Another long chapter from me this time, though for slightly different reasons than last time. Only slightly, though. To Chapter 18!
Chapter 18
A Prison
"You'll be needing a referee, then, I suppose?"
Cruz's offer was contrasted by a rolling thunder. It wasn't the same as what the Veluza had started, and was still too far-off to be seen, but Juliana could feel the air changing. The bearded captain put her mind exactly where it needed to be, though, standing right across from Kofu.
"If you're willing."
"Aye, I've been through this enough times, Kofu. It's not like they're the first you've deigned willing to fight the Titans."
"Wait," Arven said, flicking his eyes between Titan and Gym Leader, "this is something he usually does?"
"He didn't do it with me…" Nemona said with a bit of a pout.
"Don't be so childish, Nemona," Kofu said. He was beginning to stretch, readying himself for the battle. Another roll of thunder could be heard, causing Nemona to squeak and back away towards Gloria, as if it would give her some good distance. "Tatsugiri does not challenge blindly. It is a challenge reserved for those seeking something more from the battle."
"Which is why I'll take it. That Herba Mystica will be gotten, and we're gonna heal Mabosstiff!" Juliana proclaimed. Behind her, Gloria could be felt nodding.
"Even if means letting your research go?" Arven said. However, Juliana nodded, never more sure of anything in her life. "All right, then. We'll cheer you on with everything we've got!"
"Very well!" Cruz, having finished setting up, strode forward towards the middle of the island. It made very clear where the borders of the battlefield were. However, neither Dondozo nor Tatsugiri made to move inwards. Dondozo didn't look to be thinking much at all, while Tatsugiri watched as Kofu stepped in front of him. "As per this Gym Leader's Special, this will be a three-on-three battle. However!"
"However?" Juliana asked. The Pokémon at her side tensed, and she couldn't blame them. The twinkle in both Cruz and Kofu's eyes was putting her on edge.
"In order to battle the Titans, the challenger must defeat Kofu in a one-on-one sudden death match!" Cruz announced. "Upon victory, the challenger is permitted to use one Pokémon at a time against the combined force of the Titans."
"What?! That's complete nonsense!" Arven shouted. Even Nemona was nodding, though she jumped again at further rumbles. "I thought the Gym was supposed to be fair for the challenger."
"Aye, but she's not battling for the badge, verdad?" Cruz's reminder mollified the boy.
"It's fine, Arven," Juliana insisted. She ground her foot in the wet grass, making a squelching noise with it while she observed Kofu and the two Titans. "Whatever it takes. Kilowattrel, you're up first!"
"Kilwa!"
"Ha ha ha! I knew I liked your moxie! This'll be a fun battle to remember!" Kofu slapped a Poké Ball in his hand, grinning and guffawing the whole while. "Take watch, Tatsugiri. This is your challenger!"
"Tatsa!"
"Wugtrio, let's serve up some battle!" The Poké Ball exploded with light and the three headed, pink colored Pokémon appeared. It writhed like some sea anemone, but kept all eyes on Kilowattrel, who hovered just above the battlefield. A whispered hush covered the area, only the sound of waves offering some comfort. Kofu raised a hand, beckoning her on.
Juliana sucked in a breath, then let it loose slowly. "All right, Kilowattrel, let's start off with long-range. Air Cutter!"
"Kilo!" Kilowattrel flapped his wings, pulling further back into the air. They soon began to beat, creating crescents of solid wind. Those crescents flew out, arcing through the air before beginning their descent. Wugtrio looked up, each head moving this way and that, but Kofu gave no order to avoid the attack. Juliana narrowed her eyes, knowing her call for a long-range attack to test the waters was the right one.
The attack collided, first with the ground that cut apart the waterlogged grass, and then eventually slicing against Wugtrio's body, sending all three heads flopping backwards.
"Keep the pressure! Spark!" Kilowattrel tucked his wings in, his eyes generating the spark before it spread to his entire body. He shot off, straight for the Wugtrio, whose three pink heads were flopping back into position.
"Triple Dive." Kofu was grinning now, the taste of battle getting him going. Nemona could be heard standing, watching with renewed interest, but Juliana kept an eye on Tatsugiri, observing the battle with lofty challenge.
"Wug." The simple cry was followed by all three heads arching in a rather grotesque fashion before they burrowed themselves into the wet ground. As if it was water, they disappeared beneath the surface of the soaked island. Kilowattrel passed over harmlessly. He flapped back around, scanning the ground for sign of his quarry.
"Water Pulse!"
"Trio trio trio!" The high-pitched cry was the first sign of Wugtrio's emergence. It suddenly shot from the ground, the three heads creating a sphere of water. It shot straight up for Kilowattrel, driving with a force unimaginable for an ascent. So fast it was, Kilowattrel had no room to dodge, taking the attack straight to the chest. He careened into the air, but soon steadied.
"Two can play the distraction game. Air Cutter, spread it out!" Kilowattrel spun, flapping his wings with enough intensity to send an entire army of the windy slices out. They rained upon the battlefield, blowing apart mud and grass and covering the field of vision with their clots of dirt. Arven could be heard cheering, but Juliana had eyes only for the sky. Sun. It's not intense, but maybe it's enough. "Weather Ball! Let's see it!"
"Kilo!" Kilowattrel stopped his spin, but continued flapping his wings. From the air that gathered, an orb was formed, generating heat. It wasn't the pure fire that a Sunny Day would bring, but it was enough. "Watt!"
One flap sent the Weather Ball scorching through the air. Wugtrio's heads poked out, but under the just-finished barrage of Air Cutters, it stood no chance of avoiding. The attack exploded against its face, weak, but enough to stun the Pokémon.
"Spark!"
"Ice Beam!" Kilowattrel dove, blitzing with the speed he could and ramming into Wugtrio. It was fast enough that the attack couldn't fire straight, one of the heads sending the frigid blast aimlessly into the air. Kilowattrel pulled up, taking to the skies as the other heads recovered and set their aim on him. Without preamble, they fired.
"Keep it moving! Charge up your electricity!" Juliana ordered. Against her own wishes, she found herself clenching her fist and swallowing, the sheer gravity of the battle starting to weigh on her. It didn't help for who was watching.
In the skies, Kilowattrel spun, using his large wings to keep ahead of Wugtrio. The Ice Beam was relentless, though, and no matter to which heights he soared, or where he was, the attack followed. Its chase didn't last long, however, as soon, the third head joined in, and with it, the attack clipped into one of the wings.
