New Goldenrod City.
A dark cloud billowed over the horizon, swallowing the sky. Its edges crept like tendrils over the air, snatching all light and life beneath its shadow. Over the world, this cloud grew. Deathly dust rose up from the ground, its life taken, to swirl into the vanishing skies. That cloud darkened the world, leaving cities and forests barren and silent. One city stood left. In the Johto region, there remained one beacon of life defiant against the end.
However, the cloud of death now crept toward that last pillar. Its edges encircled New Goldenrod City, the last bastion of life.
Alarms blared loudly from each and every screen Nova beheld. The cries of his base directors, scattered across the dying world, rang with them like a chorus with no harmony. Incoherently, they screamed at him for orders all at once. Nary a second passed without one of these screens cutting to a red warning screen that dirged "COMMUNICATION OFFLINE" in a bright, harrowing red.
Nova had no words for them. All he could offer them before the cloud took them was a silent salute of thanks for their efforts. Then, before long, only one remained. The director of a small seafaring base off the coast of New Goldenrod heaved for air that was no longer potent enough to sustain her.
From her view, gone was the leader she had come to know and follow. She had neither heard nor seen anything of General Christopher Lee, and in his place was a man hidden behind a shadow whom she had never heard of until the previous day. Still, she saw that man standing tall and saluting.
This was the end. She would not live to see their dream. With the last of her strength, she swallowed back the burning lump in her throat and raised a trembling arm. Just as her flattened hand met her forehead, Nova was left with his reflection in her place and a fit of static.
Nova allowed himself a brief moment to stare blankly at the array of dozens of screens, each with that red "COMMUNICATION OFFLINE" etched across them. He held the salute for a few seconds longer before releasing it, dropping his arm toward the buttons of his chair, and turning off the screens. But just as he turned to leave for the plan's final mark, another alarm blared within his office.
Whipping around, he found his holographic screens reactivating themselves. "ALERT!" Boomed an electronic voice. "MULTIPLE LEGENDARY-CLASS ENEMIES INBOUND!"
While the alert repeated itself, Nova staggered back, shaking his head. He pulled up a radio on his suit and shouted, "All available engineers, finish preparation of the energy transmission device! Now!" Then, he sped out of the room. His hip collided with the edge of his desk as he ran, causing something to spill off of its top: a hieroglyphic depiction of Mew with a hole at its center. Beside it, a knife clattered onto the floor.
"Let me see my son! I know he's in there!"
"Why aren't you telling us anything?!"
"They can't hold us all back! I say we force our way in!"
The array of Star Foundation guards winced upon hearing that. A dark cloud had fallen over the city, slowly robbing it of its heat. Like snow, ashes carried on the wind had begun to fall upon New Goldenrod as they had done the world over. They pierced the barrier as if it did not exist at all, allowing nothing to stop the message of the end they carried with their presence.
By then, unrest had grown into panic as questions the guards had no answer to continued to pile along with their shoving. The sky darkened, as had the world's hopes.
High overhead, an array or white rifts emerged in the sky. Fewer emerged upon the ground. Only three emerged in the ocean. From the rifts came the Legends one by one. Fatigued, they hobbled out toward the city. Instantly, they heard alarms blare from beyond the translucent, violet dome that separated New Goldenrod from the outside.
"So stealth is not an option," Remarked Diancie mournfully. Hanging her head, she sighed before ducking down into one of the nearby tunnels. Along other entrances to the underground, she was followed by the other Legends who could fit, save for Mewtwo.
Mew's breaths were small and unsteady. Two Legends, Xerneas and Mewtwo, stayed nearby. Xerneas, peering into the rifts of her kin, wondered, "Why is it that you stayed behind? Surely the others could have used your assistance."
To that, Mewtwo nodded. "Perhaps." Then, glancing down upon the mother of this world, he added, "However, so could she. It was from Mew that I was given life. The Tree of Beginning deigned to welcome me as its own. In a way…" Staring at what had become of his proud mother, he could only chuckle sadly. "...It was as if she had given me life for a second time."
With a heavy sigh, he shook his head and looked next to Xerneas. "You cannot sustain her on your own in your condition, let alone the others here who need you. The least I can do for the trouble I have caused this world is use my life to save it." His expression soured when he glanced at the hall's ivory floor where Lee, wrapped in Xerneas's branches, sat indignantly. "That, and ensuring he causes no further trouble either."
From the city's coast, Lugia and Kyogre erupted to the surface with a ferocious pair of Hyper Beams. The twin lasers glided across the barrier's surface and buried the stricken line with smoke. Yet when Lugia blew the smoke away with his wings, the barrier remained firm.
"How infuriating!" Snarled Kyogre. He smashed one fin into the black water. "It is not enough for them to have brought my inheritance to this lifeless state, but they do not even have the courtesy to be crushed by my vengeance for it!"
Though similar ire burned in Lugia's veins as much as it did upon his blackened skin, he managed to keep himself from unleashing it in another futile attack. The sound of beating blades in the air caught his attention. He craned his long neck sideways and spotted several helicopters speeding toward him. It was a paltry amount compared to what he had seen at the Tree of Beginning.
"It seems as if our enemy had reserves," He hissed.
