Chapter 123 – Grasping at Gold

Owen had enough time to launch two Radiant Beams—attack names he coined—at incoming Titans. The first was on the advancing Giratina, this time so thoroughly that it seemed to take her down completely. There was a rumble from most of its disintegrating body smashing into the dust, but it was softer than expected. Most of the body was already its component Void Shadows, and the core—Giratina herself—was much smaller than the Titan it had once been.

The second Radiant Beam was to that same Titan from before that had gotten even closer, destroying it for a second time. Without a core, the rumble was more like a wash of Void Shadow bodies for the ground troops to take care of with a bombardment of elemental attacks.

Afterward, Alex returned with a team of fliers. Owen wasted no time, and asked the others to hold their ground for as long as they could while he went to the source. In the end, Dark Matter was right. If they continued to play defense, the infinite army would gain more ground. This was when Dark Matter was the least protected, presumably, when he was dedicating resources to offense. It was now or never.

He flew on Alex, who was a slower but safer flier, while Gahi scouted ahead with his speed uninhibited.

Palkia was using what he could of his diminished power to keep an entire side of the town safe, warping swaths of Void Shadows and its accompanying Titan further away, stalling for time.

On the other side, Dialga was slowing the onslaught in the most literal sense, allowing Null Villagers to attack Void Shadows with little fear of a counter. They were even knocked back in slow-motion.

"Let's keep going," Owen said quietly. "It's a risk, but… But we have to try." He held onto Gahi's shoulders, looking at the others who had come with him. Alex was opposite from them, along with Eon, who took the form of another Alex. Owen suspected that Eon wanted to replicate a Charizard form, but in the heat of battle, wasn't able to concentrate enough. He'd shifted through countless forms while battling, and his mind was frazzled. Flying behind Alex must have been his attempt at keeping focus on a single, stable form.

On the ground, Zena led the charge with Demitri and Mispy. Owen wasn't sure where Trina had gone, but it was probably someplace safer. She couldn't fight in that state. He wasn't sure where Jerry had gone, but he was still fighting with the others to the west; maybe they'd pass by on the way.

Owen had to be at the Tree in order to help it charge at its best, but the Tree could charge on his own, too. Just slower. They had enough power for one charge in case of an emergency, but really, if they could attack Dark Matter directly while his army was pressing inward, that could turn the tides. And that was Owen's ultimate goal. Defy Dark Matter's predictions of huddling by the Tree… and lash out into the heart of his domain.

The plan sounded so obvious when he laid it out to them. Perhaps that was why they were eager to put it in motion. Owen only hoped it would be as simple in practice.

"We need to clear the way fer the ground," Gahi said, like he was reciting something told to him. "How're we gonna do that?"

Below and ahead, Null Villagers were holding back a thick sea of wraiths that spilled over the corners of ruined houses and through the once beautiful, if not dreary, streets. He couldn't recognize the district anymore; they were ruins flooded with black, squirming waters.

They were just about to breach the blurry line that delimited the Null Villagers and the Void Shadows. Then, a horrid roar caught their attention.

"What?" Owen winced. Even as a Charmeleon, it shook his chest.

Something was wrong with Dialga.

He was crouched down as the cyan lines along his body pulsed with a deep red instead. Lines of darkness flowed like blood through that scaly armor.

"What happened?!" Owen looked at the Tree, which was starting to glow brighter.

Something's wrong with Dialga! Owen called. Aim at him… in case he's Voiding somehow!

Dialga didn't seem to be doing anything, but Void Shadows were advancing without his support.

But what about the other Titans?! Amelia called, and the Tree's branches seemed to be denser toward the advancing, southern side of town. Only then did Owen realize how many of their perimeters were dwindling. There was no longer a defined point where the Null Villagers were actively fighting off their foe. They were falling back toward the Tree. Just like Dark Matter had predicted.

I… I mean… Owen bit his tongue. On one hand, they needed to get to Dark Matter. On the other, if they left now, with Dialga losing it to some strange corruption and the Titans on other corners advancing… Would there be anything left when they won?

They couldn't lose the Tree.

Owen suddenly couldn't feel Alex beneath him. "B—huh?! W-wait!"

He was flying, held under the arms by a speedy Flygon. "Gahi?!"

"You can purify Dialga, yeah?"

"I can, but—"

"Then let's do it quick! OI! You guys go ahead!" Gahi shouted back when he spotted them trying to follow.

