~Attractive Altomare Chapter 18~
~Square Off;Send Off~
Koro paced back and forth, waiting for someone or maybe nobody. After that man had left, he wondered just why he was doing this. Fighting Ash was the biggest reason, but the idea of killing him was still so hard to rationalize. When he'd gotten the message to come out there, things were simple. It hadn't mentioned the extra layer of complexity.
Then when Koro found out just what he had to do, it made him want to puke. The money was fine, more than that even. It was the best part, but the ends never justify the means. Koro figured that even at his lowest, this wouldn't have ever been on the table. Yet, here he was, anxiously thinking out every delicate piece of this methodical plan. It sickened the trainer. 'My boss managed to capture a legend, but whatever he's up to now must be...' Koro thought, reaching up to pull at his hair. He almost wanted to bash his head in the wall, but that wouldn't solve anything either.
Koro's desire to rest was just as palpable. Those damn mental images just wouldn't leave him in peace. Just what was he supposed to do? The sixteen year old grunted, pressing his head into the makeshift wall. It was times like this that made him want to rethink some of the choices he'd made. Turning away from the wall, Koro paced back to the door. Opening and shutting it, he walked past the woman at the front desk. The twin doors were forced open by his arms and he was finally outside of the building only to be greeted by the stars above.
Taking in a deep breath, Koro felt at ease, but for just a moment. Then the nagging thoughts returned. 'What am I going to do?' The next battle was happening tomorrow whether he liked it or not. Dropping would be another nosedive for his career. Ash and Tobias' match was also coinciding with that match of his. It was likely to be lauded as the biggest event to happen in Altomare's history. His match wouldn't likely compare.
His boss had seemed confident in his showing, but It also felt like a complacency had taken hold of that man. Koro still wasn't sure why he'd been bothered in the first place since Tobias was brought out. Maybe there wasn't any significance to it and Koro was overthinking things as usual. The cool breeze coming off the ocean was focused on him or he imagined it was.
"So, you enjoy these nights as well?" Questioned an unmistakably male voice.
Koro's eyes widened at the familiar tone, it's deep unwavering confidence he attributed to Tobias. "What are you doing out here?" He inquired, turning to see the Darkrai cosplayer in all his glory.
Tobias simply walked out into the moonlight to stand idly by. "I let Darkrai and Latios go exploring the town. They'll be back soon, but I figured that talking with you might not be so bad." He finished with a small smile directed at Koro.
Koro frowned. "Do you know how many people are in that town? Darkrai might influence someone into a nightmare." He retorted, trying to find some footing.
Tobias shook his head. "They've been trained. So, I can't be too worried about them. Well, within reason." He offered, trying to be pleasant.
Koro sighed. "Ok, if you say so." He would rather ignore the man at this point.
Tobias crossed his arms. "You know, I've found myself restless tonight." Koro acknowledged him with a shrug, so he continued anyway. "How about you and I do a one versus one? My heavy hitters aren't here so it'll be an even test." Koro hated how he worded it.
Though, he was intrigued by the idea. This wasn't a tournament match and most of the people had left back to the Pokemon Center. There wouldn't be a witness to it. Catching Tobias' eye, Koro nodded. "I think that sounds like a plan." A solid battle might even get him to stop the constant thoughts flowing through his mind.
~Altomare~
Darkrai floated around the tops of several homes, enjoying the moonlight by which she traveled. Her usual seriousness was taken off much like a jacket. The Nightmare Pokemon was in her element, that was for sure. Nearby floated another main team member, Latios or the name he'd given himself since Tobias seemed to not go for that convention. That being, "Zephyr".
Zephyr was sniffing around, so intrigued by a particular scent that he was going absolutely out of his mind for it. "Darky! Do you smell that?" and that damn nickname he used for her was infuriating.
With a sigh, Darkrai relented. "I told you not to call me that. And yes… I smell it, you horny bastard." She crossed her arms.
Zephyr poked his head up, his red eyes peering into her almost soulless aquamarine. "Can you blame me? Ole Toby never gets me any women to spend time with. It's always training for this. Battle that!" He frowned, putting the back of his blue padded hand to his forehead, at least if he could reach it. "I'm going to have a stroke one of these days and the cure could be horny Latias!" He looked back at Darkrai who shook her head in disappointment.
It's not a wonder that the two got along so swimmingly. 'This is why I sweep all the other teams personally.' Darkrai remembered back to watching the replays of Tobias Vs Ash. 'They're lucky that Pikachu was a male… It could've gotten very awkward.' She grimaced at the thought.
"Hello? Zephyr to Darky!" Zephyr had let the "Hello" roll right off his tongue causing Darkrai to grunt.
"Yes, Zephyr?" Darkrai responded callously, trying to avoid looking at him. The stars were oh so beautiful tonight after all.
Zephyr looked full of energy, the scent swimming through his senses. "Could you help me on my mission?" He asked her.
