8- No Sacrifice, No Victory
Nemesis continue striking Ash's shield, as Pikachu charged against him. He fired in front of him, sending him backwards a few meters, but before he could charge again someone stood in front of him.
"Hey you!" Ash's father shouted, making both Nemesis Prime and Ash turn at him, and they got shocked of what they saw.
For their surprise Ash's father was now covered by a full-body armor, of cybertronian nature.
"You want to get my son, you'll have to pass before me first!" He threatened, making a cybertronian cannon appear right on his hand, which fired a laser shot.
It hit Nemesis on the shoulder, but he laughed and fired back, but Ash's father managed to dodge it with help of a propeller located on the back of his armor. "You think you can take me on alone?"
In that moment Hot Rod joined. "He's not alone."
Both Ash's father and Hot Rod charged against Nemesis, who tried to shot at the human first, but thanks to Pikachu's electric attacks and his fast reaction sliding beneath the Autobot, he managed to return fire successfully. Nemesis tried to grab him, only to be stopped by Hot Rod engaging him with his swords, but Nemesis managed to block them and hit him with the elbow on the head. Fortunately Ash's father took the chance to get on Nemesis' leg, he pulled out a blade of his arm and stabbed it, causing the impostor great pain. Hot Rod punched him on the face and expelled him out of the way with a double reversed kick.
"Ash! You're okay?"
"A little exhausted, that's all Hot." He responded, dissipating the shield. "By Arceus, dad, where did you get that?!"
"This?" He repeated, referring to his new battle armor. "Honestly I have no idea. I just touched a power cable and suddenly the item he gave me turned into this."
"Seriously?" Hot Rod asked in disbelief before making a call. "Fixit, you, Clemont and Ratchet created that piece I gave to Ash's father as a prototype of the materials for the future human armor cybertronian weapons proof. Why didn't you tell us what would happen when its overpowered?"
"Overpowered? Hum, I never considered that." Fixit responded, now back at New Iacon.
"Whoa dad, you look like a superhero."
He laughed. "If your mother could see me now."
But their moment of joy ended when they saw Nemesis returning back at them.
"You will never get inside." He told them while pressing a button.
Immediately the entrance to the ignition chamber was locked. Ash and his father approached it, trying to find any clue about how to open it again, and while he did Ash didn't know why, but he focused on one drawing on the door.
"Hey, these symbols...they look just like the same ones we saw displayed on the table the knights gave to our ancestor." Ash recalled as he touched one, making it start to shine. "I think if I follow these patterns in the right order, I may be able to open the door."
"How can you know that?" Hot Rod asked surprised.
"It must be the king, he may be guiding you by genetic memory." Ash's father deduced.
"In that case, we better hold the line to ensure you are not disrupted in the meanwhile." Hot said seeing Nemesis running at them.
"Forget that Hot Rod, watch your friend! Ash, reach the staff!" Optimus ordered while stopping Nemesis on his tracks with an explosion before landing in front of him. "I'll handle the impostor."
"You." Nemesis recognized.
"It's now just you and me, Nemesis."
Nemesis fired at him, Optimus dodged the shots easily before using his battle axes to throw dust to blind him. He attempted to strike next, but Nemesis grabbed his axe, but Optimus pushed him back.
"Let's end this once and for all." Optimus said pushing Nemesis against a rotating gear, right on the face.
"Master, we need reinforcements!"
"Looks like things are gonna get wild here very soon. Ash, focus on getting that door open, we'll cover you."
"I will, thanks dad."
"Ready for a lot of action, Pikachu?"
"Pikachu." Pikachu nodded determined.
"We'll hold this line at all cost." Hot Rod added.