"G-go on ahead! We can catch up!" Owen confirmed, still unsure of the plan. But Gahi had already set his mind to it; there was no stopping him now. He figured that was natural for the living aspect of willpower.

In seconds, they approached Dialga. There was a strange wave of energy around him and Owen had a feeling it was some attempt to slow their movement… but Gahi was still too fast. Maybe he was ignoring it entirely; he couldn't tell. The light warped around them, and Dialga was instantly a lot closer.

"Your Teleports are gonna make me sick," Owen complained.

"Yer fine," Gahi dismissed, disappearing again before landing on Dialga's back.

The darkening Legend roared and tried to buck Gahi off, but he flew again and avoided most of the turbulence. Owen could see it—Shadows dancing around Dialga's scales, coursing through his spirit.

"I need to touch him," Owen said, coating one hand in a golden Protect.

"Go fast."

Dialga crouched down, growling. "Kill… kill me… before I…!"

"Nah," Gahi shouted. He slammed Owen onto Dialga's back.

"Ow," Owen grunted, but clutched at any purchase he could make. His illuminated hand dug at two tough, steel scales, while his other hand grasped a piece of armor near Dialga's tail, and Gahi kept his wings spread wide.

"RRRRAAAAAGH!"

Owen's instincts screamed to defend. He tensed his whole body, envisioning it crossing his arms, and a golden barrier appeared around him. Gahi's hold was ripped away, leaving massive claw marks in Owen's shoulders that earned an audible gasp, but that was all. He'd stayed put.

He couldn't hear over the sudden cacophony of stone grinding and wind blowing. He was weightless, and then everything was heavier. Dark blotches danced above him. By the time it was quiet again, his barrier had been covered in light debris and stones, and he felt like he'd fallen several feet. Dialga must have collapsed.

"Gahi—?"

He was tumbling away limply, caught by one of the other fliers, trying to talk to him. Gahi was unresponsive, so they flew him to the Tree next. All around him, entire buildings had collapsed, and he could see unmoving bodies of wraiths and villagers alike among it. The wraiths, less durable, all looked dead and motionless. Some of the rubble was moving, though, and villagers were trying to get up. Not all of them, though, and Owen's chest tightened.

"Rrrrrgh…"

Owen pressed hard against Dialga's back, channeling more of that energy inside. He closed his eyes, searching for something. He envisioned a flame in his mind, but then saw it covered in an inky black film. With his mind's hands, he reached toward it and pulled away. Embers puttered out from the gaps he'd made. He pulled more, feeling tired, those hands dissolving from overextension.

There was so much. What was this darkness? How did it get inside Dialga so easily, when he had been fighting so well seconds prior? He couldn't… get rid of it. There was too much. And soon, Owen's energy started to ebb.

Press on.

Something pushed Owen's mental presence closer. Without thinking, he followed the order.

Don't forget to breathe. Meditate. In, out.

The voice was distant. It sounded like it was coming from inside the flame… So familiar. But it was fading, too, becoming part of it.

Very good. That will… do…

Owen gasped, returning to consciousness. Someone had called him, but who? Not important, no time. Instead, he called, Is Gahi okay?

He's healing at the tree, Amelia said, But I think he's out of commission for a while…

As long as he's okay. Keep him safe.

You will. Amelia left Owen at that, and he turned his attention to Dialga, who stirred.

"Rrgh…"

The distortion in his voice was gone. "Dialga, are you okay?"

"I've had better days." His voice was strained, but measured. "Dark Matter… He's…"

"Stay put, okay? Something tried to corrupt you from within."

"I see… I don't feel quite myself…"

"I think I purified you, but you need to get to the Tree to stay safe. Okay?"

"Tree…" Dialga groaned. "Rhys…"

"Rhys? What about Rhys?" Owen asked.

"Dark Matter… fought him. I saw it in a vision… I… You must find him. He's in danger…" Dialga was dazed again. "I can't remember…"

Owen scaled his neck and waved to get his attention, then pointed at the Tree. "I'll handle it. Go to the Tree. There, okay? Fly there. And—and I need to catch up to the others."

"Right. Right… I'll help."

"No, I don't have the time for—"

"I am time."

Owen stuttered when a wave of energy made his feathers puff out, an odd tingle electrifying his body.

"This will last for a while. Take advantage of it while you can… My powers are still weak."

"What?"

But Dialga was slowly, slowly, rising to his feet. And Owen realized that it wasn't just Dialga, but everyone. Wingbeats moved at a pace far too slowly to stay in the air. The Titans, slow already, moved even slower.

