What's this? An actually short chapter?! Well, it's an important chapter nonetheless. As the Ancienverse rocks from the newest revelation, please take in Chapter 22!

Chapter 22

A Shockwave

Juliana didn't know who or what a Volo was. The name rang no memories or cause for concern. From her briefest glances around, just about none of the others did, either. Ash and Serena were looking at Gloria with pure confusion, and the others weren't much better. Ceruledge even had his head cocked to the side. Behind her, Penny was just grunting.

"I'm sorry-"

"No, you're not." Those were James and Meowth, cutting off Jessie, who steamrolled forward to say the exact thing on all of their minds.

"Who the heck is a Rolex?"

"Volo, Jessie."

"Whatever. Who is he? Why should we care?" Jessie stomped her foot, the sound echoing in the silence that this newfound revelation had created. "And why does he look like little miss indecisive Champion over here?!"

There was the question they had all been asking. The only point of detail that mattered. Juliana looked back to the boy that was once their bully. Only, with his true face revealed, along with the scar, he didn't look like a boy anymore. There was no more hint of a petty student who wanted to be a nuisance to others. Des had been replaced with a man that wore cold, pitiless eyes that cared about nothing but whatever they had seen over a long time.

"Cynthia…?" Ash asked, his voice shaking. "What's going on?"

"Volo…" The words hadn't spilled from Cynthia's mouth. Nor anyone else on their side. They didn't come from Penny, who managed to stand tall, nor from Nemona, who skidded into their group out of breath and just as shocked. Not even from Team Star, whose forces appeared to be recovering. Rather, the name came from the man at the center of discussion itself, as if trying it out upon his lips, smacking them. "Volo… It's been so long since I heard that name."

"And yet, you are Volo, are you not?" This time, Cynthia did answer. She stepped forward, radiating all the energy expected of a Champion. Juliana found herself swallowing and backstepping until she and her fellow students were clustered together.

"Nemona, are the students-?"

"We're fine," Nemona said. She tightened her armbrace, fiddling with it. "It's just us."

"Then you can…go all out…" Penny's grunt was matched by her tight grip of Juliana's shoulder. Nemona shook her head, and Juliana sensed the worry; the same thing she felt, as if completely out of her depth. That drew a chuckle to Penny's lips, the girl clearly feeling the same. "What the hell have we done?"

"And you look just like Cogita. Though I doubt the old crone is kicking it anymore."

"Cogita? You know my ancestor?"

"Ancestor?! Ha!" Des tilted his head back, beginning to laugh. It rang across the courtyard, disturbing the only light they had under the stars. Those, too, started to fade, as if giving way to dawn. As they did, Des transformed before Juliana's very eyes. Perhaps it was because of the new moniker, or maybe it was the weight of years catching up to him, but the hollow laugh accentuated the emptiness she had seen in the Phantom's eyes. When he stopped, his head snapping back down, Des was gone, replaced by this "Volo". He grunted. "Enough of this foolishness."

One didn't need to be a Champion level trainer to know the sense of danger wildly increased. Juliana started to shake, and she reached back, grabbing Penny.

"Penny, get them out of here. Eri, Orti, everyone."

"How do you expect me to do that?" Penny hissed. She still carried the vitriol of their fight, and Juliana couldn't blame her. "Besides, what are you going to do? Keep running?"

"Hey, sometimes running is the best thing to do. Live to fight another day," James said, proudly thumping his chest.

"Right now, I agree," Serena chimed in. "Director, keep them as far away as possible!"

Whatever Clavell said in response was barely heard in Juliana's blood. Her heart was beating faster than she thought possible, trying to give a nod to Ceruledge as he brandished his blades. Quaxwell attempted to stand as well, but his knees gave out, causing him to collapse atop Eevee. The pressure was building, and Juliana was afraid to see it release.