Alongside Pikachu (using Thunderbolt and Electroweb), Hot Rod and his father, all Ash's pokémon, besides Rapidash using Inferno, joined to defend his trainer: the majority remained defending the line like Bulbasaur (all moves), Kingler (Hyper Beam), Muk (Sludge Bomb), Bayleef (Vine Whip and Razor Leaf), Totodile (Water Gun), Corphish (Bubble Beam), Torkoal (Iron Defense to cover his pals and Heat Wave), Glalie (Ice Beam and Icy Wind), Torterra (Energy Ball and Leaf Storm), Gible (Dragon Pulse and Draco Meteor), Palpitoad (Supersonic and Mud Shot), Boldore (Sandstorm and Flash Cannon) and Goodra (Dragon Pulse and Ice Beam); while others decided to protect the area circling around facing the attackers directly, such as Charizard (flying using Dragon Tail and Flamethrower), Squirtle (circling around with a combination of Rapid Spin and Hydro Pump), Tauros (using Double Team to confuse and Take Down), Snorlax (crushing from above with Body Slam and Ice Punch for close combat), Heracross (running into the enemy flying while using Megahorn), Quilava (moving with Flame Wheel and attacking still with Eruption), Donphan (Rollout), Sceptile (Quick Attack combined with Leaf Blade), Infernape (Mach Punch and Flare Blitz), Lucario (using Double Team for confusion while using all moves), Buizel (used Aqua Jet to move fast and take them down, besides Ice Punch and Sonic Boom), Gliscor (Giga Impact and X-Scissor), Pignite (Flame Charge and Brick Break), Krookodile (Dig to surprise followed by Dragon Claw), Hawlucha (High Jump Kick and X-Scissor), Noivern (Acrobatics and Boomburst), Greninja (Double Team combined with Aerial Ace and Water Shuriken from distances), Lycanroc (Accelerock and Counter), Incineroar (Darkest Lariat) and Melmetal (Harden to protection and Double Iron Bash); the flying pokémon allowed the smallest to ride on them to cover their back as those attacked: Pidgeot (Wing Attack) carried Oshawott (Hydro Pumo) while Staraptor (Brave Bird and Close Combat) did the same with Scraggy (Focus Blast) and Naganadel (Dragon Pulse and X-Scissor) as well with Snivy (Leaf Blade) and Unfezant (Aerial Ace) carried Leavanny (Energy Ball and String Shot) while the others, Noctowl (Whirlwind), Swellow (Double Team combined with Aerial Ace), Talonflame (Steel Wing and Flame Charge) and Rowlet (Razor Leaf and Seed Bomb) assisted them. While this happened a few objects jumped out of the station, Leapers, one of them landing in front of Cobalion, stopping it. Ash continued trying to figure out the alien puzzle, following his ancestor's guidance.
"Okay, I think I got it." Ash said for himself.
"Let's go, Hot!" Ash's father shouted firing.
With his friend's dad covering on top of him, Hot Rod advanced in vehicle form running over lot's of the smallest cybertronian soldiers, wiping them out on his way uphill. There he transformed with style, joining the others on holding the line.
"I'll teach you not to disturb my son!"
Ash was making progress on the puzzle, but that meant he was vulnerable to any attack from behind. Fortunately Pikachu stood close to him, and his father, who made a run toward him with his propeller activated while sliced all the enemies on the way with his armor's blades. Unfortunately the enemy reinforcements arrival seemed to not cease as more landed from above and approached them.
"Ash, we gotta hurry!" His father warned him.
"This is the last one, I almost got it."
His father kept firing both cannons at the incoming enemies, except for a guardian who attempted to strike from behind, but it was crushed by Dragonstorm. The leader of the Iacon Knights used the three heads of his dragon form to make a defense line of fire, preventing any additional enemies from coming from the main access, before he went to assist the others. The other knights stood together facing the enemy legions with their swords, assisted by Zacian using Behemoth Blade, battling just like them, similar to Cobalion, Virizion, Terrakion and Keldeo with Sacred Sword and Secret Sword. Other legendary pokémon acted similar, like Dialga, which after wiping out an entire horde with Roar of Time grabbed a survivor by the leg with the mouth before the Dinobot Scorn joined and grabbed it from other limb, making them both pull until they tore it apart; Groudon was in its Primal form using Eruption against all enemies on its way, until a few enemy titans tried to grab it, but it was assisted by Grimlock using his own flames, joined by Predaking next, making all three combining their fire attacks against the huge rivals; the two Mewtwo