Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 150: Stone Gaze Part 4, a pokémon fanfic

Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 150: Stone Gaze – Part 4

Outside of Lost Labyrinth some distance away, there was a campsite. A tent house was set up and a fire had been made outside.

"I wonder what's taking them so long." Banette, who had been taking care of the Pokemon Egg that Rose normally had, looked into the night sky.

"Rrr…" Ursaring grunted in response to Banette's question. Being the only one present that Banette was able to talk to, the normally silent Ursaring conversed with Banette.

"I know they went to look for Yumi, but that was few hours ago." Banette couldn't help starting to worry. "It's not like Rose or Chapel take this long on a task without telling anyone."

Cries of Kricketot echoed through the night.

Ursaring gave Banette a questioning look. His facial expression was asking if Banette wanted to look for the girls.

"We can't." Banette looked to the ground. "Chapel asked us to look after Rose's brother, and we promised we wouldn't let her down."

"Rrr."

"…I…I think we should have more faith in Rose, and in Chapel." Banette remarked. "They have plenty of Pokemon to protect them. If they don't get back by morning, we'll go look for them."

Ursaring nodded in response.

Location: Lost Labyrinth

Within the Lost Labyrinth's dark depths, there was a chamber deeper than all others.

"La."

Cursola, glowing the aura of Braixen and Umbreon's life forces, watched as the colony of countless Corsola began making their way into the chamber.

"La."

The Corsola call this place home, and it was going to remain that way until someone came to push them out…

….

"Chou."

Following Dragalge's defeat, the colony of Chinchou who had previous been intimidated into living in the underwater chamber were now free to go where they pleased.

"Chou."

They swam in the direction that had been guarded by Dragalge. It was a cave which would've been pitch black if Chinchou weren't lighting the way.

"How long do you think this cave goes?" Yumi had Gligar perched on her shoulder as she and the gang walked the path right next to the underground stream.

"Who knows?" Chapel answered. "This cave has more twists and turns than I anticipated. We were correct in fighting Dragalge for the Chinchou's right to pass. Who knows how lost we would be had we tried walking this path without their light?"

Dragalge was a formidable foe but getting past him wasn't even half the battle. The gang had already put their lives on the line ones, and they knew it was going to happen again soon. Cursola's power to turn people and Pokemon into stone…this had Yumi and Gligar nervous.

"Bulba. Saur."

"Chicori."

Released from his Pokeball, Bulbasaur was engaging Chikorita in their own conversation. Yumi would've wondered what they were talking about if the present situation wasn't as dire as it was.

"Gli…" Gligar was holding the mysterious fang item given by Yumi earlier.

"Have you figured out anything to use that fang for?" Yumi asked.

Gligar was initially elated to receive an item of gratitude of Yumi. However, the rose-tinted lens quickly wore off, and Gligar had trouble finding an actual use for the thing. He gave Yumi a humble smile which could only be interpreted as 'I'm still looking.'

"Just wait until you see the outside world," Yumi said, "You'll get to travel everywhere with us. Beautiful trees and mountains…open skies where you can freely fly to your heart's content…You'll love it."

After Servine refused to obey her, Yumi was determined to get on the right footing with Gligar early. The battles with Cursola and Dragalge were the best starting points Yumi could've asked for, but now Yumi wanted to establish a connection with Gligar on a personal level. Gligar wasn't Yumi's first Pokemon like Umbreon, nor was he Yumi's most powerful Pokemon like a Braixen who houses the power of the 1,000 Kitsune. But Gligar proved to be the most clutch member of Yumi's team, coming through when it seemed all odds were stacked against him.

"After we save Braixen and Umbreon, I'll introduce you to everyone. How does that sound?"

Gligar didn't know what to say. He thought he had already met all Yumi's friends. Who knew she had so many people in her life?

"Yumi. Rose." Chapel called, taking Yumi's attention from Gligar.

"What is it?" Rose asked.

"Look ahead…"

Everyone looked to what Chapel was talking about.

"La."

They had caught up to the colony of Corsola who'd led them there in the first place.

"Those Corsola…" Rose paused, "They look different from any Corsola I have seen."

Chapel started walking again. "Looks like Yumi was right. But who knew a different variety of Corsola existed?

This was the first time Chapel and Rose had laid eyes on the ghostly Corsola.

"La."