As Kyogre turned toward the approaching threat, Manaphy and its young Phione beside it ducked beneath the surface. His eyes burning red, Kyogre summoned several spheres of condensed water into the air and boomed, "I stand corrected."
One by one, Legends began to emerge from the tunnels at the city's far edge. Diancie let out a shrill gasp at what she saw. There was fire in the city. Men in dark uniforms were shouting at people and waving batons, forcing them into buildings before hammering boards over the doors. Those that rebelled soon found themselves on the unrelenting, merciless end of the batons, ruthlessly beaten as an example of what would happen to the non compliant.
Across the city, along with blaring alarms, there was a booming automated voice commanding, "ALL NEW GOLDENROD CITY RESIDENTS, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY BROADCAST. THE CITY IS UNDER ATTACK BY MULTIPLE LEGENDARY POKEMON! I REPEAT: THE CITY IS UNDER ATTACK BY MULTIPLE LEGENDARY CLASS POKEMON! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! ALL RESIDENTS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE REFUGE WHEREVER POSSIBLE! DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, ATTEMPT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM OR ANY OTHER POKEMON!"
On the sides of tall buildings, videos the likes of which Diancie found herself unable to pull away from looking at. She saw what looked like Lugia attacking a group of humans ruthlessly and a man being burned beneath the wing of Moltres. The Palkia of old and Dialga dueled, erasing a town building by building with each clash. Several other Pokemon set a town aflame with their attacks.
All meaningless drivel, Diancie was sure. She could scarcely believe her sight and hearing. "Even to one another, at such a time, they…" Her lips trembled. Huffing, she shook her head to rid it of as many worries as she could manage. "All of this…must end!"
Locking onto the tallest building of the city, she began to race toward it. Screams from below erupted to meet her ears from people who spotted her. In her hands, she used Power Gem to summon several gleaming, jagged jewels above her hands to toss at Star Tower. Just as she pulled back her arms, she crossed past another skyscraper. Atop a shorter one beside it was a gargantuan turret aimed squarely upon her. Her eyes widened, and then an explosion rang out over the city.
With only an Auric flame to guide them, Ash led Serena through the dark, winding tunnels. The silence was broken only by their labored breaths, and by the occasional dull trembling from above that sent small clumps of dust down from the , Ash clung onto two new Pokeballs.
Overhead, they could hear the dull hum of the barrier as they approached it from below. When they passed it, Ash choked on his breath. Biting his tongue to keep from screaming, he fell to his knees.
"Ash!" Cried Serena, kneeling by his side.
As Ash looked up, he could see the unending flickers of life in the city above, all shimmering like stars. A wave of fear and confusion rolled over him as if he were in the midst of the prior day's battle all over again. Hardening his heart against them, he neglected Serena's offered hand and pushed himself up with his own strength, marching on.
"Don't worry about me," He told her. "I'll be fine."
Yet he only succeeded in making her concern grow. How could his actions have done otherwise? As she trailed after him, her mind wandered. Ever since he had woken up in the hall, something about him had changed. She could never forget the vacant look of despair hanging on his unconscious face when she had found him in the vanishing tree. She wondered if something had happened with his Aura, but it was still white as snow as far as she could see.
When the two reached the surface, the first thing that they noticed was how quiet it was. In the tunnels, there were small quakes and dull echoes, but here, on the surface, there was nothing like that. This did not stop Serena's heart from dropping when she realized where they had ended up.
Ahead of them were the old memorial from the war against Necrozma carrying near innumerable names etched on thousands of curved stones: the Rings of the Lost. Serena shuddered, bringing one hand to her chest. Ash watched the rings silently, took a deep breath, and then, without looking back, commanded, "Let's go."
Silently, Serena nodded.
Their march through the memorial was wordless. Ash kept his gaze straight, while Serena's was caught by the many, many names engraved on the stones. How many, she wondered, would have to be added?
Ash stopped suddenly, prompting Serena to do the same. At the inner edge of the Rings of the Lost, he looked first to his right side upon the rings closest to him. 'Hawlucha. Infernape.' He winced and forced himself to look away before he could read any more names. Then, to his left at the forefront of the rings, there was a statue. Pain washed over Serena's expression when she followed his gaze.
Innumerable faces of men and Pokemon, etched into shining black stone in a spiral, each indent reaching up toward Arceus who stood tall to guard them. Above him was an angel. A young girl who had been robbed of the chance to live, yet gave what little life she had to ensure those whom she loved could live on. White, Auric flames followed the spiraling figures up without cease, perpetually burning with life to illuminate the faces of the dead.
Ash, making his way toward the statue, spoke aloud. "I'm sorry about this, but I need to borrow these for a while." Then, he reached a hand into the spiraling fire. It stopped in its place for but a moment before changing course to run along Ash's arm. As it seeped into his skin, Ash cried out. He doubled over again, and again, was caught by Serena. This time, he did not resist her.
But the moment she held onto him, she understood. Each flicker of Auric flame that brushed along her skin brought forth lingering feelings from the previous war. She could momentarily feel the lingering remorse in those countless souls who perished to save their world. It was nearly overwhelming for her. She could scarcely imagine how it must have felt for Ash who, with his Aura, was cursed to feel the full extent of their sorrows and sufferings as his own.