Far west, Alex was still flying out of the perimeter. Zena's squad was just behind them.

"Go," Dialga said, immune to its effects enough to speak, before he resumed his slow ascent.

"Th-thank you." Owen hopped off and sprinted down the road.

Everything was too quiet. He didn't like that. It felt like his breaths were echoing in that empty moment. There were two guards clashing against a giant Void Shadow, not a Titan, but certainly many of them merged into one. To Owen's horror, he realized they resembled mutants. Rage bubbled inside him at the reminder that Nevren's tactics caused this.

He sidestepped a downward slash aimed at him. It moved at mere inches per second. Owen took an extra breath to swipe under the semi-Titan's legs. They felt nearly immovable; something about Dialga's enchantments made it harder for Owen to interact with the rest of the world thoroughly. Even the air seemed thicker, unless it was a trick of the mind.

Down the road, he locked eyes with Marshadow, who had a grave look on his face. Owen knew what that meant—new orders. He wouldn't be able to escape him this time, and Marshadow wouldn't hesitate.

It felt like he still had ample time with Dialga's blessing. He had to slow Marshadow down again. The tiny ghost disappeared into the ground, and Owen saw the details of what gestures he made to swim through the ground before he was hidden from sight.

As Owen ran, he flicked his wrists, forming spheres of plant matter and infusing them with explosive energy. He tossed one in the air tentatively. It slowed down rapidly the moment it got too far away from him.

Perfect.

Marshadow emerged from the ground for an uppercut. Owen weaved around it like he was in air and Marshadow was in thick, thick syrup. He focused, some part of this blessing pulling on his instincts. Did some of this enchantment from Dialga also tell him how it worked? He didn't have time to think about it thoroughly. He followed his instincts. It reminded him of when Tim had helped him learn a technique through technical machines long ago. Maybe this was the same.

He focused, and Marshadow slowed even more, almost to the point where he was standing still. It became a lot harder to breathe and fight against the air itself, but Owen persisted, lobbing Seed Bombs as quickly as he could. Every time they left him by only a few feet, they halted in the air, moving slowly forward.

Exhaustion was getting to him. This would have to be all.

To be absolutely sure, though, he added one final trick. Channeling his inner flame, noticing his leaves turning an even deeper autumn red, he built up a thick glob of black haze in the back of his throat, covered with a thin membrane. He delicately spat it into his hands and tossed it lightly at Marshadow's feet. Then, he produced a second Smokescreen, but this time threw it directly at Marshadow's face, just close enough that it exploded and then froze mid-burst as Owen jumped back.

Then, he sidled the edge of the road and continued west.

He felt Dialga's blessing fading already. But he was more than halfway caught up. Soon, he would be back on track. Distantly, a rapid set of pops and explosions led to Marshadow shouting in surprise.

Dark Matter… this is it, Owen thought, wondering if such thoughts could reach him. I'm coming for you. No more running away.


Perhaps running away is the best option here. Nevren stepped into his room and thought about his options as a storm whirled through the fourth sublevel. Quartz HQ was a lost cause. Lugia was tearing through the underground, Protect-insulated stone like it was made of hay. Nevren couldn't risk using his Revisor more than necessary unless he wanted to be blasted by shockwaves without the time to recover.

He considered using those shockwaves to strike Lugia when she was vulnerable, but the logistics weren't sound. That would have required timing himself and others being next to her for any point in time, or in her path of destruction. It simply wasn't an option.

Several mutants tried attacking her, too. Nevren didn't know what happened to them. But he'd never seen them afterward.

"GRAAAAAGH!"

That was louder than before. Closer. Was she already on the same sublevel?

Nevren jumped out of his room and saw dark wisps of wind cutting the walls, corroding the material. The walls were dimmer, too, suggesting the Protect insulation had already been siphoned away.

An Ursaring with a Scizor's pincers launched a powerful Hyper Beam down the hall, striking something. A low rumble—no, that was a growl—made the fusion stand down. He and the fusion shared a glance. Nevren saw the fear in his eyes.

A spiraling blast of darkness sailed through the hall, and Nevren only saw the first instants of the fusion's body being knocked away and out of his view. Then, the air seemed to go in a different direction, instead of toward the blast, backwards. Drawing toward Lugia. Nevren felt a light tugging at his chest from a great hand that wasn't there and clutched his heart.

"Ngh—"

Two blue embers flew from where that fusion had been blasted. Nevren sensed a wave of panic from those two embers, but they were helpless in the wind tunnel. He could Teleport to try to grab them, but would that do anything? Too great a risk. Those two were now casualties.