As the group continued deeper into the cave, they eventually reached a fork in the road. The left path descended, while the right path ascended.

"Chou."

The school of Chinchou were paid no mind by the Corsola. With the underground lake running along the right side the Chinchou naturally swam upstream.

Yumi and the group were about to follow the Chinchou before the Corsola started floating through the descending path on the left. Yumi was on guard for when the last of the Chinchou left them behind, making the cavern pitch black. However…

"…" Hm?

Without the light of Chinchou illuminating the entire cavern, a faint light became visible on the descending path. It looked to be a light at the end of this tunnel.

Chapel continued walking, "Cursola should be up ahead."

"Are you ready, Gligar?" Yumi asked.

Gligar was as ready as any Pokemon on hand. Being the only Pokemon present to have previously seen Cursola's power, Gligar should've been at an advantage. However…Cursola had a unique power. Even knowing what it was capable of, Gligar had no way to counteract its pertrification. Nevertheless, he believed that a conclusion would be reached, and that he would ultimately emerge victorious.

"So do you have any idea how to defeat Cursola?" Chapel looked to Yumi.

"Me?" She was confused, "Usually you're the one who comes up with the plan of action."

"Maybe, but I have yet to see Cursola's power for myself." Chapel answered.

Meanwhile, in the Lost Labyrinth's final chamber…

"La…" Cursola could hear incoming footsteps and voices.

"La."

Cursola paid no mind to the colony of Corsola entering the chamber. All that was on Cursola's mind was whomever was approaching. Perhaps it was the girl and her Gligar…

"Hmm…"

Cursola thought back to its previous battle with the girl. The battle didn't have to happen. Before evolving, Cursola was just minding its own business. Cursola didn't take kindly to humans disturbing it. However…the girl managed to defeat it. Sand Tomb had sunken Cursola to the deepest depths of Lost Labyrinth with the intention of never crossing paths again. But here she was, incoming.

"Cursola!"

Yumi had entered the chamber and called Cursola out.

"Cursol."

Cursola presumed the girl was here to save the lives of the Braixen and Umbreon it battled earlier. The girl was bold, Cursola thought. Bold, but also foolhearted.

"You have the life forces of my Pokemon, and I want them back!" Yumi wasn't her smiling bubbly self. Up until now she'd always found reason for positivity in any situation. But this was different. Lives were on the line.

"La." Cursola wasn't going to let Yumi tell it what to do. To Cursola, Yumi was just another lowly human who thought they could mess with the world around them without consequence. "La." Cursola made it a point to extend its ectoplasmic branches.

Gligar flinched, fearing Cursola's petrification.

Yumi didn't blink.

Cursola's branches weren't employed with the intention of immediate harm. At least, not yet. "La." Rather, Cursola used the branches to point at various spots within the cavern.

"…"

"Chi…"

When the eyes of Chikorita and Bulbasaur followed the various spots Cursola's branches were pointing to, they began trembling.

"What…is this?" Rose was shaken.

At first chance, one would've guessed that this was just another rocky chamber, not unlike the rest of the labyrinth. But upon closer inspection, the group noticed that these rocks had particular shapes to them. Familiar shapes.

Chapel knew…there looked to be several broken rocks that were the shape…of humans and Pokemon. This included an Empoleon. "These rocks…" Chapel held the video camera close to her, "These are the remains of the group who got lost in this labyrinth."

A drop of sweat trickled down Gligar's face.

"Cursola killed them?" Yumi's voice wavered in fear.

Chapel took out a Pokeball. "We're going to need to retrieve Umbreon and Braixen's life forces before Cursola can take ours." Chapel threw her Pokeball in the air.

"On." Released from Chapel's Pokeball was her shiny Glaceon.

Understandably, Chapel was wary of sending out a Pokemon who primarily focused on close range combat. Glaceon was one of a few options Chapel had to choose from.

"La!" Cursola wasn't going to give its enemy the luxury of biding their time like the last fight. Cursola promptly launched ectoplasmic branches at both Glaceon and Gligar.

"Gar!" Gligar quickly took to the air but was careful to avoid the Corsola colony in the enclosed space.

"Glace." Glaceon remained calm. She started glowing a light blue aura.

"What is Glaceon doing? She's gonna get hit." Obscure fact: Yumi had yet to witness Glaceon in battle. She was rightfully confused.

"On." In the face of the incoming branch, Glaceon smiled. As she smiled, a cool breeze started coming from behind.