Together, the two managed to look up at the angel atop the statue. When the light faded, and the Aura had finished washing over them, dancing along their bodies and the Pokeballs on their belts, the statue became dark. Ash failed to stifle a sob as he held a hand upon it, swearing, "I won't let your sacrifices go to waste."
Upon his shoulder, Pikachu stirred. Now bereft of his injuries, Ash's partner leapt up with fright. He saw, for a moment, a man in black before him and charged lightning to his cheeks until Ash reached a hand up to him gently. "Sorry," Said Ash with a mirthful chuckle. "Waking back up was hard on me too."
It was then that Pikachu glanced around, realizing where he was. From what he felt in Ash's Aura, he could tell the war was not yet over despite the change in scenery. Still, he was alive, and so were Ash, Serena, and their Pokemon. The little mouse allowed himself to sigh in relief before whining, his eyes wetting. Ash's small smile faded as quickly as it had come. Gently, he rubbed a hand over Pikachu's head, and the mouse Pokemon wiped its eyes.
From the belts of Ash and Serena, three Pokeballs began to stir. They erupted of the volition of those inside, releasing Zeraora, Keldeo, and Latias. All, without injury. The first thing Zeraora did was reach for his abdomen where there was no longer a gaping wound. Keldeo and Latias acted similarly. Yet their flesh and bones were intact, and life still filled their vessels. As one, they suddenly turned toward Ash and Serena, narrowing their eyes at the Pokeballs in their hands.
"You caught us?!"
Serena was quick to raise her hands defensively, attempting to wave off their concern. "I-It wasn't like we had much choice! If we hadn't caught you, we wouldn't have been able to bring you here!"
Unsatisfied, they looked to Ash. Zeraora started, "Ash, you of all people should know how I-"
"Save it." Ash stunned everyone who heard those words, considering whose mouth they came from. Brushing himself off of the moment that had just transpired, Ash gave the trio of Legends a shockingly dark look before pointing further into the city. "Look where you are. Don't you remember what happened? We don't have time for this! You're alive, but if you want to stay alive, don't waste the life they gave you arguing with us."
Then, without waiting for a response, Ash turned and began storming toward the awaiting city. The others were left stunned, their jaws agape. Serena gave a slight bow of apology, saying, "Please don't be angry with us. Especially him."
Mournfully, she watched Ash, unable to tear the frozen look of despair on his face at the tree from her mind. "I think…something bad happened to him at the tree that's making him act like this."
Keldeo took the time to heed Ash's advice. "We're in…New Goldenrod City?"
Serena nodded and started walking after Ash. "I'd tell you more, but we're running out of time." Pointing up at the city's centerpiece towering over them, she added, "Our enemy is there. I can tell you more on the way, but we'll need to fight our way there!" Then, she left the triad of bewildered Legends behind.
Keldeo was the first to begin trotting after the trainers, albeit hesitantly. Latias began floating after him, momentarily casting a glance back at Zeraora, who was staring down at his empty paw, before speeding off and leaving him alone. In his hand, Zeraora pictured the Auric flame Ash had once bestowed upon him. It seemed…foreign to what he felt emanating from him now. Instead, his gaze became transfixed by the statue, now darkened.
As Zeraora's eyes wandered up to the angel atop it, he wondered, "...What did he mean by 'they?'"
Everything was a blur. Vaguely, voices cried out beneath the overhanging ringing that blared in Diancie's hearing. She blinked to steady her wavering sight and saw many figures looming over her. As her hearing cleared, she found that the voices were no less than screams.
One man in a beige business suit pointed up at the screens along the buildings surrounding them–at the flashing videos showing all manner of monstrosity committed by Pokemon against mankind. "Look at that!" He cried to another. "Pokemon have turned against us! Look at the sky! We need to kill it before it gets back up!"
But the other, wearing a simple red shirt and shorts, shouted, "Are you insane?! I don't know what the heck is going on, but there's no way Pokemon are at fault for this! Don't you remember how much Xerneas helped us?!"
The first man shuddered, shaking his head. "I…don't know what's going on either, but we can't just sit here and do nothing!" He reached a trembling hand down to pick up a large stone, preparing to hurl it at Diancie. His face, however, whitened. Dropping the stone, he pointed at her and cried, "I-it's awake!"
Frightened screams erupted from the crowd. They backed away as Diancie, her gems long since cracked and shattered, started. Fatigued, all she could mutter as her eyes fluttered open was, "Mmh?"
While murmurs of what to do arose from the panicked crowd, some began to raise stones, the metal tops of trash cans, or anything else they could get their hands on. Those who dared not to raise a weapon distanced themselves from those who did. Shadows began to move through their ranks toward Diancie. But the young man in red stood firm, widening his arms to protect the awakening Diancie from the growing mob.
"Stop!" He roared. "Think about what you're doing! This Pokemon–" He looked over his shoulder at Diancie as she steadied herself. "Think about how many times Pokemon have saved us! We wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for-"
Just as he turned to face the crowd again, he was stricken across his face. His vision went red as he cried out in anguish. That cry at last brought Diancie to her senses. She gasped upon seeing the man who defended her on the ground. Before he could tend to his bruise, a gloved hand shoved his arm back down. His eyes shot wide when he saw a soldier in black raising a baton.
