hands over their ears. This helped Greevil catch the advantage when he issued a command, pointing at the trio of Elite Four Trainers.
"Umbral Peak!" Greevil commanded the Umbral Noivern as he and Giovanni landed on the ground. The beast reared its head back and released an incredible wave of sound that made the three Trainers drop to their knees and scream in agony, their Pokémon twitching and howling in pain before they began to drop like flies, fainting one by one until none of them were conscious.
"What...what the hell is that thing?" Zoey whispered as she beheld the Umbral Noivern with sheer horror in her voice.
"Something a lot worse than a Shadow Pokémon."
Zoey looked to her left and saw Oliver standing beside her, panting slightly at having barely escaped the attack thanks to the reappearance of his Aegislash. "That thing reminds me of the Pokémon Amber used back at Vermilion."
"She has an Umbral Pokémon too? Shit...it's like Jojo all over again. Please tell me we have more backup coming to help us out." Zoey sighed as Giovanni stepped forward and admired the carnage before him. Oliver saw the man in question and scowled.
"Giovanni? Damn!" Oliver swore and placed a hand to his temple. "Quill with a Code Black. Giovanni is here and cooperating with Cipher! Move ahead with the plan!"
At this point, the battling that had gone in the crowds was mostly one-sided, with the International Police and regular security struggling against Cipher's superior Pokémon and weaponry. However, upon Oliver's signal, dozens of agents began to teleport into the stadium, along with several of the Gym Leaders from the Kanto region. Oliver spotted Anabel and Looker within the stands, making their way towards his position, though the Shadow Moltres that had suddenly landed within the front row made that job much harder. The Shadow Pokémon screeched before bathing the seats in flames and incinerating Cipher and International Police alike in a shower of fire.
"You think introducing more of you fools matters!? No!" Greevil screamed as the sound of screeching filled the air. To the collective shock of everyone, two more massive birds suddenly filled the skies, one a beautiful sky blue and the other a shocking yellow.
"All Three Legendary Birds...all three Legendary Golems...What else do you bastards have up your sleeves!?" Zoey demanded, though she was eyeing all of the Legendaries with worry. Especially since the trio of Elite Four members and their Pokémon had yet to rise from the ground.
"We're not so foolish as to completely tip our hand. This is a show of force." Giovanni said smoothly, putting a hand in his pocket while making a careless gesture with the other. "A display of the power of Cipher and Team Rocket. Which reminds me…"
Giovanni snapped his fingers, which seemed to be a signal of sorts because Team Rocket members began to literally appear out of the shadows within the stadium, with two squads appearing on stage and backing up the two masterminds as they stood opposite Oliver and Zoey, with a massive battle taking place in the stands as Cipher, Team Rocket, and the Legendary Birds prevented anyone else from getting to to the stage, with the International Police getting pushed back despite their efforts, with several of them falling to the combined attacks coming their way.
"Now…Let's kill two annoying thorns in my side." Greevil said as Amber stepped over to Greevil and the mysterious cloaked Admin suddenly appeared from the shadows beside them, an Ariados chittering softly beside him. Oliver and Zoey scowled as the Umbral Noivern let out a scream of fury, flapping its wings above the Grand Master. Just behind him, Dakim and Venus had revived their Legendary Golems and were joining in the carnage, laying waste to the International Police and anyone foolish enough to storm the stage.
"Umbral Peak! Bring them to their knees!" Greevil shouted as Umbral Noivern swooped down to the ground and landed, rearing back its head and opening its mouth. Oliver shouted out the command for King's Shield while Zoey had her Ampharos use Protect, creating a strange shimmering sphere of green and gold that surrounded them and their Pokémon. However, as the Umbral Pokémon released its attack for the second time, it appeared that not even two protection-based moves could hold back the sheer power the beast possessed. Both shields began to crack under the pressure they were were under, with Oliver gritting his teeth. Zoey quickly revived her Blaziken, but was genuinely stumped on how they could get out of this.