"You're a hacker, Cass," Juliana managed to say, though she found it a sheer struggle to breathe. Across the shrinking chasm, Volo took a step. His followers flanked him, exuding their own dark energy that felt like a wave spilling over to crush them. "Hack the Starmobiles."

"They're part Pokémon, Juli."

"Then find some solution!"

"Juliana," Serena said. There was something finite about it, a command to leave this to the adults. She ground her foot in the dirt, all Champions and Queens standing in a row, as if each opposed a member of Volo's troupe. "Run."

"Rend." Kingambit raised its bladed head, and from there, a great red glow emerged. Combined in the crystal dust, an ominous glow was cast around the area. Juliana backed up, taking Penny with her while Nemona made to stand in front of her. Floragato and Pawmot were out, the pair shivering with the foe that was before them. Then Kingambit slashed his blade down.

"Iron Tail!"

"Pika!" Pikachu was the first to move, blitzing faster than light to snap his tail into the blade. Soon as it was blocked, even for a millisecond, Charizard flew in, belching fire.

"Fire Blast, cyclone!" Braixen spun and plunged her wand down. Fire split off from it in lines, snaking through the cracks until they joined together where Kingambit was. Pikachu broke off, skidding back as the fire erupted in a twisting cyclone, one aided by the distorted soundwaves of Toxtricity.

"Thunderbolt!" Ash roared. He kicked off into a run, right for Volo. The man scoffed and raised his hand to snap.

"Floa!" Heads turned at the sound, a sudden gust of glittered wind tearing at them. Penny was the first to see it, her eyes widening as her glasses nearly slipped from her face. Juliana watched only as long as Ash backpedaled before she followed the gaze.

"Hey, stop that! The target's the Phantom not the-oof!"

"Orti!" With just another gesture, Volo had sent the remaining crowd into chaos. From near the cracks where Team Star was gathered, they began to turn on each other. A fist from a Hariyama hammered a Flabebe. A burst of pearlescent energy fired from somewhere within Ruchbah Squad struck a Flamigo. Eri ran right for Ortega's side, Annihilape following to knock an Aura Sphere out of the way.

"They're…they're turning on each other!" Penny yelled, filled with agony. Juliana grabbed her.

"Get. Them. Out."

"Go right ahead," Volo said. He began to walk forward, and where he walked, the earth trembled. Fidel reached out for him.

"Your Eminence, the path-"

"Meowth's out of the bag, Fidel! You can drop the 'Eminence'," Volo said. Meowth appeared to bristle, sharpening his claws, but Volo had no mind for him, or indeed any of them. His eyes were locked on one thing, and that thing was made plain. "As for your precious little Team Star, they've been useful fools, up to now. And you as well, Miss Cassiopeia."

"What?"

"What? Did you think I hadn't figured it out? Did you think I didn't know?" Volo had stepped past Kingambit, who with a slash of his arms, parted the flame. He was distracted, however, by Garchomp sailing down and striking him with an attack powerful enough he seemed to be embedded in the ground. "I planned this, or weren't you listening to Troublemaker Juliana?"

"You…you were…?" Penny was close to hyperventilating. Juliana was about to join her.

"Volo!" Ash ran at the man, his fist soaring through the air. It would have connected, too, had it not been for the thorny vine that whipped out and caught his wrist. Ash slumped, as if all energy was draining from his body. Serena slid underneath him, flipping upwards and dashing. She kicked, and Volo dodged to the side, throwing out his own kick that nailed her in the stomach and sent her sliding to the edge of the chasm. Another pulse was felt, along with another flash of red.

Students could be heard crying out, drawing Jessie and company away, their fear bubbling to disastrous results. Clavell was there, but all gasped when a flying shape of one of the impossible Pokémon suddenly swooped over the city. Even Volo flinched from the shadow, allowing Gloria to get close.

"Well, your plan ends here! Overdrive!"

