"What exactly do you mean by that?" Shiin was the first to voice his concerns over Nic's plan to take on Team Rainbow Rocket. "Are you suggesting you voluntarily surrender to them?"
AU-Nic immediately interjected. "No…I think I follow. Giovanni made it clear that he's taken an interest in you and your powers…and knowing him, he won't rest until he gets what he wants. That's the kind of man he is."
"Yeah…so I say we give him just that. If he's as selfish and prudent as you say, he'll want me all for himself. Sounds about right?"
"Possibly, but there's those bosses and their Legendary Pokémon, too. Hate to say it, but I got lucky when you showed up when you did. It'd be moronic to go for an all-out against them and Giovanni at the same time."
"You know Giovanni best, so I'll leave him to you. As for me…" Nic's eyes grew intense. "I'll deal with all the bosses in one go."
Everyone in the small group eyed Nic with shock, especially Shiin. Staraptor and Kecleon seemed more tamed, having an inkling what direction their Trainer was going.
"Hold on, one moment!" Shiin immediately interjected. "Are you telling me you believe you can take on all those Legendary Pokémon by yourself?"
"I won't be alone. Right?" He turned towards Staraptor, who nodded without any hesitation.
"(Right, we're beside you all the way.)"
Kecleon tilted her head. "(All aboard, no refunds...)"
Nic smirked, before returning his attention towards Shiin. "Besides, this wouldn't be my first time facing a Legendary Pokémon. We've fought them before, so I know what they're capable of." He explained. 'I've also taken up most of their forms in the past, too, so I know what to expect.'
Shiin, however, seemed baffled. Was he being serious? Either he was stronger than he had initially observed, or he was being overconfident and putting on a brave face. But the look in Nic's eyes told him that he was serious, and that's what worried him.
He's seen the devastation Pokémon can cause. He saw the battle in Crocus as well, and the shame it brought onto Acnologia. He lowered his head, looking down with uncertainty. "But, still…"
AU-Nic turned towards the two Kecleon. "You two managed to scatter all those charges, right?"
AU-Kecleon tilted her head with a mock salute. "(Daisies are budded and ready to sprout.)"
"(Waiting for the sunshine.)" Kecleon chimed in.
"Good. Our first move is the obvious. We'll detonate all the charges across the base, level the place so their escape routes are cut off. If they're fortunate to survive, they'll likely try to breach for an exit. That's where we take them."
"We still need to find a way to get those two groups divided." Nic interjected. "And I think I know how to do that." He slowly turned towards an anxious Junior. "Junior?"
Junior jumped. "(Y-yes?!)"
"I know you helped us out, but we need you one more time. You think that you can teleport me with those bosses as far away from the base as possible?"
"(You think you can try like before, Junior?)" Staraptor asked in a motherly tone.
Junior blinked twice, looking mesmerized by everything going on. For one thing, it was a lot to take in. He had just only started getting the hang of controlling his teleportation skills after his last trip, and now he was asked to take Nic and others whom he didn't know away from this scary place. Though at the same time, it wasn't like he wasn't aware of the direness of the situation either. He was determined to be of help to his mother and Nic no matter what. If this would be of use to them in any way, he won't hesitate.
He nodded with a rarely serious face. "(Okay! I'll do it, Mama!)"
Staraptor, Kecleon, and Nic all looked at each other readily.
Knowing that it was beyond reasoning now, Shiin sighed. "Very well. But how exactly do you intend to make them drop their guards like that? If I recall, you said Giovanni will likely target you with everything he has." He recounted. "And there's also the matter of you saying 'giving him what he wants'. Care to elaborate?"
"Simple." Before their eyes, Nic undid the sash on his waist, letting his coat loose. "They won't know the difference if we change our wardrobes."
AU-Nic cocked a brow. "The ole' switcheroo, eh?" He smirked. "Not bad. They'll probably catch on if you use your powers too early, so it's best you save those once you're a safe distance."
"Right. Even if their base is leveled, there's still some drones around that could disable my moves. Rather not risk it."
AU-Nic scoffed. "Guess I did need a good shave. The supplies are back at my base, we'll need a quick trip for what we need to get ready."
"I'll take care of that." Nic assured, taking off his shirt. "Junior, you just handle the location."
Junior nodded. "(Yeah!)"
'I see now…so that's what they meant.' Shiin observed quietly. He'd be the first to admit that it sounded like another psychological warfare scheme. First infiltration, and faking identities. Of course, he wasn't one to talk, considering his own agenda. 'The prospects of this plan seem plausible on paper…but I still doubt the logistics. Can they really expect to take on Legendary Pokémon led by otherworldly terrorists?'
"We'll need a perimeter as well. If all else fails, we need to make sure Giovanni doesn't leave the island, nor can the bosses reconvene with him." AU-Nic stated, turning towards Shiin. "Can we count on you and your magic for that?"
"Free! Free!" Butterfree chirped eagerly.
Though annoyed, Shiin huffed. "I'll see what I can do. It will take some time to get it ready though."
"That's fine." AU-Nic's glare grew steadily intense. "Because after this, Rainbow Rocket will come crashing down."
Shiin continued gliding along the rim of the island's perimeter, just above the shore's waves that barely touched his feet. His staff was pointed towards the cliff edge as runes gradually materialized in a path following the staff.
'With this Enchantment, I'll seal off the island completely from the outside world.' He thought. 'The only exceptions to this rule shall be those Nics and myself. I'd wish that I didn't have to be so cordial to their agendas…' He scowled to himself, feeling ashamed of the circumstances that made him cooperate with them. 'But for the time being, we have a common enemy. And as allies, as this world's Nic stated, we need every asset at our disposal.' He stopped briefly, looking out towards the distance. 'Nic…you might be my world's biggest threat…but for now, I'm relying on your potential. Do not make me regret this.'
The rainstorm came down heavily, like a flood from the sky. The heaviness of the downpour mirrored the intensity either side felt on the battlefield, though that could be Dialga and Palkia's Pressure Abilities activating.
The Rainbow Rocket bosses glared at the target of their ire. The Nic that stood against them was centralized around his Pokémon. Was he really intending to fight alongside them? Maxie and Archie looked ready to scoff at the fool, but others like Lysandre and Ghetsis, who had seen him in action firsthand, knew better than to jest at the insight.
Requiting the vibe, Nic's blue eyes showed absolute-zero signs of hesitation or doubt, which reflected in all his Pokémon's eyes. Not one seemed disconcerted with the overwhelming odds stacked against them.
Staraptor's red eyes beamed heavily, her Intimidate Ability activating and casting a blue aura immediately upon the eight Legendary Pokémon, lowering their Attack.
Ghetsis sneered. "Does he really believe that he can defeat the likes of all of us alone? He might be even more foolish than that other Nic."
"Perhaps. But don't forget, he is no ordinary man." Lysandre prodded, eyes narrowing.
Ghetsis clicked his teeth. He knew that better than anybody, but he still hated being told the obvious, especially by his peers.
As Lysandre continued observing, he scanned Nic top to bottom and picked up on his body language. 'That position. He's not tense at all, but is ready to attack in an instant. A sign of hands-on experience. This won't be like the Nic we've been playing guerilla warfare with all these years.'
"The ideal world does not require thoughts or feelings of defiance." Cyrus boasted. "No matter who or what shall it be, as long as they have spirit and emotion, they will fall on their own sword."
"Rather loquacious, aren't you?" Maxie prodded, adjusted his glasses. "But yes, it'll be cumbersome in the long run. We shall finish this tonight."
Archie smirked. "Good. I was sick of this from the start. We'll plunge them all into the abyss they swam up from!"
Nic didn't bother with a retort. "Greninja and Charizard, Groudon and Kyogre. Kecleon and Garchomp, Dialga and Palkia. Staraptor and Arbok, Reshiram and Zekrom." Nic instructed, glowing and changing his typing. When he finished, he took on a combo of his Splash and Mind Forms. "You know what to do…"
Garchomp's deathly glare sharpened with anticipation. "(Leave them in pieces.)"
"(Yesss…my thoughtsss precccisssely.)" Arbok hissed.
The remaining four left their notions unspoken, but their looks alone spoke volumes. Unfortunately, it fell on deaf ears to their opponents.
An unimpressed Ghetsis smirked. 'Does he really believe that a bunch of low-tier Pokémon would have even a chance against-'
Without a word, Nic pressed a hand on the ground, immediately summoning a rapid torrent of dense, murky water that pushed across the terrain via Muddy Water. The bosses were alarmed at how fast the attack was coming and the range it was covering thanks to the rain's boost in its power.
"Dialga, Palkia!" Cyrus shouted. "Rid that torrent at once! Thunderbolt!"
"Xerneas, Thunderbolt!" Lysandre called out.
The three Legendary Pokémon let out domineering screeches that shrilled throughout the atmosphere. At the same time, all their bodies crackled with dense electricity. They faced the oncoming tsunami of murky water and expelled their electricity forward in three dense beams.
The tri-fold Thunderbolt blasted the face of the Muddy Water, causing the wall of muddy fluid to seemingly halt in its advance for a second. The lightning beams pushed deeper, causing the wall to collapse.
Time slowed for a moment as Nic was seen atop the collapsing wave, jumping off it along with his Pokémon. Nobody except for Archie took note of this before it was too late.
"They used the Muddy Water as a distraction to close the gap!?" The Team Aqua boss exclaimed.
"Strong opening." Lysandre admitted.
Nic swiped his arm across, bringing up a transparent pink screen in front of him and his team. The moment the Light Screen faded, everyone diverged in bursts of speed; Greninja, Kecleon, and Arbok got rides from their designated ally and soared off, leaving Nic to roll across the ground and spur in Lysandre's direction.
'Fighting them in a large pack with their full forces together will put us at a disadvantage. So we'll divide their forces and section each one out.' Nic thought about the strategy. He did something similar in the battle of Crocus against the Dragons. 'With this, we'll keep them focused on smaller numbers and avoid full-scale attacks like just now.'
Seeing Nic head his way, Lysandre frowned. 'He's coming at me? Does he intend to fight me alone?' He didn't allow this action to persuade him though. He succeeded before once, what's one more? "Very well then! I accept your challenge!" He swiped his arm forward. "Xerneas, Moonblast!" Yveltal, Shadow Ball!"
Both Legendary Pokémon didn't hesitate on their commands, charging up a pink energy sphere from radiant moonlight, and shadowy, crackling energy congregating into a sphere at Yveltal's center. Both Legendaries lurched forward, firing the spheres at Nic.
Nic seemingly remained unfazed by the oncoming obstructions and barreled in. Lysandre only watched as his opponent was swallowed in an eruption of light and dark energy that ate at the surrounding ground. The land howled for several seconds, blowing winds past Lysandre's face.
The man remained unfazed. It was only when he saw something bright in the smoke that he realized something was happening.
As the smoke dissipated, it revealed Nic still standing. Despite the ground around him being reduced to a crater, the area around his feet was untouched thanks to diminished damage by Light Screen. His arms were in front as he was crackling electricity in the mixture of his Toxic and Zap Forms. A red aura briefly arose from his body.
'He changed forms again?' Lysandre was taken aback by his defenses blocking his attacks.
The crackling around Nic's body faded, his Charge complete. He then crossed his arms in front as large quantities of electricity discharged from his body. A sphere of electricity manifested between his hands that he shot skywards.
"Parabolic Charge!"
The sphere discharged numerous bolts of lightning that seared through the air. Amongst the many, several came down and struck Xerneas and Yveltal, zapping both to where they screamed in pain. The electrical blasts imploded, swallowing both in smoke as two green orbs flew to Nic and immersed into his body, restoring his energy.
Lysandre grunted and reached his arm out. "Yveltal, Psychic! Xerneas, Psyshock!"
Both clouds of smoke were forcibly blown away by Yveltal and Xerneas's shouts. Yveltal's eyes glowed purple, whereas purple energy turned into a sphere at Xerneas's head.
Nic stood still and watched as the land was torn up by Yveltal's Psychic. The psychokinetic wave and the trifold energy blast quickly got closer. When it did, Nic simply reached his arm out. "Baneful Bunker!" A dense purple energy dome with dozens of energy spikes appeared at the last second. The double Psychic-type assault was immediately impeded and gradually diffused.
When Nic undid the barricade, he was surrounded by a veil of dust picked up from Yveltal's attack. He closed his eyes, retaining his calm and waiting for the next move.
"(KRAAAAAAH!)" A loud cry from above alerted Nic of Yveltal's presence. However, he didn't seem fazed by that.
"Now, Yveltal! Oblivion Wing!" Lysandre ordered.
Yveltal's body folded as the red on his body started changing shades to crimson. A sphere of black and crimson amassed to a singular point aimed for Nic and was unleashed in a violent beam of crimson energy. The ray dragged across the landscape closer towards its target.
However, just when it was about to hit Nic, he vanished in a bolt of lightning.
Before Yveltal could look around for him, the sound of thunder was heard above. Lysandre looked up and saw the sky crackling lightning bolts over his head. Hundreds of flashes went off before he realized what was about to happen. "Move, Yveltal-!"
A hand swept down.
BOOOOOOOM!
A tremendous Thunder crashed down onto Yveltal, hammering every nerve in his body with wanton voltage. The Destruction Pokémon's body went numb as his shrilled cries of pain went hoarse in a matter of seconds.
Lysandre covered up as he couldn't see clearly. The brightness of the attack and the shockwaves generated made it impossible for him to look directly ahead.
In the blinding destruction going off, Xerneas was standing still, rainbow energy charging in his horns. Nic appeared in front in a bolt of lightning, the ground charred beneath his feet.
"Toxic Thread!"
With a sling from his fingertips, purple thread shot out and tethered to Xerneas's lower-half. The Life Pokémon staggered his sword-like feet from the surprise attack, only to end up entangled by the thread. The poisonous thread immediately gave him a blue aura, as well as a purple blush spreading across his face.
The Legendary let out a cry. Nic puffed his cheeks and spat out a dense volume of purple liquid, via Venoshock straight into Xerneas's chest. The super-effective Poison-type attack did its job and shoved Xerneas across the ground until he eventually was forced to fall over onto his side with a loud thud right before Lysandre.
The boss almost lost footing and adjusted. By the time he looked back towards the battle, Yveltal had collapsed to the ground alongside Xerneas, the latter's poison affliction doing its part.
Lysandre couldn't believe what he saw. "How did…?"
"Electric and Poison are some of their weaknesses." Lysandre gasped. He didn't know why, but it sounded like Nic's words had venom in them. He noticed the man remained calm and focused. So focused in fact that just looking into his retina was making Lysandre feel like he was paralyzed.
Static crackled around Nic's eyes, glaring at his stunned foe. The message was clear: He wasn't going to let him get away.
"Listen." AU-Nic turned his attention onto his counterpart. "If you're going up against those bosses, I think you're going to need more than just those powers of yours."
Nic cocked a brow. "What do you have in mind?"
A small smirk crossed AU-Nic's face. "You have experience with items?"
Archie reached his arm outwards. "Kyogre, bring them down! Hydro Pump!"
Maxie prodded at his glasses. "This rain gives me no benefits, but I suppose I'll have to make it work. Groudon, Ancient Power!"
Kyogre opened his maw, baring his sharp teeth. Groudon brought his hands together as his body gave off a silver glow. An afterimage of himself morphed into a sphere of energy between his hands. At the same time, a monstrous torrent of water and the sphere launched in Greninja and Charizard's flight path.
"(Ready?)" Greninja asked.
"(Been ready! Let's go that extra mile!)" Charizard harrumphed.
Just as the attacks were about to converge, Charizard and Greninja separated in midair. Charizard flew around the Hydro Pump's wake while Greninja flipped over the Ancient Power without any difficulty. The Mystic Water on Greninja shimmered briefly as dense shuriken of water compressed in his hands.
"(Water Shuriken!)"
Two shuriken sliced through the air at the speed of bullets, too fast for Groudon to brace for a counter. One shuriken struck his abdomen while another struck square in his face, generating two bursts of mist.
Charizard closed the distance on Kyogre, electricity channeling into his claws. He crashed into the ground beneath the larger opponent with force that made a crater. He clenched a fist and pulled it back.
"(Thunder Punch!)"
He shot an electrified uppercut into Kyogre's underjaw area, immediately clamping his mouth shut and cutting off the water supply. The force of the attack sent a literal and metaphorical shock through Kyogre as he found himself falling backwards.
Maxie and Archie could only gasp in shock as they watched their titanic aces slam hard on their backs, sundering the ground beneath. As they reeled, Greninja landed beside Charizard.
"What the-?! Kyogre, get up!" Archie demanded.
"What power…" Maxie huffed. "This rain will definitely be an issue if they can use Water-type attacks."
Archie sneered. "Then step back, I'll deal with them myself."
Maxie's glare sharpened. "As if I'd leave you to all the spoils."
As Groudon and Kyogre attempted to get back up, Greninja and Charizard glanced at each other knowingly before springing into the air to resume their onslaught.
Garchomp shot through the air with Kecleon on his back, quickly closing the gap between themselves and Dialga and Palkia.
Unperturbed by them, Cyrus reached his arm out. "Show them the errors in clinging to those beliefs and spirits. Dialga, Roar of Time! Palkia, Spacial Rend!"
The two deities' eyes glowed bright as they let out distorted roars. The diamond and set of pearls on them respectively shined blue and pink. For Dialga, the fins on his back extended as his maw charged with a dense indigo energy. Palkia amassed pink energy on one of his forearms, bringing the appendage back.
Garchomp glared at them, unperturbed. "(Kecleon!)"
"(All lights are green!)" Kecleon shouted.
Dialga lurched forward, unleashing a broad indigo, black, and white beam with bright aura gusts exerting. Palkia swung his forearm forward, sending a dense pink crescent-shaped blade that tore through the atmosphere. Garchomp exerted a bloodcurdling roar as the sensors on his head glowed bright blue, enveloping his body in multicolored draconic energy.
"(Dragon Rush!)"
His speed suddenly became a blur as a draconic pulse emanated from behind. He spearheaded towards the two attacks with Kecleon in front. At the moment of impact, a distorted shockwave traversed everywhere. As the shockwave passed, raindrops seemingly froze in place and began taking different distorted shapes.
Cyrus looked on at the explosion without so much as a smirk, though a small sneer was heard.
"Hm?" But that changed when he noticed something fast beaming ahead.
In the bright smoke, the Dragon Rush continued undisturbed. Kecleon, who was atop Garchomp, had her arms crossed as her Protect made for a phalanx. Garchomp forced through, barreling at a surprised Palkia.
Once they were close enough, Kecleon shot her long-sticky tongue at Dialga, wrapping around the side of his facial armor. She reeled herself in with her right arm glowing bright white, via Brick Break.
…
Before Nic were a set of items. There were a handful that he recognized, while others he had no prior knowledge of.
"This is the Expert Belt. It'll increase the damage dealt by super-effective moves." AU-Nic explained, holding up a black belt with tattered ends. He then held up a yellow band with two pink triangles with a red outlines, arguably looking like a pair of angry eyes. "And this is the Muscle Band. You can use it to increase your Pokémon's Attack stat if they're holding it."
…
The Expert Belt on Garchomp and Muscle Band on Kecleon briefly glimmered as they shortened the distance on their foes.
"(CHOKE ON THIS!)" Garchomp smashed his body into Palkia's abdominal area, the draconic energy immediately knocking he wind out of the space deity's body.
"(BONZAI~!)" Kecleon slugged her right fist squarely in Dialga's face. The force was so strong that a shockwave went straight through the other end and knocked the wind out of him as well.
Both Legendaries gawked at the shrilled levels of pain they felt. They were enveloped in multicolored and bright white explosions that sent them crashing to the ground, sending dust everywhere. And despite his best efforts to stay composed, there seemed to be some mild shock within Cyrus's gaze.
Garchomp retained his stature in the air, whereas Kecleon roped her tongue at him and slung herself to latched back on. The two looked down, noticing the sea of dust fading to reveal their foes gradually getting back up, craning their heads and roaring out.
"(Guess they want seconds.)" Garchomp snarled.
"(It's an all-you-can-eat…)" Kecleon hummed.
"(Ha, you're right…and we haven't had close to our fill yet!)" Garchomp let out a dense bellow as he and Kecleon shot down towards the fray.