Darkrai pinched what she assumed was the bridge of her nose or something just like it. "Tobias let us out for the night for a walk through the town." Zephyr still smiled, showing his pearly whites off in the hopes it would bring her around to his cause. It didn't. "Can't you just leave it alone? I'll bet she's already spoken for." She pointed out.
Zephyr looked at her for a moment, then his ears drooped. "Oh… I see." His head drooped lower and his frown was palpable.
The wind blew by and Darkrai watched the lowly Latios slump to the top of the house. "What're you…" She trailed off, seeing him begin to tear up. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me… You've been on this team for years. Lati up and stop being such a baby." She told him, but Latios was less enthusiastic.
"But I'm dying here… It's been a year… Cut a Lati some slack." Zephyr whined to the Nightmare Pokemon.
Darkrai crossed her arms, her legs touching the roof. "Why don't you just… You know?" Her makeshift feet tapped the roof in indignation at having to suffer through the conversation.
Zephyr's eyes widened and then he looked at her feet, trailing his eyes up her stick-like legs to the shadowy shroud of her main torso. He licked his maw, as he reached those wonderful Aquamarine eyes and the white shroud at the top. If he thought about it much, the shroud-like body was just a skirt where the legs popped out. He'd always given it some admiration.
"You know…" He floated up, clearing some dirt from his pelt and using psychic to slick back his ear tufts. "I could take you for a moonlit flight." Zephyr gave it his best attempt at being suave.
Darkrai's eyes narrowed, but he saw the faintest amount of a blush on her cheeks right before her white, foggy plume covered them. "Die." It was not a request.
Zephyr gulped. "A-Are you sure that you don't mean that you'd love to?" He hoped, floating backwards as she moved towards him.
She didn't say anything. Darkrai didn't want to after being exposed to such a shittily done Attract. In half a second, she covered the distance as Zephyr shot away. He hoped to escape her range, but Darkrai just moved in and out of the shadows. Now gone from view entirely as Zephyr turned to look back. Not being able to see the Nightmare Pokemon began to make eerily horror-esque vibes fly through his mind. Luckily, he was still far above the houses of Altomare.
'She can't get me from here.' He thought, achieving true safety.
"You think she's down there?" A hauntingly familiar voice asked him.
"Oh yeah! She's trying to kill… Me?" Zephyr's words grinded to a halt, slowly turning to see her floating right next to him.
Zephyr grinned. "I mean… Surprise!" He exclaimed, waving his hands, as she leaned down and slammed him across his jaw line with her best right hook.
The jet dragon smacked into the cobblestone below. A large swelling of skin puffed up upon his skull as he laid there in pain. "I guess that's one way to get laid." Darkrai said,chuckling at her own joke.
Watching Zephyr was more of a game for the long-time teammate. She never said it outright, but she did enjoy his company. Only a Legend could hope to understand another surely enough. Tobias had battled her and captured her before him. Out of all the myriad of trainers foolhardy enough to mess with her, he'd come prepared. So, it was only natural that Darkrai had felt something different about Tobias.
As her cloak billowed in the wind, the dark Pokemon looked up to the moon. 'I wonder if he's doing alright?' She knew Tobias was here for a match against Ash. Keeping up with other's exploits was one of his strengths. It made him anticipate the upcoming battles and to continually test his fortitude.
Even though he was beyond most trainers by this point. He never cared about the championships. Just honing his skills and hoping a challenger might be able to best him which would in turn, force him to grow stronger. Darkrai admired this trait and was growing alongside her trainer. Then he caught the earnest, yet bumbling fool.
While Zephyr was strong, he was too impulsive and a "ladies man" as he put it. It made Darkrai roll her eyes more often than not despite her being glad to have him as company. 'Tch… He's just going to lie there, isn't he?' He didn't seem to move and suddenly, Darkrai wished she was a psychic type. It wouldn't be such a pain to carry the blue giant.
As she zipped by a window on the bottom floor, a certain familiar ache came about. Turning her aquamarine eyes, she saw an older man through the open curtains. He looked to be struggling and sweating in his sleep, like nightmares plagued him. Darkrai's pupils began to dilate and an old urge of hers began to afflict. She turned to look at Zephyr and then back once more.
Clenching her hands, Darkrai began to sweat. 'Oh, sweet nothings being whispered to me… That would taste pretty good.' His dark dreams were beginning to really get to her. A shadow coalesced on her finger and became smaller, slipping through the crack of the window seal. It struck gold, smacking the latch up and she was able to open it. It creaked and Darkrai felt a claw on her shoulder.
Zephyr was floating beside her and shook his head. "I think we've had enough fun, right?" He questioned, unusually serious about this moment.
Darkrai's pupils assumed their original size at his beckoning and she frowned. "Hah… Thanks." She gave a glance at his pummeled head and smiled.
Zephyr shook his head, "Yeah… Laugh it up. I'd rather go back to my search for the horny Latias now." Then she stopped smiling, rolling her eyes.
'Typical.' She and Zephyr both flew off. Heading toward wherever the wind would take them.