"Nothing like a televised execution to get the blood pumping. Poor Borlath is probably kicking himself for missing this right now." Greevil laughed as he watched the barrier break before their eyes. Giovanni chuckled darkly, though he shook his head.
"Likely not. Hmm…" The mob boss looked skyward and his face broke into a grin as he unclipped a ball from his belt and called out a Persian.
"The guest of honor has arrived. Protect." Giovanni ordered the cat Pokémon. The Persian nodded and created a barrier around itself, Giovanni, and Greevil just in time for a Hyper Beam to slam into the barrier and explode violently around them. The Umbral Noivern roared in pain after taking the attack head on, but only showed minor damage at the direct hit.
Greevil's smile widened as he saw a man with fiery red hair dressed in a strange outfit with a cloak leap from atop a Dragonite, an Aerodactyl and a Dragonair in the air just above him. The man's eyes were narrowed with barely contained fury, but his tone was level as he spoke to them.
"So...Here we are. You did all this to finally get me into a direct confrontation. I'm here in your trap." Lance said, the Champion's voice as cold as permafrost. "You really did leave me with no choice. Either I stayed away from this madness and risked a great deal of lives to your carnage, as well as the support of the International Police and other allies...Or I risk the Kanto and Johto regions losing their Champion to your scheme."
"Yes. I'm quite proud of our plan. Now, you will be coming with us. You see that even with the backup you brought with you, you're still very outmatched." Greevil said with a chuckle as his Umbral Noivern hovered above him. Lance allowed himself a few moments to stare at the horrific abomination of nature before looking back at Greevil.
"I am definitely outmatched here. But you're wrong when you say the backup I've brought isn't enough to even the odds...and that my backup was just this." Lance remarked, his face creeping into a small smirk that Greevil scowled at. And then there was a massive screech from behind him, and the Grand Master whirled around to see Shadow Moltres vanishing from the front row and getting sucked inside of a glowing purple Timer Ball. The ball clattered to the ground and shook once...twice...three times…
Click.
"Snag confirmed. Who's next?" came a voice from the shadows. Greevil grit his teeth as Aria Cooper walked out onto the stage proper, decked out in a black combat outfit with her Snag Machine gleaming in the moonlight. The young woman held out her hand and the Timer Ball flew into her outstretched grip, and the Snagger pocketed the ball containing Shadow Moltres with a wink.
"Well done. You brought a stupid girl that was half of what Wes was to our biggest victory yet. I'm shaking in my boots!" Greevil laughed as he snapped his fingers. Dakim and Venus stepped forward as Aria flexed her fingers, preparing to battle the two Admins. "Reclaiming Moltres will be a simple task."
"Psh. I'm no Wes, but last time I checked I've shown up three of your Admins. I'm willing to up that number to five. Besides, I think you should be worried about the guys above you, ya old bastard." Aria shot back, with Greevil's head suddenly looking upward. The man felt an awful chill of raw fear crawl through his body as he spotted a Charizard and a Pidgeot descending from above, with a young man on each.
"No...No! Borlath said they weren't supposed to be in the region!" Greevil screamed as Amber and Giovanni watched the approaching duo silently, with Giovanni's expression twisting into a terrible expression of fury. However it was the strange masked Admin who replied.
"You'd be astounded how quickly travel through the regions can be. Obviously we were outplayed." The masked man remarked lightly, a small laugh escaping him. "I suppose we really will see whether or not Cipher's power is unmatched now."
"Open fire!" Greevil screamed at the Cipher Grunts around them. The Grunts in question raised their weapons skyward and ordered their Pokémon to attack, but were intercepted by a barrage of attacks from the International Police and Gym Leaders that were storming the stage with defiant looks of fury on their faces now that the Shadow Moltres was gone.
Brock from the Pewter City Gym unleashed a Steelix and a Forretress and used them to help protect the others from Cipher's gunfire as it turned to them, issuing out commands like Iron Defense, Harden, and Protect as he called out more and more Pokémon.