battled side by side using their psychic powers, sometimes assisted by the Genesect pack; the Deoxys flew around attacking with Psycho Boost; the Autobot flyers provided air support around the battlefield, probably because most air enemy units were eliminated or Stratosphere managed to hold them off just himself, firing their weapons in vehicle mode in company of some legendary pokémon (Articuno used Ice Beam, Zapdos employed Thunderbolt, Moltres battled with Flamethrower, Lugia used Aeroblast, Ho-Oh chose Sacred Fire and Ultra Necrozma using Photon Geyser), except Windblade who decided to land to fight with her energy swords, very greeted by Sideswipe who joined her while his twin decided to assist Drift; Perceptor was shooting his vehicle form's cannon from safe distance, unlike Warpath, who charged directly firing his chest cannon while using his hammer for close foes, similar to Zamazenta with Behemoth Bash; the Wreckers: Ultra Magnus with both the Forge of Solus Prime and his shoulder cannons, Wheeljack with his swords and explosives, similar to Springer and Seaspray with his harpoons, decided to remain on a circular area holding the enemy; Mirage employed his tricks to draw the enemies for making easier to shot them with his rapid burst of fire, also allowing the legendary giants to face them better (Regirock, Regice and Registeel used Superpower, Regieleki used Thunder Cage and Regidraco attacked with Dragon Energy), all commanded by Regigigas assisting with Crush Grip; since its signature move didn't worked with the simple minds of the Quintessons' cybertronian servants, Darkrai attacked with Dark Pulse, with Cresselia fighting alongside it with Psybeam; Latias used Mist Ball to make hard the cybertronian legions to spot their enemies, allowing most of Dinobots (Snarl, Strike, Slam, Snorkel and Slash) to surprise them with direct attacks, same for other pokémon with their moves (Giratina with Shadow Force, Volcanion attacking with Steam Eruption, Kyogre with Origin Pulse, the guardian deities using all Nature's Madness, Solgaleo striking with Sunsteel Strike, Raikou surprised with Thunder Fang, followed by Suicune with Ice Fang and Entei with Fire Fang); Tornadus attacked with Bleakwind Storm, same with Thundurus using Wildbolt Storm, Landorus with Sandsear Storm and Enamorus with Springtide Storm to make the environment harder for the enemy; Mega-Rayquaza flew smashing through the enemies with Dragon Ascent, same as Zekrom with Bolt Strike, while Kyurem changed to its white form to use Ice Burn to freeze as much enemies as possible, assisted by Swoop grabbing any enemy flyer and throwing it against the ones stationed on the floor while Jazz used his hook to swing around the area and surprise the enemies; others simply used their moves to protect the center of the area where most Autobots held their ground with Xerneas giving them a boost with Geomancy and Mew with his psychic powers, like Latios firing Luster Purge, Reshiram using Blue Flare, Yveltal with Oblivion Wing, Zygarde with Core Enforcer, Lunala attacking with Moongeist Beam and Eternatus with Dynamax Cannon, which thankfully didn't cause any other effect on cybertronians except being blown to pieces; with the Autobots defending the center, Slag ran around tackling foes with Arcee and Moon ridding him firing, passing next a quad bike which transformed next to Ironhide, revealing to be Chromia, standing next to him fighting back.
"Guys, is not that I don't think we can't win this but, just in case, I want to say it has been a pleasure meeting you all." Goh confessed.
"Kiawe, after all this is over, how if I take a visit to your home at Alola?" Iris suggested.
"Fine with me."
"Cilan, how about visiting my restaurant as we exchange common knowledge about both food and pokémon?" Mallow added.
"Sounds like an exquisite idea."
"Are those some kind of last wish requesting?" Misty asked.
"In that case." May started, surprising everyone giving Clemont a kiss, on the lips.
"Are you seeing them doing what I think?" Tracey asked.
"Ha, I knew there was something between them two. Wait till Max and Bonnie heard about this." Dawn laughed.
"Not just them, Dawn." Ritchie said, right before kissing her the same way.
The group looked the scene with softness, with ephemeral because of the constant fire which forced them to return to battle.
"Em guys, is it me or the number of incoming enemies is decreasing?" Lillie noticed.
And she was right because…
"Sir, it seems we are being attacked from another front as well." The young Quintesson reported.