"WATT!" Kilowattrel's squawking cry made Juliana flinch. That doubled when she noticed the crystals clinging to her bird's form, locking his movements and dragging him down. His feathers were still sparking, though.
"Ram it!" Struggling under the frozen wing, Kilowattrel nevertheless turned around and shot straight for Wugtrio with all speed and power.
"Mud Slap!"
"Agh!" Nemona could be heard. There was little doubt she was into the battle, but the briefest glance back made her stand up straight, showcasing a modicum of restraint. At the same time, the three heads of Wugtrio wrapped around each other and then uncoiled, sending mud flying everywhere. It splashed straight on Kilowattrel's face, and with a sudden yank, the bird missed his mark to the side.
"Wrap it around! You can't miss forever!" Kilowattrel spun again, making an inelegant turn on account of his wing, but zapped through the air. He was just a bit off yet again, the mud making his already burdened flight more difficult. "To the right."
"Wattra!"
"Triple Dive!" Kilowattrel's wing was near ready to make contact and sear across Wugtrio. Indeed, some of its sparks scattered on the Garden Eel Pokémon's face. That was the last of it, however, and it arched back again, disappearing beneath the surface. Unlike before, however, Kofu wasn't content to let them wait and puzzle it out. "Uno!"
"Wug!" Wugtrio's first head shot up, long and stretchy, nailing Kilowattrel like a spear. He shook, his frosted wing making maneuvering difficult.
"Dos!" The second head shot up, hitting the frozen wing and sending him spinning. Kofu was grinning, on the verge of laughing, as though having the greatest time. "Tres!"
"TRIO!" The third head appeared, lancing through Kilowattrel and sending him into an uncontrolled fall. His wing attempted to catch air, but with one still in its current state, he found it difficult.
If we can just get rid of that frost then… Juliana blinked. The sun was still shining overhead. That aspect of the battle hadn't changed.
"Water Pulse!"
"Ah, Weather Ball!" Juliana squelched on the ground, gripping her fist to the point the old rain mixed with new sweat. It was an attack called in partial desperation, but carried intent behind it, nevertheless. The sphere of water was formed, large and imposing. With a flick of the heads, the giant sphere sailed forward. Kilowattrel turned around, beating his wings until the heated ball was created. He then sent it forward, where it met the Water Pulse.
They exploded into a steam that covered the battlefield.
"Ah, can't see anything!" Nemona shouted, sounding disappointed.
"Then just wait," Gloria said, her acerbic tongue showcasing her own interest in the battle.
It was but a moment of peace, however; enough time for Juliana to finish putting the puzzle pieces together. For a second, she considered using her Tera Orb for the extra push, but peering through the steam, she could see that Wugtrio already looked bruised. Then just one hit…
Juliana looked up, straight at the sun and her precious Pokémon, struggling under the weight of his wing. The course was clear. Their distraction had borne fruit. "Kilowattrel, Weather Ball, straight up!"
"Kilo!" The direction was difficult, and Kilowattrel had to turn his body at a strange angle, but just as always, he gathered the wind currents to him. They heated up, expanding, becoming an orb of embers. He pushed them forward, flying straight into the air and towards the sun. The orb gathered heat, and once it reached its zenith, it started to plummet. The gleam in Kilowattrel's eyes said he knew exactly what to do. His wings expanded, his body bracing, and soon his Weather Ball hit him, cloaking his body in fire.
"Ay? What kind of move is that, cabron?" Kofu said. He didn't stop laughing.
"The move that finishes it!"
"KAWATT!" Kilowattrel emerged from the smoke, some of it pouring off his wing, but revealing the restored function.
"Ha, now that's using your head. Time to use ours! Triple Dive!"
"I don't think so! Air Cutter!" With mobility and strength restored to his wings, Kilowattrel drew back and gave a mighty flap. The air sliced forward, blasting apart the ground. More mud flew upwards, battering the land and spraying into the lake. No spot was left untouched, no stone unturned.
And as the first head peaked out to attack from the ground, Wugtrio was struck by the Air Cutter.
Its entire body was ripped outward, putting a halt to the diving attack.
"Spark!" The clenched fist punched forward. Kilowattrel moved in tandem with that, his feathers standing on end. They sputtered, sparked and soon lit in a blaze of electric glory. With a great call, Kilowattrel dove, the ground becoming electrified for a second. The electricity became golden, consuming the bird's entire form. Wugtrio attempted to snap back into position.
It was too late. Kilowattrel tore through, coming out the other side in a shower of sparks that rained across the battlefield and arced into the sky.
Wugtrio's heads turned back, watching Kilowattrel. "Wug wug wug."
All three flopped back down, spread in different directions. Behind Kofu, Tatsugiri began to glare and grin both. Cruz stepped forward.
"Wugtrio is unable to battle! Challenger Juliana advances to the next round!"
"Yes!" Nemona shouted. "I mean, good play, Juli. Good play."
"You're enthusiastic."
"Of course," Nemona said, nodding sagely. "I feel like I'm seeing Juli really battle for the first time. Like battling the real her."
Juliana wasn't sure how to feel about that, other than knowing she had to push said feelings aside. Kilowattrel wasn't quite so willing, descending to her side and hugging her with his great wings. He trilled, happy to have been successful, and Juliana patted him on the head. "You did great."
"Aye, that he did. You passed the test!" Kofu said. He was clapping, his Poké Ball having called Wugtrio back. He was also on the move, walking over to where Tatsugiri appeared to be attempting to flex of all things. Another rumble sounded, the clouds now beginning to move in, graying the sky a tad. "But now comes the challenge. Are you ready?"
Juliana didn't answer verbally. She reached out, recalling Kilowattrel and looking to Quaxwell. He was standing next to Koraidon, the lizard perking up, watching with peerless intensity. Juliana nodded, and received a pair of nods in turn. She faced Kofu and Tatsugiri, accepting their challenge.
"Very well. Lord Tatsugiri, if you'll allow me some commands?"
"Tats!" Tatsugiri turned, flopping on the grass as it faced Dondozo. "Tatsi tats!"
"Dooooh." That appeared to be some kind of confirmation. Tatsugiri squished itself and then launched upwards until it landed back atop Dondozo. The giant fish moved forward, breaking up a piece of the island and forcing Kofu and Cruz to move aside. The enormity of the moment settled on Juliana.
This is it. The chance for the final Herba Mystica we've been after. Let's get it.
"All right, Quaxwell, it's ours! Acro-"
"Noble Roar!" It was such an unexpected command towards such an imposing Pokémon that Juliana hadn't been ready for it. Rather, she hadn't expected Kofu to be so confident in giving a command. More than that, she hadn't expected Dondozo to listen.