The old man on the couch shivered at the wind coming through and awoke with a start. "LATIOS!" He shouted, but he was alone. In his own living room he had a sinking feeling that something awful was going to happen. For some reason, he felt a pull. He slowly moved and got to his feet. Grabbing a jacket, the old man rushed up the stairs. Stopping at the first room door, he felt compelled to knock on it.
He stopped himself just as his fist was to touch the wood. 'Actually… I won't bother her… She works hard and I can't have her learn of what I'm about to do.' He thought, deciding instead to head to his own room. Quickly opening the door, the older man rifled through his things before opening a drawer. He pulled out a revolver, gleaming in the light coming from his room window.
"I'll make sure nothing bad happens again." He said, stuffing the gun into the right pocket and leaving the room a bit slower than he'd have liked.
Stepping down the stairs, his hand found the door handle. Taking a deep breath, the older man looked back at his precious home. Everything he'd worked for in life could be but a memory tonight. A shaky sigh exited his lips and he felt a sudden bout of weariness. He was tempted to go get his granddaughter once again. But in his left coat pocket, his fingers were still on the revolver. It's cool metal heated by his touch. A reminder of what he intended and why he knew this was a mission only he could do.
Walking out the door, his resolve heightened. 'Don't worry, Latios. Lorenzo's coming.' He thought, braving the night toward where his mind pulled him.
~Tobias Vs Koro~
Tobias stepped onto the sandy beach, the cool breeze ruffling his hair as he gazed out at the cresting waters. The calm night sky reflected in the salty spray, filling him with a strange sense of contentment. But his reverie was interrupted as Koro approached, his expression serious as he reached for his belt and pulled out a singular Pokeball.
"Don't hold back even if this is a one-versus-one," Koro said, his tone edged with tension. Tobias furrowed his brow, puzzled by Koro's intensity.
"Hey, relax," Tobias replied, holding up his own Pokeball from beneath his cloak. "There's no crowd here. No need for such seriousness. Let's just have some fun with this match," he said earnestly, hoping to ease the tension in the air. But Koro shook his head, his resolve unyielding.
"Heh... You really think that's going to help me? When I'm going up against a beast like yourself?" Koro retorted, his voice laced with skepticism.
"Don't pretend that you're trying to give me advice," he added, tossing the ball into the air.
As the Pokeball burst open, Typhlosion emerged in a blaze of fiery energy. The fiery badger grinned menacingly, flames flickering from the side of its neck as it let out a loud roar, baring its fangs in a display of raw power. With the windy breeze being kicked up by the raw energy exuding from the beast, Tobias couldn't help but be impressed by the intimidating spectacle before him.
"You've trained that one quite a bit. I can tell," Tobias remarked, his tone tinged with genuine admiration.
Koro gritted his teeth, his impatience palpable. "Enough of your prattling, bring out yours," he demanded, his tone terse with anticipation. He couldn't deny feeling anxious; facing the third Pokemon on Tobias' team was a rare opportunity, one few trainers ever experienced.
Tobias nodded in understanding, his cape billowing in the wind as he tossed his own Pokeball into the air. As it opened, a beam of light touched the sandy beach, revealing a Pokemon that caught Koro off guard. It was a Pokemon he hadn't seen before, its form unfamiliar yet intriguing.
"Phion!" The Pokemon exclaimed, its cry unfamiliar to Koro, who did a double take at the sight before him.
"What?! It's small. Really, what is this?" Koro asked incredulously, unable to hide his surprise at the unexpected appearance of the diminutive Pokemon.
Tobias smiled knowingly at Koro's reaction. "This was a gift from a friend of mine. I think you'll like its style," he explained cryptically, his confidence unwavering despite the apparent mismatch in size between the two Pokemon.
Typhlosion was baffled to say the least. He towered over the smaller blue little dot, the size difference between them stark and almost comical. The fiery badger couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion as he sized up his diminutive opponent, wondering how he was supposed to engage in a battle against such an unlikely foe. Despite his doubts, the little guy stood steadfast, meeting Typhlosion's gaze with unwavering determination.
Koro let out a sigh of exasperation, his frustration evident in his voice. "If you're not taking this seriously, maybe I should've invited a crowd," he remarked, his disappointment clear as he shrugged his shoulders in resignation.
Tobias nodded slowly, a sense of patience and confidence radiating from him. "You can have the first move. I'll wait," he replied calmly, his demeanor unwavering despite the unconventional circumstances of the battle.
Shifting his stance, Koro leaned in with determination. "Ready for battle! Go Typhlosion, start off with Metal Claw!" He commanded, throwing his fist out as Typhlosion lunged forward with glinting claws.
The fiery badger slashed downward with its claws, but the diminutive Phione dodged each strike with surprising ease, utilizing its smaller size to its advantage. Despite Typhlosion's efforts, the small blue Pokemon danced nimbly around its attacks, frustrating the larger Pokemon with its agility.