"You think we're going to let you run roughshod over our homes! Think again!" Koga bellowed as his daughter Janine landed beside him, two Crobats and two Weezing hovering protectively by them and firing off purple streams of toxic liquid at the Grunts as they tried to protect their leaders. Misty stood atop her Gyarados barking out commands, with the massive beast firing a deadly Hyper Beam into the stream of Grunts and receiving a slew of attacks that brought it down for its trouble. Misty tumbled off of the beast and was caught by Lance's Aerodactyl, who landed on the ground with a screech and soared back into the fight.
Meanwhile the two flying figures, a Charizard and a Pidgeot made it to the ground and the two young men riding atop the Pokémon stepped in front of the Champion, staring down the group of Cipher Admins and the leader of them all.
The more intimidating of the pair had a rather stoic expression on his face, and wore a simple white T-shirt and blue jeans and white and red sneakers, with a cap on his head of the same color scheme. His almost emotionless gray eyes bespoke an unbreakable calm as his pale brown hair blew softly in the wind, with six Poké Balls of different types on his belt. His Charizard let out a bellow of fury and a twenty foot plume of fire erupted from the lizard's mouth, a showcase of its raw strength on display for all to see. Meanwhile a Pikachu rode on the young man's shoulder, looking around at the destroyed concert with a look of horror on its face.
The other man had brown spiky hair and wore a short-sleeved black dress shirt with brown slacks, with six Poké Balls of various types clipped to his belt. A cocky smirk was on his face as his brown eyes glanced over those assembled before he made a casual hand gesture in greeting.
"Hey there. Don't think we've ever been properly introduced. The name's Blue. And this chatty bastard next to me is Red. And the two of us are going to end this crap once and for all." Blue said with a grin as his Pidgeot landed next to him, letting out a fearsome cry as the massive bird flapped its wings, sending a powerful wind across the stage.
Red silently stepped forward with a blank expression on his face as the Pikachu on his shoulder leapt onto the ground, it's cheeks sparking wildly in preparation for the showdown to come.
Stay tuned for Part II! Where it's gonna be the Kanto Gym Leaders, International Police, Anabel, Looker, Zoey, Oliver, Aria, Lance, Red and Blue vs. Greevil, Giovanni, The Masked/Unknown Admin, Umbral Noivern, Umbral Rhyperior, the Legendary Golems, Shadow Zapdos and Shadow Articuno, Venus, Dakim, Dawson, Amber, and the combined forces of Cipher and Team Rocket and much more!
Q & A
From: snipmaster149
Did sun ever get the zygarde cube?
Yes. He got the Zygarde Cube from Sina and Dexio back in Chapter 38. However, the cube is split in half due to the monumental task of collecting and reforming a Legendary required to help combat a deadly criminal syndicate, so the task is shared between him and Aria. The two of them are reforming Zygarde together. The only reason he hasn't progressed to the 10% stage is because I haven't gotten to that point in my playthrough myself.
From: RC-DA
I'm a bit confused about Eldes decision to stay with Cipher though since he showed disdain for it in XD. Also I noticed that you call it the oore region, isn't it spelled orre? It doesn't really matter much, just something I noticed. One more thing, I've got a feeling that Damien has an advantage over Oliver, especially since Sun's father started in Alola and Damien was his starter, and description of it doesn't really match the other one. Other than that, you claim the next chapters are going to be awesome, so make them the best ones ever, of all time.
That was a spelling mistake that I somehow didn't notice until recently. So...yeah, my bad.
Hopefully this chapter cleared up this question that you've had for a while now. Ashton convinced Eldes, Ardos, and Greevil to continue the scheming of Cipher. Eldes took more effort than the other two, but Ashton managed to convince Eldes that continuing Cipher would help the world in the long run, which eventually swayed him. Especially after Ashton explained what he wanted from Cipher in the long run, since it appealed to Eldes humanity.
From: Technitium2
Anyway, to the question that's totally inconsequential but I'm very curious about: is Zoey's design based on Ruby Rose? Because I feel like it's based on that gun-scythe-toting leader. If it is, I welcome all RWBY references.
Very good eye.