"Good girl." Chapel knew what was up and praised Glaceon for taking initiative.

The cool breeze turned into cold blustering wind. This was enough to manipulate the path of Cursola's ectoplasmic branch.

"La?" This had Cursola astonished. How could such a wind deflect its attack? "La!" That wasn't going to happen again, as Cursola launched several more branches at Glaceon.

Glaceon's smile remained plastered onto her face. As the blustering winds continued, it started snowing heavily.

Yumi, Chapel, and Rose respectively put their arms around themselves to keep warm in the face of the falling temperature.

This time, Cursola's branches weren't deflected. Rather, the cold wind caused for them to slow…and eventually freeze over.

"Wow…" Rose was amazed by what was happening.

Cursola's eyes grew wide. Its branches were freezing, and the ice was quickly approaching. "La!" Cursola quickly launched another branch. "…" But it did nothing. Glaceon's Blizzard froze this branch over too.

"Chicori…"

"Bulba…"

Everyone watched as all Cursola's branches were frozen, as well as Cursola itself.

"…"

The Corsola colony hovering near the ceiling was frozen too.

The frozen statue of Cursola and its many branches halted in motion made for a mesmerizing site. Even when Glaceon finished Blizzard, it remained snowing in the chamber.

"Now what?" Rose questioned.

"Yumi!" Chapel called, "Gligar can end this now! Cursola is wide open!"

Yumi nodded. "Gligar!"

Gligar, still in the air, flew at the frozen Cursola with its arms cloaked in a white aura. "Gar!"

"Gligar!" Use Guillotine!" Yumi called.

Yumi and Chapel believed that even should Gligar make contact with Cursola, Guillotine would be able to defeat it, rendering Cursola unable to take Gligar's life force.

"Gar!" This was the finishing move!

Gligar struck the ice surrounding Cursola's central nucleus. Gligar was confident that this would save Braixen and Umbreon.

"…" From inside the ice, Cursola watched and waited.

"Gar! Gar! Gar! Gar!" Gligar used Guillotine's force to crater through the ice until it eventually shattered. "Gar!" Gligar flew straight up. He readied a full force Guillotine capable of tearing through Cursola's ectoplasmic body as he dove down like a missile.

Cursola's eyes glinted.

…

Guillotine didn't make contact. In fact, Gligar phased right through Cursola completely.

Gligar's eyes widened as he appeared straight on the other side of Cursola. Yumi, Chapel, Rose, Chikorita, Bulbasaur, and Glaceon all stood agape.

"…What happened?"

Everyone was wondering what went wrong. How did Guillotine fail? Why? Guillotine is a move known for its questionable accuracy, but Gligar was right on the money.

"…" Yumi gritted her teeth. "No…" She then went ghost white. "Chapel…Rose…"

Rose and Chapel both gave Yumi questioning looks.

"I know why Guillotine failed…" It was here that Yumi remembered one crucial detail in this situation. Chapel…despite telling Yumi to call for Guillotine, she had never known of any Pokemon named Cursola before today. She couldn't have known the one detail…that Yumi failed to mention. "Cursola…is a Ghost Type."

Chapel furrowed her eyebrows.

Yumi facepalmed herself, "How could I be so stupid?! I read the Pokedex Entry for Cursola earlier and told you about Cursola's power. But I forgot to mention its type, and it slipped my mind this entire time."

"So it's impossible to finish Cursola with Guillotine…" Chapel normally would've scolded Yumi. Yumi always had a bit of a ditzy side to her, but it was never a flaw that got anyone into trouble. But at times like these, where there were lives on the line, Chapel couldn't afford to have Yumi dwell on this one mistake.

"What should we do?" Rose furrowed her eyebrows. "How do we defeat Cursola?"

"Gli…" Gligar picked himself off the snowy ground and looked at the frozen Cursola in front of him.

"On." Glaceon couldn't help glancing back at the girls in their state of shock at the moment.

They were fighting for Braixen and Umbreon, but in doing so, they were putting their own lives on the line.

"La!" But in the girls' state of shock, Cursola had managed to free itself from the ice.

This got the attention of everyone.

"LAAAA!" The frozen shards of ice previously surrounding Cursola fell to the ground. "LAAA!" Cursola was free, and so was it ectoplasmic branches that were previously closing in on Glaceon

"Gla!" Glaceon had no time to react.