Tobias watched the exchange with an amused expression, his confidence unwavering. "Okay, Phione. Use Rain Dance," he ordered calmly. The small Pokemon began to dance gracefully between each of Typhlosion's strikes, summoning clouds that converged overhead. Soon, rain began to pour down, the sound of droplets meeting the ocean creating a soothing melody.
Enraged by his inability to land a hit, Typhlosion slammed its claw into the sand where Phione had just been moments before. "Typhlosion! Stop that and go for Sunny Day!" Koro commanded desperately, but Tobias shook his head.
"Phione! Use a Weather Ball!" Tobias let loose his command clearly, and Phione nodded in understanding. With a swift motion, the small Pokemon summoned a watery sphere and launched it at Typhlosion with precision.
"Forget Sunny Day! Dodge the Weather Ball!" Koro shouted urgently, and Typhlosion reacted swiftly, dropping to all fours and narrowly avoiding the powerful water move. With determination in his eyes, Typhlosion made a mad dash towards Phione, his muscles rippling beneath his pelt as he closed the distance.
Tobias narrowed his eyes, anticipating the next move. "Phione, Grass Knot!" he ordered, and Phione began to glow with a bright green light. Typhlosion felt a sudden tug as his front right arm was ensnared, causing him to stumble and crash into the ground, sliding for a few feet. Phione smiled joyfully looking back at his trainer and received a thumbs up from Tobias.
"Typhlosion, are you okay?!" Koro asked with concern, but the fire type nodded its head, indicating that it was still ready to battle.
"Phione, use Chilling Water!" Phione complied, pulling its hands to its face before throwing them elegantly outward to unleash a frigid shower of water from its maw. Typhlosion felt the icy torrent cooling his burning heat, the effects amplified by the ongoing Rain Dance.
'Oh no! That's going to lower his attack!' Koro realized, watching as his Pokemon began to freeze up under the chilling assault.
"Phio… NE!" The miniature water type shouted, continuing the icy assault, but Typhlosion disappeared in a flash of red light.
Tobias looked up in surprise, observing as Koro recalled his Typhlosion. "Hrm… A very interesting decision. Why would you give in part way through?" he questioned the trainer.
Koro averted his gaze, a flicker of frustration crossing his features. "This isn't really helping me…" He turned away, beginning to walk off.
Tobias hurriedly caught up. "Hey, hold on," he said, halting Koro in his tracks.
"I've got a question…" Tobias started, noticing Koro turning back with a guarded expression.
"What?" The teen asked, clearly not in the mood for conversation. In fact, he wasn't sure why he'd even bothered with all this in the first place. Koro had allowed his Pokémon to suffer needlessly, driven by his own selfish desire to escape reality. Now he was being confronted by Tobias? He didn't need this.
"Where's Hunter K?"
~Crescent Beach~
Misty got up rather shakily, coughing loudly. "Urgh! Gyarados?!" she shouted, unable to see past the rising smoke plume covering the area.
Her voice reached Gyarados, prompting him to roar loudly, dispersing the smoke with a sweep of his powerful tail. Genesect's eyes cut through the haze with an intense shade of red. It let out a metallic squall, its thrusters violently shooting fire from its back. Within seconds, the metallic bug shot forward, catching Gyarados with its mechanical pincer-like arms.
With a warbled warcry, the purple machine changed direction, flying high into the sky with Gyarados in tow. Gyarados could see the ground shrinking below as he panicked, a gout of flame building up in his maw. Genesect noticed, halting in its tracks and causing the momentum to send the sea behemoth soaring ever higher.
As Gyarados ascended, his ability to fly became apparent. He caught the levitating Genesect off guard with a point-blank Flamethrower. The searing flames tore at its metallic armor, and Gyarados heard a pained squall, followed by a declaration of anger. The sound was unlike anything he'd ever heard before, especially having never fought such a creature in his life. However, the sea snake refused to back down, returning the roar with one of his own. The skies above were filled with a ball of fire as Genesect's body retracted and shot out of the flames. Gyarados, prepared, swung an Iron Tail down, smashing the machine in the skull.
The impact was fierce enough to send Genesect crashing down, Gyarados following behind quickly enough. "GYASHA!" he bellowed triumphantly, flames swirling in his maw.
Genesect swiftly activated its thrusters, veering into the wind current and shooting off to the side. Gyarados's eyes widened as he struggled to keep pace with the swift movements of the purple mech. The cannon mounted on its back emitted a bright, pulsating glow of yellow energy, signaling imminent danger. Gyarados realized he needed to unleash a Hyper Beam, but the proximity was too close for comfort. The Techno Blast fired, shocking the skyborne sea serpent and detonating with a thunderous blast.
Misty couldn't believe what she was witnessing—Gyarados was being overpowered, and she couldn't issue any commands from so far below. Her hands clenched in frustration and fear. Then she noticed Hunter K charging towards her. Panic surged within her, but Togekiss swiftly flew to her side, blocking Hunter K's advance.
"Tch, little flying nuisance…" he scoffed, taking a step back.
Togekiss glared at him, fury evident in its eyes. 'How dare you threaten Misty!' it thought, readying itself to defend her.