Staraptor flew through the air with Arbok in her talons. The duo spearheaded towards their shared foes of Reshiram and Zekrom.
Ghetsis sneered. "Reshiram! Zekrom! Destroy these meddling Pokémon for their defiance!" he ordered. "Dragon Claw!"
The black and white dragons let out shrilled roars that shook the skies. Their tails ignited with red flares and blue lightning that blended in the stormy skies. The two flew off to engage the avian and cobra with their claws extending teal energy claws that gashed the air.
"(Here they come.)" Staraptor stoically stated.
Arbok hissed, his focus apparent. He was going to enjoy this, and Staraptor knew it. If anything, she felt the same.
Reshiram and Zekrom blitzed forward, their claws ready to swipe at them. As they did Staraptor's body glowed white. "(Double Team!)" Immediately, dozens of illusionary clones appeared around her like a flock; all while a red aura increased her evasion.
With the sudden appearance of more Staraptor, Reshiram and Zekrom found their momentum at a loss. They looked around, scanning the numerous clones flying in random directions to disrupt their visual senses. The two Legendaries snarled in clear annoyance.
Ghetsis narrowed his eyes, frowning. "So, they think they can play tricks on me? Clever, but not clever enough." He scowled. "Reshiram, Zekrom! Hyper Voice!"
The two Legendaries heard their master and obeyed. Their mouths opened wide as they inhaled deeply. Upon lurching apart from each other, they unleashed loud, distorted roars that spread vastly all around. The soundwaves visibly collided, making an echo effect that broadened the range. Every clone in the area was immediately snuffed out, leaving the Hyper Voice walls to disperse.
Ghetsis smirked at the display, but quickly realized something was off. That's when he caught something in the sky above. 'What?'
It was revealed Staraptor and Arbok got high above while their opponents were distracted by the former's diversion move. That gave them just enough time to divebomb onto them. Reshiram and Zekrom were about to turn to direct their mouths up, but something bright coming from Staraptor caught their attention.
…
AU-Nic held up a green pouch. When he undid the tie, it revealed a glittering, bright green powder inside that made it hard for everyone to look at directly. "This is called Bright Powder. You can use it to lower the accuracy of your opponents."
"I see." Nic murmured. He knew accuracy made a world of difference, be it for any party. Experience backed up hat claim. But something about this seemed too good of an opportunity for him to pass up.
When he turned towards Staraptor, the two found themselves staring at each other thoughtfully, coming to the same realization. It didn't linger too long because AU-Nic referred to the next item he offered Nic.
"This here is a Razor Claw." In his hand was a broad, crescent-shaped claw. "Normally, Sneasel need these to evolve into Weavile at night, but they can also be used to increase the holder's chances of a critical hit."
"An accuracy and hard-hit combo, huh…"
…
Attached to Staraptor, the Bright Powder was doing its job. A simple direct glance at it beamed into Reshiram and Zekrom's eyes, causing their Hyper Voice combo to misfire around them. The duo beamed between the soundwaves' brims and closed the gap.
When the two had just reached between them, they separated. Time slowed down as Staraptor flung to Reshiram with her wings glowing metallic gray, whereas Arbok's fangs turned to icicles and emitted bright blue aura in the shape of fangs.
"(Steel Wing!)"
"(Iccce Fang!)"
Time sped up as the two blitzed into the dragons' necks, making a bright silver burst and icy explosion upon impact. While Reshiram let out a low grunt, Zekrom gave off a harsher cry as Arbok's frozen jaws sank deep and layered his neck scales in ice.
Staraptor turned and kicked Reshiram's head with a talon, whereas Arbok turned and tossed Zekrom in the opposite direction. Both dragons collided with each other and lost their full momentum.
"What?!" Ghetsis gawked as he watched the two crash into the ground below, causing him to grunt and cover from the shockwaves.
High above, Staraptor swooped around and caught Arbok. They flew around, looking down at their fallen adversaries.
"(It won't matter how much force their attacks have if they can't hit us.)" Staraptor noted. "(That said, Nic's Light Screen won't last forever either.)"
Arbok narrowed his glare. "(Then we'll crush them before that.)"
"(Yes…seems that's the case.)"
Down below, the dust erupted with flames and lightning discharging from one spot. A shockwave dispersed it all, revealing Reshiram and Zekrom bellowing violently. The two jettisoned in the air, leaving flames sand lightning in their wake.
The island that original held the stronghold of Rainbow Rocket had a sandstorm raging across its epicenter, a sizeable yet contained field. It was within there that another epic battle was being waged between combatants.
AU-Nic swiped his arm across as he issued a command through the howling sand. "Arbok, Coil!"
"(Asss you wish.)" The cobra hunkered down and coiled up his body in place. Once tightened, a red aura enveloped his body, increasing his Attack, Defense, and Accuracy.
Giovanni smirked, remaining unimpressed. "Nidoking, use Earthquake!"
Nidoking roared as he brought one heel off the ground, bringing it back down with a heavy stomp that crushed the ground beneath. A dense magnitude erupted as the ground blew apart in a growing shockwave towards AU-Arbok and his Trainer.
AU-Nic knew even with the Defense boost by Coil, it was foolish to take that attack head-on. He had ways of dealing with matters like this. "Aqua Tail!"
AU-Arbok hissed, slamming his tail against the ground behind and summoning condensed, spiraling water that enveloped his lower half. With a grand roar, the cobra slammed the wave down in front of him with all his might, sending an omnidirectional shockwave of water across the vicinity.
The shattering earth raced across the distance as the impending mini-tsunami challenged it. The two shockwaves met centerfield and erupted massive walls of thick earth and water skywards. The land shuddered all around as the geysers of these opposing forces had equal wavelengths.
As a veil of mist and dust blanketed the area between them, the sandstorm buffered Arbok, siphoning energy from him.
"Shadow Claw!" Giovanni commanded.
Nidoking snarled as he brought one of his claws back. Shadow energy swelled around the forearm as three clawed extensions prodded out with a purple aura surrounding the shape. With one vertical slash, a shockwave carved into the dust, opening a tear straight between him and AU-Arbok.
"Not yet, Arbok." AU-Nic ordered.
AU-Arbok made no notion to advance, allowing his foe to close the gap in his stead. Nidoking lunged head-on, bringing his claws back ready to swipe at him.
Once he was a sizeable range away, AU-Nic's glare intensified. "Now, Stomping Tantrum!"
"(Assss you wish!)" AU-Arbok hissed vehemently as a yellow aura enveloped his body. As Nidoking came roaring in, Arbok swiveled his tail over the ground, as if to build up momentum. Once enough was achieved, he brought his tail up and then down into the ground with an immense slam. The ground erupted in a shockwave, kicking up dust with splintered earth shard beaming through the air.
As Nidoking was about to breach the gap, he was struck by the splinters square in the face, making them explode into more dust clouds. The super-effective move sent him soaring through the air, crashing onto his side and sliding back towards Giovanni.
"Not bad." Giovanni admitted. "That failed Aqua Tail only increased your move's power."
The dust cleared around Nidoking, showing him getting up. Giovanni made his counterattack. "Perhaps this shall shake things up. Earthquake!"
Nidoking snarled as he tensed up, ready to bring his heel up…but when he attempted, he ended up cringing from a delayed shock, much to Giovanni's surprise.
"A flinch..?"
AU-Nic narrowed his eyes, knowing full well what was happening. 'That King's Rock I equipped Arbok is doing its job. Now!' Without hesitation, he reached out as he gave a command. "Arbok, Aqua Tail!"
A pair of sclera glimmered in the fading dust around the cobra's location. It was all swept away by a spiral torrent dragged around by a tail, revealing AU-Arbok. He roared as he sprung into the air and came down atop Nidoking in a somersault that gained momentum, making him look like a falling purple hemisphere with a dense aquatic rim.
By the time Nidoking realized what was happening, he was too late when Arbok's tail slammed down on the back of his head, immediately sending him into the earth with a massive tsunami wave washing over the area.
Giovanni was far enough away to not be hampered by the wave's impact, but he watched the scene with a frown.
When the wave subsided, Arbok stood tall, despite the sandstorm continuing to buffer him. Meanwhile, Nidoking was imprinted deep within the ground, his eyes swirls as he lowly groaned. The cobra hissed at their foe's folly.
"…nicely played." Giovanni commended. Without another word, he recalled Nidoking back to his Master Ball. "Wasn't expecting a flinch of all things. How tedious."
"You would know." AU-Nic sniped. "You always had the high ground, ever since the start." His eyes narrowed. "Now it's been leveled."
"Yes, no thanks to you and your other half." Giovanni didn't sound too pleased to admit that as he pulled out another Master Ball. "But as you know, when one foundation falls, there are others to replace them."
When he threw the Master Ball, out came a Rhyperior. The massive beast let out a roar that howled as loudly as the sandstorm raging around them.
'That Stealth Rock is still in play, but keeping Arbok in play is too risky, especially if it has Solid Rock.' AU-Nic didn't need to think too hard on his options. He pulled out a Poké Ball. "Arbok, return!"
"(Asss you wish.)" AU-Arbok nodded before a red beam withdrew him back into his capsule.
"You said that to be unchallenged, you have to take everything in your grasp, yet what if there's nothing left to take?" AU-Nic pulled out another Poké Ball. "Everything is finite, even power. You hold a lot now, but you'll either lose grip or deplete it eventually."
Giovanni's smirk darkened. "Then it's just a matter of stamina. See who has the most power in the end. That is what will determine the victor. And I am no exception."
"We'll just see about that!" AU-Nic threw his Poké Ball. The ball popped open high in the sandstorm, followed by a steep dive to the ground. When the dust cleared, it revealed his Garchomp, his yellow eyes boring daggers as he let out his trademark guttural roar that shook the ground.
The Stealth Rock activated, the stones picking themselves up and bombarding Garchomp. Despite the damage sustained, Garchomp remained largely unfazed. "(Do they think they can weigh me down with this?)"
Rhyperior snarled, glaring down his opponent. Having no reason to stall, Giovanni smirked. "Then let me show you the difference in power." He snapped his fingers. "Megahorn!"
Rhyperior raised his head towards the sky, his nasal drill-like horn glowing green and extended in size. He lowered his head and thrust forward, beelining straight for Garchomp.
AU-Nic and his Garchomp didn't say anything. The latter knew what to do without it being said. He stepped back into the sandstorm, seemingly fading from view. Rhyperior caught up and spearheaded into the thick sand, but was surprised when his horn only met sandy wind than an actual body.
"Sand Veil?" Giovanni questioned.
"That power of yours won't mean anything if you can be outmaneuvered." AU-Nic prodded. "Iron Head!"
From the depths of the raging sand, AU-Garchomp roared out, violently spearheading with the yellow star on his head turning to iron.
Many miles to the far west where Nic and his Pokémon were engaging in their battles, there sat a withered old tree. It's here that Junior had taken refuge, hiding in the hollow base of the tree. The youngling had done his part in separating the groups based on Nic's instructions. Now, all he had to do was wait.
"(Okay, just gotta wait here for Mama and my other Uncles and Aunt to do their part.)" Junior firmly told himself, relaying the last bit of instructions Nic gave him.
"And Junior, once you finish teleporting us away, make sure to find a safe distance. If anything should happen, we're counting on you and your Teleport if it gets too dire.'
Junior knew his part. Unlike before where he didn't have a sense of self-awareness, he wasn't going to jeopardize his Mama or Nic like he did on Pokétopia. He was determined to do his part. No matter how small it may be.
Still, something about this situation made him feel…dissatisfied for some reason. He couldn't quite explain it. It could be because he's started getting more engaged with his Mama's training, but he felt like he should be doing something more. But there was so much going on that he could barely keep up with, even with his clarity now, the young cloud was at a loss with what to do aside from what he was told.
"(Mama…Nic…)" He muttered, staring at the distorted maelstrom in the distance.
Lysandre stood several meters apart from Nic, the vexation that his prized Legendary duo was struck down in less than a minute continued bubbling on the surface of his mind. 'This Nic…this person…just who is he?' He grimaced at the realization. 'I need to enact a Full Restore on Xerneas before that poison dwindles the last of his stamina.'
He needed to bide time to enable his Pokémon to counterattack. "You're certainly not like how we first encountered." He admitted.
Nic frowned, his glare never leaving his target. "You wouldn't know the half of it."
Lysandre furrowed his brow. Something about this veteran trainer radiated wonder. Wonder that he couldn't help prod at. "Am I to assume that you know me from somewhere?"
"You can say that."
"I see. And yet there is little I know about you…or rather, this you."
"Perhaps so…but the other Nic and I have something alike." Nic admitted. "And that's we had to put everything on the line to stop people like you. I didn't wanna say it back then…but I can understand where you're coming from."
Lysandre cocked a brow.
"Humans are never easy to compromise with." Memories of his experience on Earthland flooded his mind. Jose, Zero, Grimoire Heart, Jienma, Neinhart, Emmanuel, and Melchior were amongst the many whom he thought fit into that category; Neuro too, though he was the byproduct of human abuse. "They want to gain as much as they can to stand above the rest, because they know that at the bottom, they'll just be stepped on by others like them. I believe that's how Giovanni works, right?"
Lysandre narrowed his eyes. He couldn't necessarily disagree when it was the truth.
"And you." He continued. "You wanted to rid the world of those kinds of people. But the way you went and did it only made you one of them in return. Takes a monster to create a monster, and a monster to destroy a monster. But did you ever stop to think for once that there could have been a better compromise?"
Lysandre grimaced at his words, but he answered with a straight, resolute expression. "Even if I did answer, it won't change what I had done." He tightened his fist by his side. "I needed to fulfill my dream, and to do that, I had to obtain power. I used that power that many feared, and now manmade strife is all but gone…well, almost. The difference between you and me is that I had a goal, and a plan to reach that goal. Do you have that same ambition? Tell me, what is it that you intend to do with those powers of yours?"
Nic frowned, his brow furrowing. That was all Lysandre needed.
"…I see. Then such power is wasted on you. We of Rainbow Rocket may all have different views and agendas…but we do have one thing in common: We are willing to use our power to fulfill our goals! Even if by chance you do stop me – if Rainbow Rocket meets its end – what is there left for you to do? If humanity does recover, your power will be sought by others who want it – who need it more!" His anger surfaced. "The cycle will only continue because of you!"
Nic's eyes widened slightly. He remembered Gran Doma said something similar from long ago.
"What you have gained in fame and the wandering eyes of many, you also see hidden fear; power they now realize that existed and is contained within you. Even without these Plates, you are by no means any less of a burden. You have gained many powerful enemies that may be elaborating on your strength. People are scared of you, and despite how you're also a hero, it's also reason to believe that you're an equal threat. You have equal fraction to these powers of Pokémon; the land, sea, and the world's temperature can change on your behalf, and that can drastically affect how lives work."
Back then, he outright opposed Gran Doma and the Council. But now that he was older and have been through so much, he could somewhat empathize with what he said. But at the same time, it was people like him and those who mismanaged their systems that would only use his gifts irresponsibly. Even though he understood, he knew it'd also lead to mass destruction in the end.
And that was not a guilt he was going to live with.
The best hands were his own, hands that could reach out to others and help them. Just like the many from the guild he was a part of.
Lightning suddenly surged around Nic, startling Lysandre. Nic extended his right arm, concentrating lightning to a singular point aimed at his foe. "You're just as afraid as anyone else who wants to manipulate favors into their hands." The Charge Beam was fully compressed. "Those at the top like you think you know what's best…but you're all just martyrs. And those thrones you sit one…we'll crumble them!"
The beam fired across the ground from Nic's palm, singing the ground as it headed towards Lysandre. He braced himself as the attack drew in…but the beam suddenly separated into smaller beams that diverged around him.
Nic's breath hitched. This wasn't his doing. He glanced back and noticed Yveltal rising back up, his eyes glowing bright purple. 'It recovered after that Thunder quick.'
Yveltal's glowing eyes brightened. The electric beams manipulated by his Psychic suddenly altered course and arched over Nic, all converging onto him. At the last second, he glowed and shifted his Zap Form half to his Dread Form and took the attack head-on. The air crackled violently as the ground vaporized from the impact.
As the bright, telekinetic flare engulfed Nic, Xerneas staggered back up. His glowing antlers had reached their full mass and flourished a multicolored light that enveloped his body, via Geomancy. A harsh red aura then enveloped him, increasing his Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. Though the poison continued to run its course.
Recovering from his shock, Lysandre smirked. "Moonblast!"
Xerneas raised his head and cried to the downpouring skies. A blue spotlight appeared as a dense, pink orb bloomed atop his antlers. He nudged forward, expelling the mass at the electrified mass.
Unaffected by the ongoing discharge, Nic turned and launched a barrage of Sludge Bomb from his left hand. The globs met the shimmering sphere, causing an explosion of murky smoke mixed with fairy dust to flood the ground.
"A martyr…heh…yes, I suppose I am."
Nic heard Lysandre's voice through the smoke. By the time it all cleared, Xerneas and Yveltal stood beside him. Yveltal on his left, and Xerneas on his right. But what Nic noticed were the two Full Restores in Lysandre's hands.
"But still…" He sprayed his Full Restores onto his Pokémon. Almost instantly, the poison blush dissipated on Xerneas while his and Yveltal's stamina returned to full capacity. "As long as the venality of humanity exists, the world's beauty will never shine." He declared. "Now…it's time for you to see the power we possess…"
Nic's eyes narrowed.
As the fight was going on, there was a small boulder that was out of range, yet well in sight. Though it seemed like an unremarkable landmark, something was watching them fight. A camouflaged iris blinked as it focused on Nic.
…
Back at AU-Nic's base, the cube sitting on the desk gave off a green glow.
Greninja put a foot behind him for traction. He took a sharp breath before holding up a ninja sign, expelling an enormous volume of Scald across the split earth towards Groudon.
Kyogre let out another roar before opening his maw further, unleashing a massive Hydro Pump. The two high-pressure blasts of water jetted across the ground until they met centerfield. Despite the Hydro Pump having a larger volume, the more condensed pressure and boiling temperature of Greninja's Scald met even, resulting in a full-scale geyser erupting water everywhere.
"(Heat Wave!)" Charizard brought his wings back, then flapped them forward. Despite the rain reducing the heated whirlwind's intensity by half, by no means did that slow it down. The rain visibly steamed and evaporated along with the astray splashes of water. The Heat Wave rushed through, striking Kyogre and Groudon, buffering both.
Maxie, his arm shielding him from the burning heat from a distance, gritted his teeth. "Groudon, take him out! Ancient Power!"
Groudon snarled and buckled down from Charizard's attack. Despite the whirlwind's burning wake, his body shined bright white and expelled an afterimage of himself that compressed into a silver core. He launched the prehistoric force through the wind, quickly closing in on Charizard.
However, before it could even get halfway, two shuriken of water sliced the sphere into thirds, causing the segmented attack to implode early. Below, Greninja looked calm as his Water Shuriken interception.
"This isn't getting anywhere." Maxie hissed. "Our attacks aren't landing!"
"Maybe so." Archie grunted, a smirk growing on his face. "But I have a surprise just for them."
Taking advantage of the smoke, Charizard shot through, his claws coated in Dragon Claw and trailing energy streaks at his velocity heading for them.
"Now, Kyogre! Thunder!"
Greninja and Charizard's eyes widened. '(Did he say…?!)'
The next moment, Kyogre's body was coated in electricity. The voltage waved around his body for a few precious moments before he craned his neck skywards, expelling the lightning into a beam into the dark, rainy sky. After a few moments of suspenseful calm, suddenly a massive bolt shot straight down, heading onto Charizard.
Greninja reacted fast. He spread his hands apart, creating a Night Slash needle. He then enveloped his arm in glowing purple energy for his Return, which caused the needle to glow brighter. Without hesitation, he threw the needle like a halberd, dense purple energy spiraling around it as it spearheaded like a comet to intercept the attack.
Just before the sure-hit attack was about to land its mark, the purple projectile intercepted it. The wanton levels of voltage was immediately torn apart, causing loose channels of lightning to disperse while Charizard found room to fly back and pivot to a stop besides Greninja.
"(Thanks for that.)" Charizard said.
"(Yeah, don't mention it.)" Greninja responded, his eyes narrowing. "(Still, wasn't expecting that.)"
"(Yeah, especially in the rain…that's gonna be an issue.)"