"Wait!" Pleaded Diancie. "Please, stop!"
But her reaching out to aid the man only caused the surrounding mob to recede in fright, and many more soldiers bearing the visage of an exploding star upon their suits to emerge and point weapons at the downed Legend. "All citizens, disperse!" Shouted the soldier with the raised baton before driving it across the face of the man beneath him, eliciting another pained cry. He attempted, futilely, to shield his face with his other arm, only earning more strikes for his efforts.
Unable to watch any longer, Diancie forced herself off of the ground. "Stop! Stop it now!"
The other soldiers deactivated the safety measures on their weapons. "Prepare to engage," Came a voice from inside their helmets. Atop a building, a Black Suit held his transceiver with one hand and binoculars, honed upon Diancie, with the other. "Aim for the eyes. Its defenses are…"
Trailing off when a twinge of light illuminated the edge of his binocular sight, the Black Suit failed to suppress a gasp. "It's him!" Came his voice through the transceiver. "He's alive!"
The soldiers looked up from their weapons' aim. Faces of awe spread amongst the city's residents like a virus. The cries of the man in red with each swing ceased as he looked past his assaulter with a slack, bruised jaw. The soldier atop him raised his baton, yet hesitated to bring it down when he felt pressure bearing down upon his every nerve. When he, too, turned, he gazed upon a boy bathed in white flames.
His face obscured beneath the shade of his hat's brim, Ash stomped toward the gathered crowd impatiently. They parted to allow him, and those trailing with him, past. And as he passed, those who were licked by the flames of his Aura found their wounds healed and a brief sense of peace ease its way into their nerves–peace that escaped its wielder.
Even the soldiers found themselves unable to raise their weapons against him when the weight of his presence bore down upon them. In their helmets, the Black Suit's orders blared, "Open fire!" Yet his orders only seemed to ring hollow. "What are you waiting for?! He cannot be allowed to make contact with Star Tower! Terminate him!" His orders, yet again, fell on deaf ears. The soldiers lowered their weapons, stepped aside, and fell still along with the rest of the crowd with only the blaring propaganda above to pollute the silence below.
When Ash came upon Diancie and the man who defended her, the soldier atop him quickly stepped aside. Ash cast his glare away from that soldier and his expression softened upon turning to the man beneath him. His Auric flames swirled around Diancie and him, erasing the wounds upon their bodies, and then he turned away.
"W-wait!" Came the cry of Diancie. Ash stopped but did not turn. Diancie winced at his behavior. Giving a polite bow, she said, "I-I am most grateful for your assistance, Ash. Please allow me to return the favor."
High above, the Black Suit continued to scream orders into his transceiver to no avail until he at last gave up and shut it off. "Alright, then. Fine. Fine! If that's how you want your legacies to end when we are so close to victory, then I have no choice but to respond with a turncoat's dishonorable discharge."
Diancie continued. "Atop these towers are large weapons. I was beset upon by one." She looked up into the sky with trepidation. "Not eager, am I, to try my fortune with the skies again. I urge you not to follow in my stead."
Remaining silent, Ash paused before nodding. He took a step forward, gasped suddenly, then lurched around to create an ivory barrier just before a plume of flame overtook it. The surrounding windows not protected by Ash shattered, and the buildings thereof quaked. Screams of confusion erupted from Serena and the crowd of people. Keldeo turned and whipped his head, sending an arc of energy in the form of Secret Sword to plunge through the smoke before cleaving into something on the side of one of the skyscrapers.
Sparks seemed to emerge from thin air, followed swiftly by a large metal form blipping in and out of existence. The top half of its form began to slide off its base, and then the entire machination toppled off the side of the building it had perched itself upon before shattering into shrapnel upon the ground.
There began to be a series of loud, metallic clamping sounds. The sides of buildings would find its ridges crushed by something invisible, and its windows shattered thereafter. Ash steadied his shield just as a whirring noise emanated from the invisible machines. Whatever cloaking systems hid them faded, revealing bulky machines that looked much like the rectangular one that Thorn piloted, only vastly smaller and with treads that clutched the sides of buildings like legs.
Rotating guns upon their shoulders took aim upon Ash and all with him before spraying lead upon everything in sight. Bullets pierced the city's visage and swiftly reduced all they touched to pieces, save for Ash's barrier and those it protected. Ash snarled with rage. "Is this-" He roared. "-Who you people want to side with?! Does this look like Nova has humanity's best interests in mind?!"
As one, Keldeo, Zeraora, and Latias raced outside the barrier's protection. Zeraora flashed across the sides of the buildings to quickly tear through as many machines as he could. Latias grabbed those she passed in low flight with Psychic before smashing them together. Those which fell to Keldeo's formless blade ended much like the first that had fallen. And, in mere seconds, a brief rain of the machines resulted in shrapnel scattering across the city street.
Ash lowered the barrier, taking in a sharp breath. When the trio of Legends returned to him, all who beheld what they had done looked upon them with slack jaws. "They were weak," Noted Zeraora. "Almost like paper compared to what they used at the tree."
"Maybe these ones weren't finished in time?" Guessed Keldeo.