Nevren disappeared backwards and felt that pull on his chest weaken.

At least now he knew where those mutants that fought her had gone. Curiosity satisfied.

Lugia was gathering spirits like a Guardian would. Was that making her stronger? Was she drawn to Quartz HQ because of all the enhanced spirits within? Or was there a concentration of them—

The generator!

But that was powering everything. The Beammaker, the Voidlands portal, the facility as a whole… But if he took that away, drew Lugia away, maybe they could repair it.

As it stood, nothing could be restored if Lugia got to the generator. That concentrated gem of souls would only be a boon to her. With a few desperate Teleports, Nevren fled to the deepest floor of Quartz HQ. The dim, flickering lights of the empty Reincarnation Machine repositories, unused for months, led the way to the end of the great room. He opened the generator, where the souls inside were still bright. Lavender was the one who knew how to speak to these; he did not. But he knew they could hear him.

"It is time for an evacuation," Nevren said. "Stay with me for now, yes?" He reached inside and pried the gem away, stowing it in the bag over his shoulder. All around him, the downward hum of countless machines shutting down echoed. The lights went out, so Nevren lit the way with some pink psionics.

By now, the rest of their army had either been sent into the Voidlands or were taken by Lugia. He could afford to close the portal. If some hadn't gone through, well, they were late. And tardiness now was not his problem.

After putting away the gem of spirits, Nevren pulled out that energized rifle and waited a few moments to gauge how far away Lugia was. The rumbles were stronger, and she would probably try to investigate until she could no longer sense these gems. He wouldn't know for sure… but he wasn't going to risk himself here.

He took aim ahead and fired. The white sphere in the chamber shot out and detonated a few feet ahead, expanding into a large, white circle. The circle faded and revealed the ground level of a dreary place covered in thick tree roots—the base of Null Village.

Upon stepping through, he flipped the switch on the rifle and the portal closed. The white energy siphoned back into the chamber. "Test two," he said, and fired again. The same portal appeared in the same spot he'd once left. That wasn't ideal, because he didn't want to go back to Quartz HQ, but it was a start. And if he fired again from somewhere else in Kilo, that would be the new drop off point.

"Hm? Why, hello."

A deep voice greeted Nevren and he spun on his heel. "Ah."

It was Palkia, tilting his head. "You must be Nevren."

"Indeed. A pleasure to see you in a non-wraith form."

"Oh, do we appear that way, truly? Fascinating."

"Fascinating indeed." Nevren liked this one. "I had to evacuate from Quartz HQ due to Lugia attacking."

"Lugia? That could be troublesome."

"Valuables have been removed, mostly," Nevren said, flashing the spirit gem. "With this gem free, I do not think she will be advancing further inside, for now."

"Very good, very good. What is your next move?" Palkia asked, tilting his head. "Quartz HQ is lost. But I believe the battle in Hot Spot is raging on. As is the battle here. Will you fight?"

"I will. Could you take me to the rift in the sky that leads to Hot Spot? I have… an idea I would like to attempt."

"Well, certainly." Palkia almost snapped his claws, but then paused. "How good are you at falling?"

"Somewhat above average."

"That should do."

In a flash, Nevren disappeared through a distortion behind him, and then re-emerged with the portal to Hot Spot's sky just behind him. A final wave of energy pushed him out, and he Teleported the rest of the way, offsetting himself in the cold late-autumn breeze until he saw Hot Spot below.

What startled him was the sudden onslaught of attacks. Flames, ice, and water were first, followed by an even faster arc of electricity that spiraled around all of it. He disappeared in a flash of light, but mistakenly fell into a Flamethrower, Hissing, reflexes took over, and he squeezed the Revisor.

Nothing changed except for a gust of wind all around him, as if he'd been bombarded by air. He went into a disorienting spin, burning, as he tried to press the Revisor again to no luck. It had run out of energy.

"How—"

No time. He forced his hand below himself and channeled some Psychic energy to soften his landing. An ill-defined bubble separated him from the ground, cushioning him before the force was too much. Most of the impact was dulled, but he still knocked his head against the dirt and tumbled along the road, wheezing. His fingers still pressed against the Revisor uselessly.

Vines wrapped around him, thorny and prodding at his skin. He winced, trying to pull free, but that only made the pain worse.

"…Nevren?"

Was that Mispy's voice? That should be impossible… "Mispy?"

The vines tightened, but only slightly. "Ani," she corrected grimly.