"DONDOOOOOH!" The great Titan's maw opened wide, unleashing a roar that echoed over the entire lake. Quaxwell balked, shivering where he stood. The roar washed over him, bringing with it a bright red aura that surrounded both Dondozo and Tatsugiri.
Kofu wasn't done, either. "Dragon Pulse."
"Tats!" From atop Dondozo, the large Tatsugiri charged up. Its small frame shuddered, and then let fly the draconic energy. It soared through the air, ascending and then descending to clap its jaws upon Quaxwell in an explosion.
Damn it, I'm facing two of them. I can't be taken off my game. Juliana reached up, removing her hat and tossing it to the side. It landed on Koraidon, who pawed at the ground in anticipation. It was time to kick it up a notch. "Acrobatics, get some air!"
"Quax!" Quaxwell recovered quickly, emerging from the smoke in a dash. His body glowed the telltale turquoise, flipping forward and launching himself upwards. Dondozo's eyes followed, as did Tatsugiri's. High above the two he managed to get before sailing back down in a hit that struck the top of Dondozo's massive frame.
"Straight into Aqua Cutter!" No sooner had Quaxwell landed, than his feathers became wreathed in liquid. His palmate vaulted off the surface of Dondozo's body and his feather slashed down, striking Tatsugiri and slamming it straight into its partner's body.
"DOONDOOOZE!" The movement was sudden, without a single command from Kofu. The Gym Leader folded his arms and let it happen, however, ducking under Dondozo's tail as it whipped around. The sudden movement sent Quaxwell teetering, something not even his fancy footwork could save. Quaxwell tumbled and the massive tail caught him.
"QUAAAX!" It was like a blunt weight of nearly a ton smashing across Quaxwell's form. It flung him back towards the center of the waterlogged field, causing many to wince. Had that been the end of it, Juliana would have breathed. It wasn't.
"Wave Crash!" Kofu cried. The tail stopped moving sideways, this time splitting the air vertically until it crashed into the water. A great wave appeared, towering over even the Titan. It washed over Dondozo's form, breaking into it and consuming the battlefield. The force hit Quaxwell, sending him tumbling on the grass, even as his opponent shook from the recoil.
"Focus Energy!"
"Taunt!" Juliana cursed once again. No sooner had Quaxwell begun summoning the red aura to itself than Tatsugiri appeared, grinning and puffing itself up. It cried out, a sickening aura pulsing from it that appeared to latch on to Quaxwell. The crimson glow dispersed soon as it formed, and Quaxwell dropped to a knee. "Helping Hand!"
"Tatsi tatsi tatsugiri!" Tatsugiri's great chant covered the field in what should have been a calming air. However, Juliana found herself grimacing, a glowing orb emerging from within the little dragon's body. It was absorbed by Dondozo, the bigger fish powering up.
"Come on, Juli! You got this! I…I know you got this!" Nemona could be heard calling. The timbre of her voice was different, though; not one overly excited, but genuinely hoping for the best result. Juliana steadied herself.
They're together. Working together. And I might be doing the battle myself but… Juliana blew outwards. "We're carrying Arven's dream with us; one we've worked for together. So, no giving up from that. Brace!"
"Dondooz!" Having received Tatsugiri's gift, the Titan's tail lifted once more and broke upon the lake. Another wave rose upwards, towering over the last. With another flick of the tail, the wave surged forward, crashing through Dondozo and over to Quaxwell, who planted his feet and took it, unmoving. They readied themselves for the next.
"Dragon Pulse!"
"Tatsiii!" This time, instead of arching upwards, Tatsugiri fired it straight. Like a true beam, the purple dragon soared, piercing the line of the wave and rippling right through Quaxwell's body. Bruises emerged, the pain evident, but Quaxwell remained firm.
"Now, Acrobatics! Knock that Tatsugiri from its perch!"
"Quaxell!" The waters became as nothing to him. More than that, they took on the very glow of Quaxwell's body as he launched upwards again, spinning through the air like the graceful dancer Serena had taught him to be. Nimbly, he landed upon Dondozo's back and kicked, striking Tatsugiri straight in the back and flinging him right from Dondozo's body.
The little dragon cried out, unable to stop its movement as it headed for land, where Quaxwell would no doubt take the advantage.
"Ah, ah!" Kofu warned. It didn't stop Quaxwell from flipping off Dondozo, preparing to bring his feet down on Tatsugiri where he landed. "Stop forgetting you're fighting two. And these are a special two!"
"Tats!"
"That's right! Order Up!" It was a command only a chef could give, executed in a way Juliana never thought possible. At the words, Dondozo roared and opened its mouth wide. The Herba Mystica was revealed inside, giving that orange glow, but it wasn't the objective of the massive fish. Instead, that was Tatsugiri, who began to be sucked inside. It would have been horrifying, if Tatsugiri wasn't smirking at her and Quaxwell. Seconds later, the mouth closed, and a sudden burst of energy exuded from Dondozo's figure.
"Shit…" Juliana cursed, realizing that the situation had just gotten worse. Quaxwell looked back, both knowing the inevitable result. But he wanted to keep fighting. "Focus Energy!"
"What?!" Arven shouted. Juliana ignored him. At the same time, Quaxwell attempted to summon his Focus Energy, only for it to fizzle, proving what Juliana knew.
Unfortunately, it cost them precious seconds. "Wave Crash!"
"Take it!" The tail seemed even more massive than before, or perhaps it just collided with the water at a greater ferocity than before. The wave rose once again, causing Arven, Nemona and Gloria to back as far away from the battle as possible. Like a storm breaking on the island, it rushed across all of them. Kofu laughed in its presence, while Juliana stood her ground.
Pockets of earth flew all about, grass dislodged from its place. The island returned to its watery state, and Juliana felt her clothes soaking. Quaxwell, however, remained standing, a glint in his eye.
Little bit more, eh? Juliana straightened, taking off her outer shirt and wringing it dry. Her braid had come undone from the force of the wave, and her damp hair was lifted by the wind, but she met Quaxwell's eyes and nodded. "Acrobatics! Beat it down!"
"Quax!" The duck all but vanished from the field, reappearing at Dondozo's sluggish form. He beat him with a kick that soared upwards, and then a slash that came from the side. It soon turned into a beatdown that the flagging Dondozo was unable to avoid, nor had any intention to.
"Heavy Slam!"