Archie had a smug look on his face, and rightfully so. "Thanks to the rain, Thunder's accuracy doesn't matter. It'll always meet its mark. Still, seems those two knew how to intercept that."
"Seems they were exceptionally trained by that imposter Nic." Maxie harrumphed.
Archie sneered. "It doesn't matter. They don't have anywhere near the scope of power that a Legendary Pokémon possesses. Now…to show them what that means. Kyogre!"
"Groudon."
Both Legendaries simultaneously snarled, before bellowing towards the skies so loudly the air was shuddering. The echoes of their cries reached through the earth beneath Greninja and Charizard, causing it to rumble.
Their cries gradually diminished, yet the magnitude beneath them didn't cease. In fact, it continued to escalate.
Charizard looked down, feeling the magnitude running through his body. "(An earthquake?)"
Greninja spread his legs apart. The seismic surge only escalated, and the ground started to warm up. Realizing what was happening, he turned towards Charizard. "(The air! Hurry!)"
The two didn't waste a beat as they shot back into the air. The instant they did, the ground beneath cracked open, expelling molten rock formations that rose up from fissures. The rain instantly made them steam, forcing Greninja to get on Charizard's back so as to evade the wake. They watched the steam for several moments, waiting for what was to happen. Only after did the steam finally settle did their eyes widen at what they saw.
Groudon reared his head forward and back, releasing a shuddering roar to establish his domain. He stood atop a massive plateau of molten rock that towered over the land. Yet, at the base of this expansion, the ground beneath was submerged in water, almost like a moat. The water had violent waves surging that crashed against the shores of the small molten mountain, hardening the still fresh lava. It was in this basin that Kyogre flew out with a loud splash, letting out a roar of his own.
Maxie stood atop Groudon. Archie stood amongst the rock pillars around the basin. The two leaders pulled out Full Restores and sprayed their respective Pokémon beside them. Instantly Groudon and Kyogre's energy completely healed, neither showing any wear they've accumulated throughout the battle.
"I think it's time we show them what makes us different from them." Maxie suggested.
"Heh…you know, for what it's worth, I still wanna take you on myself." Archie admitted. "But, I guess that can wait. Let's just consider this our 'warm-up'."
Maxie accepted the challenge. "Yes...so it may seem."
With Groudon and Kyogre now in their prominent domains, Charizard and Greninja watched from above. They said nothing, but they both knew that things were only going to escalate from here. Just the way they liked it. As Charizard would say, it was time to go that extra mile!
Garchomp raised a claw and let out his signature guttural roar. "(Stone Edge!)" He pierced the ground with the claw, sending a linear formation of large, sharp rocks across the earth towards Dialga and Palkia.
Cyrus remained unexpressive, reaching his arm out to command. "Earth Power!"
Dialga and Palkia resonated at the same time. The two Legendaries let out a unison roar as golden fissures began beneath their feet and started towards the oncoming Stone Edge. From the fissures, fiery orange energy erupted, and the two shockwaves eventually met halfway, becoming one massive wake of pluming earth.
The Stone Edge and Earth Power attacks met centerfield, instantly melting the pointed rocks the moment they made contact. A huge explosion of fiery earth plumed everywhere, sending splintered earth fragments everywhere.
Despite the majority of the debris raining in his direction, Garchomp remained calm. As if by some miracle, the debris began to change direction; some pushing into others, throwing off their course, or pushed back to the direction it came from.
Cyrus narrowed his eyes. "What's the meaning of this?"
Garchomp grunted.
It was barely visible, but a red zigzag was ricocheting from debris to debris, almost like steppingstones. Kecleon – who was invisible – was deflecting the molten earth at blinding speeds. Deflecting the brunt of the wake, she focused on bridging the gap between them and their opponents. She shot from rock to rock, making it to the top when she opened her mouth and exposed her long, sticky tongue. She wrapped several heavy rocks around her tongue – some being five times her own size – and used kinetic energy built up by swinging her body around. She slung the rocks at Dialga and Palkia, smashing against their bodies and buffering them.
With an opening, she shot her long, sticky tongue up towards Dialga's chest armor and reeled herself in at bullet speed. Though she was still invisible, her fist could be seen from the white energy encompassing it. "(Brick Break!)"
The fist smashed into Dialga's chest, creating a shockwave that ran through the Legendary and expelled into the air behind him. Dialga's cries of agony were vivid at best.
With Kecleon retreating, Garchomp took the opportunity to pick her up as he sped by at Mach speed, enveloped in draconic energy hurling towards Palkia, via Dragon Rush.
Cyrus's hollow gaze never faltered. "…do it."
Dialga and Palkia heard the order, both sets of eyes shooting open. At the same time, Dialga's chest diamond and Palkia's twin pearls shined brightly.
"KRRRRAAAAAWWWWR!" The duo screeched in unison. A blue and pink energy field quickly expanded outwards.
As Garchomp and Kecleon were spearheading in – the latter reading a Slash to aid – the moment they were both enveloped in the energy field…they froze in place. As if time itself froze up around them. Even the energy surrounding their bodies and claws were suspended.
Cyrus's eyelids lowered. "Roar of Time. Spacial Rend."
Dialga and Palkia roared out for the umpteenth time as they moved to either side. As their respective gems shined brightly, they charged up their attacks same as before. This time, with no obstructions and their enemies suspended, it was fair game. The indigo and spatial crescent struck the sides of Garchomp and Kecleon, engulfing them in a distorted crack followed by a broad indigo explosion.
It all happened so fast for the two. One moment, they were spearheading towards their opponents with an advantage, the next thing they knew, they felt space corrupt and a dense, heavy force swallowing them up. The force of the explosion forced them towards the ground with a painful thud, followed by a slight skid back in the dust.
As the two deities levitated high over their foes, Dialga's fins returned to their normal size as the chest diamond ceased glowing. The blue hue around him faded away as leftover rocks from earlier resumed falling back to earth.
On the ground, the dust was forcefully torn apart by Garchomp's fins. The draconic shark let out a gruff grunt as he and Kecleon were back to their feet.
'(Whatever just happened, looks like we didn't take the worst of it thanks to Nic's Light Screen.)' Garchomp was thankful his Trainer thought ahead. Thanks to that, they were able to escape the full brunt of what just floored them…for now. He turned towards Kecleon. "(Are you okay?)"
Kecleon shook her head to rid the dizzy spell. "(My engines are still functional…)"
Garchomp grunted. He glared up at their opponents and noticed something off. As Dialga's backfins shrank, the blue hue surroundings them faded away. His eyes narrowed, immediate possibilities running a thousand miles a second in his experienced cranium.
'With Roar of Time, Dialga is vulnerable. I'll have to make sure they keep their distance until he recharges.' Cyrus reached his arm forward. "Palkia, Surf!"
Palkia, still sparce with energy, crossed his forearms as a dense ring of water amassed around him. The spatial entity unleashed an omnidirectional tsunami that flourished like an exploding volcano.
Due to the radius and effects of Roar of Time, Dialga was slammed on the side by the roaring wave. He screeched as he was shoved further away into the air while the rest of the tide followed gravity downwards.
Garchomp and Kecleon went to work. Garchomp snarled as he plunged head-first into the ground, via Dig, whereas Kecleon stood her ground and brought her arms forward, summoning another Protect barrier to wait out the crushing flow of the water raging in the rain.
Shortly after, a spot below Dialga and Palkia erupted a geyser of water and wet dirt. Garchomp shot up at Mach speed heading for Dialga.
Just then, Dialga's chest armor regained light. The deity snarled and craned his neck around, sending out a blue hemisphere that swallowed Garchomp when he his claw was only a few feet away from connecting with his underside.
Cyrus's eyes closed. "End it already."
Dialga and Palkia adjusted their stances to take aim with their respective attacks. Dialga charged up for one more Roar of Time, as Palkia brought a forearm back with Spacial Rend readying.
Suddenly, a pink tongue connected with Garchomp's tailfin from below. Kecleon's body was just on the outside of the hemisphere's hue whereas her tongue had made for a safety line that connected with Garchomp just as he surfaced. She pulled as fast and hard as she could, but she felt a delayed resistance in her pull.
Still, the slow, steady tug was what was needed to get Garchomp the appropriate distance to avoid a direct blast from the attacks. They collided in front of him, creating a distorted explosion that unleashed a shockwave across the atmosphere. Once again, raindrops distorted and took amorphous shapes.
The shockwave pushed Garchomp away, his fins slowly moving in front to cover the full wake of the attack. When Kecleon finally pulled him out of the hue, the shockwave's momentum suddenly switched to normal and Garchomp went flying back. He caught himself in the moment and spread out his fins, forcing him to stop.
Kecleon roped herself up with her tongue onto his back, the two looking up to see the shockwave dispersing. Dialga and Palkia remained largely unfazed.
Their eyes and bodies may have been different, but they felt what that was.
Zekrom's roar thundered as loud as the dense hemisphere of condensed lightning around him. Lightning discharged and left behind a static comet as his Bolt Strike beelined straight for Staraptor. Though not as potent, Reshiram had a light blue hemisphere enveloping the top of his head and charged for Arbok, via Zen Headbutt.
Both Pokémon didn't even have to think. They let their bodies and reflexes do the work for them. Staraptor glowed briefly before another illusionary flock fanned out, her Double Team heightening her evasion further. Zekrom bolted straight through, leaving crackling static streams behind as a vast number of clones were vaporized.
Reshiram had no obstructions between himself and Arbok, but the cobra had other ideas. He coiled himself up tightly, his Coil heightening his Attack, defense, and Accuracy. Once Reshiram was closed enough, he used his coils as a springboard and shot off the ground. Reshiram passed beneath as Arbok somersaulted.
Time slowed down for a moment. As Zekrom and Reshiram were carried by their diminishing momentum, Staraptor had a talon poised behind the former's head, while Arbok opened his maw and aimed a charging purple mass taking shape into a garbage bag.
"(Close Combat!)"
"(Gunk Shot!)"
Staraptor barreled down and axe kicked into the back of Zekrom's head, a shockwave running through his skull that made his eyes shrink in shock. The momentum he had completely dispersed, but the didn't stop Staraptor from backwinging and axe kicking Zekrom into submission until a final talon down onto his dome created a shockwave upon impact with his head, sending him crashing into the ground in less than a second.
Arbok's aim was just as impeccable. His shot struck the back of Reshiram's head, engulfing his upper body in a toxic explosion that shook the air. Reshiram howled as he crashed at the same time as Zekrom.
Two massive dust geysers flourished before a befuddled Ghetsis, who was hunkering through the shockwaves the best he could. Arbok and Staraptor landed beside each other a safe distance away, the latter enveloped in a blue aura that reduced her Defense and Special Defense.
"(Hmph…not asss challenging asss I'd expect.)" Arbok scoffed.
"(Indeed. Still…)" Staraptor couldn't help but agree. Even her battle against Neuro felt tougher than this. '(Suppose this is the result of our experience. Even back then, Arbok was able to handle that corrupted Zygarde, and Charizard that Moltres. These…)'
"How dare you…" Ghetsis gritted his teeth. Out of frustration, he pulled out two Full Restores and undid their caps. Rather than move to heal them in person, he lobbed them into the dirt clouds. "Reshiram! Zekrom! Enough of this! Show them what makes them inferior to me!"
A moment of silence fell as the dust was settling. Then, two massive silhouettes arose, alerting Staraptor and Arbok. They watched a set of white and black wings flex, two tails humming as the temperature suddenly began spiking. Lightning and thunder clapped heavily overhead as the cyclone centralized above Zekrom. Around Reshiram, what remained of any grass was turned to ash by the heat gathering from his tail.
Their eyes flashed open, now fully restored. "KRRRWWWOOOOOOOH!" The air violently shook as their bodies discharged flame and lightning streams in all directions. Flare whips created friction when they mixed with the lightning, only adding further to the temperature.
Flame streaks raced past Staraptor and Arbok, setting the land ablaze and closing off their footholds. They both remained cautious yet observant despite the walls of fire blazing around them.
Zekrom ascended and let out a violent roar. His tail turbines expelled lightning towards the sky, the lightning intensifying.
…
Nestled in his hiding place, Junior watched as lightning channeled across the dark skies, a mixture of awe and fear at the sight. "(Mama…please be okay.)"
Giovanni's Rhyperior roared as he staggered back several meters until he got traction with his footing. Ahead of the behemoth, AU-Garchomp stomped on the ground, causing the ground to thunder.
As the battle-lust dragon snarled, AU-Nic stood a safe distance away as he was thinking of his next move. 'This sandstorm won't last much longer. We need to finish off that Rhyperior. So…' Knowing what needed to be done, he voiced it. "Garchomp!"
AU-Garchomp bared his fangs. "(Let's do it, Nic! I'm itching to annihilate them!)"
AU-Nic scoffed. "My thoughts exactly..." Getting the okay, he reached for something in his pocket that glinted.
…
As Zekrom's lightning surged across the skies above, that did little to placate Greninja and Charizard's predicament. "(This rain isn't gonna last much longer, but that Thunder will be a bother.)" Greninja noted.
Charizard snorted. "(Well if that's the case…)" He spread his wings, creating strong gusts. His expression turned intense. "(Then leave that to me.)"
Greninja looked at his brother, getting the inclination of what he was going to do. But he chose to go with it. "(Fine by me.)"
Charizard tensed his claws and let out a loud roar. "(Nic!)"
Even from afar, Nic – sensing Charizard's boisterous energy – knew what he wanted. Knowing the circumstances, he furrowed his brow. "I hear you, loud and clear." He started to reach for the Key Stone embedded on his left coat sleeve.
At the same time, both Nics clutched their Key Stones tight, causing transparent rainbow gleams to flare out before the energy turned into light beams. "Alright then…Mega Evolve!"
The lights from Charizard and AU-Garchomp's Mega Stones bloomed to life with energy streams flailing haphazardly. The streams soon connected with the Key Stones' light streams, forming light chains that channeled towards both Pokémon. Their bodies underwent a metamorphosis as the air and ground thundered from the pressure of their empowerment. As they morphed, their grunts got deeper. More brutish.
With a roar of unison finality, the light enveloping them erupted. Mega Charizard let out a roar so hot that rain evaporated around him, followed by an expanded gust. Mega Garchomp was no different, the ground depressing as a single flex of his muscles sent shockwaves throughout the sandstorm.
Maxie and Archie looked on, alarmed. "Mega Evolution…?" Maxie breathed.
Archie scoffed. "No matter." He swiped his arm. "Kyogre, bring it down with Thunder!"
Kyogre groaned as his body coated in dense electricity, electrocuting the water around him in the process. He raised his head high and sent up a dense bolt of lightning skywards, breaching the dark, thundering skies. The skies flashed above Mega Charizard, but his red eyes didn't blink once.
Seconds later, a massive bolt beamed straight down onto him. His claws coated in Dragon Claw energy, Mega Charizard crossed his arms and tore in opposite directions above his head. The lightning bisected into halves that tore apart, striking and eviscerating the ground below Mega Charizard, who remained unfazed in the air.
Archie's eyes shrank with shock. "What…? How?!"
"His physical strength improved that much?!" Maxie gasped.
Steam came off Mega Charizard as the rain met his skin. His blue flames went on strong. "(Now you're about to see…)"
"(…what true power is!)" AU-Mega Garchomp bellowed, making shockwaves that shook the area. The shockwaves went past Giovanni, who despite the opposition, didn't seem at all fazed. In fact, he looked on as if expecting it.
Needless to say, he pressed on with his attack. "Rhyperior…"
'Now that Mega Garchomp's Ability is Sand Force…' AU-Nic didn't think twice about his move.
Both shouted at the same time: "Earthquake!"
Roars surged from both combatants as they acknowledged the command. As Rhyperior raised his wrecking ball tail, AU-Mega Garchomp raised both his scythes. Both plunged into the earth at the same time. In a fraction of a second, the sandstorm paused from a sonic boom that ran through the land beneath. Then, without mercy, a seismic bomb went off, sending splintered fragments of debris and rock hailing in an expanding radius.
…
'Just a little more…' Shiin was inscribing Enchantment runes along the perimeter of the island until the air shifted. He looked up at the isle and immediately ascended higher to avoid a wave of dust and rock that almost pummeled him.
'What the hell was that just now?! I didn't sense that at all!' He turned his attention towards the center of the sea of dust far inland. He could feel something powerful, but it wasn't magic. It was something else. Something…powerful. 'What kind of power are we really fighting against here?'
…
AU-Nic managed to keep a foothold over a ledge that was pushed up by the unison Earthquake. He watched as the dust fade away. And with it, the sandstorm.
With the air clearing, it revealed AU-Mega Garchomp in one piece. The ground around them had all been but destroyed, leaving uneven earth everywhere. Amongst the debris was Rhyperior, who was overwhelmed by his adversary's force and laid unconscious.
AU-Mega Garchomp raised his head high, expelling a roar of triumph.
"Mega Evolution…what a truly magnificent power it is indeed." A wave of dust passed by behind Rhyperior. The silhouette revealed to be Giovanni, who casually wiped dust off his shoulder. "You used my strengths against me. Well played."
"Too soon to rely on flattery to save your skin." AU-Nic retorted, disregarding Giovanni's halfhearted compliment.
"I'm simply giving credit where it's due, that's all." Giovanni pulled out a Master Ball and withdrew Rhyperior without a word of appreciation. With his Sandstorm now gone, he knew he wouldn't be chipping away at Nc's Pokémon, but at the same time, it thwarted AU-Mega Garchomp's Ability. He had to be thankful for the timing. "Now, come out Nidoqueen!"
The fourth Master Ball lobbed skywards, expelling energy that manifest a Nidoqueen standing firm and letting out a roar.
AU-Nic held up a Poké Ball. "Return for now." He withdrew AU-Mega Garchomp to safety. He brought out another capsule and threw it in. "One more time, Arbok!"
Once more, AU-Arbok appeared on the decimated field, letting out a violent hiss-like roar upon his return to battle. "(I am ready to ssserve, Nic-sssama.)" He dutifully declared…before the Stealth Rock activated, colliding rocks with his body to make him grunt in pain.
Giovanni's composure didn't break. Even if AU-Nic withdrew his Pokémon as many times as he wanted, it would only delay the inevitable. He was still in control of the battle…because of the one last Master Ball in his pocket. 'Soon…it shall be your turn.'
Yveltal let out another shrilled cry as he flapped his wings, shooting out dozens of saw-like blades of energy that cut through the air. Nic kept his posture relaxed, yet had a steely gaze. In the blink of an eye, all the Air Slash blades were sliced by a Night Slash needle, quite casually at that.
Xerneas was next to comply, attacking with an already charged Moonblast that shot across the ground towards Nic's back. Nic turned towards the attack, bringing his arms up seeping with dense poison. Crossing them in an X, his Cross Poison caused the Moonblast to pass by, cut into quarter sizes before imploding. Nic stood unfazed by the shockwaves brushing against his back, his eyes fixed on the battle before him.
'If I'm gonna beat more foes with sharp minds, I gotta kick up my wits. To do that, I gotta work on my status and support moves a lot more.' He remembered something he thought of during training some time before.
Eyes narrowing, he felt a heinous pressure build up behind him. Yveltal screeched loudly as he unleashed an Oblivion Wing that barreled in a steep incline towards him. Without looking, he reached his hand back and fired a Dark Pulse. Fueled by Yveltal's Dark Aura, the beam of dark rings drove through the crimson matter, barreling for Yveltal. The demonic avian moved out of the way to avoid the hit.
The distraction averted, Nic took a deep breath and exhaled, expelling a thick white cloud mixed with poison particles. The Clear Smog and Poison Powder combo billowed towards Xerneas, swallowing him. His cries of anguish were heard as the poison got him once more.
'He combined a stat-reducing move with a status affliction?' Lysandre observed with awe. 'He's making the most of his Poison-type attacks to hamper Xerneas. Still…' He began reaching for his pockets. 'Does he forget that I have plenty of Full Restores-!'
Before he could finish his thought, white ethereal chains crossed in front of him. His eyes widened as he stepped back in shock.
"What…?" He looked down, seeing his Full Restore wouldn't spray like it should. He realized what had happened. "Of course. Embargo." His gaze fell back onto Nic, whose glare was fixed on him. Seems he didn't forget after all.