It seemed that while the allies battled in the front part of the station, the back was being assaulted by the Decepticons. While the Nemesis fired all its batteries against the station, focusing on its defenses, the Decepticons advanced slowly on the field, the Seacons and Sharkticons also joined the fight, with Shockblast leading the offensive. Meanwhile the Insecticon swarm, Darkscream and his Seeker armada engaged the Quintessons' air forces, proving to be superior in skills and firepower. Some Decepticons decided to go ahead the main force and fight the enemy head on, like Xiaxus using his double scythe and fission cannon, Motormaster acting the same with his sword, Undermine in his dino form alongside the Predacons, Quake firing his vehicle's cannon as Drag Strip shooting his vehicle form's weapons while driving around the enemies and the great duo of Shatter and Dropkick showing a great teamwork while facing enemies together.
"The area looks secure enough now. Onslaught, green light to deploy."
"On our way, general Xiaxus. Combaticons, let's make an entrance for our master!"
The Combaticons merged together forming Bruticus, which started crushing the enemy with its flamethrower and brutal strikes. It continued until it made a hole into the entrance.
"Lord The Fallen, Bruticus has your opening ready, you can proceed." Darkscream reported.
The Fallen flew out of the Nemesis in vehicle form, headed right into the hole and transformed once inside, striking the closest enemies with his spear. He saw a whole wave of enemies heading for him, but he remained calm, pulled out the Dark Star Saber and unleashed a wave of dark energy, destroying it at the moment.
"Collect your gears, gather your limbs, shake the strings of manipulation from your minds!" The Fallen started to pronounce as he raised the saber, making it shine in purple, and launched a storm of lightning at all the bodies. "By the power of the blood of Unicron, arise my warriors!"
Then all bodies shined in purple before raising as reanimated Terrorcons, now under The Fallen's influence. The rogue Prime ordered them to attack their former comrades and he continued his way into the fortress. Back to the other side…
"I made it!" Ash announced. "I opened the door!"
"That's my boy!" His father congratulated.
"Everyone, into the chamber!" Optimus commanded while he continued struggling with Nemesis. He received a shot on the face, but his mask protected him, and grabbed Nemesis by the fists and started pushing him back inside. "You will never see your masters take this world."
"Ash, grab the staff!"
Then Elita jumped over her sparkmate's shoulders, kicked Nemesis on the chest and fired a beam from the Proton Spear, sending him all the way inside. With the path all clear while his pokémon stayed in the entrance, Ash, his father and Pikachu proceed to recover the staff.
At the moment Ash touched it Alpha Quintesson sensed him. "Nemesis, kill him!"
Nemesis Prime ran at them, but Pikachu managed to hit him on the leg with Iron Tail, making him trip on.
"Nice shot Pikachu." Hot Rod congratulated before firing a time stopping shot at Nemesis. "It's all yours, guys!"
"Time for some easy target practice!" Ironhide announced firing his new signature weapon, the Heavy Iron rifle.
"Sayonara, bubblehead!" Hound added firing his gatling gun.
Once the time lapse ended all impacts sent Nemesis backwards again.
"Alpha Quintesson, get off our planet!" Optimus shouted while sending an energy wave of the Star Saber to the Quintesson leader, forcing him out of the energy channel.
"Interlopers!" Alpha said before firing two streams of energy, one at Optimus, forcing him to block it with the saber, and the other at the humans, making Ash to make another shield of aura.
"Say hello to my successor, Rodimus Prime."
In that instant Hot Rod sneaked behind Alpha and punched him hard on the face, sending him to the floor.
"No matter new or old Prime, you'll never be at our level." Hot said proud.
In that moment…
"I got it!" Ash announced after pulling out the staff, stopping the process.
"No!" Nemesis yelled shooting nearby multiple shots, making Ash drop the staff before he took it. "The Creators will prevail!"
"I've had enough!" Optimus shouted as Hot Rod jumped behind Nemesis's back and stabbed his arms with his blades, immobilizing him. "Time to show you the real power of a Prime!" It allowed Optimus, as channeling energy from the matrix to his axes, to cut his limbs first before inserting it right on his head, and pulled it our of the body.
"This belongs to a friend of mine!" Hot Rod pointed taking the staff before passing it back to Ash.
Alpha Quintesson attempted to reclaim the staff again, not being bothered by the shots Ash's father did as warning to him. But when Ash grabbed the staff again he aimed it at the Quintesson king and fired a beam of pure energy. This one was extremely powerful, since he didn't got up again.
"Ash, the energy levels have suddenly ceased. Do you have the staff?"
"He does Ratchet." Elita answered, making all his friends' cheers to be heard through com-link.