Zoey is actually one of the very first OC's I created for this universe, years and years ago when the RWBY Trailers were being released. Character-wise she's generally reserved and fairly soft-spoken, though she has a bit of a mean streak when riled. Design-wise, she was inspired by Ruby from RWBY. Save for the eyes being a different color and being just a little taller.
Sadly, for this story, she has a very minor role and won't be used all that much. However...That may change depending on the future.
From: Sai Og Sus
I really hope you justify his defeat against Red. That man deserves it. Also, didn't Giovanni become a Gym Leader again in BW2? Are you going to ignore it or expand it more?
I'll try and justify it, but again, trying to cover up all of the plot holes the game leaves is getting exhausting at this point. Considering child prodigies are defeating veteran villain bosses in every game, it's honestly not a long shot to say that Red was just that good and Giovanni underestimated him. I also don't think anyone really has a problem with that being the real reason, since Red is one of the most powerful characters in the entire series.
And as for the Gym Leader thing...I'm ignoring that because it makes no canonical sense. It was done just to justify having him in the game so he could be battled, fanservice and nothing more. That's it. Why would they let him become a Gym Leader again? That's a bit silly.
From: Sai Og Sus
Now I understand that Tapu Lele's device is similar to Zorua's ability but considering how you have established that Psychic are powerful enough to manipulate minds, can't she do the same to Sun and Lillie? Make them see her as a human? Unless you have your own excuse like how it is exhausting for her or something.
I've explained this in depth via PM, but I'll explain it here.
Psychic-types are powerful, but they have limits. Even Legendary Psychic-types, while capable of incredible things, have limits. Warping the perceptions of theoretically dozens or hundreds of adults is way more taxing than it would need to do it for. However, Tapu Lele could distort a human's vision and perception in that manner if it wanted to. It's just easier for it to use Colress' inventions to mess around because it's an immortal deity that's bored as hell.
From: MoonlightButterfree
You might have already explained this and I missed it, but I don't remember seeing anything about what happened to Wes. Is that something that's going to be address later down the line or is he just not in this?
Wes vanished shortly after the fall of Nimbasa City, having lost the will to keep fighting due to watching the city die without being able to stop it. Wes was then defeated by Ghetsis and Perfect Kyurem and had one of his Pokemon killed (some of this was explained earlier or heavily inferred), and then he just...broke. Aria couldn't convince him to keep fighting, because after everything he had suffered through, he had had enough. So he vanished and hasn't been seen since.
However...I do have plans for this. And he is in a location that some of you may know.
From: Okamiden14
Im running out of ideas to ask or say man. Good chapter, but i do have to ask, will rainbow rocket make an appearance? Along witht he other evil team leaders like lysandre, archie, maxie etc.?
Hey, you made a legit account. Awesome! And you don't have to ask a question every chapter. It's just a thing I did so if people have questions, I can answer them.
And as to that question...sort of. However I can say the other leaders involved with Rainbow Rocket will not be appearing in the story, sadly.
From: Guest
I've noticed pedestal has beenough a huge influence on your writing and I was just wondering if your name derived from the story since one of nicks followers was named flygon and of course nick.
That is a very, very big leap in logic.
No, to answer your question. My Pen-name comes from the fact that my favorite Pokémon is Flygon and that my IRL name is Nicholas.
I won't argue that "Pedestal" is a fantastic story and that it has inspired me in general for a while now, but that's not just with this story. Also, I've read several stories on this site that have inspired me, which is no different than a game or piece of music inspiring me. To have my name be inspired from some really obscure character from a story I enjoyed doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
Plus, I discovered that story years after I started writing on this site, though I will admit my name was originally FlygonN instead of FlygonNick. I decided to just add the three extra letters a short time later, since it sounded better to me.
That's all for now. Thanks for the support, feedback, and reviews stuff. If you haven't already, please support this story with a favorite/follow and some glorious feedback in the section below. Plus, submit questions to be answered! That's a thing too.
Next chapter will be a glorious showdown! But who will come out alive!? Not everyone…stay tuned for "Kingslayer Part II."
Take care and stay awesome.
Until next time, FlygonNick out!