"Night Slash." Volo's annoyed confidence was matched only by Kingambit drawing back, his arms glowing a bright purple. Gloria socked Volo in the stomach, but he barely budged. His knife flashed out, cutting against her abdomen and causing her to back up. Toxtricity roared, sending his electrified wave out to Volo. At the same moment, Kingambit fired, the powered slash cutting right through the soundwave, all the way to one of the castle turrets, shearing it.

"Damn…it…" Gloria held her wound, leaving her open. Juliana tried to open her mouth, telling her to dodge, but she couldn't find the words for it. Volo kneed her in the stomach, sending her rolling right over to Serena. More vines snapped out, catching them and stringing them up. It bound them tighter the more they tried to struggle.

"You know, I spent five long years building this. It was simple, I thought. No way to mess it up, the way I had in the past," Volo said. He walked past the trio of captive combatants. Once he was past, Fidel jerked his head and Brambleghast threw them, right into Cynthia. The vines whipped further, striking the Pokémon into each other. They bounced back, but not before Volo got within feet of them.

Penny's breath could be heard racing, a small whimper present, as if hoping Team Star would rescue her and pull her out of Volo's encroaching darkness. They were too occupied, though, drowning under the weight of betrayal. Nemona stepped up.

"No further." Nemona was shaking, but her eyes were shrunken. There was no thrill of battle there. Just necessity. "No more."

"Hm," Volo remarked. He watched her and her Pokémon, a sneer starting to form on his face. "And then there's this. The reason everything seems to go wrong. No matter the manipulations I put in place, no matter how many people I mislead, no matter how much I put the smokescreen on… every single time, there's always someone a little too perceptive. Maybe I screwed up somewhere, or maybe you had her help. But I'm weary of you people getting in my way time and time again.

"Now, Nemona, I will not ask a second time. Move. My quarrel and need are not with you."

"And what is your quarrel, hm? Because if you want Juli, Penny or Arven, you go through me," Nemona said. She squared up for a fight, and her Pokémon joined her as Kingambit moved closer. Another tremor rolled, and the hole downward grew smaller. "I… I won't let you hurt them."

"And why's that? Is it you just want another battle? Or do you feel guilty for the role you've played? How about you, Juliana? Penny? Your little drama brought us here, after all!" Juliana's hands started to slide, their clamminess matched only by the sudden sweat dripping off them. His words raised her heartbeat, hammering at her with something she didn't want to hear. "Cassiopeia, the girl so lonely she hung on to everything she deems precious, and when it was threatened, she moved. You were a convenient smokescreen. So convenient, even when you were told it was all a lie, you believed in it.

"And Juliana, the girl who ran and ran. I thought for a moment you'd be useful to follow for research. But you were so in your own head. Now, I'm done waiting."

"And so are we! Ataca!"

Nemona's command was not just for her Pokémon, but for those of Ash and the others that had broken free. With electricity and fire, they all aimed for Volo and Kingambit. The former looked at it all with annoyance, but offered a sigh. There was even a chuckle on his lips, as if he respected how they were coming at him.

Every attack hit home, exploding around Kingambit and catching his trainer in its wake. There was more curdling smoke, but Juliana barely registered it. She couldn't. And a piece of her died when Volo walked out and grabbed hold of Nemona by the throat.

"A fun ploy, but just that. Or did you think I, who have lived through hell and the whims of the gods, would so easily be deterred? I told you to move!" His tossing of Nemona was another symbol to Kingambit. This time, instead of a crimson glow, it was a bright white, comprised of steel. All of it coalesced on his figure, draining from the attacks done to it. Kingambit looked up, and Juliana fell backwards at its gaze: unyielding and showing nothing but obedience.

It was empty.

"KINGAAAAH!"

The metal orb ripped apart. Like an unholy ray of destruction, it split into numerous streaks. They flew out, striking haphazardly and without remorse. Some impacted the side of the school, while others nearly made it all the way to the students, only to be blocked by Dendra's Medicham. A few made their way to Team Star, blowing apart Ortega's Starmobile and flinging him into Eri's. The Phantom's own followers were caught in the blast, but none of them complained.