Latias sighed and glanced up at Star Tower. Her life had been saved there once. Now the place would spell their doom in time. "...Our enemy may be just as desperate as we are."
His face dark, Ash slowly turned around toward the people gathered before him. He held up one hand at one of the large screens displaying the so-called atrocities committed by Pokemon upon man, gathered a swirling white orb to his palm, and then fired an Aura Sphere at it to silence its grim voice.
"The Star Foundation," Growled Ash, "Was never real. It was all a front for this." He raised out his arms and shook them once at their desolate surroundings. "We need to stand and fight against them, because if we don't…" Lifting his head, he revealed to all who could see his burning, ivory colored eyes. "...We won't live to see tomorrow. No one will. Not humans or Pokemon."
Those near New Goldenrod City's coast cried in terror and rushed to get as far inland as possible when they saw the very ocean raging against the barrier protecting their homes. Repeatedly, Kyogre bashed its fins into the ocean surface to send colossal waves of dead water into the barrier. The titanic waves did little, prompting the ocean king, in his anger, to channel orbs of pressurized water around himself before firing a cascade of Hydro Pumps into the infernal shield.
Though the attack caused a sizzling from the barrier, it showed no sign of breaking. Neither did it budge when Lugia's ensuing Hyper Beam raced across its length. The two scowled in frustration, then whipped around when they heard buzzing along the water. Approaching from all around them were small boats with mounted weapons.
"More of this putrid…?!" Fumed Kyogre, the markings along his body gleaming red in anger. "How many more times will I be challenged in my own domain before they recognize…" At his bellowing, the dead waters began to stir and rise into a swirling vortex. "...That they only sail to their deaths?!"
Before he could strike, a shadow raced across the inside of the barrier's edge. Hails of explosions buffeted the backs of Kyogre and Lugia, eliciting shrieks of pain as they tore into the existing gashes and bruises on their bodies. Yet when Lugia's blackened wing swiped away the smoke, he saw nothing and only heard the tail ends of an engine roar sailing off in the distance.
The serpentine body of Raqyuaza danced through the air, evading shells launched by the titanic cannons seated atop skyscrapers. "Of course," He seethed, "They can attack us from inside the barrier, but do not allow us the same courtesy!" He opened his maw and struck an oncoming shell with Dragon Pulse to detonate it, only for several more smaller shots to penetrate the smoke that ensued and pelt him.
Shrieking, Rayquaza thrashed his body through the air and twisted. His eyes widened when he caught the faint glimpse of a familiar shadow shooting back into the city. "That…!" His eyes narrowed, recalling the infuriating memory of the black jet he had combatted at the Tree of Beginning. "So it survived…"
The black jet carrying Auto's postmortem gift inside, the Raiden, curved as it sped across the barrier's inner length. Zekrom and Reshiram were bombarded by explosives as it passed them, opening them to the tower-mounted cannons lining the skyscrapers. Even Dialga found himself taken by surprise when it shot past. Though its projectiles hardly made a mark in his metallic skin, when he emerged from the smoke to find his attacker already gone, he mourned his cracked core and the power it had once brought him.
"Six Legendary-class beasts detected outside of the barrier," Droned the artificial intelligence of Auto within the Raiden jet. Turning away from the barrier, it sped across the city's length. Azelf and Uxie below summoned forth their Psychic powers as they prepared a Future Sight attack over the city's skyline. That was, until they were suddenly consumed in a fit of explosions that knocked them to the streets below in flames. "Two down inside the barrier."
With a series of beeps, the AI of Auto reported its progress before shifting to another communication channel. "As for you, take care that your vessel does not exit the barrier unless you have no intention of reentering. Do not suppose that our enemy will have any more mercy on turncoats than we will…"
Beating its massive propellers to keep it aloft, the Nuada Helicarrier slowly neared the barrier's edge toward where the ruler of time, Dialga, stood. Within the vessel, its crew sat stiff in their seats. Soldiers prowled around them, keeping their arms ready. Its commander stood with his arms folded behind his back behind a railing as he oversaw his men. Behind him, two more soldiers and a Black Suit positioned themselves to quickly stop any potential insubordination.
"...Commander Manuall."
The Black Suit nodded up at Dialga through the newly-installed windshield. The old glass remnants hadn't even been removed with the short time that was allotted. "Tell your men to take aim at that broken gem and fire," He told Manuall.
The commander did not immediately respond. Before the Black Suit could say anything, Manuall took in a slow, sharp breath before relaying the orders. "Lock onto Dialga's crest and its weak points. Fire when ready."
His men quickly went to work tapping away at their keyboards, prompting the remaining functional rotating guns along the aircraft's underside to begin to spin in place and heat up. Dialga distanced himself from the city's barrier and hissed. When bullets sprayed, Dialga roared and summoned a cyan barrier of his own that caused the bullets to bounce harmlessly off. Opening his mouth, the old Legend channeled energy from his damaged core to use Roar of Time.
A swirling blue beam drilled out from Dialga's barrier to clash into the city's. The Nuada's crew momentarily started with unease when they saw the potent attack dispersing along the barrier's edge, wondering if it would be able to hold. Even Manuall winced at the sheer power he felt surging off of the attack. Yet the barrier held steady and showed no signs of damage.