'I've made mistakes before…' Nic admitted. He thought of his past battles again. 'But it's better late than never to learn from them.'
"Nidoqueen, Flamethrower!"
"Arbok, Aqua Tail!"
AU-Arbok hissed violently as he swung his tail around, coated in a thick spiral of water. Nidoqueen opened her maw wide and expelled a torrent of flames to hopefully impede the cobra's advances. However, it proved to be a crude miscalculation as the tidal wave turned the flames to mist, obscuring her vision.
"Another obscuration. How cliché." Giovanni huffed.
"Stomping Tantrum!"
AU-Arbok was heard thumping against the ground inside the mist, but Nidoqueen still couldn't see. It was followed by a massive land thud that shot dozens of splintered debris everywhere. Nidoqueen didn't have the time to react before several shards smashed into her cranium, sending her flying past Giovanni and embedded into the cliff of uneven earth behind. By the time he glanced back, he saw that Nidoqueen had spirals in her eyes.
"…well played." He admitted. The mist dispersed, revealing AU-Nic and his Arbok glaring daggers at him, yet he remained unfazed as he casually recalled Nidoqueen. "Yet even now, your resilience shows. Why, I dare say that this is the closest anyone has gotten to my level."
AU-Nic didn't bother with a retort. It would've been wasted breath. 'Here it comes…'
"I suppose I should thank you for this battle thus far. It's been far too long since I've felt this close to being cornered. But, as the saying goes…a cornered animal is the most dangerous." He pulled out his last Master Ball and, with energy that his past throws lacked, lobbed it skywards. "Now…come out!"
Once the Master Ball reached pinnacle height, it popped open, beaming white energy straight down that caused a shockwave. AU-Nic and AU-Arbok recoiled at the small gust picked up.
A set of red eyes beamed through the dust as a silhouette's tail swept around, clearing it away. Standing before a smirking Giovanni was his prized weapon: Mewtwo.
Almost immediately, a pressure swelled around the area. Mewtwo's Pressure Ability activated.
AU-Nic lowered his forearm, glaring. "I figured as much."
AU-Arbok hunched forward, flicking his tongue in challenge to the abnormal being.
"Now, for your endeavors, I shall give you my upmost courtesy, and use the full extent of my abilities as well." Giovanni pulled out something…something that was all too familiar to AU-Nic and AU-Arbok.
"(Nic-sssama…!)"
'A Key Stone! Don't tell me…'
"It's time to stop holding back…and show you my full power!" He clutched the Key Stone tightly in his fist, causing a pulse to exert with numerous light beams escaping between his fingers. "Now…Mega Evolve!"
Mewtwo clenched his fists tight and levitated into the air. His Mewtwonite began reacting and expelled light tendrils that flailed around. The two lines eventually connected, drawing onto Mewtwo and enveloping hm in a glow so powerful it was blinding their foes. The ground beneath Mewtwo suddenly depressed into a crater, numerous rocks levitating and disintegrating. Grunts and snarls were heard getting lower by the second.
After a final outcry, the light hemisphere exploded outwards, sending shockwaves leveling the vicinity.
Mega Mewtwo X had emerged.
"Now…" Giovanni smirked. "Before you end up cornered, I'll extinguish you before that happens."
AU-Nic clenched his fists. His heart rate spiking, sweat beating down his face, the shivers running up and down his spine. This unpleasant pressure would've made any human pass out at this point. But AU-Nic – with all his fortitude up till now – was not going to give up. Not when they came this far!
"(Nic-sssama.)"
AU-Nic heard his Arbok's hiss and saw him look back. From the glare in his eyes, he understood the risks that needed to be taken. Seeing him willing to see this to the end, AU-Nic nodded back. "…right, then let's give it all we've got!"
"Mega Mewtwo…" Giovanni raised his fingers and gave a loud snap. "Stone Edge!"
"Arbok, Gunk Shot!" AU-Nic countered.
Both Pokémon readied for their respective attacks. Mega Mewtwo brought a hand up, whereas AU-Arbok opened his maw and charged up a mass of silver energy that condensed into a garbage bag with a purple aura. When the garbage bag was launched, a shockwave burst through the area. Mega Mewtwo brought his fist down, and, to the surprise of AU-Nic, the appendage stretched and struck the ground without his feet touching. Massive sharp stones beamed straight ahead with no signs of stopping.
The two attacks soared into each other at the speed of Mach fighter jets. An explosion of toxic matter and sharp stones exploded everywhere, quaking the land once more. The shockwaves and matter fragments spearheaded through debris, leveling formations brought up earlier by the Earthquake tides.
AU-Nic took a step back, getting low to avoid piercing shrapnel overhead. He peered ahead, looking through the dust to see a faint blue glow growing brighter by the second.
"Zen Headbutt."
"Arbok, Stomping Tan-!"
A split-second was all it took. Mega Mewtwo burst through the dust with a sonic boom head-first. His ridged head speared at a shocked Arbok and struck his hood's pattern square in the middle. Time slowed for a second as the shock ran through AU-Arbok, leaving his eyes to shrink before the shock sent him flying past AU-Nic so fast dust kicked up.
"ARBOK!" AU-Nic screamed and was promptly shoved to the ground. He caught himself and looked back just as AU-Arbok collided with the ground, creating a massive dust cloud.
When the cloud subsided, it revealed AU-Arbok in a deep pit, his entire body covered with dirt and his hood severely bruised to the point it looked unrecognizable. The cobra laid with his head back, unable to bring himself up.
"(Nic…s-sssama…)" He hissed, before blacking out.
AU-Nic gnashed his teeth. Even though he knew this would happen, it didn't make it any less painful. He quickly recalled AU-Arbok and glared back at Giovanni, who was smirking in delight.
"An eye for an eye." He mused.
AU-Nic squinted. He didn't have time or the energy to waste to backlash. The weak talk, the strong take action. His attention fell on Mega Mewtwo, who levitated motionlessly in front of his master. 'That level of power is insane. Seems his moves are more akin to physical attacks.'
He brought out another Poké Ball and tossed it. "Go, Charizard!"
The capsule popped open, unleashing AU-Charizard into the air. "(I'm ready!)"
Just then, the Stealth Rock shined below. The stones closed in and struck AU-Charizard, making him roar in pain.
Mega Mewtwo snorted, offering no words to his opponent. Giovanni raised a brow. "A Flying-type. How quaint, if not for Stealth Rock"
AU-Nic clicked his teeth. Of course he knew, but it was crucial to his plan.
Giovanni snapped his fingers. "Stone Edge!" Mega Mewtwo complied, clenching and fist tight and extended the limb towards the ground. The earth splintered apart as dozens of spiked rock formations shot towards AU-Charizard.
"Go!" AU-Nic shouted.
"(You got it!)" AU-Charizard showed no reluctance. He flapped his wings, sending a shockwave out as he spurred for the oncoming piercing rocks. He turned sideways and flew between the formations, performing barrel rolls and leaping off each one to close the gap.
"Flare Blitz!"
Giovanni snapped his fingers. "Return the charge. Zen Headbutt."
AU-Charizard exerted a loud roar. He leaped off the last Stone Edge pillar, spearheading after his foe. In midflight, his body flexed, erupting into an intense flare that left a comet stream as he sailed after Mega Mewtwo. The recipient responded in kind by enveloping his head in a blue light forcefield and shot with equal intensity.
The two attacks collided, expelling telekinetic force and heated flames over a broad vicinity. The shockwaves reached their Trainers, but neither had the care to budge. The wake of the attacks had fields of blue and fire in a stalemate, but in the thick of it, AU-Charizard seemed to have had the most difficulty. Veins were throbbing on the sides of his eyes to show how hard he was going to keep Mega Mewtwo at bay.
"You won't match Mega Mewtwo, not with force like that." Giovanni taunted. "Perhaps it'd be different if you hadn't Mega Evolved already."
AU-Nic, however, surprised Giovanni with a grin. "Who said we were trying to overpower you?"
"Hm?"
"Now! Low Sweep!"
AU-Charizard squinted. He mustered the strength in his arms and grabbed Mega Mewtwo's pauldrons, pinning both at arm's length. Their attacks dissipated, leaving a split-second for Giovanni to realize what his aim was.
'He used a head-on attack just to get close?'
AU-Charizard brought his right leg around, landing a direct hit on Mega Mewtwo's side. Though it wasn't very effective, the attack made him grunt as a blue aura indicated the lowered Speed effect of Low Sweep.
The recoil effects of Flare Blitz took its toll, but despite the crying agony his body was feeling, he had a headstrong smirk. "(How's that for an extra mile?)" Suddenly, he started chewing on something. As soon as he finished swallowing, a dense red aura enveloped his body, increasing his Attack.
'Now that he ate that Leichi Berry…' AU-Nic swiped his arm in a slash. "Dragon Claw!"
AU-Charizard brought his right arm back, energy massing into a massive set of draconic claws. With Mega Mewtwo's Speed lowered, his reaction time was too long. AU-Charizard roared violently as he brought his claws into his face. A shockwave erupted so wildly that what followed was a pink blur smashing into the ground below with thunderous force.
As dust swept through the area, Giovanni's smirk was gone, replaced by a disapproved scowl.
Even though the dust hadn't settled, AU-Nic knew better than to let up. 'Keep up the momentum!' "Now! Flare Blitz!"
AU-Charizard's body swelled with an intense, fiery aura. His tail flame suddenly expanded five times its original size, superheating the air. His Blaze Ability kicking in, he let out a draconic cry as he flexed his body once more, erupting into a massive hemisphere of fire that looked like a miniature sun.
'With an increased attack, Mega Mewtwo's lowered speed, and Charizard's Blaze…let's see them stop this!'
"(HRRRAAAAAAAGH~!)" AU-Charizard flapped his wings, divebombing straight down onto Mega Mewtwo, who was back up and saw him coming his way.
"Enough of this!" Giovanni scowled. "Stone Edge!"
Mega Mewtwo snorted aggressively and punched the ground with full force. As AU-Charizard closed in, time slowed down to reveal a massive stone spearing out of the ground, heading towards a one-way collision with him.
When time sped up, a molten explosion bloomed, swallowing everything around. AU-Nic and Giovanni grunted, but the shockwave was so strong it threw them off their feet.
…
"…and…there." With a final rune, the perimeter of the island suddenly flashed. An uneven ring showed for a moment before fading along with the Enchantment.
With the arduous task on his part accomplished, Shiin took a moment to regain himself. "That should about do it."
"Free~! Free~!" Butterfree cheered.
"Yes, I know. This Enchantment will contain our enemy from within. With the exception of us, we'll be able to come and go. Now…"
The air around them suddenly spiked in temperature as a molten explosion happened in the distance. Shiin and Butterfree looked in the far distance as the fiery eruption plume into smoke.
'The battle will only escalate further. Will this dimension's Nic be able to contain it long enough for the other Nic to do his part?' Shiin furrowed his brow. In all honesty, he'd prefer to not interfere if he could help it. His main task was to draw up the perimeter. But even so, even someone as professional and trained as him felt uneasy.
He requipped his binoculars and peered through, seeing how the battle was progressing.
…
"Mega Garchomp, Sandstorm!"
AU-Mega Garchomp let out a deep roar, raising his scythes high. A gust of sand swirled in the middle of the area before it expanded, becoming a massive sandstorm that took over the vicinity.
Giovanni remained largely unfazed, though he seemed amused. "I see. Now you intend to siphon at Mega Mewtwo's stamina." He'd be lying if he said he wasn't the least bit worried. He hated to admit it, but that battle with that Charizard did a number on his ultimate weapon. Though he kept a straight face so as not to tip off his opponents.
"Now, use Earthquake!" AU-Nic ordered. AU-Mega Garchomp snarled as he began raising his scythes.
Giovanni scoffed. "Two can play that game. Mega Mewtwo, Earthquake!"
Mega Mewtwo clasped his hands and brought them up. At the same time, AU-Mega Garchomp and Mega Mewtwo slammed their appendages into the ground. Once again, the land engulfed in a sonic boom before splintered earth, and dozens of tons of dust, erupted everywhere. A maelstrom of landscape churned with the sandstorm, adding to the force of the attack.
AU-Nic took cover behind a piece of rock as fissure went past him. Giovanni stepped back, barely able to hold his footing.
Mega Mewtwo was growling furiously. Yet as much landscape he was uprising, the wake of the attack was falling upon his direction. The Legendary's eyes widened when fissures and broken earth started creeping up to him, forcing him to move away.
The moment he did, the sandstorm brushed against his sides, inducing damage. Yet despite that, Mega Mewtwo ascended, using the flying rocks to ascend further. AU-Mega Garchomp shot straight up, soaring at Mach speed past debris that was destroyed from his force alone.
"(You can't escape from me!)"
"Iron Head!" AU-Mega Garchomp's headpiece shined metallic gray as he spearheaded further up.
"Then, a Fighting-type move for a Steel-type one." Giovanni snapped his fingers. "Drain Punch!"
Mega Mewtwo's fist clenched, creating an energy field that compressed into a hemisphere. He brought his appendage back and slug it towards AU-Mega Garchomp. The stretched limb met his steel-hard forehead, sending a burst of air everywhere; so far down that the ground sundered from their colliding force.
The force behind their head-on collision drew out another stalemate. Even with Sand Force active, Mega Garchomp could feel his energy leave him from Drain Punch, restoring Mewtwo's stamina. Though the sandstorm siphoned a little more in that same instance.
"Zen Headbutt!" Giovanni snapped his fingers.
Mega Mewtwo's eyes flashed vividly. With his free hand, he reached for AU-Mega Garchomp's neck with a grip strength so hard it cut off his oxygen, getting a harsh gag from him. A blue energy field enveloped his head as he crashed it into his opponent's sternum. The force was so strong it sent both towards the ground with a thundering crash.
AU-Nic took cover once more as debris from the impact flew in his direction. One barely missed his head. Though he regained his footing, he looked back with shock.
In a crater, AU-Mega Garchomp was under Mega Mewtwo's foot, the latter easily suppressing the former. To add insult to injury, it was the same spot where he struck the beast.
"Draco Meteor!" AU-Nic commanded.
AU-Mega Garchomp snarled. He opened his maw to congregate the energy…but his nerves tensed as he cringed on the ground.
AU-Nic gritted his teeth. 'Shit! A flinch!'
"The tables have turned." Giovanni sneered. He lifted his fingers slowly. "Now…" He snapped.
Mega Mewtwo knew what to do. Despite the sandstorm brushing him, Mega Mewtwo powered through and drove his Drain Punch into his foe's face. All AU-Mega Garchomp could do was watch as his irises shrank. The ground depressed for the umpteenth time, sending shockwaves across the ground so strong that they caused AU-Nic to fall onto his back.
"MEGA GARCHOMP!" His cry reverberated through the spreading wake.
It took a minute for the dust to clear. The sandstorm continued stirring, but Mega Mewtwo remained firm as green energy waves restored his health. He towered in the sea of dust, where in a deeply depressed crater, AU-Mega Garchomp was scrunched into the rock, groaning weakly. To his Trainer's horror, the Mega Evolution light flashed, reverting him as he lost consciousness.
To say things were getting desperate was an understatement. AU-Nic clenched his fists as he fought back the urge to swear. Instead, he shot a death glare at a smug Giovanni as he recalled AU-Garchomp. He took a moment to reach for a nearby stone to use as support to help himself up.
No words needed. He already knew what Giovanni was thinking. He just needed to press on with what he had left.
'That Sandstorm siphoned his energy, but he regained a good amount from those Drain Punches. Have to turn that power into my own…' Luckily, he knew just how to do that. It was slim, but he knew what could turn the tide. 'His health isn't completely restored. We need to get a solid hit in!' He threw another Poké Ball. "Go, Kecleon!"
The capsule opened, revealing AU-Kecleon. "(The premieres for the movie are over…time for the climax.)" She spoke in her monotone chime, with a slight edge to it.
Giovanni looked amused at his opponent's choice. But, like his opponent, he knew looks could be deceiving. He already fell for that once. He wasn't going to make that same mistake again. "Drain Punch!"
Mega Mewtwo brought his fist back, quickly charging a hemisphere. AU-Nic knew he had to be quick about this. "Do it."
AU-Kecleon straightened her tilted head. She faded from sight a split second before the punch shot ahead. The stretched limb only met air, but enough force was expelled that a shockwave felt like a maelstrom that blasted AU-Nic's face and his surroundings
It was so strong in fact that the rock AU-Nic used as a shield shattered. Thankfully he ducked low to avoid the wake of loose debris.
'That power is insane. But, if this works, that power can turn against them.' He knew what to do. "Swagger!"
Behind Mega Mewtwo, a faded red zigzag was present. A red aura outlined AU-Kecleon briefly before her target suddenly was enveloped in the same red aura.
Immediately, the effects were apparent. His vision grew distorted. His nostrils flared. He was wobbling around haphazardly. The Mega Evolved abomination was confused.
'Phase 1 one, clear.' AU-Nic though to himself. He looked around and noticed the earlier sandstorm had started clearing up. 'At least that Sandstorm gave Kecleon some cover. Now, Phase 2…' He didn't hesitate to shout. "Psych Up!"
AU-Kecleon continued remaining camouflaged, but she moved a safer distance to avoid any misfires from up close. A transparent spiral formulated in front of her body, copying the Attack increase Mega Mewtwo got while he was too disoriented to listen.
'He used Swagger to increase my Mega Mewtwo's Attack power, and then copied that increase.' Giovanni observed his surroundings as he was diagnosing AU-Nic's strategy. 'But that also means he copied the Speed reduction. But I still have the advantage.'
To affirm this, he reached his arm and smirked. "Interesting strategy you have, but it'll prove fatal for you." He snapped his fingers. "Earthquake!"
Mega Mewtwo snorted sporadically, the commands of his master being but an echo that stretched the aches in his brain. It became unbearable to a point that instead of stomping on the ground, he writhed in agony and headbutted a nearby rock, smashing it to loose gravel. He hurt himself in his confusion.
'The increased Attack will do extra to his recoil.' AU-Nic thought to himself. "Now, use Shadow Claw!"
AU-Kecleon moved in, poised with her camouflaged claws. As she sped in, a shadowy aura enveloped her claws as they lengthened to three dense claws.
"(BONZAI~!)" With her opponent's awareness staggered, she swiped in an uppercut, a black and purple energy trail following her wake. The slash to his chin was so powerful that it sent him flying straight up at the speed of a rocket. The shock from the slash made numerous airwaves to demonstrate the force behind the super-effective Ghost-type move.
'And with the Scope Lens, that made it a critical hit!' That was Phase 3, according to his thought process. 'Even with that Mega Evolution, he's still a Psychic-type…and we have moves to counter those types.'
High above the air, Mega Mewtwo's body was limp. The blow from that attack was so powerful that it left him momentarily in shock. Thanks to his state, he didn't feel any sense of anger. But that didn't mean he was immune to the pain that his inferior foes were dealing towards him.
…and that was the feeling that made him come around. His blue eyes returned to normal as the confusion faded.
Giovanni smirked. "Use Drain Punch!"
AU-Nic gasped and countered. "Sucker Punch!"
AU-Kecleon retained her invisible stature and spurred up a pile of debris, jumping from one point to another until she reached the top. She used her tail and wrapped around the tip and swung herself around to build momentum until enough was met to fling herself into the air towards her diving target.
AU-Nic watched his Pokémon ascend, his eyes on the faint red zigzag alone. 'Just need to land this hit!'
As the two Pokémon were about to collide, they pulled their fists back. With AU-Kecleon still invisible, it was a matter of timing and precision. However, just as Mega Mewtwo was congregating energy, he saw the insides of a reptilian maw and an elastic tongue snake up and around his free arm. The action seemed to have surprised him, but not as much as when the tongue reeled closer with a dark cloak around a fist.
AU-Kecleon's Sucker Punch was drawing near, aiming for the torso…but Mega Mewtwo anticipated this and swung his arm to the side, throwing off AU-Kecleon's punch just a few inches from connecting with his body.
'Shit!' AU-Nic grimaced.
With AU-Kecleon thrown off, Mega Mewtwo swiveled around, driving his Drain Punch onto AU-Kecleon's side. The super effective move's force, amplified by the Attack boost, sent several shockwaves around that reached AU-Nic. In a fraction of a second, AU-Kecleon slammed into the ground, kicking up debris that peppered across the landscape.