"Match it!" Dondozo's entire body whipped around, carrying the brunt of its weight. Its tail planted itself, allowing the giant catfish to swing the front end of its body into Quaxwell. The duck was ready, planting one foot and bringing the other soaring up to match the bulky weight.
They proved even, one holding the other up. There was strain and a rippling of muscles, but Quaxwell kept pushing until, finally, Dondozo's giant frame moved even an inch. "QUAX!"
His limb loosened from the ground, turning into a flurry of limbs that cracked into Dondozo's mouth. Said mouth flew open, flinging Tatsugiri out and causing the giant catfish to slump, trying to regain its breath.
"Tatsiiiii! TATS!" No sooner had Tatsugiri hit the ground than its entire body glowed. An orange light built up inside, and with a shout, it fired upwards, high into the sky. When it hit an apex, the light broke apart and began to streak down like comets, each seeking their opponent on the battlefield.
"Draco Meteor…" Juliana breathed. She looked across to her companion, watching as Quaxwell flinched. He didn't have much in him, and the flaming, draconic meteors were bearing down. Flaming… Juliana stepped a bit forward, flinging her shirt out. "Focus Energy!"
"Quax!" Quaxwell stood strong, planting his feet. Seconds later, the red aura flared to life. The Taunt had ended, its time out as the sky glowed with the descending meteors.
"Yes. Rain Dance!" Quaxwell issued another nod, understanding her intentions in a way only he could. Her leader. Her steadfast companion. Quaxwell raised his feathers to the heavens, the red glow moving up to become a prayer for the rains. The sky clouded, mixing with the horrible orange glow.
A droplet fell, and then more, soon becoming a shower that confused everyone watching, even Kofu. Some of the higher meteors petered out before they hit the ground, having lost some intensity, but the ones closest to Quaxwell were unstoppable. All he could do as he ended his prayer was take it.
BOOOM!
The meteor exploded upon Quaxwell in a haze. Heat pulsed over the battlefield for all of a second, the wet debris stinging the skin. Tatsugiri puffed up, as if scoffing over the Pokémon that had dared to dislodge him. Either way, it was the Titan's victory, for when the dust cleared, Quaxwell was out, swirls in his eyes.
One more chance, then. Juliana held out her Poké Ball and returned him. Across the way, Kofu gave his booming laugh, either amused by her attempts or, more likely, surprised she had gotten this far. Juliana clutched her Poké Ball close. "You did good, partner. I know what to do, as always, thanks to you. Now, all we need is some real power. Lokix, let's serve up some Titan!"
"Lokih!" The Poké Ball burst, and Juliana's smallest member emerged, legs tucked in but just as battle-ready as the rest. Tatsugiri turned to face him, glaring. It hopped back, and with a flip, planted itself on Dondozo's back once again. Lokix watched, unfettered and unfeeling. He turned back, knowing just what Juliana needed from him.
She dug into her pocket, and from within, withdrew her Tera Orb. It glittered with the raindrops hitting its surface. Koraidon looked ready to paw at it, while Nemona clasped her hands. Tatsugiri watched, and Dondozo waited. Kofu raised his hand and beckoned her on, the grin splitting his face. "Let's do this. Terastallize!"
The energy inside the orb began to coalesce, sending glittering light dancing across the battlefield. It built up inside, garnering enough power that Juliana had to use her other arm to brace herself. It shot forward, striking Lokix. The crystal emerged, building up quick until it shattered and showed the crystalline Lokix beneath, little antennae revealing its Bug Tera Type.
"Taaaats…" Tatsugiri shuddered, slapping on Dondozo's head as if to give orders. Kofu, too, understood what Tatsugiri was saying. That sense of threat couldn't be denied, and it made Juliana smirk. She had made the right choice.
"Lunge!" Juliana's hand flung out, parting the rain. Lokix's leg extensions snapped back, giving him more space to draw back. When they sprang back and reattached, he became a hurtling bullet. Powered by the crystal surrounding him, Lokix reached Dondozo's giant body in no time. He pierced it, driving deep into the massive fish, who cried out.
"DOOOH! DONDOOOH!"
The power was so overwhelming, Tatsugiri struggled to hang on. Flailing and wailing, Dondozo's tail beat harmlessly at the island and the waters. At least until Kofu got its attention once more. "Wave Crash! Wash over it!"
"Tatsu tats!" Tatsugiri's order appeared to calm Dondozo enough for it to regain presence of mind. Its gigantic tail rose up and crashed back down. The wave of water grew, even more looming in presence than during the battle with Quaxwell, fueled by all the rain around it. It reached a high arc before it crashed back down, sweeping across Dondozo, the island, and coming right for Lokix.
"Axe Kick! Split it!"
"Lo." The soft, but confident, call displayed everything. The legs once more acted as a spring that carried Lokix into the air, just as the wave was set to consume him. Then he kicked down, becoming a peerless blade that managed to split the wave in two. It seeped harmlessly off to the side, though Cruz and his Swanna were utterly soaked.
"Que bueno!" Nemona shouted. "Nymble's gotten stronger!"
"And we'll only keep getting stronger!" Juliana shouted, overpowering Nemona's unneeded praise. Upon Dondozo, Tatsugiri's eyes flashed and it began to summon the familiar draconic energy to its mouth. "Not this time! Throat Chop!"
"Loki!"
"Tatsi!" Tatsugiri made to fire. Lokix was faster, though. In seconds, his legs vaulted him into the air and he rocketed down with his arms glowing bright. They slashed outward like an X, colliding with Tatsugiri's squishy body. The dragon gagged, clamping down on its own Dragon Pulse that sent it flying skyward. "Tatsu tatsugiri!"
"Dozo!" Dondozo shifted, its entire body turning vertical. Lokix began to tumble, while the great catfish opened its mouth wide. Their movements were slower, their fatigue beginning to show, but Juliana refused to underestimate them, not with Kofu's winking gleam.
"Heavy Slam!" Dondozo's mouth snapped shut around Tatsugiri, and its body was engulfed in bright light. That light carried with its frontal weight rolling around. Lokix finished sliding, landing on the ground and looking up, just as the great weight of the combined force came down upon him.
"Endure!" Juliana shouted without hesitation. Lokix planted his legs, waiting for the attack to come. It was a steadfast bond, one ready to see the battle at an end.
Dondozo crashed down upon him, flattening Lokix and sending the lake rising into the air with the rest of the rain. It fell upon them for a moment, starting to peter out, but the clouds remained. Silence covered the field.
"I hope that isn't it, muchacha. Even Endure isn't a guarantee of victory," Kofu said. "If you just keep hanging on, you're not really moving forward, no?"