Latias circled overhead, invisible to the naked eye but not to Hunter K. He turned, an eager smile spreading across his face, only to be abruptly slammed by Togekiss, sending him sprawling backward with a grunt of pain. Pikachu grinned. "It worked! He's definitely feeling that one!" the mouse exclaimed, observing Latias nodding her head in agreement.
Latias glanced back at Pikachu. "Okay, we'll go take down that strange-looking Pokémon and then assist Gyarados once we clear the area!" She said, her voice just loud enough for Pikachu to hear and concur.
"Yeah, let's take that thing down!" Pikachu exclaimed, rubbing its paws together mischievously, generating a spark.
Dracovish shook its head. 'Want… Bite… Something!' it thought, scanning the surroundings for potential food to gnaw on.
As Latias soared over the trees and circled back around, she swung over the side, allowing Pikachu to leap off her back. As the invisibility shrouding Pikachu dissipated, he landed gracefully before Dracovish, which started to drool at the sight. Pikachu was taken aback by this sudden change in demeanor.
"You seem hungry…" Pikachu trailed off, swishing his tail back and forth, with several sparks arcing off it.
Dracovish's vacant expression began to transform into one of determination. "Little… Snack…" it said, causing Pikachu to grit his teeth and prepare for the worst.
Dracovish surged forward as Pikachu executed Quick Attack, darting past the lumbering creature. Skidding through the sand, Pikachu swiftly turned around and charged back. His tail shimmered with a pristine silver glow as he leaped, crashing into the side of the fossil fish with a heavy warcry. "PIKA!" The electric mouse heard the creature yelp in pain as it slammed into the sandy beach. The beast screeched to a halt, frustration evident in its narrowed eyes as it turned its head to glare at the diminutive rat.
"I'm too quick for you!" Pikachu declared, sparks crackling from his cheeks.
Latias swooped in behind Dracovish, her eyes glowing with determination. 'Time to end this!' The dragoness thought, enveloping the fossil fish in her psychic energy. Dracovish's body tensed, a surge of resistance coursing through him as he struggled against the psychic hold. Thanks to his efforts, Dracovish felt a slight weakening in the psychic grip. Sensing an opportunity, Pikachu closed in.
"Eat this! Thunderbolt!" Pikachu shouted, unleashing a torrent of electricity upon the water type.
The fishy beast roared, its agony echoing across the entire beachside. Latias prepared a Mist Ball as Hunter K caught sight of it. "No! Dracovish!" He yelled, turning to the sky. "Genesect, help out Dracovish!" But the mechanical bug couldn't hear him from so far below. Mega Gyarados plummeted from the sky, crashing into the ground with a harsh thud and raising a sizable dust cloud. Techno Blast had left him scorched and sizzling to a dangerous degree.
Suddenly, an Ice Beam shot out, engulfing Dracovish's left front side. "Alright, Lapras!" Sato shouted, drawing Hunter K's attention.
Latias, encouraged by the unexpected support, charged the Mist Ball until it was significantly larger than usual. The swirling orb of psychic energy continued to expand, intended to put an end to the battle. However, from below the water and just behind her, a loud eruption sent a towering column of water into the air. Hydreigon burst from the sea, determined to defend his teammate. He moved faster than Latias, unleashing a Dark Pulse that rocked her senses and sent waves of pain coursing through her body with a loud screech of raw agony.
Pikachu was stunned. "LA- LATIAS!" he cried out, watching her collapse onto the sand just as the Mist Ball faded away.
Dracovish, suddenly freed up of his momentary distraction, turned his attention back to the annoying mouse after breaking the ice formed on his left side. "Feed… Kill… Jaw Lock…" Pikachu got onto all fours, eager to end this quickly and make that Hydreigon pay.
Sato narrowed his eyes at the dark dragon. "I thought we took him down earlier!" Lapras let out a loud cry as she moved toward the shore.
Hydreigon glanced back at the Lapras who seemed slightly on edge. Sato hopped off and ran for the sand, shouting, "Lapras, use Ice Beam!"
Hydreigon swiftly dodged the incoming Ice Beam, narrowly avoiding the icy blast as it shot past him. Sato watched intently, his expression focused and determined. Hydreigon shot off toward them, firing Dark Pulse with reckless abandon. Sato braced himself, but a powerful bolt of lightning shot between the dragon and human, sending the Dark Pulse exploding harmlessly over the ocean.
Halted in his advance, Hyreigon roared in annoyance, but then Hunter K's voice rang out. "Hydreigon! Come to me, let's finish the fight!" Genesect landed next to him just as those words faded out.
Pikachu stood next to Sato and the teen recognized him. "A Pikachu?" He questioned, noticing a frozen Corviknight in the background and three Eons knocked out on the ground. Dracovish was still just standing there, looking very menacing. Hydreigon seemed to be weighing his options, his anger from earlier wanting to cloud his judgment. Yet, he couldn't disobey his trainer and reluctantly flew over to him. Genesect was busy calculating the amount of enemies having shown up just now.