When the dust settled, AU-Nic looked back with shock as he saw his Pokémon in the depths of a crater with her pressed into a hole with her imprint. With her tongue open, AU-Kecleon laid unconscious and defeated.
AU-Nic gnashed his teeth.
"That was clever…" Giovanni taunted, Mega Mewtwo slowly descending towards the ground as green energy waves healed much of his health. "…but cleverness can only get you so far."
Pulling out her Poké Ball, AU-Nic recalled AU-Kecleon. He looked down at it thoughtfully before Giovanni continued.
"We're both down to our final Pokémon it seems. I told you before that I intended to crush you when you thought you cornered me. Where's that calculative ferocity you were coming at me with before? Don't tell me you've lost that spark."
"You talk too much." AU-Nic retorted.
"Yes…but at least I can back up that talk. Because…" He held up a clenched fist. "I have the power. The resources. Everything. What little you have doesn't compare to the might of Rainbow Rocket's supremacy."
A silence fell as the two glared at each other, neither willing to submit.
"You say that…and yet look where you're standing." As he spoke, he pulled out a Poké Ball. His final Poké Ball. "Your base is in shambles. Your posse of bosses are facing that other me elsewhere. That 'little' I had was enough to cripple your forces to this point. That's your flaw."
Giovanni frowned.
"You may have power, but not all of it. You're not as permeable as you thought if someone like me could push you to this extent. That Rainbow Rocket you're so proud of is close to crashing down…and you can't see it."
Giovanni was silent for a moment before he scoffed. "Then I suppose we'll just have to fix that, won't we? Rest assured, I'll make good use of your equipment and that 'little power' to add to my collection once you're out of the way…for good."
The time for last squabbles over, AU-Nic threw his last Poké Ball. Appearing before him was his trusted partner, Greninja. On the tips of his toes, the ninja frog had a long scar running across his face, a testament from a previous harsh battle he survived.
"Greninja…" AU-Nic muttered.
AU-Greninja looked back at him. "(I know.)"
AU-Nic nodded. 'Staraptor. Arbok. Charizard. Mega Garchomp. Kecleon…everyone that gave their lives for us. All our efforts come down to this very moment.' His resolved firm, his blue eyes burned with tenacity. "Greninja, Shadow Sneak!"
His red eyes burning with the same energy, AU-Greninja took his stance for his attack.
"Use Stone Edge!" Giovanni snapped his fingers.
AU-Greninja's shadow blackened and shot across the ground. Mega Mewtwo retaliated by punching the ground, sending columns of thick, sharp stones straight towards his foe. The Shadow Sneak weaved around the stones, snaking between them to reach its intended target. The stones continued their path, but AU-Greninja leaped at the last second.
AU-Nic rolled out of the way of the ongoing stones.
Mega Mewtwo saw the dark shadow snake around. He ascended to avoid the shadow, but the shadow followed him straight up. He leaned back at the last second and maneuvered away to a safe distance.
"Now, Bounce!"
Giovanni heard the shout and looked up. He saw AU-Greninja above, coming down in numerous somersaults. Mega Mewtwo saw this and reached out to grab AU-Greninja's foot at the last second. Another moment and the foot would've connected with his face. He dragged AU-Greninja down and drove him into the ground beneath, pinning him into the depressed earth.
With his opponent pinned, Giovanni snapped. "Drain Punch!"
"Water Pledge!"
Their eyes flashed simultaneously. As Mega Mewtwo came down with another spherical energy fist, AU-Greninja summoned columns of water all around him, all congregating onto Mega Mewtwo.
…
An explosion of mist and water could be seen through Shiin's binoculars. As the battle continued its escalation, the Pergrande Kingdom representative grew more pensive by the minute. And it didn't help that Butterfree's constant chirping was poking at the proverbial bubble that was his ironclad constitution.
Though he remained stern in his stance in not wanting to get caught in that crossfire, he started thinking of the 'what ifs'. There was always a possibility of failure. After all, their initial plan had a fallout. Who's to say it won't happen again?
Besides, this was for the sake of the magic world's future. That above all was his upmost duty.
He sighed. "This is just as an assurance." he told himself.
'Still, even if I were to intervene, it would be foolish to do so outright.' He didn't second guess that logic. After all, stealth and incognito were his specialties. 'Alright. Then perhaps we shall try this approach…'
"They've gotten even stronger now!" Maxie exclaimed, his patience at its end. "Then we won't hold back!" He swiped his arm across. "Groudon, use Earthquake!"
Archie's eyes widened. "What?! No-!"
Groudon exerted a deafening roar as he raised both his arms high. He brought them down on the molten plateau with a horizontal shockwave spilling in all directions. A moment passed as the shock of the impact traversed through the fresh land, reaching below the water and caused a tremor. After a few seconds, fissures tore open and started working their way down the sides towards the bottom. The fissures spat out molten splinters and debris in all directions.
A mountain of tossed land flew towards Greninja and Mega Charizard, but also onto Kyogre.
"Kyogre, hurry! Defend yourself with Ice Beam!" Archie ordered.
Kyogre let out a roar as his maw opened wide, an icy orb of energy manifesting. He aimed at the raining debris and fired on an arch across, creating a wall of thick ice atop the water to shield him and Archie from the rubble.
The rest of the debris continued its downpour. Greninja and Mega Charizard glanced at each other and back as the debris field seemingly buried them.
Within a moment, a sea of dust laid beyond the massive ice field that covered a majority of the basin. While the makeshift bunker did take damage and some holes from the force of some debris, it largely remained intact, even freezing over some of the debris to add to the defense. What wasn't frozen piled up along to rim of Groudon's isle.
Safe on his position, Archie let out a sigh. "That was close." He turned towards Archie. "You idiot?! What was that for?!"
Maxie raised a brow. "Hm? Whatever do you mean?"
"Don't act coy! You were aiming for us too, weren't you?!"
Maxie casually shrugged. "It wasn't intentional. It's the only full-scale attack we have. Besides, they were able to counter your little trick with the weather." He reasoned with a taunting undertone. "Although, it wouldn't be the worst idea if you were out of the picture."
"Why you…" Archie growled, his anger boiling. "You really want to settle things now?"
"I'm not suggesting anything…though if you'd prefer it, I could spare a moment to squash you."
"That my line…!"
As the two glared at each other, so did Groudon and Kyogre. They were so distracted that they didn't notice the increase in temperature, followed by a rumbling pressure that was coming from in front. By the time the four glanced back, a blue-flamed Heat Wave instantly melted all the ice and rock. The force of the maelstrom sent the remaining debris flying into the basin and plateau.
Archie ducked to avoid a molten rock, but the hot gust was so strong he almost lost balance. Though his skin did feel a dense burning feeling. "So hot…!"
Maxie was spared from the direct wake of the Heat Wave, but he caught wind of something else. "Groudon!"
Just as Groudon uncovered himself, a dense, compressed volume of Scald spearheaded so fast that nobody had time to blink before the water struck Groudon head-on, erupting into a hot steam cloud that did little to dilute his roars of agony.
Maxie and Archie staggered as they tried regaining their footholds. They were thrown off by that surprise attack that they didn't have the words. Where did that come from? They were sure that they took out their opponents…right?
When Maxie looked forward, all he saw was a pair of red retinas glaring at him. Their opponents were in the air; what's more, they looked unscathed by that Earthquake. If anything, they looked more serious than before!
"What…? Impossible." Maxie breathed. "Groudon's Earthquake didn't take them out?" He gasped. 'It had to have been that Intimidate by that Staraptor at the start!'
"(Compared to Arbok's Earthquake, that was tame.)" Mega Charizard huffed blue flames.
"(We've been through his Earthquakes so many times we could read the trajectory of all that debris. Reading seismic shockwaves is nothing new to us.)" Greninja noted.
Archie gritted his teeth, his anger breaching its limit. "I've had all that I can take from these interlopers!" He reached outwards. "Kyogre, Thunder!"
Recovering from the Heat Wave, Kyogre's eyes flashed open as he emitted a loud roar. His body crackled with a thick coat of electricity before sending a dense bolt skywards. It took several seconds before the attack came down onto Mega Charizard and Greninja.
However, the former flapped his wings, simply shifting back as the lightning beamed towards a precipice bellow, shattering it.
"What?! It missed?! But how?!" Archie was at a loss. He knew Thunder never missed in the rain, so why did it miss? That's when he realized there was no rain falling. The rain stopped! 'No! The rain must've timed out during that Earthquake!'
"(Ready?!)" Mega Charizard prompted.
"(Right, let's end this!)" Greninja exclaimed.
Mega Charizard clenched a fist and charged up a Thunder Punch. He raised his head and roared so loud the air quivered. The lightning-coated fist empowered by his Tough Claws Ability went in an uppercut into the Thunder still going on. But rather than get electrocuted, the electricity stopped. Actually, it looked like it was amounting as Mega Charizard ascended skywards.
Needless to say, the bosses were stupefied, Archie especially. "What the…?! What's it doing?!"
"It looks…like its piling on the Thunder on top of its attack!" Archie gasped.
Mega Charizard powered skywards as all the electricity was accumulating into a massive hemisphere on his right claw. The Thunder eventually lost momentum, leaving Mega Charizard high above containing the entire power in one limb. Static bridled from all directions, but the wielder showed no signs of hesitation.
The realization looming over their heads, Maxie hurried to act. "Groudon, Earthquake!"
Groudon growled and raised a foot…only for his entire body to burst into flames. He roared in pain and felt damage, much to Maxie's shock.
'A burn? Was it that Scald from before?' He silently cursed at his luck.
Despite this, Groudon attempted to follow through. But several stars of water flung and struck his leg. The Water Shuriken flung two stars that had enough force to throw Groudon off balance, crashing atop the plateau, going as far as making Maxie drop to his knees from the quaking.
Greninja looked down and nodded at his partner. Getting the clearance, Mega Charizard clenched so hard the charged-up Thunder Punch condensed further. He flapped, shooting so fast that he looked like a black and flue flaming bullet train.
"KYOGRE!" Archie shouted.
But for him – for them – it was all too late.
Greninja bolted off Mega Charizard and somersaulted down, his left heel channeling a purple aura for his Return. Mega Charizard reeled back and closed in on Kyogre, and Greninja descending onto Groudon. As the two bosses cried out in defiance, the two Pokémon's red eyes flashed as they brought their respective appendages down.
"(GRRRRAAAAAAAH~!)"
With all their might, Greninja's purple heel and Mega Charizard's blistering lightning comet smashed into the respective Legendary's faces. The blows were so powerful they had their own effect. Greninja's Return caused the molten plateau to completely collapse like a crumbling mountain. The force of Mega Charizard's impact sent large waves across the basin.
As formations fell apart from the shockwaves, that included the one Archie was using. "KYOGRE! NO~!" He was blown off and plunged into the water. He managed to resurface, but when he caught his breath, his face paled when he saw the massive wave that was about to hit him. "AAAAAAAHHHH~!"
"AAAAAAHHHHH!" Maxie screamed as he and Groudon plunged into a molten fissure beneath the shattered mountain.
Archie tried to yell something, but he was struck by the wave, immediately churning and plunging him into the depths, along with a fainted Kyogre.
As the waves settled, Mega Charizard and Greninja were in the air, looking down at what remained of their endeavors and the fate that befell their foes.
"(You don't control nature. You feed off it.)" Greninja exasperated.
Mega Charizard sneered. "(You reap what you sow.)"
As Dialga and Palkia reigned above, Cyrus kept his hands behind his back, his face ever devoid of expression.
"The world that I seek is one free from all spirit. All creatures that are driven by such emotions; anger, rage, joy. You allow them to control your identities. My plan was to end the conflicts of mankind by eradicating such feelings. In the universe that I sought, there was no strife to speak of…and yet, here it still resides." He glared at Kecleon and Garchomp. "I can feel it. Your determination. Your annoyance. The world I seek to create may yet be at hand…but those like you, who stare at me with such resilience, will not be welcomed there!"
"(Kecleon, did you get that?)" Garchomp grunted.
Kecleon tilted her head, then snapped upright. "(Hm…Dialga and Palkia are using their powers to make a time field. We slowed down…we became their puppets in their domain.)"
"(Just what I thought too, but…)" He thought to when Dialga powered down. "(Looks like that attack uses up his powers.)" He narrowed his eyes. "(Thinking what I'm thinking?)"
"(We force them to open their window…)"
"(Then we'll smash them into pieces!)"
The two paused, looking the other's eyes. Their years of battling against and beside each other made it clear what they needed to do. Without even a telepathic link, they knew their next steps to take.
Cyrus shot his arm out with a command. "Earth Power!" Dialga and Palkia let out unison roars as the ground below them began trembling. Fissures began pouring open as molten energy shot in a massive linear path towards them.
"(Get going!)" Garchomp shouted.
"(Motors in full throttle!)" Kecleon diverged from Garchomp as she turned invisible. Garchomp in turn dove head-first into the ground and escaped the cataclysmic shockwave via Dig.
"You can run as much as you'd like, but escape from reality is for the soft-hearted. Surf!"
Palkia let out another shrilled cry. Space around him as water vapor became a ring. Though not as dense as when it was raining minutes ago, it was still potent with pressure. He sent out another wave everywhere. Dialga had the misfortune of being buffered by the wave once more, but the rest came down like a waterfall and swamped the battlegrounds, flooding everywhere.
Cyrus kept his eyes locked. He was spared thanks to Palkia bending the little space around him to divert the flow. Even though he knew they weren't as strong, their methods of stealth gave him reason enough to be wary.
'That one went underground…but where did that Kecleon go? Did it use Protect and is waiting for an opening?' He then noticed a tear in the tides, heading right for him. The slash wave sliced clean through the water, and only stopped a few inches from his wide-eyed face thanks to the warped space.
In that flicker of a moment, he saw white slash streaks and a faded red zigzag. 'It went right for me. So quick...hngh?'
Suddenly, the ground beneath him started tearing up. He gasped in shock and only managed to bring a foot up before a Stone Edge shot from underneath. A single massive precipice spearheaded skywards, forcing Cyrus to fall into the tides with a splash and be swept away.
Kecleon, still invisible, leaped up and positioned herself at the tip of the Stone Edge. With her Slash active, she brandished her glowing claws and converged them together, making white slash streaks flow from the front heading for the time-space sphere.
Cyrus barely emerged as the Surf quelled, bellowing towards the sky. "Dialga! Roar of Time!"
To Kecleon, this was it. '(Time to exhaust the fuel!)' Bracing what's to come, she leaned forward for optimal position as the Stone Edge finally broke through the hemisphere. In an instant, time slowed down drastically for Kecleon to a point that it seemed like time nearly froze. Though, the momentum and the Slash streaks were still there.
Their opponents' attack at a standstill, Dialga growled as his eyes glowed a fierce red. His back fin expanded as his maw congregated another mass of indigo energy. Once all charged up, he expelled one more enormous beam with pulsating airwaves.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Kecleon was at the pinnacle ready to take the attack. Thanks to her Color Change Ability, the earlier Spacial rend she took made her into a Dragon-type, so she knew that this was going to sting. But even in her slowed state, her estrange mind raced with resolve at speeds not even time could suspend. She wasn't going to let it end like this. Not by a long shot!
The Roar of Time closed in, causing a Light Screen wall to appear between it and Kecleon. The large-scale of the beam was halved as it went through, but the mass was still dense and met Kecleon's Slash. The result was a sizeable amount being cut by the surroundings energy streaks, while Kecleon's white claws bared the brunt of the beam.
Even in her timeless state, she could feel the strain in her limbs intensify by the second. But her years of physical training weren't for nothing. And this was the time to prove it!
The Muscle Band heightening her Attack, her coloration flickered in and out. She leaned forward and slowly dug her toe claws into the stone to anchor her foothold. She held on with every ounce of might her body could tolerate.
…until finally the Roar of Time lost its momentum. As if diffused, Kecleon's body managed to hold on, although visible wounds her seen even on her camouflaged skin. But even then, she remained invisible for the most part, no matter how badly her bodily cells ached to relax.
With his attack finished, Dialga's back fin shrank to normal size and stopped moving. The blue hue around faded away, allowing time to return to normal.
'What happened? Did that attack miss?' A drenched Cyrus wondered.
"(Your…time…)" Kecleon croaked. "(…is up!)"
Suddenly, the Stone Edge shattered to pieces, a draconic bullet spearheading at Mach speed towards a startled Palkia. Only up close did the spatial deity see the bloodthirsty yellow glare of Garchomp.
"(YOU'RE DONE!)"
With the force of a meteor, the Dragon Rush collided with Palkia's upper body, engulfing him in an explosion that clouded the area in smoke. Dialga shrieked as well, but he didn't have the ability to move. But his eyes noticed a piece of broken stone above and something falling onto him.
It was Kecleon, her bruised arms coating in bright white.
"(BRICK BREAK!)"
She brought her fist straight down on Dialga's head. The force of the attack was so brutal that a sonic boom stretched outwards. The shock of the attack shot straight through the titanic temporal keeper's body as his eyes shrank to the size of salt grains. It was so great that the beast couldn't even muster a final roar as his body went limp.
Cyrus looked on in silence. Even in these pivotal moments, he didn't allow for any feelings to perturb his conscience.
As Dialga and Palkia were in freefall, Kecleon grabbed Dialga by the neck with her long tongue and, with gusto, whirled him into Palkia, slamming them both together.
"(You want no spirit…but spirits have a second opinion!)" Kecleon exclaimed.
Above, Garchomp was positioned. "(You want to get rid of anger and strife, but you know what else you'll be riding of?)" He recalled his past battles, how he fought without a shred of doubt. "(Courage. Fortitude. Everything will be stagnant! And we…!)"
"(Want…)" Kecleon shot her tongue at Garchomp, sticking to his right fin and reeled herself in. Overhead, both somersaulted with axe kicks coming down full swing and shouted:
"(WANT TO GO AS FAR AS WE CAN!)"
Their heels connected with their heads, sending them downwards…and Cyrus was right in their path. However, when he realized he could stand at last, it was too late as he saw the falling figures descending upon him. Yet he chose not to move or shout.
'I see…so this is what defeat is…how deplorable.'
With that final thought, the Legendaries crushed him upon impact, the impact depressing the earth into a massive crater. Garchomp and Kecleon reigned above and looked over their fallen foes in triumph.
Kecleon tilted her head. "(We can still sprout higher…we just needed to cut down the trees blocking the sunlight we need.)"
"(And now they say like rotten logs.)" Garchomp scoffed. "(These big shots…we'll bring them all down, even if we have to tear their roots apart!)"
"(Yeah…and all problems have roots.)"
The land was shrouded in blazes, and they were far from the glorious kind. The kind that ravaged all life that threatened to get too close. The sky was no different. Even with the rain gone, thunderstrikes shot across the black blanket, either striking afar or the ground below.
With the chaos surrounding them, Staraptor and Arbok found themselves grounded. Walls of fire sprouted between them as a divider. Despite this, neither seemed all that concerned. Even when they heard dense feet land in front of them.
They both looked up; Staraptor meeting the eyes of Reshiram, and Arbok meeting Zekrom's. Both Legendaries growled, their tails flaring with their respective elements.
Ghetsis, watching the display of power, proudly grinned. "My goal was to become king. I sought to preach to the hearts of mankind and they listened to my calls. They relinquished their Pokémon so that they could be free…or so I said." His grin became a wicked smirk. "The truth was that I sought the people to free them so that I alone could have the power and dominate all of Unova. I may serve Giovanni now…"
On his knees, battered and bruised, Ghetsis raised his head and looked past his defeated Reshiram and Zekrom. Floating in the air was Mega Mewtwo, and behind him was the man whose smirk lit a fire in his heart.
"But…the day will come where he will become my puppet soon! All of you!" He held up a clenched fist as lightning shot above. "I alone shall consolidate the power! The pawns will dance before their king soon yet!"
Even through the raging flames, Arbok could hear Ghetsis's boasts. The faux king's words made the cobra recall his experience confronting another king. Acnologia.
That battle had pushed his Trainer, comrades whom he could proudly call brothers and sisters, and himself to their very limits. Even then, they all worked together to destroy him. Even then, the words his Trainer – the one dearest person he would pledge his loyalty to – spoke resounded in his mind.