A gloved hand clapped over Commander Manuall's shoulder. "Man!" Exclaimed the Black Suit. "Even injured and on their last legs, the Legends still remain a frightening enemy. It's a good thing we have such loyal soldiers such as yourself to ensure they're warded off."
Manuall gave no response, though his scowl ever deepened. Suddenly, an alarm began to blare within the Nuada. "Alert: Multiple Legendary-class enemies approaching from behind!"
"Lock onto them!" Roared Manuall, flinging his arm out to rid himself of the Black Suit's grip.
Racing between New Goldenrod City's many skyscrapers, the four Guardians of Alola caused many below to cry out in terror as they pointed the Legends out to others. Their gazes were transfixed upon a skyscraper with a violet beam of light rising into the barrier. Dozens of such skyscrapers pumped energy into the city's shield to keep it functioning, which was all the reason the four Legends needed to destroy them.
Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele darted up toward the projector and pummeled it with a Thunderbolt and Psybeam respectively. The small crystal shard within began to whine beneath the stress of their attacks. Nearby, a large cannon mounted atop another skyscraper slowly turned and locked onto Tapu Lele. A thunderous boom echoed over the city when it fired. Swiftly, Tapu Bulu rushed between the shell and its comrade, folded into its outer shell, and took the attack. Upon emerging, it gave a defiant roar much like the bleating of an angry Tauros.
The Nuada Helicarrier turned away from Dialga to focus on the comparatively bigger threat. "Don't allow that projector down!" Commanded Manuall. "Not when we are so close to ending the war! Open fire on Tapu Koko!"
The aircraft's guns took aim on the electric guardian next. It glanced sideways at it before letting out a call for aid. Tapu Fini quickly sped to the side of Tapu Koko before using Wide Guard, creating a screen to take the ensuing hail of bullets.
"Move around it!" Hissed the Black Suit behind Manuall.
However, no matter how the vessel moved, Tapu Fini moved with it, easily shielding the other guardian. Tapu Bulu, meanwhile, folded back into its shell. The illusion of horns its shell gave glowed a shimmering green, and with one devastating Megahorn attack, it tore straight through the cannon.
Commander Manuall grit his teeth. "This is bad. At this rate, the projector is done for." He paused for a moment before suddenly shouting, "Prepare to move further inland! We are moving to defend the remaining-"
He was stopped when the Black Suit grabbed him by his shoulder and turned him around, shouting to his crew, "Belay that order!" Glaring at Commander Manuall, he hissed, "We are not abandoning the projector!"
Manuall wrenched the hand off his shoulder. "This projector is finished! We need to take precautions to protect the remaining ones, as well as make preparations to evacuate the city's civilians."
Impatiently, the Black Suit unsheathed his plasma knife, causing the soldiers at his side to take aim at Manuall, who stiffened. "You do not have the authority to make such an order, commander. Let's get one thing straight. You are not in control of this vessel. I am, and if that projector goes down, it's only a matter of time until-"
Their argument came to a halt when a blaring, high pitched whir sounded off. The two turned with widened eyes to see a bright gleam from the projector. Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele paused their own attacks and called to the other two guardians before darting off, prompting them to follow suit. There was a bright flash of light, and then the entire skyscraper dissipated into gleaming, violet dust.
The barrier flickered for a moment before restabilizing. Its outer edge began to retract further inward. As it passed over the people and Pokemon below, it left them exposed to the outside. Many of them panicked, unsure whether to run away from it or back to it. Hordes began to run in opposite directions, trampling many who were too slow to make a decision beneath their feet.
Ripping himself from the Black Suit's grip, Commander Manuall turned back around and shouted, "Retreat inward!"
The Nuada tilted on its side and sped as quickly as it could away from the closing barrier before they could be overtaken and exposed. Seeing the wall move at last, the Legends outside of it felt a spark of elation run through them.
"Finally!" Bellowed Lugia, abandoning the coast. His silver wings beat over the many buildings now exposed as the shield retracted, and his gaze locked onto the ever-tall Star Tower. Yet just as his aims of ending the war once and for all surged forth, the barrier once again stopped and forced him to do the same. Scoffing, he glared up at the myriad of other projectors holding the barrier together. "Of course it would not be that easy."
A rumbling from behind caught his attention. Many armored vehicles sped through the streets, forcing citizens to dive for the sidewalks to avoid getting flattened. Their wheels grinded to a halt, and the weapons mounted atop them took aim. Lugia hissed with anger, spread his wings wide, and bellowed at the new threat.
Eyeing another projector, the Guardians of Alola shot up to it. Another cannon slowly turned to intercept them, which Tapu Fini scarcely blocked with a Wide Guard, though the impact shattered the barrier and knocked her back slightly. Tapu Koko, who with Tapu Lele had already begun their work upon the projector like the last, called out to her with worry, but she chirped back to insist she was fine.
Several more of the gigantic cannons began to shift their aim at the four guardians, causing Tapu Fini to wince and Tapu Bulu to steam in annoyance. The two quickly moved to intercept the shots with their protective shells. Flames leaked through the cracks and cavities the battle at the tree had made in their shells, and with each shot, those wounds only grew.