Mega Gyarados, despite being battered by electricity, showed resilience as it began to stir, its massive form crackling with residual sparks. Genesect, taken aback by the Gyarados's recovery, turned in surprise, its mechanical features reflecting a sense of astonishment.
Misty wasted no time, quickly darting into the nearby woods, her loyal Togekiss following closely behind. With her partner Pokémon by her side, she swiftly recalled Gyarados, ensuring its safety as they retreated from the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Hunter K, now mounted atop his Hydreigon, took action. With a swift command, the dragon Pokémon lifted off into the air, carrying its trainer towards the beach. Genesect followed closely behind, ready to support Hunter K in whatever lay ahead.
As Sato surveyed the chaotic scene, he acknowledged the grim reality: they were once again facing overwhelming odds, especially with Latios incapacitated. His attention shifted to Beni lying nearby, surrounded by a dark aura, indicating her dire condition. Meanwhile, Dracovish lunged at his opponents, prompting Pikachu to charge in. Despite the fish fossil Pokemon's snapping jaws, Pikachu managed to evade and counter with a powerful strike from his tail, sending Dracovish hurtling backward.
Pikachu's usual confidence in facing overwhelming odds began to waver as he witnessed the others falling in battle. Despite his typically invincible sense of self, Pikachu felt a growing sense of concern. Charging up his Thunder attack, he prepared for one last decisive push. Seeing Pikachu's immense power building up, Sato decided to retreat and recall Lapras. With a sense of determination, Sato reached for his final Pokeball, signaling the beginning of their last resort. As Misty approached, Pikachu unleashed a massive bolt of lightning into the sky, "CHUUUU!" He squeaked loudly signaling the beginning of their final stand.
Hunter K's laughter echoed through the air as he flew in on Hydreigon looking rather triumphant next to Genesect. "Really?! That's all?! All that buildup for nothing?!" he taunted, relishing in the apparent weakness of his opponents. His confidence soared as he contemplated the prospect of claiming victory. "Ah... Well, it doesn't matter to me. I'm going to take all these legends. Hell, I'm feeling pretty good right now, so I may just leave you all here..." he boasted, reveling in his perceived superiority. Hunter K's thoughts turned to his own luck and success, dismissing any need for Koro and firmly believing in his ability to achieve his goals.
With a gleeful smile, Hunter K turned to Latios and brandished a Dark Ball. His malicious intent was clear as he prepared to capture Latios. But right as he threw the ball, Latias intervened, jumping in the way to protect her child. As the ball closed in, Latias was sucked into its depths, sparking ominously. Hunter K's surprise was evident, but he couldn't help but laugh at the turn of events, reveling in his twisted victory.
"I can't believe it. I was going to catch you anyway, but…That was my last Dark Ball." He admitted, wishing he could have caught the Latios instead, "Have it your way, I suppose." He picked it up and returned Beni. Sato clenched his hand tightly, cursing under his breath. They needed a distraction, right now!
Misty was about to say something, but a loud boom echoed in the sky. This was followed by the largest arc of lightning seen yet. Pikachu shot forward, speeding up considerably towards his opponents! Leaping in front of them, Hunter K could only look on in shock as both Misty and Sato disappeared before them. Then the incredibly powerful light struck Pikachu, creating the most massive flash they'd ever seen, not only blinding the Hunter, but striking them all in one monstrous move. The explosion spread out, ripping the beach apart and proceeded to tear at every Pokemon close by. Hunter K fell to his knees, the arcing electricity taking its toll on him.
Pikachu landed, breathing heavily, but he didn't have time to waste as he moved past the enemies to where Sato and Misty had reappeared with Latios in tow. Taking a look back, Pikachu solemnly vowed to make sure they'd get back both Latias'. Once Ash found out, it'd be curtains for this guy, the mouse knew that for sure.
Misty was surprised. "How did we get over here?!" She asked the kid who pointed to his Abra.
"He's really useful in a bad situation like this… I didn't get a chance to use him before." Sato recalled all the pain he'd suffered earlier and an ache in his chest echoed, but he didn't have time for that. He saw Hunter K actually getting back up!
"Genesect, kill them all!" But Genesect wasn't responding to him, nor did it move even slightly. Its eyes were blank as if it were offline or even rebooting. Hunter K noticed this and then returned him as well. "Are you kidding me?!" He yelled, turning to see Corviknight had been thawed by the raw heat of Pikachu's attack, but was still down. Even Hydreigon was out cold and Dracovish wasn't up either. He'd just lost his entire team and his new Latias wasn't prepared to serve him yet. Clenching his teeth, Hunter K grunted and cursed his luck.
Right as he was about to pull out his final trump card, he heard a familiar clicking sound of a gun being cocked. "Stand down." A strong older voice commanded just loud enough for him to hear it. Hunter K was starting to breathe heavily, remembering this moment in his childhood. Seeing flashes of his mother being shot before his eyes. He glanced back, panic overtaking his form.