"That supposed to be a criticism?" Juliana asked. She started to chuckle under her breath. "After everything, I know that well enough. I did say I'd win this and get that Herba Mystica. That hasn't changed.
"But I've changed."
"Oh, how's that?"
Juliana stared at the bulk of Dondozo, resting upon the spot where most would have thought Lokix was flattened like a pancake. She didn't, though. "Because, I have this team. And I'm not sure if it's where they belong, or if I belong with them, but I'd like to think I've come to understand them a bit. And Lokix? He's a hero.
"So, something like this will never do him in! Not with his strength, or his Ability! Lokix, Lunge!"
"Looooooo…" It started as a rumble. Imperceptible at first, it grew, and all soon watched as Dondozo's tail began to flop, its body vibrating. Then a green, crystal glow expanded from beneath the great Titan. More of the ground shook, and more of the body flopped. Then, in a great feat of strength, Dondozo was lifted into the air, shooting upwards as Lokix pierced through its entire body. "KIIIIIIIX!"
With a final kick of his legs, Dondozo was sent up, flopping helplessly in a space with no water but the rain. Its mouth flapped up and down, Tatsugiri hanging on for dear life to the Herba Mystica that was threatened to be dislodged.
"Of course!" Nemona shouted, grinning wildly. Next to her, Gloria was shaking her head. "Swarm and Tera abilities!"
"Yup, that's the way Juli fights. She and her Pokémon get beaten down, but there's always a reason! Now, she finishes it!"
"Damn straight! Throat Chop! Let's get Tatsugiri out of there!"
"Ah, Tatsu-" Kofu's shout was too late. Lokix skidded back, only to spring forward with crossed arms. His eyes gleamed with the thrill of success, the hero in him coming out. Beaten down, battered, but not broken. His quest, like hers, wouldn't be over until they reached the end.
"Lok!" Lokix reached Dondozo and slashed across its jaw before jabbing forward. The fish gagged, still held in midair. Its eyes rolled backwards, body slackening as it finished the fight. Dondozo's mouth flopped open with a final gag, expelling Tatsugiri and the colorful plant both from its mouth. It then fell, straight towards the lake.
The battle, however, wasn't over.
Tatsugiri spun in midair, facing Lokix head on. Its mouth opened wide, not heeding any of Kofu's commands. The dragon formed and shot out, driving the little dragon's form back. The beam spread its wings, soaring right for Lokix. He, however, became a shining green bullet that split the dragon in two before ramming Tatsugiri. Such was the force that it appeared to travel all the way through to the other side and sent Tatsugiri flying.
It finally landed, bouncing along the island. When Tatsugiri finally got upright, it was breathing raggedly, eyes unfocused until it saw Kofu. They nodded. "Draco Meteor!"
"TATS!"
"Finally…" Juliana breathed. A grin slid on her face, water almost wiping it off as the rain continued. Lokix hunkered down. Tatsugiri glowed, the same amber power rising until it could be fired into the air. That power spiraled upward and then exploded into its numerous streaking comets.
The rain hit them, some fizzling out right away, while others made to crash upon the battlefield. Juliana, however, had other ideas.
"Axe Kick! Move up those Draco Meteors and get some air!"
"Wait a minute, that's-" Whatever Nemona's surprise was, Lokix and Juliana ignored it. The powerful grasshopper sprang into action, using his extended legs to once more launch himself into the sky.
One of the meteors came close. Lokix's leg snapped out, becoming the very axe it was named after. The attack split the comet in two, and in doing so, launched Lokix higher. Another one was there, and he repeated the action, using the momentum to spring straight to the next one, higher and higher. Gloria stated to laugh.
"That definitely is Ash's Draco Meteor Climb. It's just Juliana Style."
"Now, finish it!"
"Dragon Pulse!"
"TAAAAAATSUGIIIII!" In a desperate, final bid, Tatsugiri began to charge up, just as Lokix went the highest he could go. The two stared at one another, Lokix looking down as Tatsugiri aimed upwards.
A purple dragon of energy emerged, flashing into an ascent.
Lokix fell, his crystal body summoning all of his energy to the kick.
They met in midair, exploding with a crackle that sent everyone's hairs on end. Then, Lokix continued falling, his leg splitting straight through the Dragon Pulse. Though it burned at his very body, he continued on, severing the Dragon Pulse until, with a mighty expulsion of dirt and water, he brought the kick right into Tatsugiri.
The rain was swept away by the move, all of the clouds taking the water with them as the ground felt the impact. Juliana kept eyes on it, watching for the millisecond it took the battle to be decided. Then, Tatsugiri was flung back, crying out until it hit the ground. It formed a ball that rolled back, only stopped when it hit the tangled vines of the Herba Mystica, right next to Dondozo.
"Tats…tats…" It struggled, trying to get up and continue the fight. Kofu looked willing to, his hand held out as if to give the order.
In that moment, Lokix stood strong, beckoning the battle to continue. Tatsugiri paused. Upon seeing it, the dragon appeared to laugh, and then it bowed low in reverence. Kofu's body slackened. His hands raised and began to clap.
"Looks like the Titans are unable to battle," Cruz said, himself throwing his claps into the mix. "The winners are Juliana and Lokix!"
"YES!" It wasn't just Juliana's shout that echoed over the lake. It appeared to be just about everyone's. Juliana ran forward, grabbing Lokix in a hug, and soon the duo felt themselves smothered in one provided by Arven and Koraidon both.
"Great job, Juli!"
"Hey, it's not just for me! Now we can heal Mabosstiff!"
"Oh, right," Arven said, giving off such an endearing, awkward laugh it made Gloria shake her head. The young woman didn't join the hug, but proceeded to pat her on the back.
"Nice work."
"Ay, what a battle. Juli, you've really made me-" Nemona's words died in her throat, and the girl shook her head. It was unclear what she would have said, and Juliana remained unconvinced she wanted to know. "I'm glad you could do this for Arven."
"Aye, nothin' better than battlin' on someone else's behalf. And sharin' a meal like that, too. Isn't that right, Lord Tatsugiri?"
"Tatsi." The Titan's call was no longer confrontational. Instead, it sounded meek and reverent. Juliana looked down, noticing that the tiny (by comparison) Pokémon was right at their feet. Clinging to its body was the Herba Mystica. With a light shove, it nudged the plant towards them. "Tats."
"For us?" Juliana asked. Tatsugiri nodded.
"Proof of your strength. I do believe you've earned this piece of the healing puzzle. I hope it's what you were looking for," Kofu said. Juliana certainly hoped so, too, and she reached forward to take it.