A shrill, whining sound suddenly rang in the ears of the guardians. Tapu Koko noticed a red laser pointed at its back and shouted for aid. Tapu Bulu, noting the growing strain on Tapu Fini's expression, nodded and leapt into action. The whining noise rose in pitch, growing loud enough to cause the windows of the buildings nearby to tremble. Tapu Bulu shot in the way of the laser.
Far ahead, there was one skyscraper built especially wide, its edges shining and metallic. Above it was a black dome where the beam seemed to emanate from. Bundling itself into its shell, Tapu Bulu used Protect and bellowed in challenge to whatever would happen next. The ringing stopped, replaced by a short-lived, low-pitched dinging sound.
A thunderous explosion erupted over New Goldenrod City, causing the skyscrapers nearby to bend backward and annihilating the windows. A ring of flame raced in all directions across the city's skyline. In a heap of flames, the remains of Tapu Bulu fell from the smoke, leaving its comrades to stare down in horror as its corpse descended.
The ringing began again. Seeing the beam trailed upon itself once more, Tapu Koko swiftly ducked down and the others followed suit. They raced away, far from the sight of the weapon that had so easily slain one of their own.
Author's Note
The Creator- One last shot. One final battle. Two sides fighting with only the scraps of leftover power they have remaining. No future where anyone escapes unscathed. Or perhaps at all. Death hangs over the horizon and rapidly approaches the last bastion of life. Is there any hope? Thank you all for being with us for so long. The dream of two best friends back in high school. The very first scene ever imagined regarding this story is yet to come, but will be seen soon if God wills it.
Hydra- The final battle has begun. It's crazy to think we finally got to this point. I remember years ago envisioning this fight but to actually see it come to fruition and the fact that everything is nearing the end… I'm so proud! It's taken us 7 years to get to this point with many bumps and hurdles along the road but I am genuinely gonna be so happy in hindsight to say I did this with my best friend!
G- Good chapter, so Genesect tracked one of the members of Nova Branch, and attacked his family in her vengenful rage. Well, to be honest, this reminds me to Punisher, when Frank Castle plotted an elaborated plan to eliminates and kills the family of the ganster responsible from kills Punisher's family, making me think that Genesect is basically a pokemon version of Punisher if you analyzes it.
Though that notably more ruthless and lacking from behavior codes, in the sense that as was showed previously, Genesect doesn't matter harm innocent bystanders, if they are in her way, a line that Punisher will never crosses, as Frank is only ruthless and merciless with criminals, but never touches innocent people, something it seems that Genesect hasn't qualms to do.
Also, i wonder if the plan of Ash and his friends, about infiltrates Goldenrod city will works, because even if they manages to secure Nova, i doubt that they can makes him abort his plans, as this man is clearly passionated in fulfill his objectives, making that don't even threats with kill him can deterrs him. Well, we can only waits if Ash can makes a miracle, and somehow stop the satellite, before it can purges the pokemon life in this world.
Regarding to your question The Creator, to be honest, the background of Nova was certainly interesting, as his tragic past gave him a notable reason to despise the pokemon, especially Mew, making that this motivates him to become the ruthless man that he is currently, making him a good villain in general.
Adding that for some reason, the background of Nova, makes me think that Mew is like Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter and Tony Stark from Marvel, in the sense that all them used to be a nasty piece of work that only cares for themselves and their personal interests, showing little to no empathy for other peoples: Mew's old personality that made her a cruel and callous pokemon, Albus Dumbledore's previous ambitions that leads him to neglected his family and supported Grindelwald in the beginning, Tony Stark's previous lack of concern by the damages caused for his weapons, leading to that this three were responsibles from causes so much grief, pain and suffering to their worlds.
Though with the time, Mew, Dumbledore and Stark managed to accept their flaws, making them regreted from their past decisions, and motivating them to become a better pokemon, better wizard and better CEO. But sadly, their past actions ended biting them back eventually; Nova, Grindelwald and the Maximoff twins. Nova, who was responsible from founded Nova Branch, and start his plans to purges the pokemon from this world, as result of the demise of his couple caused by Mew. Grindelwald, who started his ruthless revolution against the muggles, as result of that Dumbledore encouraged and feed his ambitions previously. Maximoff twins, with Wanda planting a tragic idea in the mind of Stark, leading him to created Ultron, who ended being responsible from caused a lot destruction in the world and damaged notably the reputation of the Avengers, all this as result of that Stark's weapons were responsibles from killed Maximoff twins's parents.
Regarding to your point Hydra, about Lugia's decision to spare Lee, good comparison. Though that this also reminds me to the lessons of Batman with Jason Todd, about never give in to the rage and get revenge against your enemy, because as Batman explained, one day, you get revenge against a particular criminal, but after you ends hunting down another similar criminal, and you repeat again the same process, until that before you can notes, the revenge become your very life. Making that the revenge can become a vicious cycle, if you allow yourself be consumed by it, like happened to Genesect.
To finishes, i wonder if besides the plans of our heroes to stop the machinations of Nova, we could also see some possibles backlash in other parts of pokemon world, particulary about if in other regions are happening some riots, or people attacking pokemon to see them like threats, like a way to show us that the propaganda of Nova corporations is spreading in the world. And perhaps the other Ash's friends should to deals with this issues, to tries controls this problems, before it become a greater problem.