"You never get everything you want, nor what you need. Some people are just born unlucky, but just because they're unfortunate, it doesn't mean they shouldn't enjoy life while it lasts. That's why you have to treasure and hold dear what you already have. What you wanted to grasp was something that's far more precious than any level of power anyone could possess, even I alone can't contain…" A soft smile began to tug at the corner of his lips. "As long as I have my Pokémon – my friends – I don't have to harbor pain and despair on my own. Our greatest strength, is within each other."
The experiences he's had with his Trainer were the most paramount to him. Despite his loyalty, despite the tribulations, his Trainer never once took him for granted. And that was the source of his strength.
"(Would it be alright if I addressssed you asss…Nic?)"
To him, this was the most memorable moment that defined their bond. And when Nic allowed for Arbok to drop the honorifics with a welcoming smile, no amount of words could describe the fulfillment the cobra had in his life.
Facing Zekrom, he was anything but afraid. In fact, he even felt insulted. And that was what drove him over the edge. He silently coiled up, using Coil to increase his stats once more.
Staraptor faced Reshiram with no less resolution. Hearing Ghetsis's claims reminded her of her battle with Neuro, and what lengths the Pokémon would go to reverse the roles of humanity and Pokémon. If it wasn't for Nic – or her son for that matter – she probably wouldn't be here now. To imagine a reality without them – her family – was impossible to consider.
And this man claims to want that…all for himself.
The man was so appalling to even think about, but Staraptor kept a calm, focused glare on her opponent.
"Now! Reshiram, Zekrom! Dragon Claw!" Ghetsis loudly ordered.
The two dragons bellowed out as they drove their energy-covered claws down onto their targets, who seemed to accept their fates.
The next instances, two dust explosions flourished, stirring into the flames. Ghetsis watched with a triumphant sneer…until something caught his attention. "Hm?"
The dust cleared, revealing something that made his one exposed eye widen. "What?!"
As the flames and dust diminished, Reshiram and Zekrom's claws made contact with their opponents. But not the way they expected.
Staraptor used only a single leg to hold the energy claw firmly when it was only a few inches from her eye.
Arbok had Zekrom's claws caught in his Ice Fang, the frozen jaws freezing the energy in place.
Their glares showed one emotion: Rage.
Ghetsis clenched his teeth together, annoyed. "Why won't you lot submit?! Surrender or perish!"
"(You…insssult me!)" An angered Arbok hissed. He bit down harder, causing the ice to thicken and spread, now covering the entire hand. Zekrom made an attempt to pull away, but to his shock, was unable to. "(But worssse than that! You insssulted my kin! Essspecially Nic!)"
The ice started spreading up the arm, slowly freezing the dragon, much to Ghetsis's shock.
"(You ssspeak of being a king, but all I sssee before me is a tyrant! And you…)" Arbok focused on Zekrom. "(You're jussst asss deplorable! You're the lowessst for putting your faith in thisss half-witted sssociopath! My Trainer – my dear kin – he isss who I consssider one worthy of a king! Compared to him…)" His eyes shrank as he bit down further with fury. "(YOU! ARE! NO! KIIIING!)"
With Zekrom halfway frozen, Arbok, with all the trained muscles in his body, dragged Zekrom with his jaws and gathered momentum. The titanic dragon didn't have any means to overwhelm his opponent's surprisingly indominable strength and was dragged around like a ragdoll.
With a vile hiss, Arbok let go, hurling the half-frozen Zekrom through the air. He sailed hundreds of meters away before smashing into the ground with a thunderclap.
"(You can sway the hearts of people and Pokémon as much as you'd like.)" Staraptor glared at Reshiram.
"…who knows? Perhaps in another life, I would have felt the same. Humans aren't the brightest bunch, I know…but like us Pokémon, they can grow, and learn. But we can only do that together. Maybe…just maybe…there's that right person waiting for you out there."
Her final words to Neuro invoked her spirits. "(I wouldn't dare…throw any of what I have now away for YOU!)" She shoved her talon forward, forcing Reshiram away. She then flapped her wings, emitting a shockwave at the speed she ascended.
Reshiram roared, flapping his wings in pursuit. Once in the air, he saw numerous Staraptor clones already around him. Even with flames exerting from his tails, they danced around the whips, flying past his face, startling the beats.
"(Steel Wing!)"
Reshiram saw the clones' wings give off a metallic shine. Angered already at a broil, the heat exponentially intensified as searing blue heat spiraled in his maw. He unleashed a Blue Flare, expelling super-hot, blue flames that beamed across the sky. It blazed through a number off clones, but many still flocked in.
A bright glimmer from the side made him turn away, a fatal mistake as Staraptor's Bright Powder misfired the attack and was struck across by the steel wings. Reshiram lost momentum and fell straight down…right on top of Zekrom.
As the two dragons lost their bearings, the lightning and heat in the atmosphere diminished to tolerable levels. Staraptor and Arbok exchanged glances, knowing what to do next.
With a spring in his coils, Arbok catapulted into the air. Staraptor picked him up and arched back into the sky, a blue light enveloping her body. The light intensified as she reached freefall with her compatriot, their targets locked on site.
With a single flap of her wings, an airwave expelled, pushing them down at speeds faster than sound. They looked like a searing blue comet, one that Ghetsis couldn't stop. "No! Don't you dare!"
"(Jussst watch usss!)" Arbok challenged.
"(Your 'reign' is over!)" Staraptor declared.
The two closed in as Zekrom and Reshiram looked up.
"(Earthquake!)"
"(Sky Attack!)"
In a fraction of a second, the blue comet's light enveloped Reshiram and Zekrom. In the blink of an eye, an omnidirectional shockwave spread through the air, followed by the ground mirroring a similar shockwave, followed by the earth instantly caving in. Dozens of tons of dense earth diced before fissures and splintered landscape in large chunks went skywards.
A double critical hit.
"GAAAAAHHHH~!" Ghetsis had the misfortune of being on a piece of land that was picked up by the shockwave. It instantly shattered, leaving him in freefall before being blown away. He fumbled through the air until he rolled onto his stomach. Despite the attempt to stand, he was only able to lift his head and see debris hailing in all directions.
"No…NOOOO! I AM PERFECTION! I AM PERFE-!"
Overturned landscape cut him off when it crushed him. Earth fumbled for miles for several minutes until the seismic wake eventually ceased. The winds of the Sky Attack's force became a light breeze.
Ascending to overlook the destruction, Staraptor and Arbok looked around. Beneath were remnants of Reshiram and Zekrom partially buried…but it didn't take long for more landmass to collapse and cover them completely.
Arbok flicked his tongue, smelling the air. "(Jussst where they belong.)"
"(At least it was a proper burial.)" Staraptor noted.
"(Consssider them lucky they even get one, for taking what they had for granted.)"
"What…? No…!" Lysandre couldn't believe it. Even from the distance amongst them, the effects of their battles were plain as day. He witnessed the fall of his fellow peers and the Legendary Pokémon whom many feared…all by the works of the man before him.
'Looks like that Light Screen paid off.' Nic noted the elongated period his opening status move from before. He was glad he held onto something else that AU-Nic got for him. 'That Light Clay worked wonders. I can see why he uses these items.'
Yveltal shrieked as he fired another Oblivion Wing. The crimson laser traced across the ground towards Nic as he shifted to his Ice Form. He swiped his arm, expelling an Icy Wind that deflected the ray around him. The cold winds breezed through the area, reaching Yveltal and Xerneas, buffering them and reducing her Speed stats.
Lysandre backstepped, covering himself from the cold winds. 'I can't use items to restore their health. That Embargo is still in play!'
As the Ice-type move flourished, Nic's mind was running on autopilot. He thought back to all the battles he's fought since coming to Earthland, how if he were as resourceful as his counterpart was with items aside from Mega Evolution, perhaps things would have played out much easier. He's had these thoughts a lot as of late, almost like it was a spell. But now he could feel those lingering regrets finally loosen their holds on him.
'We will win this, but not with just my power.' Nic noticed a slow-moving Shadow Ball and Moonblast break through the winds. He pushed his hands out and caught the attacks with icy-cold grips. They slowly froze into ice balls that shattered upon hitting the ground. 'Nic…give me the strength you've gained!'
Nearby, the hidden figment observing had its eye fixed on Nic, only briefly revealing its green body before fading back to its surroundings.
The longer the battle raged on, the more concern Junior felt. He noticed this just recently, but the lightning flashes across the sky finally subsided. He also noticed the storm had mostly passed. And that the spatial anomalies in the distance had ceased.
Even though the events were starting to die down, he couldn't help the guilt that was starting to eat away at him. He knew he didn't want to make his Mama or Nic worry, but he felt bad that he couldn't do more to help them.
The young cloud turned and looked around. "(I'll get more stuff…I can still help.)" He pictured his next location and raised his arms. "(Teleport!)"
He vanished from the tree.
…
The next instance, he found himself inside the confines of AU-Nic's bunker. He looked around, searching for anything that looked to be useful. Although, given the scarcity of the place, it was easier said than done.
"(Uhhh…oh! How about this one?)" He hopped over towards the shelf, making a brief Teleport to reach the contents. However, the devices he saw looked too advanced for him to figure out. "(Uhhh…maybe here?)" He teleported to the mini fridge and tried to pry open the door. After several attempts, the door eventually opened. Despite the cool air, Junior pulled out a celery stick that looked brown on the sides. "(Bleh! No!)" He dropped it and closed the fridge. He hopped over towards the sink and picked up the razor that was beside the faucet. After humming and looking at it quizzically, he shook his head and dropped it into the sink before hopping off.
Junior sighed. He had to find something, but didn't know what could be useful. "(Mama and Nic need me…I gotta help!)" A soft green glow radiated his back, catching his attention. "(Hm?)"
Curious, the cloudy child turned and saw something glow on AU-Nic's desk. He hopped over and got on top to see the luminescent cube from before was giving off a bright green glow. And strangely enough, it was warm.
"(Oooohhhh…)"
"Xerneas, Thunderbolt! Yveltal, Shadow Ball!"
Xerneas and Yveltal's shrieks shrilled the air for the umpteenth time. Lightning crackled around the massive deer while the avian charged up another dense sphere of shadows. The two launched their attacks together at a calm Nic.
As they traveled, the sphere and the lightning bolt slowly converged, creating a crackling hemisphere of lightning around the Shadow Ball that amplified the others' power.
Nic made no attempt to dodge. Instead, a glow enveloped him as the attack made contact. A discharge of lightning and shadows shot skywards, rattling the atmosphere. Lysandre kept a steadily gaze out of concern, and he was right to be when he saw the dust clear, revealing Nic unfazed in a hybrid of his normal form and Earth Form, both types cancelling out the combined attack.
'We just need to keep attacking. That Embargo won't last for long now. Once it does, I can heal Xerneas's poison.' Lysandre watched as the poison stammered Xerneas yet again. He wasn't going to last much longer.
Nic kept a steady gaze on his foes. He knew Embargo wasn't going to last long.
Just then, Junior teleported behind Nic, holding the cube. "Nic!"
Nic gasped, turning around with widened eyes. "Wait, Junior?!"
"Hi~!" the little cloud chimed.
"What are you doing here?" Nic questioned. He could've sworn he and Staraptor instructed Junior to hide. He then noticed the cube. 'Wait, isn't that…?'
"I know you told me to wait…but I wanted to help." Junior sheepishly admitted. "But all I could find in that base was this…s-sorry." In his puffy hands, the cube glowed brightly.
Nic furrowed his brow. He and Staraptor were going to have to need a word or two with Junior's personal decision making.
BA-DUMP
Suddenly, a pulse ran through his body. 'What in the world? This feeling…' He noticed a faint green glow in the distance, snapping his head towards a boulder that was off in the distance.
Something vague finally appeared. It looked like a green blob-like cell with a single eye and a dark green hexagon on the center. The blob turned into green light and shot off its perch.
"What…?" Nic was speechless as he watched the object get drawn into the cube, which made a green hum upon entry.
…
…
…
Suddenly, a shockwave expelled from the cube, startling everyone present. They all watched the green glow intensify in Junior's hands. The strange feeling Nic felt throbbed in his body like a heartbeat. It was uncomfortable, and yet at the same time, it felt vaguely…familiar.
"What's the meaning of this?" Lysandre questioned.
Junior awed as he watched the cube float out of his reach. It levitated towards Nic, getting dangerously close to him. But it stopped when it was a foot away from him. Looking down with wide eyes, Nic could feel the warmth the cube provided; the heartbeat he felt got more vivid as well.
'This feeling…is it…alive?' Nic thought, gasping as he remembered something AU-Nic said before.
"Apparently, the Legendary Pokémon looks after more than just Kalos. It has individual cells spread all across the world. All of these cells act like its eyes and ears, sort of speak. At least, that's what Sina and Dexio figured out anyway." AU-Nic explained. "They started collecting them before Team Rainbow Rocket or Lysandre could harness them and use them for their own devices."
His blue pupils shrank. 'Zygarde. Then are all the cells inside this cube?' He wondered for a few moments, but then it clicked. 'Then that sensation before…'
At that moment, he knew what he had to do. Regaining his composure, he called out to his foe. "Lysandre."
Hearing his name, Lysandre was on guard.
"You thought you were just facing me? Well now…it's our fight."
Alarmed, Lysandre reached out. "Yveltal! Xerneas! Stop hi-!"
But it was too late. The moment Nic touched the cube, a pulse escaped again. The earth trembled beneath as a green aura enveloped him as the cube shattered apart, expelling numerous little green, hexagonal cells.
Nic was taken aback at first, but could feel them getting drawn towards him. The turbulence of cells funneled into his body all at once, causing the green glow to erupt into a towering green pillar that pierced the dark skies.
Lysandre's eyes widened as his gaze was drawn upwards. Greninja, Charizard, and the rest of Nic's Pokémon watched the green pillar carefully.
Nic's body slowly defied gravity and ascended, a green, hexagonal cocoon enveloping him. The cocoon ascended until it was the epicenter of the green pillar and shined brightly. Everyone was bewitched as they witnessed the phenomenon unfold.
From the sides of the encasement, two arms reached out, followed by flap-like protrusions like wings expelling from his shoulders. Then came the legs, and finally a set of glowing eyes.
Nic emerged with a long tail similar to a serpentine Zygarde's form. Several flat protrusions stuck around his head, with a headpiece in front with a white hexagonal marking in the center and a green hexagon sticking out atop. His face had the same skin tone as before, but three green hexagonal markings were below his eyes. His coat had become black with green hexagonal edging; even the belt became a chain of green hexagons. White hexagons patterned the sides. His chest area resembled that of Zygarde's Complete Form, with similar wing-like protrusions sticking out from his shoulders; the left side having red patterns, and the right side having blue.
His exposed skin beyond his coat's sleeves showed the top side being black, and the bottom being bright green. Like the wings, red and blue hexagonal markings lined up to the back of his hands. His pants had become black, with the kneecaps being two green hexagons and a larger white hexagon atop them. A similar pattern was on the soles of his shoes.
When his eyes opened, they revealed his pupils had become purple - a blend of blue and red. "Legendary Force – Zygarde!"
The declaration shook Lysandre to his core. Did he hear that right? "Zygarde…?" The resemblance was uncanny, but there was just no way. "The Pokémon that would defend order…and only now it appeared?" He gritted his teeth. "No…no this can't be."
The light green pillar dissipated, but Nic levitated in the air glaring down a defensive Xerneas and Yveltal.
"So you not only are able to use the powers of Pokémon, but you can become them…I see now." Lysandre grinned with grim acceptance. 'Giovanni was right all along to want to desire him But of all of them…it had to be that one.'
Nic's sclera flashed bright green. "You asked me before what I use my powers for. Well…someone needed help. And he suffered more than you could imagine…more than I could. So I'll use my power…to finally put an end to that suffering. The suffering so many endured because of you!"
"Then use that power!" Lysandre challenged. Even if the odds were further stacked against him, he refused to go down without a fight.
On cue, Xerneas and Yveltal shrieked out and prepared their attacks again. Yveltal ascended and charged crimson energy to his center, while lunar lighting shined on Xerneas and created a pink orb of energy. Together, an Oblivion Wing and Moonblast beamed ahead.
Nic remained composed at the attacks. Instead, he vanished from sight. The attacks continued their path, fading into the distance with a resounding boom with no definitive target.
Lysandre's eyes widened. "He vanished?"
Xerneas and Yveltal looked around in search of their opponent. Xerneas used his life powers to get a better sense of Nic's presence, but by then, something chomped down on his antlers, inducing pain.
Using Camouflage, Nic bridged the gap and used Crunch with the mouths on his wings. Fueled by Yveltal's Dark Aura, the attack did more damage than normal, and what's more, Xerneas was enveloped in a blue aura that reduced his Defense.
Yveltal bellowed, bringing his wings back. However, Nic simply used his wings and tossed Xerneas into the avian before the attack began. The two beasts cringed as they fell to the ground.
As they quarreled, the ethereal chains around Lysandre faded from existence. He clutched his Full Restore again to feel the contents were applicable. 'Now that Embargo is through, I can-!'
Nic immediately turned, his camouflaged self glaring bright red eyes at Lysandre. Almost immediately, the man felt his body stiffen as a sharp breath left his body.
"What's…happening…?" He grunted as he tried to move. He saw the crackling static around his body and out two-and-two together. "Paralysis?"
With Glare having worked, Nic turned his attention back down towards his other opponents. He undid his camouflage, exposing himself.
While Xerneas was too weak to get up, Yveltal had more energy to spare and bellowed. The avian flapped to get back up into the air, getting to Nic's elevation with glowing eyes filled with fury.
"Oblivion Wing!" Lysandre bellowed.
Yveltal screeched out, bringing his limbs forward and channeled his energy into another crimson beam that fired towards Nic. Nic challenged the beam with the mouths on his wings opening, revealing four multicolored beams charged.
"Dragon Pulse!"
Four dragon-shaped beams tore through the air and chomped down on the Oblivion Wing, creating a massive explosion with shockwaves reaching for miles. The ground beneath depressed from the force while nearby formations reduced to stumps. Even Lysandre found it hard to hold himself up and was pushed back.
Yveltal shot away from the smoke, shrieking from a mix of shock and pain. He only had a moment before a green glint twinkled in the smoke before it blew away when Nic speed through in a light green aura, leaving a trail behind his blinding speed.
In a fraction of a second, his Extreme Speed met Yveltal's gut with so much force that multiple airwaves expelled from the blow. Yveltal was shoved back down straight on Xerneas, just as the latter attempted to stand. The impact created another crater from the force, shuddering the land beneath.
"Gnnngh!" Lysandre used his forearm to cover himself from the shockwaves.
When the dust settled, Xerneas and Yveltal were in the center of a large, deep crater. The two grimaced, barely having the strength to get their feet under them. Even on their last legs, they weren't willing to give up yet.
"This…this cannot be…" Lysandre grimaced at the realization. He couldn't move to use the Full Restores he had, and his prized Legendary Pokémon couldn't even stand upright. "It's not over…it won't be! Not until you fall first!"
High overhead, unfazed by his taunting, Nic remained silent at Lysandre's defiance. He'd heard all this before, and at this point, he was well beyond speaking terms. Terms that he came to accept. That's when he remembered the last exchange he and AU-Nic shared before they began the operation.
"Hey, listen."
Nic turned to AU-Nic. He saw a serious fixation in his eyes telling him that he was trusting him with something else important. "If you manage to get to Lysandre…give him hell for me."
"Twice. I've ended you twice…and this makes three." The maw on Nic's chest opened, green energy with hexagonal patterns brightening. The glow was so intense that it illuminated his surroundings, including Lysandre himself.
The man looked on with widened eyes, looking like he wanted to say something. But nothing came out. 'Is this…what defeat feels like?'
"Nic sent you his regards…farewell." With finality in his tone, the mouth on his chest widened further and he aimed towards the sky. "Maxus Legendary Arts: Thousand Arrows!"
A draconic echo came from him as the maw unleashed a green energy beam skywards. The air roared with a sonic boom as the dense ray escalated to the high altitude. Once it was high enough, the beam spread out, raining thousands of dense energy arrows that shot at speeds of comets.
Too slow to react, Xerneas and Yveltal screeched out at the raining barrage before hundreds of green arrows pierced them and the surrounding area, exploding into green oblivion.