"Ah…" He didn't know who that was. Perhaps another model based on Mispy.

To his relief, a wave of healing energy eased his headache and most of his burns. He sighed and, once his vision cleared, was still confused at the fact that he was certainly looking at Mispy and, just behind her, Demitri, Gahi, and—well, that certainly wasn't right. "Owen?"

The Charizard couldn't seem to use his right arm, which was hanging limply by his side. With his left, he pointed at Nevren and growled, "No. I'm the fake you created out of his memories. Nice to meet you again, Dad."

"Ah…" He remembered that, a little. Just some Psychic trickery, a stray feral soul without any real identity, and the Reincarnation Machine… Such an easy thing to create, once the theory was put to practice. It really was a shame that Eon discontinued it after the first successful run. Perhaps, with him gone, he could try again …

"Hey," Har snapped him back to attention. "Why are you here? I thought you were at Quartz."

"Well, yes, I was. Unfortunately, Lugia attacked it and I had to abandon it." He sighed. "What's going on here? Why was I attacked?"

"They, uh, thought you were a wraith," Ax said. "Sorry about that. But you came straight out of the portal!"

Nevren noticed that there was something beside Ax leaving a long trail in the dirt. "…Is that Valle?"

The statue had been dragged all the way out of Hot Spot. Mispy—no, Ani had several bags of supplies tucked under her vines, too. "The recovery team," he murmured. "Then those are the supplies in Rhys' room? And Valle as well?" He nodded. "Return to Kilo Village at once. And—did Rhys go on ahead to send word?"

Har looked pained while a dark expression crossed the other three.

"Where is Rhys?" Nevren asked.

"D-Dark Matter threw him into the Dungeon Core," Har said. "We tried to fight, but he was too strong, and… and we had to flee. He didn't chase us…"

"You left Rhys behind?" Nevren asked, his breath quickening. "Where is he now?"

"In the Core, so, probably whatever's… on the other side."

The rumbling of battle, elements and darkness sailing over them, felt quiet and insignificant for the briefest moment. A thousand jumbled thoughts raced through Nevren's mind as his expression remained stoic. Several times, he opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. He couldn't recall several of his thoughts. He only saw Rhys laughing across the table at a little joke he'd once said. He couldn't remember what it was.

"Yes, well." He nodded. "Then you must—hold, please." Nevren realized a way he could check. Arceus, have you been in contact with Rhys?

No. Where are you? Your message feels like it isn't coming from Quartz.

I took a portal to Hot Spot. Contact Rhys.

Of course. I will get back to you.

Nevren didn't wait. "Go back to Kilo Village with your supplies. Deliver them to Heart HQ, and then return with more supplies for the fighters in Hot Spot. We will be performing an all-out assault."

"Wh—already? Now? Why?"

"I saw… the status of the battle in the land beyond the Dungeons. We cannot afford to give Dark Matter more time. We will press our resources now to strike. Go!"

Thankfully, they were still obedient by nature, and despite whatever petty bitterness they held toward him, the quartet left with the supplies and Valle in tow.

Nevren rubbed his head, his wounds still aching. He looked at the sky, at the portal. So, his Revisor also failed if he hadn't spent the full moment in Kilo, even if he ended it there. It couldn't send him back into the Voidlands. So exciting! Not even a quarter of the day and he made two marvelous discoveries with his tools!

He mentally pocketed that information for later. Now, he had a different plan in mind. Arceus, are you there? Nevren asked. I have another idea. Where does your energy for Judgement come from?

Where? Well, as a god, I conjure it from the spiritual planes…

Is it a finite resource?

No.

But it is a strain to repeatedly blast?

Yes, somewhat. The act of transferring that energy into the physical world strains my physical body.

I see. Nevren felt so devilish! I have a plan.


A vortex to the north, a spire of darkness to the south, and a storm to the east. The world really was coming to an end, and Angelo was watching it helplessly from the center of town.

Tanneth was screaming nonsense in the hospital with Leo, and Angelo hadn't known if he wanted to get involved in any of that. His conscience had gotten the better of him, though, and he walked through the halls and toward the cries.

"What's going on?" he called tiredly. "D-do you need—"

It was quite a scene. Furniture upturned, bedsheets burned or torn, the remnants of a few elemental attacks on the otherwise reinforced walls… Leo, that manic Delphox, was tied with flameproof rope in a nearby chair, but he could tell that his claws were already getting through the last of it. Tanneth, that frightened Vaporeon, was being wrestled to the ground by the Incineroar nurse, Phol. And then Brandon, the odd steel Machoke, was carrying a large bucket with a lid over it, for some reason, holding it forward like he was about to catch the Vaporeon in it.