Keep the good job.
The Creator- Genesect lost herself the moment she began to download the ruthlessness in the schematics of Ryder's armored squadron into herself. With each one she killed, taking their data for herself, she became less herself and more of the very thing she hated most.
Yet the power therein allowed her to achieve her goal. One of her family's killers still remains. Two, if you count what Auto left behind. And, of course, there's their boss. What is a cybernetic Pokemon to do?
Unfortunately, Ash is not Naruto. He can't Talk-no-Jutsu his way into getting his enemies to give up. Not that he's in any mood to at the moment. Something happened to him intrinsically at the tree. He's still Ash, but how much of him?
For me, the backstory of Nova is much like that of Sephiroth. I even imagine a lot of his theme songs as he's in the shadows being "Those Chosen By The Planet."
Though Nova is Hydra's character and not mine, a lot of his backstory as I envisioned it (and what he and I agreed upon to become Nova's backstory) parallels with Sephiroth.
They start off as revered good guys, come upon a terrible truth that startles them, go insane from reading history in regards to those incidents, and become genocidal in the hopes of making new ideal worlds.
Thanks for your awesome reviews.
Hydra- I have a question for you. How do you think the Genesect storyline is gonna end? With everything she's been through and all the atrocities she's committed do you think she could be redeemed at all or is she too far gone? I really enjoyed your point you made about revenge and I agree with it. It really is a vicious cycle that will continue on forever. Eventually those seeking revenge end up getting it but then they don't know what to do with themselves. Next thing you know they start hunting down anyone who has ever wronged them in any small way and dish out punishments for things that barely even matter.
Regarding your point about seeing the effects of Lee's smear campaign of the legends, you can definitely see some of the effects of it in this chapter but ooooh boy just you wait ;)
Thanks for your review G, I appreciate you man!
SilverWolf1130- Just thought of something. If Mew is the Mother of ALL life, wouldn't that mean the Nova Corps' big plan would kill not just Pokémon but humans too?
Lee really deserves death, honestly.
I wonder… with their artificial Hoopa rings, could the Nova Corps breach the Hall of Origins and take their enemy's last home base?
Ash is walking a dangerous road. Unfortunately, to defeat the bad guys, he may have to walk the same road… at the cost of losing himself…
Honestly, I'm just getting really frustrated with Gira's attitude. I had hoped this event would make him be less of an Arceus critic…
And Mew's fate hasn't been decided yet…
And thus, the final battle is upon us. We're in the Endgame now…
I can see Ash sacrificing himself to become a new Tree of Beginning. He gives the world a glimmer of hope but at the cost of his own life…
The Creator- Astute observations all around! I bet you'll love how the story progresses into its finale. A lot of your points I cannot confirm or deny so as to not spoil the events of the story, but for the ones I can comment on…
Death is too easy for someone like Christopher Lee. He's probably been expecting to find it for a while now.
The Mew DNA thing is potentially something. The likes of Zero and the Red Suits were put together with what was essentially the scraps of the ancient sample used to create Mewtwo. That wasn't enough for Nova's grand scheme, but how much human DNA was intentionally mingled into those? A human clone was made alongside Mewtwo after all.
Ash is broken to say the least. Inside and out, he's exhausted, angry, afraid, and something else indescribable. He may not be the Ash we know anymore. But Ash is still Ash, somewhere in there. Or is he? Is he just a shell moving along to a puppet master's strings, or dragging himself along of his own will?
Giratina has a lot of bad history with Arceus to say the least. He won't stop hating Arceus just because he himself messed up. However, he recognized that it was him and not Arceus that messed up this time, which is more than Arceus can say for most of his existence.
Try forgiving a guy who wrongfully made you fall in a twisted dark void alone for thousands of years while alienating you from your family. It's not easy.
I hope you enjoy the final battle.
Hydra- Lee has always been one slippery S.O.B. It's honestly insane to think they were finally able to capture him though it took pretty much everything Lugia had. You can really see over the course of many chapters how much of an impact Lee had on all the Nova Corporation soldiers and commanders. Now they're taking orders from Nova himself, a man in which barely anyone knew existed.
It's so sad seeing Mew in the condition she is in. Once one of the strongest beings in existence, now barely clinging to life in a cocoon made of vines. It's hard to believe it was humans that caused her to be in that position. Hopefully she can pull through, I really liked her. But as we know, nobody is safe :(
Thanks for the review SilverWolf, I always enjoy hearing your theories and predictions. My favorite part is when you get to see what actually happens!
The Creator- Next chapter, death and panic will only increase across the world. The cloud of death expands as its edges coalesce toward New Goldenrod City. Other areas are swallowed beforehand. What will happen when it reaches the city?
There is a glimmer of hope. Someone close to Ash. But what will Ash find at Star Tower? What happened to the trainers and their Pokemon locked inside? Are Ash's friends safe?
Hydra- Both sides are down to the wire and will use anything they can get to push things in their favor. Hopefully you guys enjoyed this chapter and I hope you guys are all having a great summer break! Prepare to have some heartstrings pulled, this is gonna be an emotional rollercoaster.