"Yuck, slimy…" she expressed, but pulled off a few of the leaves nonetheless. Regardless of where they came from, they were still precious all the same. She turned to Arven in offering, and he took them, the sunlight gleaming upon them. "Arven. I hope this is your treasure."
"Of course, it is," Arven said, gripping the Herba Mystica in one hand, and a Poké Ball in the other. "But I hope it helped you find yours."
"Well, let's feed it to Mabosstiff and se-"
Koraidon suddenly growled. Lokix stiffened. In the waters of the lake, Dondozo stirred and shivered. Juliana's words died right then and there as a heartbeat rose in her ears.
She turned, as did they all, facing northward. Before them, the waters of the lake suddenly rippled with some invisible force.
Next came the wind. They barely had a chance to blink before it cut across them, carrying with it a rain like knives. The wind howled, becoming a gale that tore at them. Above, the sky suddenly grew dark, roaring and crackling and screaming with all it was worth. Where once there was sun, it was now endless clouds, and the heavens opened up to let loose another torrent.
"What madness be this…?" Cruz whispered, hardly audible with the new downpour.
Juliana turned, looking to Gloria, and the woman kept her eyes northward. She stared a minute longer before finally gazing straight into Juliana's eyes. "The threat is coming."
CHANK!
Like that of a chain snapping, a ruinous echo rolled across the lake, carrying the storms with it, sending shivers down spines.
And with it, Juliana knew, the dam holding back the past had broken on Paldea at last.
"Poké Balls here, Rotom Phones there."
The harsh, clipped voice served to remind Ash where he was, and the man looked up to where a guard was standing. Next to him was a familiar woman, dressed in a pantsuit with long green hair, tied in a professional ponytail. She stood there, tapping her feet and waiting for him expectantly. Feeling all too ushered along, Ash sighed and placed his five Poké Balls in one bucket and his phone in the other.
"The guards will hold on to both until such time you leave the prison," the woman said, folding her hands behind her back. She jerked her head, as if asking to follow. "These are simple precautions all visitors must take. Though you're the first visitor in a very long time. You should be lucky Geeta okayed this. Nearly made Larry pull his hair out with the paperwork."
"Uh, sir, your Pikachu…"
"Oh, he stays with me."
"Pi." Pikachu's own curt nod rendered the issue final. The guard dropped his complaint. Their distraction over, Ash made to catch up with the woman now escorting him out of the check-in area and to an elevator. Not that they hadn't taken enough elevators already.
"Thanks for this, Rika. Geeta's got great people helping her out."
"Yes, she does. So don't make us regret this, Mr. Ketchum." The formality with which she addressed him made him sigh.
Pikachu patted him on the cheek consolingly, and the two faced out of the elevator as it descended. Bright, fluorescent light suddenly assailed them, revealing the interior of none other than Zero Prison. From just a look, there was little doubt for why it was called the most secure prison in the world. For one, it was set inside the uppermost layer of Area Zero, a place only reached by either the sealed Zero Gate, or the League's tunnel, which itself required five million background checks. Ash paled at the thought of having gone through one, himself.
The further they rose, the more impressive it all seemed, with multiple tiers and rings. There was a yard in the center, watched by countless Arcanine, Manectric and all manner of police-associated Pokémon. Most notably there was a ring of Watchog that never took their eyes off the prisoners. That was still small compared to the recessed areas where the cells were located, some deep into the strata of the mountain. If Ash had been any good at geography or topography or whatever-graphy Clemont usually mentioned, he'd have thought the prison was actually butting up against the League or school and jutting out to cast a shadow over Area Zero.
That, however, was impossible to determine while inside. And it was the inside and who was within it that interested him most.
"Keep on your guard, Mr. Ketchum," Rika said, hands still folded behind her back. She was cool as a cucumber, displaying no emotions other than some vague annoyance. "There are many prisoners in this place."
"I know that."
"Some might have a grudge against you, your friends, your family." He wasn't entirely surprised at hearing that, either. "Our worst of the worst are kept on the lowest level, people you no doubt know well, but that doesn't mean others aren't on the other levels."
"When you say worst, what are we talking about?" Ash, asked finally looking away from the yard and cells while they dropped to another level. Rika all but waved the question off.
"Take your pick. Xerosic, Colress, a number of former Team admins. IDEAL, of course."
"The only member left of it," Ash pointed out. "What about Team Galactic?"
"Mars is kept on our upper level. She's no threat to others, often spending days pining after her forgotten boss," Rika said. She was starting to sound amused by the concept. "Jupiter and Saturn are on the fourth of our seven levels, and that is where we're heading."
"Rose is considered as dangerous as them?" It was Ash's turn to be amused, but this time Rika didn't share in the sentiment.
"The man nearly invited the apocalypse to Galar. He may have willingly turned himself in, but that only bought him time. Five years inside a Galar prison is too good for that man." The acidity with which she spoke took Ash aback, especially as the elevator slowed and the doors opened to a dimly lit, circular corridor. Cells lined its walls and some guards patrolled the halls with their Pokémon, keeping an eye on the prisoners. It was extraordinarily quiet. "Rose was a stain on the League and its principles. If it hadn't been for your vouching, he would have been here much sooner."
"Ah…so that's why you don't like me." Pikachu shook his head, exasperated by him calling the woman out, but it was the simplest conclusion. Rika huffed.
"I don't like your position. But you're here, and as Geeta's administrator, you're in my charge. I can't have anything happen to you. So, even if they're behind bars, keep your guard up. You're just one trainer after all." Rika stepped out of the elevator, leading them both forward. Some of the guards saluted her in recognition, while some of the prisoners gave whistles that she ignored. Ash picked up his pace to be at her side.
"You're right, I am. But that's why I have strong trainers like you to rely on." The littlest of smirks told Ash that Rika appreciated his comment. "All right, where's Rose?"
"This way." Rika turned down a corridor that led deeper in. True to her words, some people recognized him walking past, a number looking unfamiliar, or as though they were part of some organization in the past that had long gone defunct. Many watched him slip by, while others felt the need to heckle him. Ash ignored them, following Rika until they reached a hall where only one cell lay at the end. She gestured him on.
Expectation fell like a hushed breeze in that dim prison hall, and Ash walked forward towards the cell. His footsteps echoed, bouncing back at him in an eerie cadence. He swallowed more than once, and when he reached the end, he and Pikachu both peered inside the cell. The contents were bare, only a bed, toilet and desk present, but all they had eyes for was the man sitting at his desk, reading a book that he soon snapped shut.