Misty looked upon the person standing behind Hunter K. "Lorenzo?!" She shouted in surprise.
Sato hadn't expected this interference, maybe they wouldn't have to leave. They could take him down now and everything would be fine! Misty reached for a Pokeball from her bag and Hunter K was still calculating his chances despite the traumatic memories rushing to the forefront of his mind. Every detail in his life flashed before him and he didn't see a way out. Then he noticed that the older man's hand was shaking. Perfect.
A quick movement and he knocked the weapon free from Lorenzo's grip. Sato, seeing that was ready to rush in and try to help, but Lorenzo shook his head. "GO! NOW!" He yelled, seeing Hunter K turn, brandishing the weapon as Misty grabbed Sato with Abra and Latios in tow. The group disappeared from view and Hunter K grunted in annoyance.
"Good move…" He looked back to Lorenzo, who wasn't looking so strong now. "Yours on the other hand? I'd say it was a mistake, but we both knew that." Hunter K pointed the weapon at him.
"So, what's kept you going, old man?" He asked Lorenzo.
Lorenzo looked down. "I'm here for Latias and Latios." He answered, clenching his hands in the sand.
Lowering the weapon slightly, Hunter K spoke up. "I see… Then you must know about the DMA, I presume?" The question was like the gun in his hand, loaded.
Lorenzo reluctantly nodded. "Yes… I know where the power source is, too." He stated, seeing the man lower the gun.
"Good. Then get up. You'll show me the way and if you get any funny ideas…" He held up the two Dark Balls with both Latias' in them. "I'll kill them both. It'll be easier than it was to take this gun from you." He said sternly, watching Lorenzo carefully pick himself up.
Lorenzo couldn't believe it. He was being held at gunpoint by the weapon he'd trained with. That he'd promised to protect his livelihood with. Now it was falling apart. Everything and everyone could be gone by the morning. Well, that would be the case if he didn't know any better. For now, he'd lead the way. Hopefully, things would turn before the morning in a few hours.
'I can't afford to let anyone else get hurt… Sorry Granddaughter… Sorry Ash… If I don't see either of them… I hope he takes care of her.' Clenching his eyes closed, the older man walked toward the city, making sure to not do anything drastic.
~Somewhere~
Bianca walked through an ancient pathway beside her Grandpa who'd recently taken her in. She looked in amazement at all of the wind chimes and a happy smile graced her face when several Pidgey flew by. "Grandpa! This is so awesome!" She shouted.
Lorenzo watched her with a chuckle, stroking his beard in ponderous thought. "It really is, Bianca and you get to come here whenever you like. Think of it as a nice hide and go seek spot." The smaller child turned to him with a smile on her face.
"Where are the biggest birds? You said there were really big ones!" She excitedly spouted, swinging her arms up and down to mimic the flapping of wings.
Lorenzo looked at the roof of the place, seeing the psychically enhanced sky. The sun beat down on them both as he attempted his best guess. "I'd say they're out enjoying the morning. Those two are quite rambunctious." Bianca listened with wide eyes.
Her smile grew at the thought of finally being able to see them. Lorenzo smiled, leaning down to scoop her up and set her on his shoulders. "I did make something for you. It's right over here and I think you'll enjoy it."
Bianca playfully messed with Lorenzo's hair as he walked through the garden with her. The sounds of bug and flying type Pokemon would echo off in the expansive garden. Bianca could feel mysterious power although she couldn't quite pin down why. She enjoyed it, feeling the wind flowing throughout the area. Seeing the trees rustle and the flowers lazily move side to side. The myriad of colors saturated her worldview and made the young girl feel at home.
"Right here." Lorenzo nodded to the tree, but not the object itself. No, the thing hanging down from it. A swing made with strong rope tied to a healthy limb that would keep it held up for ages. The older man looked at it with a grandiose amount of pride. His skills in making gondolas were first rate and any type of design he made would stand the test of time. Even something as simple as a rope swing.
Lorenzo carefully picked up Bianca and brought her over to the swing. Letting her take a seat upon the sturdy plank, he let her get a feel for it. She looked surprised and in awe, but hadn't said a word. Her hands reached for the rope, gripping it tightly in her palms. Lorenzo noticed her start to shake and stepped back.
"B- Bianca?" He asked, seeing her begin to tear up.
Lorenzo didn't expect this and was figuring he did something wrong. "Bianca, are you alright?" He asked the little girl.
She had looked down at first, but then Bianca looked back up with a wide smile on her face. "Y- Yeah! I'm alright! I just d- didn't expect this." The last time she'd gotten something so nice was when her parents…
Bianca's initial smile faltered as she realized her Grandpa was no longer beside her. A chill ran down her spine, and she broke out into a cold sweat. Gripping the ropes of the swing tighter, she felt her palms begin to bleed from the pressure. The once vibrant garden now seemed cloaked in darkness, the psychic roof replaying haunting memories that flashed before her eyes like twisted specters.