"GLACEON!" It was at this time that Chapel began to lose her composure.

Cursola's branches all struck.

"On…"

"Glaceon?" Chapel called.

As Cursola recalled its branches…Glaceon slowly began turning into stone.

"Glaceon!" Chapel ran to Glaceon, hoping she could do something before Glaceon was completely petrified.

"On…"

But it was no use. Glaceon looked at Chapel with eyes saying 'I'm sorry'. Glaceon was petrified right in front of Chapel's eyes.

"No…" Chapel fell to her knees. "No…No…No! NO! NONONO!"

Glaceon's gone too…Yumi wished she could apologize. Had Chapel known about Cursola's Ghost typing before this, Glaceon might've been spared

"La!" Cursola wasn't done, as it launched another branch at Chapel.

The branch collided with the snow, creating a blinding dust cloud. When the dust settled, and the cloud disappeared.

"…"

Cursola's ectoplasmic branch was revealed to have been deflected. Chapel's eyes had momentarily turned a pale blue color as the power of Missingno took over.

"La…" Cursola stared at Chapel intently. What kind of power was this?

"Chapel…" Yumi stared at Chapel. Even in the face of losing her Pokemon, she still gained the composure to ward off Cursola's power. It was Chapel who didn't think twice about helping Yumi retrieve Braixen and Umbreon's life forces in the first place. "This whole episode with Cursola and Dragalge could've been avoided had I not been careless. I must make things right and defeat Cursola right here…Gligar!"

At Yumi's call, Gligar jumped into the sky.

"Gligar, use Sand Tomb!"

With Gligar's Guillotine unable to be used against Cursola, Yumi had to find another way to victory. Her first thought was to use the move which defeated Cursola last time.

Cursola launched a couple of branches, which Gligar avoided on route to slamming his claws on the immediate ground before Cursola.

"Gligar!" Gligar picked himself up as the ground began turning into a sinking sand pit.

"La! La! Cursola! Ergh…!" If Cursola wasn't already a Ghost type, it would've gone ghostly upon seeing Gligar utilize the very move that defeated before. "La…! Lahh!" Cursola struggled, desperate to not get defeated by Sand Tomb again. Like before, Cursola seemed to sink faster to more it moved.

"Cursola is helpless!" Rose remarked.

"La!" Cursola didn't want to get dragged down under again. "La!" In a panic, Cursola launched several branches in multiple directions.

"Gli?!" Gligar was able to avoid one stray branch.

Cursola's struggle had sand sent throughout the cavern. It had everyone covering their eyes.

"Ngh…" When Yumi opened her eyes, she was once again astonished.

Sand Tomb had been going on for some time, but it eventually subsided.

"Cur…Cur…Cursola…" Cursola's breathing was audible…but it survived Sand Tomb nonetheless.

"Chi…"

"Bulba."

Chikorita was worried, while Bulbasaur gritted his teeth.

Cursola…it stuck every branch into the distant ground beyond Sand Tomb's reach. In doing so, Cursola had grounded itself, preventing Sand Tomb from dragging it down under.

"La." For the first time, Cursola smiled.

Yumi dropped to her knees in despair. "Sand Tomb failed too…"

While Yumi was sulking, Chapel rushed to her side.

"Chicori!"

"Bulba!"

"Yumi…"

Everyone rushed to Yumi's side. She wasn't used to fighting a battle with such high stakes on the line. She couldn't help being stressed.

"Chi…" Chikorita tried to comfort Yumi.

In turn, Yumi petted Chikorita gently.

"…" Watching from a distance, still inside the cave with the underground lake inside, was Servine. He had tailed the group from a distance this entire time. "Vine…" Servine didn't care for his trainer or her Pokemon…but Yumi's stress was starting to scare Chikorita. "Ser…" Despite evidence to the contrary as since evolving, Servine still cared for Chikorita.

"La!" Cursola, having recovered from exhausting its energy stopping Sand Tomb, was ready to launch another attack. "La." It looked straight at Gligar.

Yumi, still on her knees, held Chikorita as she refocused on what Cursola was doing.

Cursola was starting to realize how redundant it was to use its branches on Gligar. The Flying type had avoided every branch thrown at it thus far, only to land a devastating Sand Tomb on both occasions. In its effort to take Gligar's life force, Cursola had prolonged both fights to an unnecessary degree. It was time to try something else.