"Now this is a surprise," came the silky-smooth tone Ash was used to. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Ash?"
Rose turned on his chair, wearing his ever-magnificent smile. It looked off without the tailored suits to go with it, and his disheveled hair no longer provided the image of a man who held the world in his palm. Rather, the orange jumpsuit clashed with every other facet of his being and conveyed a man who had most certainly fallen on hard times. It didn't stop him from scraping the chair as he stood as he walked over with a jovial grin and arms wide open. Ash stepped back.
"Ah, take it you're still not happy to see me, then. That's fair."
"It's been five years, Rose. I've honestly tried not to think of you. Pretty focused on Galar rebuilding," Ash said, his lips pursed tighter than he ever thought they could be. He examined Rose's face, noticing the shadow of bruises upon him, ones undiminished by the smile.
"So, I've heard. Under her new Champion, Galar thrives. Though I hear Gloria's quite the troublemaker."
"I'm not here about her," Ash snapped, feeling his patience wearing thin. Rose shrugged, as if admitting he knew that and was permitting the conversation to continue. Though a humbled man, there were aspects about him that had clearly, and unfortunately, remained the same. "I'm here about your, uh…trip? Here. To Paldea."
"Pikapi…pikachu…" Ash ignored the snide comment about his obvious statements.
"What did you wish to know?" Rose retreated from the bars, bringing himself to sit upon his chair which he turned towards Ash. It reminded the man uncomfortably of the day he had nearly disqualified Gloria, and Ash felt an old temper rise inside him.
"What happened? Everyone knows the plane went down, but you still showed up here, with League people. I want to know how."
"Then I haven't the foggiest." Ash felt his eye twitch more than a few times at the non-answer. Pikachu's cheeks sparked. "I'm not trying to Bouffalant you, Ash. I genuinely don't know. Last thing I remember was being abducted from the plane and mid-fall they asked questions. It was more like torture, though. I thought we fell amongst the wreckage, but next thing I know, I was being dragged here. The League must have found me stranded in this hellhole."
"You don't remember anything?" Ash asked. He started to imagine he could punch his way through the cell to demand Rose remember, but the man's dulling eyes conveyed he truly had no further information about how he got to Zero Prison. "Fine. What did they talk to you about? And who were they?"
"The second, I feel you already have the answer to," Rose said, picking up his book again. He flicked through it, Ash catching some fantastical pictures inside it but focusing on the former chairman. "As for the first, they just wanted to dredge up the past. Questions about Eternatus and those portals that appeared. There wasn't much to tell. Eternatus came from a portal, and when it felt threatened, more appeared. That seemed to satisfy them, though it wasn't anything you couldn't see on the telly."
"The Darkest Day? Why now?"
"I mean, I've been in prison five years, and it's hardly easy to get close to anyone else in Galar these days. That or it revolves around my intimate knowledge of Eternatus. I couldn't say. They didn't seem all that interested in the Pokémon, itself. More the event surrounding it. Like it was proof of some theory they held?" Rose now became disinterested in the book, thumbing through the pages before he slammed it on the desk. One of the pages started to rip, and Ash could now see its contents appeared to be history-related, as the symbol of the Academy appeared amidst the text. Rose began to tap on it. "Hmm, now that I think about it, though, there was one thing I remember seeing."
"Rose, don't play games," Ash said. He was growing weary of the conversation, a fact Rose was quick to pick up on. The man's eyes regained their sharpness and he looked right at Ash. Inside those eyes was a man that wished to be as helpful as possible, seeing no gain of his own. He leaned forward and laced his fingers.
"I was holding on for dear life, so naturally my hands were scrambling all over the place. Of course, my abductors were dressed in League escort uniforms and masks, but as I pulled at them, I did see something underneath. This something." Rose turned the book, showcasing the very Academy symbol Ash recognized. His heart instantly leapt to his throat, a thrill of fear for Serena and Hanna flushing through him. He wanted to turn around and head back right away. "I know it's the symbol of the Paldean Academy, though I've no idea why they'd be wearing it."
Ash didn't know either, and was too worried to think. But when he took a step away, he remembered what Arven and Juliana had mentioned about Tagtree Thicket. He paused. Pikachu looked up. "Pikapi?"
"You know something, Ash. I can see the cogs working furiously up there." Rose's chuckle and insult were passed over in favor of the more pressing information inside his mind. He began to mutter under his breath, pacing back and forth.
"Team Star members in League uniforms. Old Rocket uniforms. Now they're wearing the Academy symbol. It's like they're wearing something of everyone, probably because they're all part of that same place. But they're everywhere, appearing and disappearing like…like some sort of…" Ash stopped, snapping up to Rose, who watched him with amused intent. "What do you know about the Phantom?"
"What's that? The one who abducted me?"
"Never mind." Ash bit at his lip, worrying Pikachu for all the thought he was putting behind it. Thought, however, was necessary. Rose hadn't confirmed much, but he had let out a key piece of information that felt like it was bringing it all together. "Trading information and uniforms in an underground market, moving everywhere unseen… It's like they're part of an…underworld."
An unpleasant image surfaced, one of Serena's alternate father, Michael, and the moniker he had worn while alive: King of the Underworld. Yet here, said underworld was going strong in spite of the man's death. And there was but one person he could think of that he knew would be entrenched with it both long before and well after. Only the woman whose hands were dirtier than his shoes.
"Thanks," Ash said, tapping the bars and walking away.
"Don't be a stranger, Ash. My regards to Gloria and Leon!" His voice was lost to the returning echo.
Ash fast approached Rika, the woman scrolling through something on her tablet. "All set? Get everything you need, Mr. Ketchum."
"Not yet. I need to see one more prisoner." Rika's stern expression communicated he was quickly using all of his goodwill as Liaison. He clapped his hands together. "Please. It's important."
Rika's lips twitched, but she soon relented with a sigh. "Very well. If it solves this mystery, I'll permit it. Who's the prisoner?"
"Matori." Rika nearly dropped her tablet. There was no other name spoken that could have carried that much weight, and it made Ash all the more certain of this conversation's necessity. With a cough, Rika regained composure, and she jerked her head to usher them back towards the elevator.
Ash wasn't sure if she had to file more paperwork or clear away any red tape, but Rika was silent when they got back on the elevator. She pressed a couple buttons, and Ash felt it jerk, taking them deeper, to the very heart of the prison. The answer was given, and Ash felt every fiber of his being scream about what he might find down there.
In no time at all, the elevator shuddered to a halt, and the doors slid open.