The swing vanished, and panic surged through Bianca as she found herself ensnared by a web of shadows, her cries stifled by the web upon her face. The garden plunged into an abyss of darkness. Tears of despair streamed down her cheeks as she looked up to see Latios lying lifeless in the circlets above, his once-struggling form now a haunting reminder of lost hope.
Desperate to break free from the suffocating darkness, Bianca struggled against the webbing covering her body, but her efforts were futile against the tight grip that held her captive. She could see the shattered remnants of the Soul Dew scattered on the floor, their shattered fragments casting a reminder of the hell to come. Meanwhile, the DMA machine hummed ominously, emitting bursts of crimson energy that crackled with sinister intent while whirring about the room with ever more erratic movements.
The sound of shattering windows reverberated through the museum, accompanied by the ominous rising of water that seeped into Bianca's shoes like icy tendrils of despair. A sense of dread gripped Bianca's soul as she realized that the water was steadily rising higher, enveloping her with each passing moment. Her struggles intensified, desperation driving her to try and break free from the suffocating webbing, but each attempt only resulted in the strands snapping back into place with a cruel resilience.
With each stamp of her feet, the water splashed higher and higher, rising to her ankles, then her calves. The icy cold seeped into her skin, draining the warmth and vibrance from her once lively complexion, leaving behind a sickly shade of darkened colors.
As the water overtook her legs, Bianca felt a rising tide of horror engulfing her mind, threatening to drown her in a sea of despair. She fought against the numbing cold and the encroaching darkness, but the relentless tide of water seemed unstoppable, dragging her deeper into its unfathomable depths. Panic clawed at her chest as she struggled to breathe, but the very idea of air eluded her.
She didn't want to die. She couldn't die now!
Desperation consumed her as her lungs filled with water through the suffocating webbing, her chest heaving with wild hyperventilation. Each gasp for air only brought more water into her lungs, suffocating her further.
In her final moments, as the darkness closed in around her, Bianca clung to a flicker of hope, praying for salvation that never came. The last vestige of life was ripped from her, leaving behind only the cold embrace of the abyss.
Bianca's eyes shot open as she bolted upright in bed, her sudden actions waking Ash from his slumber beside her and flinging blankets across the room.
"Wha-?! Bianca? What is it?" His actions were quick, but gentle as he moved close to her side, placing a hand on her upper arm. Her breathing was ragged and shallow as her eyes darted to his at the contact. Tears had already begun spilling down her cheeks, and she dove into his chest as he began slowly rubbing her arm in comfort.
"I'm right here, Bianca. You're safe, I've got you." Ash's words were soft and his breath warm against her hair as she sobbed near-silently into his shirt, gripping at his back as though her life depended on it. He wrapped his arms around her bare shoulders, rubbing slow circles on her back and continuing to whisper gentle affirmations into her hair.
After a few minutes of sobbing and comforting, Bianca had quieted to sniffles and pulled away from Ash to look at him, shivering almost immediately at the loss of his pleasant, warming presence.
Ash took this opportunity to reach behind her, grasping one of the soft, fleece blankets from behind her to drape it around her. He took her hands within his own before he spoke up again.
"Do you need to talk about it, Bianca?" His tone was welcoming, happy to listen but willing to stop if she deemed it so.
She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came at first. Only a small, squeak-like sound echoed between them, and she snapped her mouth shut and shook her head a few times, swallowing hard. Taking a few deep, steadying breaths, she scooted closer to him, nestling herself between his thighs as she leaned up and placed a tender kiss to the corner of his mouth.
A cold breeze blew through the room, sending a shiver down Bianca's back and drawing a shaky breath from her lungs. A reminder of how she had been so rudely awakened shortly before. She laid back onto her pillows once again, both hands outstretched toward her lover. Her eyes glinted in the moonlight with unshed tears that threatened to spill as she whispered out a simple request.
"Just hold me... please…" Her voice was small, frail, weak; as though the next breeze to blow through the open window would take her away with it.
It set off something in Ash's mind, something that he'd noticed before but hadn't the words to describe it. A desire to protect her, to see her happy, to hold her close. So he did exactly that, crawling up beside her on the pillows, pulling her into his embrace once more. This time though, he held her with that feeling close in mind, cocooning her body with his own. He wrapped his legs around her curled form and nestled her head into his chest, caressing the soft skin of her back with small, circular strokes.
He wanted to keep her safe; wanted to see her happy, share in her sorrows, hold her close throughout all of it. Wanted to feel her love. And to love her in return. He loved her. Her body responded to his actions almost immediately, nuzzling her face into his chest as a content smile worked its way onto her tear-stained face.
"So warm… cozy… Mmm… Love you, Ash…" Ash could already tell she was nodding off again and smiled softly at her sleepy words.
"Love you too, snugglebug. Sleep well, Bianca." She clearly appreciated the little nickname, snuggling closer to him as if to emphasize his point. Ash simply reached down to retrieve a blanket for them before settling in fully and letting himself drift back to sleep.
~End of Chapter~
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