Worse were the Pokémon right next to them. Charizard whipped around, collecting Pikachu, Floragato and Pawmot, but that wasn't enough. The Metal Burst collided with him, piercing him and exploding with a full fury that knocked him to the ground. The same happened with Braixen, Toxtricity and Garchomp, each of their trainers calling out for them. The last of the strikes streaked downward in Juliana's vision, landing right in front of her and blowing apart grass and concrete. She, Penny and Arven flew back from the force, rolling across the broken grass.

Move… Juli, move, she began thinking in her head, but her limbs wouldn't listen. The only thing she was able to move was her head, watching as Kingambit slumped, exhausted. Volo kept walking, though, all obstacles gone. His knife flashed out, his eyes trained on Arven.

"Now, no more distractions," he said, his lips turning up into a crazed smirk. "Your parents set up quite the defense, Arven. But imagine my surprise at knowing they coded it to your DNA; they must have loved you so, carrying your photo so close to their hearts. I'll need that DNA."

"Croca!" Juliana pushed at the sound of Arven's faithful crocodile. Crocalor shuffled into the picture, heaving and trying to cough out a flame.

"Looks like they weren't the only ones." Volo shifted his knife around, shaking his head. "You're all so annoyingly persistent. What do you think you can even do? I've spent too long planning this. And the only option left to you is to run."

Run away. Running. Those words echoed, pushing inside her like an agonizing serum. Juliana groaned, lifting her body up with all strength. Penny was watching her, halfway to unconsciousness, but she kept her eyes open to watch Juliana rise. Engage, you coward. He's your friend! Stop running!

"DES!" Volo turned, surprised by the alternate name being shouted. It made him wide open, enough that Juliana jumped and punched him across the face. She slid forward with her strike, her body moving to stand between Volo and Arven. Her breathing came in gasps. "You won't. I won't…won't let you!"

Volo touched to the bruise on his face, surprised, but when his eyes turned back on Juliana, they were filled with malice. "And what do you think you can do?"

"I can stand right here." Juliana stomped her foot down, sucking in what little air she could. Her entire body trembled, doubly so when the earth quaked and Kingambit recovered enough energy to move forward, his bladed arms gleaming in the growing dawn. "Even if you knock me down, I won't stop standing."

"You?! The girl who ran away every time I needled you. The girl who, correct me if I'm wrong, ran away from Team Star? All you know how to do is run, girl."

That statement alone was enough to make her body slacken. He was right. She did only know how to run. Run far away so that she wouldn't have to see their backs retreating, never to return.

"Juli. You can run." Arven's voice, accepting of whatever was to pass, cut into her. "It'll be fine. I'll be fine. But you need to-"

"NO!" Juliana shouted. She picked herself up, every muscle tightening as she stared down Volo. All their memories filled her up, strengthening her. Their clashes with the Titans. The Gym battles she fought for both of them. That night he spent braiding her hair while they and Penny talked research. "I won't run! Not from this! Not when I've found something precious!"

"You have no Pokémon to defend you, and no amount of want will save you," Volo said, his pace picking up, done entertaining her. "I have my treasure, too, and this time I will not be denied!"

"KORAI!" This one really did break Volo from his mission, turning just in time for Koraidon to tackle him with all the force he had. Volo was punted back, smacking across the grass to the cries of his followers. The vines of Fidel's Brambleghast retreated, depositing its victims on the ground that was sealing.

"You little shit!" Volo shouted, spit flying as he sprang. "Kingambit, cut them all down! Just leave the son!"

"Koraidon!" Juliana shouted. The giant lizard looked back at her, his eyes wavering with fear, but they each drew strength from one another. Coiling his body, Koraidon leapt at Kingambit, whose violet-bladed hands slashed out. Koraidon fell and propelled his body the rest of the way to ram Kingambit. His mouth opened wide, latching around one of the bladed arms.