Spice, meanwhile, with her eerie green gemstone in her chest and hexagon scales near it, was guarding the entrance in case either of them approached.

"Why are you here?" the wraith-like Salazzle asked him.

"I—I'm sorry!" Angelo peeped. "I th-thought you needed h-help again!"

Spice's eyes were so different now. Yellow, no pupils, yet somehow it felt like she was glaring at him. He gulped without realizing it, knees shaking.

"Right, I think I know how you can help," she said calmly. "Go and find—"

"Where is my baby boy?!" a loud, demanding voice hissed from the hall. Angelo turned to see an old Arbok with fading scales slithering their way.

"Tari," Spice said. "Leo's this way."

"Baby boy? Him?" Angelo blinked. An Arbok and Delphox. They were compatible? Angelo never would have guessed. Or maybe it was one of those strange Transfer Orbs made in Kilo; if Leo was a Heart, he definitely could have gotten the funds for one…

Shortly after Tari came in, a Delphox that looked a lot like Leo followed. But she seemed lost, walking carefully and with a long wand in front of her. Angelo hopped out of the way when she rounded the corner.

"Leo?"

"M-Mother?"

And for a brief moment, that manic look in Leo's eyes vanished.

"You're here," Leo breathed out. "Mother! Father! We must go southwest! There is something very important—"

"Gotcha!" Brandon suddenly slammed the large tub over Tanneth, then slid the lit shut. Screams and sloshing came from within, but it was watertight. "Sorry about that, boys 'n girls, but I kinda had to seize that opportunity. Keep doing whatever you're doing!" He carried the wobbling tub to the corner of the room, keeping it sealed as Phol dried himself off with a towel and his own flames. He looked fuzzy afterward.

"Aries," Tari said, "he's got a crazy look in his eyes! Crazy! He's been touched by darkness, yep, seen it before!"

"Leo, you must snap out of it." Aries knelt beside him. She felt the rope around his chair. "What—why are you tied up?"

"They won't let me go on my mission," Leo explained. "It's… I'm sure it's important."

"Like I explained before," Spice said, "Leo got close to Void Basin and it messed him up. Now he feels like he has to go there." She shook her head. "It's insane… How can a place twist someone like that so easily? Leo's…"

"You're stronger than this!" Tari hissed, coiling around the legs of the chair before staring Leo in the eyes. "Now, you snap outta it!"

"But… but my mission…"

Spice watched with interest, as did Angelo, standing uselessly in the corner. Touched by darkness. Void Basin. Was that the same thing that happened to his grandfather? The fate that the leviathan protecting Kilo had spared his father, by killing him before it could happen? It didn't seem so bad… Leo just… wanted to go there. And bring his family with him.

What would happen afterward?

…Where did his grandfather go, if dying was a better option? How many others had he taken with him?

"Wait," Spice whispered. "Keep talking to him."

Angelo tried to follow where Spice was looking. His bindings were nearly broken, but Leo was no longer trying to break free. Despite what Spice and the others had tried, his father's words were getting through to him more.

"Leo, please," Aries said.

"I… the mission…"

"What mission? To protect others? We're safer in Kilo. You know this."

"Protect… safer in… Y-yes. But, but I need to…"

"Why, Leo, why?" Aries said. "Tell me exactly why."

Angelo felt a weak throbbing pain in his forehead. Spice, too, winced and took a few steps back.

"Ugh. Psychics…"

Aries… Was she trying to treat him mentally?

Phol frowned and said, "His ropes are looking nearly broken. Don't worry. I got a spare…"

"Why is he tied up like this?!" Tari protested. "I say let him go! He's my boy, he'll know to handle himself!"

"Untie him and you're tied into a knot instead," Phol stated immediately, holding a new length of rope in front of Leo. "Hold still. I'm going to make this one extra tough with some Protect insulation."

"What? You can do that?" Angelo asked. "Th-that's incredible!"

"Mmf." Phol dismissed it with a shrug. "It runs in the family. Easy for us to enchant things this way." A pulse of gold went from his arms and into the rope, leaving it with a shimmering glow.

"Oh, what a beautiful color," Angelo said.

"Yeah, real pretty," Spice mumbled, idly forming her own, black Protect around her fist ruefully.

Leo stiffened. Aries seemed close to calming him down, but the moment that glowing rope got close to him, his eyes were wide with fear again. "G-get that thing away from me!" he shouted, struggling from his binds. "It's—don't do it!"