"La."

Cursola stood calmly…as it started emitting black fire.

"Gli…" Gligar's claw started emitting the same black fire. This was the claw holding the mysterious item Yumi had given to him earlier.

"Ngh…" Cursola, having already exhausted much energy, nearly fell over and fainted from the fire it emitted.

Yumi knew this move. "Curse…Cursola's using Curse!" Yumi rose to her feet and quickly took out Gligar's Pokeball.

Gligar fell out of the sky and straight into the sandy, snowy ground. "Gli! Gligar!" Gligar stuck his claw in the snow and sand respectively, hoping to smother the flame, but it was no use. The pain of the black fire…just wouldn't go away.

"Gligar! Return!" Yumi attempted to recall Gligar.

"LA!" But Cursola knew better than to allow Yumi to recall Gligar. Cursola learned this from the first fight when using Destiny Bond only for Yumi to recall Gligar at the last moment. "La!" Cursola launched a branch and grounded it between Yumi and Gligar.

"No!" Yumi screamed.

Cursola used its branch to intercept the light of the Pokeball which recalled Gligar.

"Gli! Gli! Gligar!" This left Gligar alone to burn, and Cursola just watched.

"Is there not anything we can do?" Rose asked.

Gligar's defeat seemed inevitable now. Cursola was determined not to let Gligar return to his Pokeball. So, what will happen when Gligar faints and he isn't recalled. If Yumi was unable to act, would Gligar burn to death? Would it all end here?

"…"

Gligar was never used by Yumi before today, but he came through when Yumi needed him most. From the first battle with Cursola to the fight with Dragalge. Gligar couldn't have made a better first impression. Yumi talked about how Gligar would be properly introduced to the team after they were saved. She talked about how Gligar would help her for her Pokemon Contests, and how they were going to save the world together. But…were those just empty promises? Promises Yumi knew she couldn't keep because of the fight with Cursola that lied ahead?

"Gar…"

No…Yumi made those promises…because she believed in Gligar. Guillotine and Sand Tomb failed to defeat Cursola, but that shouldn't stop Gligar from trying to find a new way to emerge victorious.

As the black flames of Curse overtook Gligar completely. Gligar calmly closed his eyes. "…" The mysterious fang he held started emitting a white aura.

"Gligar…?"

Gligar's entire being started glowing.

Everyone stood agape.

"Gligar…is evolving?" Yumi was truly bewildered. "But how? I don't know how Gligar is supposed to evolved…"

"It was the fang you gave to Gligar after defeating Dragalge." Rose, being mentally superior to the average human, had studied obscure Pokemon evolutions once upon a time. "It was a Razor Fang."

When Gligar stopped glowing, he was a completely new Pokemon. "Gliscoorrrrr!" With the flames of Curse still surrounding him, Gliscor looked menacing.

"La…" Cursola was speechless.

"Serr…" As was a Servine still in hiding.

"Gligar just evolved into Gliscor," Chapel said.

"…" Gliscor looked at his claw intently before glaring at Cursola menacingly.

"La…" Cursola was unsure of what to make of this. In the first fight with Yumi, Cursola had evolved from Cursola and attained new power to defeat her team. However, this time evolution worked in Yumi's favor. Gligar heard Yumi's pleas and answered by attaining newfound power.

"Scor!" With the flames of Curse still burning, Gliscor jumped in the air and dove at Cursola.

Cursola smiled once more. With Sand Tomb previously failing, Cursola was confident Gliscor had no way of inflicting harm.

But just then…black sparks of energy start emanating from Gliscor's claws. These sparks soon turned into a black aura that enveloped Gliscor's claws completely.

"What's going on?" Yumi asked.

Night Slash

"Huh?" Yumi heard her Pokedex from inside her bag. She took out her Pokedex and read the entire entry of what was just scanned.

Night Slash is a Dark Type Physical Attack move in which its user envelopes its attack points with a dark aura sharp enough to land critical hits easily.

"Night Slash?" Rose questioned.

"Wow! Gliscor learned Night Slash!" Yumi smiled.

"But Night Slash is a Physical move. If he makes contact with Cursola, his life force will be stolen." Chapel countered.

Gliscor could overhear their conversation and narrowed his eyes in response. "Scor!" Having Cursola underestimate Gliscor's ability worked in his favor. It made Cursola an easy target. No matter what it took, Gliscor was determined to save the lives of those on the line!