"KORRRRA!" With tremendous strength that cracked at bones, collecting crystal all around him, Koraidon heaved Kingambit into the air and sent him flying across the courtyard.

"King!" The bladed Pokémon's arms snapped out, driving into the ground and creating enough friction to stop his momentum. Its eyes flashed, zeroing in on Koraidon. The lizard pawed at the ground, and then both shot off for each other. They collided, their clash causing the crystal dust to scatter. The ground shook, and Juliana watched as every crack began to seal up, reaching to the hole from which the cultists had emerged.

"Volo!" Fidel could be heard shouting. "We're out of-"

"I know!" Volo shouted. He stood, brushing himself off and running his hand through his long hair, flowing just as well as Cynthia's. It was a disturbing reminder, one that made Juliana step back a fraction. She didn't know where to put her energies or attentions: to the man snarling at her or the dueling Pokémon that threatened doom across all.

A hideous shriek echoed, a great creature resembling a Salamence passing over all. It made Koraidon flinch.

"Gamba!" The momentary flash of fear was all Kingambit needed. Its bladed arms came together, slashing upwards and catching Koraidon on the swing. Koraidon gagged. Juliana's scream got caught in her throat. Then he was tossed away, thrown on the trash heap like all the others who had stood up.

"Juli!" The shout was close, coming from Penny, and it reminded her that the battle between the Pokémon was not the only one. She turned her head, practically seeing the whites of Volo's eyes and the silver glint of the knife. Her eyes closed, ready for the hit, while her arms pushed Arven behind her. No matter what, it was her turn to protect him and not run away.

"I'm sorry, Arven."

"Grrrah!" The sound of the knife slicing air was heard for the briefest of seconds.

Then, it sounded as if it hit flesh. Juliana's eyes snapped open.

"Pe-Penny…?" Juliana's throat dried up, her breathing shallow. Penny was right in front of her, Volo's knife stuck straight into her shoulder. He grimaced, and followed through on his slash, ripping straight across the girl's chest before kicking her into Juliana. It sent all three of them tumbling. "Penny! Penny, why would you-?"

"Cause…you didn't…run…" Penny gasped. Her breathing was hardly held together, and everything around them had grown silent. No matter the screams, the shrieks and all other manner of issues, all there was was her and Penny. "Juli, you didn't run."

"I…I won't! I can't run anymore, but you didn't have to-"

"Oh, stop blubbering!" Volo shouted. "You people. Someone gets hurt and you start crying. What's next? Praying to the gods?"

"You-" Juliana glared up at him. He glared right back.

The air flashed red again, and something echoed from within the hole that stretched to Area Zero. "DEFENSIVE PROTOCOLS ACTIVATED."

"Shit." Volo's lips twitched, and he held his knife out, pointing at Arven. "Best thank your parents. You win this day. Fidel, fall back to the other plan!"

"Sir, you mean to-"

"The Day of Reckoning is not for some time," Volo said. He spun around, sheathing his knife and recalling Kingambit. His steps became purposeful, his snap echoing across the courtyard. It was a summons, with many cultists within Team Star and without pulling away to perform an escort that none of the stirring Pokémon might get close. "Still, why must heroes always delay the inevitable?"

Juliana pulled herself up, clasping tight to Penny, whose wound bled heavily. The cracks created all began to seal, some of them snapping on the Starmobiles. She turned to look at Team Star, their losses heavy, and as she did, she caught sight of Eri, clutching Ortega while Atticus loaded everyone on the sole remaining vehicle. Eri looked up, glaring at her. She looked ready to issue orders to attack Volo, but all the Pokémon with them were spent.

Volo reached the edge of the hole, already shrunk down to the size of a man. He turned, looking at all the faces of people and Pokémon staring up at him.

"Well, if it's a fight you want, I've no problem with that. Come and find me, heroes. Come and find me in Area Zero, before I destroy the world."