"Hold still," Phol snapped, wrapping the first coil around his shoulders.

But the moment the golden rope touched Leo, he let out a yelp that deflated into a whimper… and then he went limp.

The shift was so sudden that Phol stopped what he was doing. "Leo?"

"Leo?" Spice went closer. "What did you do?!"

"It's a rope!" Phol snarled. "What do you think—"

Spice grabbed the rope and immediately screamed like she'd dipped her hands in acid. She hurled it on the ground and fell back, curling into a pained ball as she nursed her hands. They looked like they were evaporating on the palms.

"A-ah! Hang on," Angelo said quickly. "I'll—I'll get you some healing, just give me a moment…" He quickly sketched a pink circle in the air, pointing it at Spice, but she snarled so fiercely that he lost his focus and the circle shattered.

"Just rope? That thing nearly burned my hands off!" And even when she pointed at Phol, her hands were still smoking.

Befuddled, Phol sidestepped Spice and picked the rope up. He was unaffected. Locking eyes with Angelo, he offered one end to him.

Why me? Angelo whimpered, poking it tentatively. Didn't feel like anything out of the ordinary. Puzzled, he grasped it next. A little rough, definitely uncomfortable to be tied up in, but no searing pain or anything…

"U-urgh…" Leo blinked several times.

"Ah! Leo…" Aries shook him gently. "Are you okay? Leo?"

"Not really," Leo murmured. "What… was going on with me?"

"Thatta boy!" Tari grinned, thumping his tail on Leo's back. He then looked smugly at Phol. "Like I said, all he needed was a little pep talk!"

Phol stared at the rope, which was probably miraculous as far as Angelo was concerned, and then at Angelo.

"You," Phol said.

"Y-yes!"

"I'm going to make more of these ropes. Deliver them to everyone you can. Double-time. Teleport if you have to."

"Sure?" Angelo looked at Spice, who was still looking at the rope like it would lunge at her.

"I don't know why, but something dispelled it from Leo and it hurt Spice," Phol explained, grabbing the final length of rope from the corner of the office. A flood of golden energy went from his arms and into the thick fabric. "Spice looks a lot like those wraiths. What if it helps against them in Hot Spot?"

"Ah!" Angelo perked up. "Y-yes! Okay! Make more! But—why can you do this?"

"I don't know. Ask around, show them this one." He tossed the rest of the rope onto Angelo, who nearly collapsed under its weight. "Maybe this can turn the tide in this war. I'm going to contact some of my family; they have the same talent."

"W-war…" It still made his chest tight. "Okay! I'll go. I'll be back as soon as I can!"

Angelo rushed through the hall, sidestepping a mutant Meganium dropping off a Shiftry statue, and into the streets. The wind was picking up from the east, enough that he had to close his eyes when facing that direction.

Was a storm coming?

And then came a cry of some great beast—why were there so many superpowers clashing at once?!—coming from the same direction as the storm. To the southwest, that spire of darkness was still bleeding into the sky. And the end of the world felt like it was a little bit closer. Holding the end of that golden rope, Angelo pressed onward to Heart HQ, ignoring his apprehension as he ascended those cursed steps.

It just occurred to Angelo that Shady was missing.

"What—Shady?" Angelo spun around, but there wasn't a sign of him at all. Sighing angrily, he marched into the Heart HQ and nearly toppled into a huge Torkoal. "Ah! Oh, I'm—oh! Torkoal! Just the person I was looking—are you okay?"

The large Torkoal seemed low in spirits, somehow. "Oh," he said quietly, "yes, I'm fine. Sorry. I had… must have not slept well. I have not been feeling well, so suddenly."

"I'm sorry." Angelo really could empathize. Speaking softly and erasing any frustration from his tone, he said, "I'll make this quick." He held the rope forward. "This rope was imbued with… a golden light. From Phol—er, the Incineroar at the main hospital—he had a golden Protect. He somehow… blessed this rope with that same aura. And when it touched Leo, who was under some dark influence, it instantly cured him. What if this does damage to the Void Shadows?"

The Torkoal leader nodded and, despite his dampened spirits, said, "Oh, yes, yes! I think I see… Yes, I'm quite good at these same blessings, actually. If I had put myself into practice more, perhaps I could even rival Anam. Oho…" The laugh seemed forced. "Thank you, Smeargle. I know just who to contact. You may leave it with me."