"We knew you got it!" Serena complemented.
"Why? You are not...worthy of such power. You're just a human." Alpha Quintesson asked hardly.
"You got him Ash, finish with it."
"Actually Hot I got a better idea. Why don't you ask to who really owns this?"
Ash raised the staff, making the tip to project some kind of hologram. The figure which appeared resembled a Quintesson, but it seemed more cybertronian.
"Who is that?" Hot Rod asked.
"That's Quintus Prime, the original owner of the staff." Dragonstorm recognized.
"I'm very disappointed with you, my creations. I used my power to offer life other ways to flourish. Surely destiny would have linked the fate of both our races, but jealously and pride should not lead to things as slavery and conflict. If what you wanted was answer for your purpose of life, all you should have done was ask." Quintus said to Alpha Quintesson.
After the Prime finished his speech, the young Quintesson realized something. "Does that mean…? Alpha, you said our race created the cybertronians, but that one just said the contrary, and he resembled us." A direct look of his leader confirmed all suspects. "Why?"
"It seems he and his pals couldn't accept the truth and tried to make their people believe the reality they built in their minds." Ash's father sensed.
"You...you lied to us! Not only you turned us against our creators but you made us follow a path of disgrace, wickedness and downfall!"
"What did you expect me to do? They took our queen, my Quintessa, they sentenced our home to death. I couldn't let them get away with hopes of a better future than that of our people. I had to make justice."
"That's not justice, it's revenge! You and the other leaders have fooled us for too long, so I will not longer follow you."
Not just that, but the other Quintessons looked at their leader with disappointed and angered looks. Seeing himself surrounded by his enemies and former people, Alpha simply extended his hand to the chamber's main console and destroyed it with an energy beam before flying out of the area.
"No!" The young Quintesson shouted going to check it. "The terminal, is destroyed. Even with the staff removed, I can't stop the process. It will continue trying to draw the planet's energy, making the whole station to head right straight into the core, drilling right into it with intention of destroying it, as backup plan."
"Is there any way to stop it?" Ash asked.
"The only way would be to destroy the station, a huge energy overload in the ignition core would reverse the gravitational force, too much for it to handle. But once started it would be impossible for the one to get away, its strength would act as a black hole."
Optimus realized there was just one thing to do. "Everyone, retreat to safety. I will destroy the station myself."
"But Prime, you already heard what he meant." Ironhide recalled.
"There's gotta be another way." Hot Rod insisted.
"Are you sure about this?" Elita asked.
"Earth must be saved, no matter the cost." Optimus responded.
"Then I'm staying with you."
"This is my choice, please, let me carry it to the end."
"Your sacrifice becomes our oath." Dragonstorm swore.
"Thank you, my friends."
"Everyone, on me!"
Immediately all fighters started to make their way out of the station, mostly by air, the humans retrieved their pokémon and met with their Autobot guardians as some legendary pokémon offered to give them a ride, the Quintessons also left on a ship the had. Meanwhile, somewhere else on the station, Alpha Quintesson seemed to be trying to escape the station by his own, but suddenly he received a shot on his back.
"Where do you think you're going, slaver scum?" Darkscream provoked firing missiles at him, forcing the Quintesson ex-leader to destroy them with his capabilities.
"You! How dare you and your kind invade our refuge? Didn't you had enough by taking our home?!"
"Allow me to introduce you to your new master, and worst nightmare. The Fallen!"
Just like Darkscream said, The Fallen was standing right behind Alpha, aiming his cannons at him, releasing a surprise attack. The beam was so intense than not only evaporated the lower half of the Quintesson king, leaving him defenseless, but also left a huge hole of the station's deck. At the same time, Optimus already charged up the Star Saber, and unleashed it right into the core. He continued until the amount of energy was so much that it started to expand around the chamber, generating explosions all around the station. As the Quintessons warned it was followed by a sudden gravitational pull coming from the center, the chain reaction was on. Optimus tried his best to grab himself to anything, even nailing the saber to the floor. But the force was so strong that it pulled from him constantly, making it to slip slowly, until it did. But then it stopped, meaning something preventing him to get absorbed: it was Ash, using the staff's power to pull from the saber while his father grabbed the tip to pull from it.
"Ash."
"Don't worry Optimus, we got you."