Volo offered one last smirk to a struggling group of heroes. Then he stepped back, his body falling into the depths as the last of it flashed one more time and sealed itself up.

The second it did, a loud, resonating crack sounded out. Another wave of crystal pulsed from where it hit, bowling them all over, including several cultists that hadn't expected it. Windows cracked and shattered in a ringing cacophony. Juliana tumbled back, still clutching Penny, only for Arven to catch them, wearing a look that could kill. His fingers dug into her shoulder, and he uttered the name on everybody's lips.

"Volo…"

Screams followed. Students were blown over, some tumbling down the stairs only for Gourgeist and Polteageist to catch them. Many no doubt screamed from the Starmobile that was blasted back, rolling on the Academy grounds right for them. That same blast ripped Eri's Starmobile from the ground, sending them flying upwards. Atticus took the wheel, jerking it to the side as another creature that appeared like a Volcarona flew at them. They dodged it, navigating to the higher skies and vanishing.

Guess they're the ones running this time, Juliana thought, her heart feeling like it was breaking. Smoke trailed in the sky, and the worst entered her mind. I couldn't save them, either. Not Penny, not them, not Arven… All because I kept running.

Juliana gripped the grass, her eyes threatening tears but refusing to cry them. Her body wouldn't let her. So, she looked instead to the cult that remained. To where Fidel stood, tapping at the once-upon-a-time chasm with his foot. He scanned over all of them.

"And now it's up to the Phantom." Fidel watched everyone getting up, the Pokémon beginning to spark or gather energy. "Two hundred years, and finally, it bears fruit. Let us regroup.

"Hasta luego, heroes."

Brambleghast retracted, but its thorny vines soon began to whip and whirl. A storm of shadowy leaves covered all the cultists, their figures and eyes the only visible thing in the swirl. Fidel's shined brightest, but those of the liberated prisoners sent equal chills down everyone's spines. It was enough that Ash, Gloria and Serena each managed to stand, recovering their vitality.

"Matori!" Serena shouted, her hand reaching out. Ash and Gloria were in front of her, each leaping for the storm.

There was a crack on the air and the leaves fell. They hit the pavement and vanished in the sun that crested over the mountainous Area Zero. So, too, had the members of Phantom Zero vanished, gone like the wind.

Serena's hand dropped, while Ash and Gloria skidded to a stop. They kicked at the ground.

"They're gone," Gloria snarled.

Juliana shook, gathering Penny as she surveyed everyone in the area that had paid witness to the revelatory truth. Each was recovering, from Nemona punching the ground, to Koraidon, who didn't dare move. He could only whimper, curled up on the grass. The adults were swifter to move, but no one could stop looking at the former hole in the ground, where the man that had twisted their lives had vanished.

A cry was heard above, multiple cries that sounded alien, resounding across the land. Unfamiliar shapes dotted the morning sky, each clinging to the thin layer of crystal dust that remained. Juliana just wanted to shut her eyes against it all, retreat back into her shell.

They had failed. She had failed.

How can I look for answers, when I'm losing precious things along the way? How can I find them if I'm not strong enough to stand in the battles that matter?

Juliana's body went limp, falling back against Arven and feeling defeated.

The sun, one of a horrific pallor, finished rising on a changed Paldea.

Author's Note: Last chapter changed the Ancienverse. This one reinforces that change. Volo is a threat. He is someone that even our strongest heroes struggle to contend with. His cunning, his manipulations, and his strength are all incomparable, to an extent. And what's worse is that he has a Pokémon like Kingambit, who has no real thought, just strength. Perfect for a man like Volo.

Yet none of this is to diminish Juliana's character moment this chapter. She finally stopped running away. If the first book was her accepting people around her, this book is her finally not running away. She still has a bit to go, but I didn't want her to end at her lowest the way I usually do. I think Paldea is low enough.

And with that said, next chapter is the final chapter of this book. You won't want to miss it! Until then, please review or comment and, of course, Dare to Be Silly.