Angelo was about to, but then recalled how slow their temporary leader was, now that Rhys was off on his mission, Anam and James were missing, and Nevren was… Well, he didn't really know either. Off experimenting somewhere even when the world was ending, apparently.

"Er," Angelo interjected, "why don't I walk it somewhere else? You can… make more, right?"

"Oh, yes, I can…" Torkoal tilted his head. "Is something the matter?"

"No, it's just on the way," Angelo lied. "I'll bring it to one of the fliers. How about that?"

"Ah. Yes, okay. Ohoho, then again, perhaps I would have been too slow anyway…"

Angelo nodded politely and jogged back down the stairs, nearly tripping when the ground rumbled again. This time it was from Nate shifting his weight around the mountain, raising his whole body up—that was an unusual, rare movement from him.

Shady…

Nate seemed bigger than usual. In fact, all of those odd, many-eyed, shapeless things had disappeared. Was Nate gathering them up again? For what?

Getting hasty, Angelo drew a portal in front of him and slipped through it, reappearing far down the street. He happened to spot a speedy, sleek-looking Flygon and shouted for his attention, waving his arms before handing off the rope and saying to deliver it to the enchantment division.

"Okay. By the way, can you help out in the hospital?"

Gods, all the favors. "Okay. What's going on?"

A high-pitched wail echoed from the hospital from far away, followed by a blast of water breaking one of the windows.

"That." And without further explanation, Flygon dashed away. Before Angelo got his first word out, he had already crossed the street and flew several blocks away, heading south with a few notes in his claws.

"Everything's happening so quickly," Angelo said, jogging to the hospital, where he saw the metallic Machoke, Spice, Leo, and his parents all trying to pin down a leaking and overturned bucket.

From within the bucket, Vaporeon screamed. "I NEED TO GO! I NEED TO GO! SHE'S COMING!"

"Who?!" Machoke snarled, tapping the bucket, irate. "Who's coming? Speak! Words! Use words!"

Words weren't going to help. Angelo hastily drew a flower in the air with hovering ink, then tapped the petals. It bloomed, producing a fragrant, calming aroma that even helped take the edge off for the Smeargle himself.

"H-hey, hey, hey," Angelo said between her screams. "It's okay. Take deep, calm breaths, okay? Can, um, can you do that for me?"

She didn't at first, but the Aromatherapy was doing some of the work just with her short gasps. But her eyes were still wide with fear, from the glances Angelo got when the bucket nearly tipped open. The struggling slowed.

"…If you don't run, we'll help you with whatever you're afraid of. Okay?"

"No. I have to run," Vaporeon said. "E-Emily… L-Lugia. I remember. I r-remember… She tried to absorb me. B-because… because she's… me. We're the same… T-two halves. We're two halves a-and we both didn't remember. Please… I have to get away. If we combine, she'll… Please! You have to take me far… far away before she destroys Kilo!"

"…The city, the region, or the planet?" Angelo asked.

"All of it!"

"Guess that's a yes." Machoke tapped a finger to his chin.

Spice, once Vaporeon was calm enough, rose from the bucket. "Away. How far away are we talking?"

"As f-far as we need to…"

Phol glanced at Angelo.

The Smeargle tensed instantly. "Don't give me that look!"

"You are one of the best Pokémon at running away from danger," Phol said. From anyone else it may have been an insult, but Angelo oddly felt that it hadn't been one from him. "You need to do this."

"Alone?" Spice asked.

"We'll help," Leo said, nodding.

"Leo, you aren't."

"I'm fine now," Leo said with a more serious look. He stared directly at Spice. "Really."

For a few seconds, they maintained that stare down. Then, with an uncertain growl, Spice nodded.

"Leo…" His mother walked to him, reaching for his hand, which Leo obliged.

"I will be fine. This will just be to defend Angelo. We already have the supplies."

"Y'know." Machoke casually pointed at Angelo. "I'll come with. Figure you can use some demigod strength, too. In case we need to fend her off, or whatever. Are you sure Emily will leave the city alone if you go?"

"I think so. Please, hurry…" Vaporeon nodded. "I feel her… She's lost it!"

Angelo slipped out from the hospital to check outside again. The ground was still shaking with weak tremors; Nate seemed restless…

"Oh." So that was why.

The leviathan was staring eastward, where the clouds were getting darker. From the center of that storm there was a large, distant figure. Twisters spun around and tore up the ground below; tiny dots that Angelo realized were trees twirled in the sky like batons. And Nate was about to fight her.

Angelo wasn't sure if there would be a village to return to.