"No, let me go Ash. Save yourselves."
"We family don't leave anyone behind, not now or ever."
"Till all are one." His father ended.
Father and son continued pulling together, trying to carry Prime out of the chamber with all their forces. But Optimus' grip on the saber was weakening, and he was about to get dragged into the energetic mess, but a tail secured him before it happened.
"Till all are one." Dragonstorm repeated, being who grabbed him.
With the Predacon's push Optimus was finally out of the gravity well, and just in time because it was expanding, so he grabbed Ash and his father, activated his jet-pack and followed Dragonstorm to the exit. On the other side, The Fallen put his foot on Alpha Quintesson's chest before levitating him with his powers.
"Did you really think you, insignificant mimic beings, could stand a chance against us? You really didn't learn anything from our previous encounter. This is our planet. But you were right on something: when a creation turns against its creator it stops being useful, and then it has to be disposed of. So, allow me to reunite you with your beloved queen!"
With all said, The Fallen threw Alpha against the gravitational field, making it to end disintegrated.
"The past must die for making way to the future. The Fallen here, fire at will." The Decepticon leader ordered by com-link as he and Darkscream transformed and flew where they came from.
Right outside, the Nemesis was channeling energy on its front spikes, concentrating them into one same spot, until finally unleashing a huge beam of energy against the station. Once it made contact the whole place was consumed by a huge explosion. It debris fell back to Earth as the Decepticons headed back to space. Team Prime was seeing it safe back in land, but worried for the missing friends. And then, as the biggest debris fell, Optimus came out of the dust cloud in vehicle form, carrying Ash and his father inside, with Dragonstorm flying next to them, this made everyone cheer in celebration as they met with them. Moments later, as the knights seemed to had the surviving Quintessons captive, these lowered their heads in embarrassment for their past actions. Bit for their surprise, Ash used the staff to create a small orb of energy which he give to them, as a seed of hope for bringing life back to their home planet, which they appreciated before leaving on their ship. Optimus and Dragonstorm looked at Ash smiling, proud of his choice, while each Autobot guardian was seen with their human friend.
"At the heart of every legend there is truth. A few brave souls unite to save their worlds. We can be heroes in our own lives, every one of us, if we only have the courage to try. Our fates were always intertwined, but now our worlds are joined as one. There is more on this planet than meets the eye."
As Optimus was saying this, the scene showed Ash and his father back on Pallet Town, alongside all Ash's pokémon, heading back to their house. There Delia was already outside waiting, probably thanks to the message Ash sent her before, and got surprised seeing her son and his father next to him. Of course, the father was still nervous, not knowing how his wife would react after so much time: would she be relieved, or mad? Until surprisingly Delia jumped at him, giving him an unexpected hug while dropping tears. The feeling invaded him as well, returning the hug and crying a little of happiness.
"I'm Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town. I started my journey time ago to become a pokémon master. Since then I've been living lots of adventures, and if things get ugly and I have to save the world to protect the people and pokémon I care about, then I will gladly do it."
Once the hug ended, Ash's father showed Delia his present for her, which surprised her and accepted. Once he put her the necklace, the reunited couple kissed. Ash decided to take example from his father, and did the same for Serena, giving her one with a picture of they together from when they became a couple, the time when they met their friends of Cybertron. Both couples, with the rest of the gang behind them, saw the legendary pokémon parting ways, while the Autobots and cybertronian knights returned back to New Iacon.
"I am Optimus Prime, calling all Autobots: it is time to come home."
Epilogue
Curiously the only one who didn't take place in the battle was the one who supposedly wanted to combat anyone who stands on his way. Protoform X had been watching everything from the shadows, surprisingly capable of suppressing his anxiety for jump into battle, to simply enjoy or for satisfy his hunger.
"Impressive. Lots of different life forms, battling for the same world. It looks like this planet has become more interesting than I first thought. Perfect for my little project which I learned on that world long time ago." He said as he held a vial with a strange substance inside.
And that's all for now, folks. I'm going to stop with transformers/pokémon to focus on other projects which I'm being thinking a lot for a while. Again, if someone wants to continue this himself/herself just first send me a PM requesting it and I would give my advice along the way if he/she ask for it. Thank you all readers who came all this way and continue keeping your dreams alive. Till all are one.