"La?!"

Gliscor struck Cursola at a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye, or at least, faster than Cursola anticipated.

"Scor…"

Gliscor landed on the other side of Cursola and his body starting to glow green, indicating that his life force was about to be taken.

"…La…La…La…" But Cursola remained still.

"Did Gliscor not land the attack?" Rose asked.

"LAHH?!" Well there was Rose's answer. Night Slash hit Cursola with such precision that there was a delayed response. The spot where Cursola was hit suddenly exploded, and a cloud of dust was created. "LAHH?! LAHHH! LAAAHHHHHH…" Cursola's cry gave an otherworldly echo throughout the entire Lost Labyrinth.

As Gliscor grew weak, he cracked a smile.

As the smoke cleared, it was revealed that Gliscor's Night Slash was indeed a critical hit. In addition to that, Gliscor had actually used the Curse flames surrounding his claws to inflict extra damage.

"Gliscor set Cursola on fire using its own Curse!" Chapel was truly amazed at how gifted a fighter Gliscor was.

There was nothing Cursola could do. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that Cursola was a Ghost type. Considering Ghost Pokemon were weak to their own typing, Curse was rendering Cursola unable to fight.

"…" After a long struggle with the flames, Cursola fell to the ground, unable to move.

Yumi held her smile, looking to see if Gliscor was okay. "Gliscor?"

Gliscor had his back turned and was breathing heavily. It took a few seconds before the flames of Curse eventually took all his energy. "Scor…" Gliscor fell over. Like Cursola, he was unable to battle. But the green aura surrounding him remained. His life force was in the process of being taken.

"GLISCOR!" The chaos of battle had passed, but the aftermath of its brutality remained. Yumi rushed to Gliscor's side. "Gliscor! Gliscor!" She knelt down and held Gliscor in her arms. "Gliscor! Say something! ANYTHING! Please…"

Chapel, Rose, Chikorita, and Bulbasaur all watched Yumi hope in vain for Gliscor to awaken. But it was too late…

Because Gliscor was never struck by Cursola's ectoplasmic branches, he was never turned into stone. But because making contact with Cursola was necessary to defeat it, he lost his life force nonetheless.

A tear ran down Yumi's cheek, dropping onto Gliscor's lifeless body.

"Vine…" Servine had watched Yumi this entire time. "Servine…" In his eyes, Yumi was a ditzy trainer unworthy of having him as a Pokemon…But he had watched Yumi's entire misadventure from the start. Even after Braixen and Umbreon were petrified, Yumi never gave up on trying to save them. Not when she risked losing her life force, being petrified, or nearly drowning in the battle with Dragalge. "Vine." Servine's trainer had many faults. But even he began to think Yumi deserved better than having the rest of her Pokemon's lives taken from her. "Hm." Servine gave a small smile and started walking toward Cursola.

"Chi?"

"Bulba?"

"Servine?" Chapel questioned.

"What are you doing here?" Rose thought Servine was still in his Pokeball.

"Servine…" Servine gave Yumi a single greeting gesture.

Her entire body was drooped as she faced Servine, unable to even crack a smile.

"Vine." Servine shrugged. Yumi truly is hopeless without him. "Ser…" Arms crossed, Servine launched a single Leech Seed at the downed Cursola.

As this happened, Cursola began glowing a green aura again. This green energy…it started transferring over to Servine.

Yumi's eyes widened, "Are you…helping me?

Make no mistake, Servine had no intention of carrying out Yumi's bidding. Yumi just showed that she was worth Servine's effort to do a small favor. As Leech Seed subsided, Servine was still glowing the green aura. He then walked up to a Gliscor still in Yumi's arms and produced a single leaf surrounded by green aura.

Yumi received the leaf from Servine. "Thank you." She then put the leaf in Gliscor's mouth.

The body of Gliscor was then surrounded by the same aura. "…" His breathing promptly returned. "Gli…?"

"Gliscor…" Yumi, tears still in her eyes, smiled.

Chapel's eyes widened, "Servine used Leech Seed to absorb Gliscor's lifeforce."

Considering Servine was still glowing that green aura, it was best to assume he had retrieved Braixen and Umbreon's life forces as well.

The Curse flames surrounding the downed Cursola dissipated, indicating the Pokemon's official defeat.