The barrage continued across the landscape, closing in on Lysandre as he stared up at Nic. In the sparce few seconds he had, he felt time slow down as he stared into Nic's purple eyes. Those eyes filled with resolve and will that he questioned before, now coming back at him full force. It was as if the universe jinxed him, but it felt cathartic in its own twisted sense. Despite the treachery that he resorted to, he didn't have regrets. 'Perhaps…if someone like him stopped me back then…then, maybe…' A small grin appeared on his face just as the arrows closed their mark on him. His figure faded within the explosion swallowing the land miles around.
The sea of green gradually faded to dust as the attack finally subsided. Amidst the dust and softened earth, a hole tore open, revealing Garchomp and the rest of Nic's Pokémon, and Junior, hidden underground. Their eyes were fixed skywards towards the figment that was their Trainer who ended the battle…for good.
"(Mama…is that Nic?)" Junior awed, staring at Nic's form.
Staraptor nodded. "(Yes sweetie, that's him.)"
A wide grin appeared as his eyes twinkled with awe. "(That was so cool…I wanna do that too, Mama!)"
Staraptor chuckled. "(You will in due time, Junior. I'm sure.)"
Greninja eyed Nic, silently feeling what he was going through.
Looming over what remained of the land below, Nic remained stoic, a frown on his face evident. Even though it had to be this way, to a degree, he respected Lysandre's resolve to the bitter end. Three times. Three times now that he ended the same man's life. Yet every time felt different than the last. The first was out of self-justice, the second was to put an end to the grudge between them…yet this one felt more solemn. Was it because of the gap between them in power? Or perhaps because of his growth from before that he could empathize with his enemies more? But he knew something he was certain of. It was a battle that he couldn't lose, because others were depending on him. That was the one constant in all their confrontations.
With his enemy finally gone, there was one more to deal with. 'Now…it's his turn.'
Giovanni always considered himself a competent person. What else could he be since he was the strongest Trainer in existence? Being the strongest had its perks, that's for sure. Yet despite his supremacy, he always found himself challenged one way or another. He welcomed the challenges, of course. They were ways to exercise his resources and ensure dominance. Yet something about this battle felt different. Bit by bit, he could feel his composure slip away. That hollow feeling he's had for years was filled with something he couldn't put his finger on. And the trigger for this foreign sensation was still standing some feet away. In all his years as a Trainer and a terrorist organization's leader, he's never met someone as steadfast, resilient, and filled with determination than this straggler. It both excited as well as infuriated him. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to like it, but it felt…addictive.
AU-Greninja croaked a cry as he went flying towards his Trainer. AU-Nic attempted to catch him, but the force sent him on his back. Both fumbled until they slammed into some rock slabs that broke their falls…as well as their backs.
Seeing them struggle enticed him. A smirk crossed his face. "What's the matter? Don't tell me this was the extent of all that bravado you've had going up till now." He taunted.
AU-Nic and AU-Greninja pressed a hand on their knees, slowly getting back up. The scrapes and dirt on their faces showed how much they endured, but their eyes were bright with fury. Though the flames of fury were of no consequence to the icy-cold glare of Mega Mewtwo, who was waiting for the order to crush them.
The two steadied themselves as they stood side-by-side, cornered by this threat that had their hearts racing.
AU-Nic was thinking of his next plan. 'I don't have anymore Revives. I have some Sitrus Berries left. I need to find an opening to use them.'
"Well, I believe that it truly was a pleasure." Giovanni started, slowly bringing his hand up. "But alas, this is where it all ends."
AU-Nic gritted his teeth. His fingers fought the urge to twitch. They needed to move now!
"Mega Mewtwo, Earth-!"
The sound of rapid air flow cut him off. He immediately turned right, noticing several bullets of air heading his way. Mega Mewtwo was quick to spur after his Trainer and unleash a series of kicks and punches to disperse the blasts.
"(What was that?)" AU-Greninja muttered.
AU-Nic gasped. A Flying-type move? He looked in the direction of where the attack came from. "What…?"
Mega Mewtwo snarled in annoyance. Giovanni, saved from the ambush, took a moment to regain his composure. When he saw who stood on a mound of rocks on high ground, his eyes widened…only slightly.
AU-Nic looked no less stunned.
"Sorry for the wait." The familiar voice said. It was Nic, having hands in his pockets and blue eyes gleaming down on them. "Took a while, but the mess you've left me was cleaned up."
For a moment, Giovanni was taken aback at the arrival, but he was quick to recover. "I see…I'm glad you did." Giovanni smirked maliciously. "Saves me the trouble of coming to find you myself."
"Sorry I didn't give you time to bring out a red carpet." Nic scoffed, tone drenched with sarcasm.
Giovanni's vindictive smirk widened. "Maybe so…but I'm sure you'll find my accommodations most welcoming for you." With that, he snapped his fingers again.
Nic narrowed his eyes and glanced around. He noticed four spherical drones drift over from various directions and converged over his head in four corners.
'So he still had some around even after the collapse.' AU-Nic gritted his teeth. "Damnit! Move!"
Nic watched with a studious glare as the bottoms of the drones detached, becoming satellites with red conductors. They crackled with static before the tips fired overhead, creating a bright flash that blinded him. A transparent energy cage enveloped him while he was stunned.
'Shit!' AU-Nic cursed.
Giovanni sneered. "Foolish even a second time."
Nic uncovered to find he was unharmed. When he looked around, he noticed the energy barrier encasing him. He looked at the four drones and realized what happened. "I see…so it was those devices after all…" he muttered.
"Now, why don't you stay put. Rest assured, you'll get plenty of time to exploit those powers of yours." Giovanni turned towards AU-Nic and AU-Greninja. "As soon as we deal with another certain hassle."
AU-Nic grunted as he and AU-Greninja took their stand against Mega Mewtwo once more. As Giovanni turned towards them, he could feel the insecurities he felt bubbling up subside slightly. Just as it should be. "In the end, control is one thing you can never have."
With Giovanni's back turned, Nic was eerily quiet. He touched the barrier with the tip of his fingertips. A small static made him recoil. 'Physical limitations. And can disable moves like before. I see…that's how it happened.' He thought of his next move. 'If that's the case, then perhaps…'
AU-Nic noticed something off. He couldn't help but notice his counterpart raising his arms and had his palms facing upwards. 'What is he thinking? He knows his moves won't work in that.' He then spotted something else, something he didn't see before. 'What are all those rings on his fingers?'
Just then, a light blue magic seal appeared in front of his palm.
"Thy winds, be thy piercing blade." He muttered. "Air Bullet!"
A blast of compressed air shot through the barrier, managing to break through it and impale one of the drones. All eyes darted back towards Nic at the arbitrary development, shock apparent on all their faces.
'What? Impossible…!' Giovanni was flabbergasted.
'He used a move?' AU-Nic was dumbstruck…until the realization dawned upon him. 'I get it now. That's what's going on.'
"Nic" stood unfazed as the barrier around him lost stability, slowly dispersing as he thought of something awhile back.
...
"Shiin. If it comes down to it, we'll need to rely on your magic." Nic instructed.
Shiin shrugged. "That's a given. My Enchantments are nothing to scoff at."
"I'm not talking about that." Nic interrupted. "We said before, there might be drones still around that can disable Pokémon moves. If I or our Pokémon get caught in there, we're screwed."
"And why are you telling me this?" Shiin inquired.
Nic gave a sharp look, one that almost made him feel unnerved. "I'm telling you…because you're the only one who can stop them if it comes down to that."
...
'I see…so that's what he meant.' Shiin, disguised as Nic, thought. 'These devices may block Pokémon moves, but not magic spells. Well played…for once, magic has its advantages against your kind.' He had to hold back a smug smirk.
Giovanni remained baffled as he watched the damaged drone drop like a Cutiefly. "But how?! Your moves should've been disabled?!"
Rather than answer, Shiin brought his hands together as a ball of light manifested. "May the rays of light radiate thy enemies. Heaven's Light!" He jutted an arm out, releasing a blinding light out at Giovanni and Mega Mewtwo.
The two covered themselves from the intense rays. While they were distracted, AU-Nic took this time to pass AU-Greninja a Sitrus Berry, recovering his health.
"Almighty winds, lend me your ferocious strength! Cyclone!" From Shiin's other hand, a cyclone shot out of a light blue magic seal towards Giovanni.
With the light blinding him, the Trainer was swept up by the swirling wind blast. He collided with Mega Mewtwo, flooring both of them.
"Not bad. Not bad at all." AU-Nic smirked. "Greninja, Bounce!"
AU-Greninja bent his strong legs and kicked off the ground, shooting up at speeds that rivaled a rocket. With the light still permeating Giovanni and Mega Mewtwo, they couldn't tell what was happening. However, Mega Mewtwo's psychokinetic instincts told him to brace himself. He seized his Trainer and moved at the last second, before AU-Greninja's foot came down with the force to shatter the ground.
Mega Mewtwo backed away, putting his Trainer back on the ground.
"Earthquake!"
Mega Mewtwo snarled and raised a fist. He plunged it into the earth, sending a shockwave below that faded into the surrounding landscape. A second later, the land tore apart as another round of fissures exploded splintered earth and debris in a meteor shower in all directions.
"Bounce!" AU-Nic called out.
AU-Greninja swiftly moved to get close to his Trainer. He wrapped AU-Nic's waist with his tongue as they sprung into the sky to avoid the destructive wake spreading.
Shiin gasped, seeing the heavy impact heading his way. 'I need to get off the ground, now!' Light blue magic seals appeared beneath his feet. "Swift winds, enchant this body with your light. Be thy weightless guide to the denizens below! Air Walk!"
He hurried to higher ground, though the shockwaves were of a dangerous scale, they were relatively slow enough to allow him to escalate just enough to escape the depths of the carnage. Still, he was wary as dust waves and splintered earth flew past him. 'Such terrifying force! Not even the highest levels of Earth Magic can be this deadly!'
A limb reached out of the dust, grabbing onto his leg. Shiin's eyes shrank moments before he was dragged back down to the earth. He crashed on the fresh, hardened earth with a loud thud, gagging from the shock.
The dust cleared, revealing Mega Mewtwo pinning Shiin by the leg. Mega Mewtwo sneered, unimpressed. However, his senses picked up on something above. Just as AU-Greninja and AU-Nic were about to land a hit, the former was seized by the throat upon being in range and was dragged down to the ground. AU-Nic fell as well, hitting his head with a loud thud that drew blood.
Giovanni overlooked his opponents' plights, smirking triumphantly. "You'll never learn, will you? A tragedy."
AU-Nic's head rung. A concussion. He could taste blood in his mouth and feel his head getting heavy. Shiin fared no better. His leg felt crushed from Mega Mewtwo's grip, possibly broken. The pain was so intense that his Transformation Magic wore off, revealing himself.
Giovanni looked over them, his dark sneer visible even under the dark sky. "It doesn't matter who stands before me…this is Rainbow Rocket's true strength! Mega Mewtwo!"
Mega Mewtwo sneered, his grip tightening. Shiin let out a loud cry as he felt his leg muscles strain under the crushing vice. AU-Greninja croaked in distress, his red eyes the size of salt grains.
Govanni continued watching his enemies with a smirk. Yes. The tension he felt before was starting to diminish again. His ease showing as his patience for this battle was finally coming to its proper end…
Suddenly, a Psybeam blasted Mega Mewtwo's back, getting a grunt from him. He lost his grip on his opponents as his arms returned to him.
"What now?!" Giovanni exclaimed.
"W-what…?" Shiin murmured.
"Free!" A familiar chirp got everyone's attention drawn up towards the sky. It was Butterfree coming to lend a hand.
"Y-you…" Shiin tried t say something, but felt another jolt of pain from his crushed leg.
"Free! Free!" Chiming angrily, Butterfree's wings glowed bright blue and flapped, summoning a Gust. The windstorm swept Mega Mewtwo, but the Legendary remained undeterred. In fact, he seemed more annoyed than in pain. However, it was enough to get his attention off of Shiin and AU-Nic as they tried to gather their bearings.
"Free!" Butterfree flapped again, though this time expelling a Sleep Powder.
"Dodge that." Giovanni ordered. Mega Mewtwo backstepped, extending his legs to get a greater distance. "Now, get rid of that insect. Stone Edge!"
Shiin gasped. "Watch out!"
"Free?" Butterfree hummed.
Mega Mewtwo snarled and plunged another fist into the ground. A blast of huge, sharp stones spearheaded their way towards Butterfree, disregarding the pollen. Butterfree panicked, but he had just enough space to fly off to the side, barely escaping the precipice. But his split-second relief was for naught as Mega Mewtwo's hand seized him by the throat, cutting off his air.
"Free!" Butterfree's chirp went hoarse as he was suddenly pulled back in. The butterfly kicked and flapped while in Mega Mewtwo's grasp, but the Legendary remained unfazed by his squabbles.
"I'm not certain how you've found your way here, but a weak Pokémon like yourself has no place amongst Rainbow Rocket." Giovanni scoffed.
Meanwhile, Shiin was gathering his bearings as he caught a break. Despite his bodily condition, he could still move. He had to move fast. 'I knew this idea would have holes as well. If I hurry, I can use Air Walk and get the alternative Nic and myself outside the Enchantment.'
"F-Free…"
A low chirp tug at his conscience. When he looked over his shoulder, his teal eyes were fixated on the visage of Butterfree struggling to break free. The grip was painful just from looking at it. Yet, the butterfly had some light in his eyes as he squirmed.
Shiin didn't know why, but his body froze. It wasn't because of paralysis, nor being actually frozen. It was because for once in a blue moon, he found himself contemplating about his objectives.
"Learn about the enemy. Every sentence of knowledge is paramount in this objective. These creatures…they taint our world. Do not engage immediately. The future of magic, lies solemnly in what you are capable of." The words of his superiors echoed in his brain.
He shook his head. 'No. He chose this himself. He's a Pokémon. The magic world's safety takes priority.'
"F…ee…" Butterfree weakly turned his head, his eyes locking with Shiin's.
Shiin could only stare back as his thoughts began flowing.
From the first moment they made eye contact on his way to Fiore, Shiin only had one thought about this Pokémon: Infestation. An infestation that Nic refuses to fix and now it's gotten out of control. He couldn't stand the idea of Pokémon shifting the balance Earthland had. He still couldn't. He didn't think he would have the nerve to follow him to Fiore and constantly invade his space, even though he made the warnings verbatim clear numerous times. What did he want from him?
The Butterfree fluttered overhead, nibbling on an Oran Berry that it had picked up in the woods. His tiny teeth nipped and started reducing the berry until it was almost gone. He looked down at Shiin, and with a sound chirp, dropped the berry into his palm
He still had that other half in his storage. It didn't mean anything other than evidence. Yet the butterfly seemed to have taken a liking to him more after that, much to his chagrin. What was there to like? They were two different species from different worlds.
Yet time and time again, Butterfree always came to help him, whether he needed it or not. Against Mest's Kirlia, that Watchog, and especially during that battle in Nirvana's ruins.
Shiin blinked, getting the message. "Are you saying…that you'll fight in my stead?"
"Free!" Butterfree nodded, turning back towards Jumpluff. If Shiin wasn't confused before, he was now. Why was this Pokémon always so up in his business? Though, while his jurisdiction didn't allow him to get along with these things, at the very least, this one seemingly had good intentions.
Good intentions. He didn't know why that word struck a chord in him. 'No, don't think like that. Good is subjective. There's no…' He stopped when his mind flashed with a familiar person's smile. Someone who had white hair and older than him.
"Even if the truth may be hard to accept, it's what you do with that truth that matters. You could let it weigh you down, or set you free. I know you'll make the right choice when the time comes for when you are faced with the truth."
The words from his early youth echoed in his mind as he thought back to Butterfree. Even though he knew better, that vague voice in the bottom of his heart was making him think otherwise. 'I…'
"Mega Mewtwo, eliminate the fodder." Giovanni ordered, snapping his fingers.
Mega Mewtwo sneered as he reeled back his fist, a Drain Punch amassing. Shiin looked between Butterfree and his staggered allies. Should he escape with them outside the Enchantment, or risk themselves saving the individual?
"…" He made up his mind and sighed. 'Forgive me for my actions.'
While Nic and Fairy Tail were in the midst of their troubles, off in the city of Crocus, the sun had yet to risen, daybreak just a few minutes away. Yet even now, Arthur was at his desk overclocking. From the extra bags under his eyes, he worked the night away. It didn't help that he had more than a few wine glasses to help get him through the evening.
'Perhaps I should listen to Marie and cut back for a little while…' Just as he was starting to feel another wave of exhaust hit him, a cup of hot tea was placed in front of him. "Hm…?"
"I specifically told you to overwork yourself, sir. Your health already is in question."
"Oh, Marie…" Arthur looked down at the tea. It was steaming, and there was a bitter smell coming from it that tickled his nose. Nevertheless, he took it in gratitude. "Thank you." He started sipping the tea.
"It was made with a blend of herbs by a Pansage's tuft and some Mental Herbs. It's not coffee as you'd probably like, but I figure a diet without caffeine would settle instead." Marie chimed.
Arthur finished sipping, feeling his fatigue wash away. "Yes, supposed it's for the best. Wasn't expecting you to be here so early."
"I figured you could use a good wakeup call." Marie looked down at Arthur's desk, noticing the many documents pertaining information, statistics, jobs, and much more. "Have you been working on this all night, sir?"
Arthur closed his eyes and hummed. "Well, the games can't just build themselves." He frowned. "That said, we've been putting in as much effort as we could to revitalize the environment for humans and Pokémon alike in this world. After that rebellion, our efforts have been slowed to a Munchlax's pace."
Marie adjusted his glasses. "Afraid so. We were just on the verge of cancelling the games had it not been for Queen Hisui's insistence."
"A sign that there may be hope yet for us yet." Arthur swiveled around, his wheelchair facing the newly installed windows that showed the Cambire Foundation. Despite setbacks and another look at their less than stellar budget, not everything had been fully repaired – yet. There were less mages and Trainers helping in the staffing as of late, and some outright quit. Arthur couldn't blame them though. He and his trusted officers in Charlotte and Jeffrey didn't get out scot-free either. Still, he was more than forgiving to his Pokémon when circumstances finally came to light.
"We haven't been getting as much sales for a while. Mr. Bistros' department is still slow in productions, and Ms. Jet's numbers are still recovering." Arthur hummed, watching the sky in the distance light up. "…hey, Marie."
"Hm, yes?"
"We've overcome numerous obstacles since our tenure here in this world. But, despite all the transgressions, we've managed to hold out thanks to the support of those whom we have build trust in."
"You're talking about Nic Pularis and Fairy Tail, yes?"
"Even beyond them. The queen herself, and all the other countries whom we have started business relations with. We've managed to get this far because of trust. If we're ever going to succeed, we need to put in as much effort as we can, for ourselves and those who relied on us."
"Sir…" Marie's eyes widened. Now it made sense why Arthur was working through a number of nights like this.
Daybreak finally arose, the first rays of sun brightening Arthur's office.
"The bridge between humanity and Pokémon is unstable right now…but it's not completely ruined. Getting humans to trust Pokémon and vice versa is not an easy task. To make an everlasting bond, both parties need to come to their own terms and understanding. The most important first step to that bond…is the one who is willing to reach out first."
Mega Mewtwo caught wind of something coming his way and let go of Butterfree, avoiding the Air Bullet that was intended for him. As Butterfree fell limply, Shiin, propelling himself with Air Walk, shot and grabbed him in his arms before he could touch the ground.
Time slowed down as the light in Butterfree's eyes returned. Shiin's eyes were hidden by a shadow as he landed on his good knee, a brief gust parted dust beneath him.
'This…is definitely staying off the record.'
"Free…?" Butterfree muttered.
"Are you alright?" Shiin asked.
Butterfree weakly nodded. "Free."
"Good…then I guess we can call us even." He didn't forget when Butterfree put that Electrode to sleep. Everything before that wasn't personal, but this was different. "Please…lend me your strength for this fight. Will you help me?"
Butterfree was surprised for a moment, especially after everything Shiin said and did before. He then nodded eagerly. "Free!"
Having a moment to recuperate, AU-Nic bit into a Sitrus Berry of his own. It did little for his concussion, but it helped his stamina. Once eaten, he reached for something else. 'Okay, this is it. It's all comes down to this…'
...