"They're each kept separate from the other. The only level where there is no yard time, and no fraternization of any kind," came Rika's stoic explanation. Ash noticed she had a singular Poké Ball on her, imparting the gravity of their position. "Let's make this short and sweet."
"Yeah…" Ash said, the foreboding of the dark hall now evident. Pikachu's cheeks sparked, a clear sign of the danger where they were. Both of them ignored the omens in favor of what was needed. They stepped off.
The first thing the group was met with were a quartet of guards. They were dressed in dark clothing and silent as the grave. A Dusclops was next to one, and a surprise Spiritomb was with another. Two of them tracked the new arrival, but said nothing. Ash pushed on, occasionally looking into the cells.
"…theory is sound," a voice muttered from one of them. "Ah, but we'd need to test the limits! Alas. Could it be possible, though? Could such a bond transcend one's nature?"
Ash peered in as he passed by, seeing the familiar form of the once prestigious Plasma scientist known as Colress. He was scribbling on the walls, run-off calculations that made no sense. So obsessed was he that he didn't notice Ash passing by. The same wasn't said for the man in the next cell over, the other scientist looking up at him as he passed by. Ash ignored Xerosic and moved on, hoping to not get a glimpse into any other lunacy.
It didn't stop him from identifying others, though, such as the man named Ghetsis, and what appeared to be Brody of Team Magma. It was most of the way down the hall where Ash thought he wouldn't be surprised if Hunter J were to show up among their ranks, until he remembered her rather timely demise. Lysandre floated to the surface as well, always with the same taunting quote.
You don't know the horrible parts of the world.
"Well, well, well," a voice called, coming from the cell at the very end of the long stretch. Ash recognized it and sped up in order to stand before it and the woman held inside. She looked up, her once pristine, short hair having grown out. The glasses she once wore as part of her disguise were long discarded. She gave a lopsided grin, one that caused Pikachu to bristle. "Ash Ketchum. I was wondering when you'd show up."
"Matori," Ash said, causing the woman to sit up. Her lithe bearing had remained, showing no signs of fatigue or atrophy in her current state, as if she had never stopped training for her mission. "Or whatever your name is. You knew I was coming?"
"Even in the farthest reaches of hell, whispers still reach," Matori said. Her Cheshire grin was unnerving, making Ash keep a safe distance from the bars, as if standing too close was liable to get his throat slit. "And rumor has it you're running around chasing ghosts. Trying to stop a certain doom yet again, are we? I think that'll be inevitable."
"Oh, cut it out," Ash said, groaning with the exasperation. "You and IDEAL failed almost six years ago. There's no doom and gloom here."
"Oh, did we?" Matori said, leaning forward on her bed, eyes twinkling with the malice she was so good at disguising. "Or did we open the door to hell?"
"So, you know what I want to ask." That time, it wasn't a question. Matori leered at him with it, almost like she was waggling her finger that she knew something he didn't. "The Underworld that you, Team Neo, DARC and all those were involved in…what happened after Michael died? The Phantom took over, yeah? Who are they?"
"Oh, you don't know?" Her retorts involving questions were starting to get on Ash's nerves. "There has always been the Phantom in the underworld."
"Always?"
"Always." Matori's definitive statement made Pikachu shrink back, though his cheeks hadn't ceased their sparking. "The King, Michael, was but a pretender to the throne under the Phantom's good graces, but without the Phantom, there would be no underworld. Our own plans would not have been nearly so successful without it."
"And just who is the Phantom?"
"Pi…"
Matori leaned forward, her cold eyes now reflecting the brunt of her self as an assassin. In them, Ash could see the mission, and only the mission. "Who they are was never important. Just what they represented: a threat. A misunderstood being, though, at worst. It was Michael who truly saw them as a threat. Pity he let his own hubris and misunderstanding destroy him."
"If they're not a real threat, why name them something like the Phantom?" To that, Matori chuckled lowly, sending another shiver down Ash's spine.
"Because of what they do: slip in and out, leaving consequences in their wake. They're like a ghost, said to be of the old world preparing for the new." That statement alone made Ash swallow the growing lump in his throat. "Many didn't believe in it, just a bedtime story to keep the elements under control. But to those who know better, who watched the ebb and flow of power in the underworld, knowing the true strength that lay dormant, it wasn't a fairy tale. It was a promise.
"And if you're asking me about them now, it means they're in Paldea. That means a storm is coming, Mr. Ketchum, one that will wipe the old world off the map. Better batten down the hatches fast." She followed with an uncharacteristic cackle, as though either jail had broken her or a sliver of her true, untrained self was shining through.
Ash glared. "Not on my watch, it won't."
"Pika-chu."
"Oh, giving yourself a mission to protect the world, is it?" Matori flung herself off her bed, getting close to the bars. Ash kept his decent distance. "But let us not forget who had the mission first. Alastair may have forgotten, but IDEAL always aimed for that better world, no matter what we had to sacrifice for it!"
"Somehow, I don't think the Phantom cares so much about your perfection."
"Who said anything about perfection? Maybe I just want along for the ride to see the world that failed us brought back to zero."
"What are you talking about?" Ash said, unable to keep the snarl from his voice. Matori smirked, her mouth going wide before it opened.
BOOOOOOOM!
The whole prison shook, a quake rippling through that sent Ash off-kilter. As it did, a series of klaxon alarms sounded off, echoing in a horrible noise that told him nothing was right with the world. There was only one guess to what it could be, as the footsteps of running guards followed, as did the cajoling prisoners.
"What the-? Is that a-?" He turned, trying to peer down the hall to Rika, but as he did, Matori's leg slipped through the bars and tripped him. In seconds, she had grabbed his neck through the bars.
"Looks like it begins. Let's meet the past together, Mr. Ketchum, and see the sinful parts of this world burned down!"
Author's Note: I struggled with where to end this chapter. It could have ended perfectly fine with the storm rolling across Paldea. But then I'd have to cram the prison scene into the next chapter with everything that takes place there. That'd be a lot. So, this chapter is how it is. Might be a bit messy, but it at least gets the blood pumping for the final act of this story!
Hopefully you enjoyed the battle. At some point my interest in Gym battles waned and I started looking for different ways to write them. Combining it with a Titan battle seemed like a good idea. As for the prison scene, it was one of my earliest concepted ideas, and was fun to return to Rose and Matori for the story. What happens in these next few chapters will answer some questions and shake the foundation of the story for the rest of its run.
All that said, let's focus on this one, first. Give me thy thoughts in review or comment, but most importantly, Dare to Be Silly.