Glaceon's petrified body started returning to normal.

Gliscor watched as Chapel and Glaceon ran to each other, Glaceon jumping into Chapel's arms as they embraced each other. Yumi then pulled Gliscor in for a hug of her own. She again thanked Gliscor for everything. She showered Gliscor with endless gratitude. Servine cracked another small smile.

No matter how big Gliscor got after his evolution, he would always be Yumi's sweet little Gligar. Yumi rose to her feet with Gliscor still in her embrace. She faced Chapel who was still embracing Glaceon. Chikorita, Bulbasaur, and Rose all approached them. "Time to save Braixen and Umbreon."

Yumi, Gliscor, and the gang were surprised to find that there was a full moon out when they left Lost Labyrinth. They had truly lost track of time when traversing the labyrinth.

Upon returning to the site where the initial battle with Cursola took place, it was discovered that Umbreon and Braixen's petrification had worn off. But unlike Glaceon, they were still without their life forces.

Under the full moon…

"Mmm…" As Umbreon was given the leaf containing his life force, the golden rings surrounding his body began glowing. "Um…" He slowly opened his eyes to the site of Yumi, Gliscor, and Servine.

"Welcome back, Umbreon." Yumi smiled.

This had Umbreon completely bewildered. He last remembered fighting with Yumi, but after that? Nothing. All Umbreon remembered was the endless pitch black of life after. He had suffered the same fate as Braixen. But how did he get back? Did Servine have something to do with this? And when did Yumi get a Gliscor? "On." Umbreon was as stoic as ever. He was never the most expressive Pokemon but was interested in finding out what happened.

"Zen?" Meanwhile, Braixen was surrounded by Chapel, Rose, Glaceon, Bulbasaur, and Chikorita as she awoke. She had the much of the same questions as Umbreon. She sat up, saw Yumi, and ran her into a hug.

Gliscor.

Servine.

Umbreon.

Braixen.

For the first time, Yumi's team was all together and on the same page. They might not have always gotten along in the past, but this was a major moment. Yumi had as many character faults as her Pokemon, but she was able to overcome those faults to get where she was today.

So Gliscor was introduced to the team. Braixen welcomed him with open arms. Umbreon, while reserved, welcomed Gliscor as well. Servine, having done his favor, turned his back with his arms crossed and chin held high. Braixen gave him a firm punch on the shoulder, to which Servine glared in response. It didn't take long for their brother-sister dynamic to return to its status quo. Umbreon could only sigh as he got in between the two and told them to be quiet. Servine and Braixen tried arguing their cases only for Umbreon to completely shut them down. They reluctantly went quiet.

Gliscor was intrigued by the antics of the team he was joining.

"Gliscor?" Yumi called, "Welcome to the team."

Gliscor smiled. "Gliscor."

"The journey ahead of us is going to be long and difficult. Are you ready?"

Gliscor was enamored by Yumi's long black hair glowing in the wind and the glistening moonlight in her sky-blue eyes. All Gliscor wanted was to stand by Yumi's side. There wasn't a hint of doubt in his being. "Gli!" He nodded.

"Welcome to the family…Gliscor."

To Be Continued…

...

Deep in the depths of Lost Labyrinth, fresh off the heels of a battle where lives were on the line, the colony of Corsola remained floating aimlessly over their fallen Cursola comrade. The moon of the night had long passed, the Blizzard's snow melted. The heat of battle was no more, but the flames of Curse remained constant.

A single set of footsteps echoed throughout Lost Labyrinth, closing in on the downed Cursola.

"We've been keeping an eye on 26 for quite some time."

Though Rose wasn't the focus of what went on this night, she remained the main character of the grand show which lied ahead.

"But this Cursola...it has the ability to petrify those who oppose it."

Rose has had people watching over her this entire time.

"Stone Gaze?"

Accompanied by Volbeat and Illumise was Commander 06, Beatrice.

"..." Her mighty sword, Gallade, remained silent.

"Stone Gaze...it will make a suitable virus power."

As Beatrice smirked, the flames of Curse began surrounding her. She also began emitting the dark aura of Missingno. By using her virus powers to adapt Cursola's stray power to the darkness, Beatrice had inherited what would now be her virus power.

"In my hands, this power will be perfected." Beatrice's darkness enveloped the entire chamber. This power...will be used to return Rose to her family in the organization...

To Be Continued...