"If you're going up against Giovanni and that Mewtwo of his, then you'll need an edge of your own." Nic explained.
AU-Nic cocked a brow. "Anything you have in mind?"
Nic took a pause from changing. He looked at the Z-Power Ring on his wrist and took it off, handing it to him. "Use this. You've heard of this?"
AU-Nic's eyes widened, holding the item in his hands. "I've heard about these. They're native to Alola."
"Then explaining how it works shouldn't be a problem. If you find yourself in a pinch, this will help you."
...
Remembering what Nic said, AU-Nic smirked. 'Scratched his back and he scratched mine. Alright…' He put on the Z-Power Ring, a Ghostium-Z already lodged in it. 'Let's see what damage we can do!'
As if getting the implication, AU-Greninja silently nodded.
Getting the okay, AU-Nic crossed his arms, activating the Z-Crystal's power. A Ghost-type insignia manifested that swallowed his body in a dark purple aura.
The light got Giovanni's attention, looking at the light in question. "What are they doing now?"
As AU-Nic was channeling the Z-Power, Shiin felt Butterfree squirm in his hold until he managed to fly on his own. "What is it?"
Butterfree reached for something, pulling out the Bugium-Z he had for a while. "Free! Free!"
Shiin's eyes widened, gasping at the held item. 'That's a Z-Crystal! Has he been holding onto it this entire time?' His mind clicked with another realization. He requipped his storage and held up the container that had the strange rock he had found a while back as well. 'This rock…and that crystal…don't tell me that butterfly wants me to-'
"Free!" Butterfree lobbed the Bugium-Z towards Shiin, who caught it in his other hand. He looked between the two items, then back at Butterfree as he nodded with a determined look in his eyes. "Free! Free!"
For a moment, Shiin showed hesitation, but he knew what he had to do. He closed his eyes, fastening his resolve. 'This will stay off the record, too.' His eyes opened. He pulled the Z-Stone out and inserted the Bugium-Z. Despite his broken leg, he made an attempt to stand. 'This may not be my power…but it's a power we need at this moment. Thankfully, I've seen these moves used at the guild, so I know how they work. Like this?' He crossed his arms, holding the stone in his hand as it absorbed light. A bright green aura suddenly enveloped him, filling him with a foreign energy. 'This power…is this that Z-Power I've heard about? It feels like I'm being enchanted…'
Giovanni looked between AU-Nic and Shiin, seeing them envelop in power. The confidence he acclaimed was starting to wane again. "What is the meaning of this?! Whatever you two do, it won't matter in the end!"
"We'll see about that!" AU-Nic bent his knees, as did AU-Greninja. They moved their bodies in sync, their shoulders swaying as they rose up and let their hands hang loose. In a way, they were mimicking the drifty movement of a ghost. But that's what caused the Z-Power to arch over and flow into AU-Greninja.
Shiin steadied his breathing. With a sharp breath, he closed his eyes, mentally cringing for what he was about to do. He brought his arms up along his right side and positioned them atop his head in a striking pose. Though Butterfree's limbs weren't long enough for such, the Z-Power resonated with him as it arch over Shiin and onto him.
Both Pokmon's bodies flourished with Z-Power, unleashing their attacks together.
"Never-Ending Nightmare!"
Shiin brought his right arm across in a strike position. "Savage Spin-Out!"
The Z-Power around AU-Greninja expelled outwards. Giovanni wondered if it was something like a Night Daze, but he watched as the energy became an illusionary effect engulfing their surroundings. Looking around, their surroundings became a dark scenery with silhouettes of hills under a clear night sky.
'What's this? Another trick?' Giovanni didn't allow his panic to show.
Beneath AU-Greninja, dark shadows rippled outwards, drawing closer towards Mega Mewtwo. Long arms with hands reached out to grab him from all around. The Legendary made an attempt to ascend, but Butterfree shot his Z-Move in the form of a thick thread that quickly caught him around the ankle. The thread thickened and snared around his entire body until a cocoon fully enveloped him.
"Do it now!" Shiin ordered.
"FREE~!" Butterfree chirped with all his might, whirling the heavy cocoon up, then dragged it back down into the void below.
Giovanni's eyes widened, his shock growing by the second. For once, his face showed genuine fear. Was he actually going to lose? For once, was the greatest Trainer in existence actually going to be overwhelmed by those who dared challenge him?! No, he cannot allow this! He wouldn't!
'These Trainers…won't EVER BEAT ME!'
The dozens of shadow hands snatched the cocoon as it came crashing down. Upon impact, a mixture of bright green and dark purple exploded outwards. A shockwave flourished. AU-Nic and Shiin lost their footing and dropped to their knees. Instead of dust, a shadowy haze engrossed the area. AU-Greninja and Butterfree held on as the attack's wake almost blew them away as well.
The surrounding illusion soon faded, bringing everyone back to reality.
Shiin caught his breath. "…did that finish him?"
"…" AU-Nic frowned. He knew the battle had gone on long enough, but even something as powerful as that had to have done something. He and AU-Greninja watched the haze carefully, wanting to see for themselves the damage they have done.
"Grrrr…"
A low sneer went down their spines. Their eyes widened as their pupils shrank at the reality.
"No way…" Shiin breathed.
AU-Nic clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles were starting to turn white.
A pair of blue eyes gleamed through the haze, piercing straight through their souls. With a wave of a single arm, the haze dispersed and a shockwave brushed past everyone. The winds died down as everyone uncovered to find Mega Mewtwo standing in the clearing, his body no signs of wear.
Shiin's eyes shuddered as horrific shock enveloped him. 'Even with the power of two of those special moves, they…they had no effect at all?'
An amused chuckle drew their attention towards Giovanni. The man's daunting demeanor sickened them. "I must say…I must congratulate you once again." His tone was saturated with irony. "You've forced me to use this." He held up the empty contents of a Full Restore, much to AU-Nic's shock.
"A Full Restore." He clenched his fists. "I should've known…!"
Giovanni chuckled again, almost maniacally. From the twisted smirk on his face, one could say he was on the verge of a breakdown. "Now, this is most unprecedented. Disappointment and impatience are things I've grown accustomed to feeling…but now, I'm feeling something that I haven't felt in a long time…anger!" His dark eyes shrank as he shot glares straight at AU-Nic and Shiin, so sharp in fact they felt threatened. "I haven't been pushed this far in a battle for a long time. I forgot how much adrenaline can flood your system. I must thank you all for allowing me to feel this way again. As a show of gratitude…I will make all of your demises quick and painless. Starting now."
Mega Mewtwo ascended off the ground. They all braced themselves as his eyes shined brightly and pulled back a fist...
A twinkle in the skies above glimmered, before a bright green meteor blitzed down onto Mega Mewtwo, flooring him instantly. The impact sent another shockwave through the area as everyone covered up, even a surprised Giovanni.
"What now?!" Giovanni bellowed.
AU-Nic and Shiin used their forearms to shield again until the dust wave passed them. In the center of a crater, Mega Mewtwo snarled as he propped himself up, clearly irritated. Starting with him, everyone turned their heads up to find the culprit floating above.
"Sorry for the delay." The man called out. "Was held up with some business, but we took care of it."
"(They won't be causing trouble for you again. We made sure of that.)"
"(Hi, guys!)"
It was Nic in his Zygarde Form still, along with Greninja and Junior. Everyone below had shock written all over their faces.
"You…!" AU-Nic couldn't finish. Even he didn't see this coming!
"Sorry, I know you said you wanted Giovanni all to yourself, but I couldn't help it." Nic apologized. "Hope we didn't interrupt."
Even in his concussive state, AU-Nic knew he wasn't dreaming. A crude smirk crossed his face as he slouched. "Heh…your timing couldn't have been better."
'Is that…really Nic?' Shiin couldn't believe his eyes. He's never seen Nic take this form before. 'This must be one of those Legendary Forces that I've heard about. What Legendary Pokémon is that one?' He gasped. 'Don't tell me…he actually defeated all those Legendary Pokémon with that? Just how strong is he in this form?' If he wasn't so wounded, he'd be pulling out his camera and documenting all this invaluable information.
Nic smiled at Junior. "Nice work getting us here, Junior. You did good."
Junior chuckled. "(You're welcome!)"
"Now…" With pleasantries out of the way, Nic took note of all his allies' conditions. Save for AU-Greninja, the others looked worse for wear. He and Greninja turned their attention towards the cause of their distress.
Giovanni's eyes were fixated on the new arrival that surprised even him. He could barely contain himself anymore. "So…I take it that you're the real one? Not another imposter I presume?"
"Yeah, this one's the real thing." Nic answered calmly.
Giovvani's smirk broadened. "Good…I was getting tired of dealing with these substitutes. Those powers of yours would make an invaluable addition to Team Rainbow Rocket. How would you like to join me and dominate all of reality?"
Shiin's eyes widened. 'Is he serious?'
"Sorry, but I'll pass." Nic answered, keeping his tone leveled.
Giovanni sneered. "Such a shame. Seems that I'll have to reason with you the hard way." He snapped his fingers, to which Mega Mewtwo floated into the air. "Now let's see…just who's the true ultimate weapon worthy of-!"
In a fraction of a second, Nic breached Giovanni's space, getting close enough to mutter in his ear. "You talk too much."
One of his wings' maws swept around, chomping down on Giovanni's right arm. The Bite was so swift that nobody saw it coming, not even when Nic casually tossed Giovanni afar like a skipping stone across the ground, until the man landed face-first in the ground a long distance out.
AU-Nic and Shiin's mouths hung open, the display stunning both of them. 'So fast!'
Mega Mewtwo snarled, alarmed by the attack. He shot at Nic from behind, but was blocked off by Greninja landing in front of him. "(You're fights with us.)" he warned.
Mega Mewtwo's eyes flashed, the challenge accepted.
AU-Nic clenched his teeth. "His Attack power is up, but his Speed is lowered!"
"Got it. Mind if we give you a Helping Hand with this one?" Nic stated.
AU-Nic nodded in appreciation. "Thanks."
With the okay, Nic and Greninja faced Mega Mewtwo with no need to hold themselves back. "You ready, Greninja?"
"(I was about to ask you that.)" The frog stated.
"No pulling our punches here. If it's a battle they want, then I say we give it to them."
Greninja smirked beneath his tongue. He knew where this was going. "(You took the words right out of my mouth.)"
"Then let's show them…"
At the same time, their eyes flashed purple. "Our power!"
With a resounding cry, Greninja was engulfed in a tornado of black water. The water compressed as Greninja's features began changing within the center. The tides compressed into a coat of water, along with a medium-sized shuriken on his back. Nic-Greninja opened his eyes, showing purple irises just like Nic.
A second wave of euphoria washed over the others; AU-Greninja especially was surprised. They were so stunned that they were completely speechless.
Afar, Giovanni struggled to get up, but he noticed the water cyclone and the transformation of Greninja. "What…is that form…? Another power…?"
"What kind of power is that?" AU-Nic questioned.
Shiin gasped. 'So this is the infamous Nic-Greninja form I've heard about. It was strong enough to defeat God Serena, the strongest of the Four Gods of Ishgar. To think that he'd be using it now…'
"Woah…go get'em, guys!" Junior cheered.
Nic floated beside Nic-Greninja, the pair like two copies glaring at Mega Mewtwo. The Legendary snarled and shot ahead, extending his fist back with a Drain Punch.
"Greninja, Scald!" Nic commanded.
Nic-Greninja took a brief inhale as his Mystic Water shined. A monstrous yet pressurized volume of boiling water rushed through the air, immediately sending ripples of steam that destroyed the ground below. Mega Mewtwo rushed into the intense blast and plunged his fist into the water. He was swallowed in the attack, causing an implosion of altered pressure that exerted steam in all direction. The area plumed with hot air that everyone that wasn't Nic or Nic-Greninja covered up from.
When the steam settled and the ground stopped shaking, Nic-Greninja remained untouched. Several meters away, Mega Mewtwo was on a knee, snarling angrily as the attack put him at a stalemate.
But a quick burst of flames caused him to lurch.
"A burn! That'll lower his attack strength!" AU-Nic deduced.
'Another status ailment?' Giovanni clenched his teeth in frustration. He wanted to reach for another Full Restore, but his right arm wasn't working the way he wanted it to. 'He crushed my arm with that attack…!'
Nic's four wings reached out, this time the four maws expelling a thick Haze that engulfed the area. 'It'll reset his Speed, but at least his Attack is lowered.'
Giovanni's frustrations only grew. "Mega Mewtwo, don't let them get the last laugh! Destroy them all with Earthquake!"
Despite the Haze's effects, it didn't fully block his visibility. He snarled and brought a fist up, ready to pummel the earth.
"(Nic!)" Nic-Greninja shouted.
"I know!"
Mega Mewtwo howled in fury as his fist plunged into the ground. For a moment, the air froze before a shockwave shot outwards in all directions, mostly forward. However, unlike earlier, the force behind the shuddering wake was weaker, but still nothing to scoff at. Nic's body was enveloped in a green aura, the cellular designs on his body glowing. As the shockwave drew near, he shot towards the ground below before his peers.
"Maxus Legendary Arts – Thousand Waves!"
Upon impact with the earth, a shockwave of dense green cells multiplied and scattered with the magnitude. The fissures closed in, and the cellular energy wave flourished like a tsunami. The two attacks met in the center, creating a plume of land and cells that flew around everywhere.
AU-Nic watched with everyone in brief awe at the display happening before them. Just a minute ago, they were cornered after expending all of what they had. Now the roles have turned yet again, this time in their favor.
'So this is the power of Nic's Legendary Force in person.' 'It's utterly terrifying…' Shiin awed with equal freight.
The cells rained down, cancelling out debris fragments. Although many continued past them and were on the verge of connecting with Mega Mewtwo. It didn't help that the burn made his body cringe.
"Drain Punch!" Giovanni ordered. Mega Mewtwo didn't hesitate as he reeled back a fist and shot through the dust field towards his foes.
AU-Nic snapped back to reality, coming up with a plan as he turned towards Shiin. "You! The light, again!"
Getting the hint, Shiin grunted. "Fine…but ask with a little more professionalism next time." He brought his hands together, creating a small orb of light. "May the rays of light radiate thy enemies. Heaven's Light!"
Just as Mega Mewtwo bored through to the other side, Shiin cast a blinding light. The intense rays penetrated the attacker's eye and caused him to falter.
"Greninja, Shadow Sneak!" AU-Nic ordered.
"Go, now!" Shiin shouted.
AU-Greninja placed his hand on the ground as his shadow blackened. As it stretched along the ground, Butterfree flew above. With Mega Mewtwo still blinded by the light, he got a super-effective gut shot from below by the shadow that made him stop in his tracks. Butterfree took the opportunity to fire a Psybeam that struck square in his face, making a bright pink explosion that caused him to step back.
Even when he shook his head, the burn continued dealing damage. However, something else was off. As he opened his eyes, his vision looked hazy, and he seemed disoriented and swaying slightly. He was confused.
"Nice." AU-Nic sneered.
Giovanni gnashed his teeth. This couldn't go on! He managed to slowly arise to his feet, standing up on his own and clutched his wounded arm. 'At this distance, I can't apply the Full Restore.' He needed to do something – anything! He wasn't going to lose this! "Mega Mewtwo, attack with Zen Headbutt!"
Mega Mewtwo huffed, his hearing and senses completely disoriented. He lowered his head, readying to launch himself…that is until he fell head-first into the dirt, hurting himself in his confusion.
"Night Slash!" Nic roared.
Nic-Greninja's purple eyes glimmered as he mirrored Nic's gesticulation. He leaped into the air and pulled out two purple kunai before shooting at Mega Mewtwo.
The mouths on Nic's wings opened again, this time gathering loops of energy rings that congregated inside the glowing maws. Four simultaneous Dragon Breath blazes followed closely behind Nic-Greninja, who began spinning and used the kunai as focal points to shroud his energy weapons with the blazes. Trails of dragonfire followed behind the kunai as Nic-Greninja reached his target, crossing in an X-shape and swallowing Mega Mewtwo in a gashing explosion. Dragonfire plumed and expelled the Mega Evolved menace as he cried out, spiraling and slamming into the ground and trailed into a nearby mound, reducing it to rubble.
"No! This…this cannot be…it absolutely must not be…" Giovanni denied what was happening as his left eye started twitching. His drones incapacitated, he couldn't do anything to thwart Nic. His grunts disposed, the other bosses nowhere in sight, and now facing a being that's supposedly superior. He could feel the pressure multiply tenfold inside, which was evident in his face.
"How the roles have reversed, huh." AU-Nic spoke up. "Your once proud army is destroyed. Your fellow bosses gone…it's just you…"
"…and us." Nic's purple eyes flashed.
Giovanni started staggering. He looked at the small group of inferior people and Pokémon before him. Only hours ago, he was the one in control. Now it was Nic and whoever this creature was that were cornering him. But even in the grim face of it all, he managed to break a cocky smirk.
"Heh…" He chuckled, before breaking out into a laughter that nobody was amused with. "HAHAHAHAHA! You really believe this is checkmate?! I am this world's strongest Trainer! I will not lose…to the likes of you!" He roared. "You will not stand between me and my ultimate destiny!"
"Vulgar until the end." Shiin scoffed. "How deplorable."
"Greninja." Nic said. "Let's finish this."
Nic-Greninja nodded. "(Right. Time to put this all behind us…for good!)" He grabbed hold of his Water Shuriken on his back and began spinning it. Once it gathered enough momentum, he raised the shuriken overhead as a cyclone of water swallowed him. "(Hrrrraaaaaah!)" He roared as the purple on his body glowed brightly from within the water. It all eventually turned to mist, revealing an enormous purple Water Shuriken that spun so fast that it looked like a saucer that could tear through anything.
"This is it! Put everything you've got into this next shot!" Nic shouted. He ascended into the air, the maw on his chest opening wide. A dense amount of energy began charging that intensified the coloring of the maw's insides.
Understanding what he meant by that, AU-Nic reached his arm out. "Greninja, Dark Pulse!" AU-Greninja lurched forward, sending a beam of black and purple energy rings beaming ahead.
"Almighty winds, lend me your ferocious strength! Cyclone!" Shiin unleashed a spiraling cyclone of wind from a light blue magic seal.
"Free!" Butterfree's wings gleamed as he flapped, unleashing a Silver Wind.
Meanwhile, the dense amount of energy Nic had charged finally condensed to a singular point. He aimed downwards and unleashed all his might. "Maxus Legendary Arts – Core Enforcer!"
An immense beam of multicolored energy fired from his chest, the mass angling downwards as it reached Nic-Greninja's shuriken. However, instead of getting torn up or cancelling the huge move's buildup, the draconic energy was gradually being drawn into the saucer, concentrating the multicolored energy around the saucer's edging to make it bigger and stronger.
The other attacks soon caught up, the dark ring beam, the tornado, and the wind with silver remnants was swept up in the attack's momentum. The saucer became a single, massive ring of darkness, multicolored energy, and glittering, intense whirlwinds. All several times larger than Nic-Greninja, yet he held up without effort.
Looking at the attack, Giovanni was at his wit's end. His Mega Mewtwo struggled to stand, but he cared not for its well-being. Despite the odds, the man refused to give up. 'Rainbow Rocket will not fall…not as long as I'm left standing! My reign at the top is insurmountable!'
Mega Mewtwo managed to get his feet beneath him, though he almost staggered off to the side.
In a cry of anger and resolve, Giovanni swiped his arm across. "DRAIN PUNCH!"
Mega Mewtwo bent his knees and shot forward with what crippled strength he had left, his fist glowing with vitality.
Nic watched the oncoming visage with resolution. To an extent, he could relate to Giovanni standing alone, or at the very least relying on his own power to get to where he was now. However, that only a small part of him. He had others beside him that helped made this fight far easier for their favor. And now it was time to bring it all full circle.
Nic brought his arm back, Nic-Greninja following the motion. "NOW!"
With a loud cry, Nic-Greninja threw the empowered shuriken with all his might. It shredded through the air, beaming at sonic speeds towards Mega Mewtwo. The Mega Evolved Pokémon extended his fist out to meet the spiraling destruction. A shockwave expelled upon impact. For a moment, Mega Mewtwo seemed to be holding on, but slowly, he lost traction and began feeling the burn's effects wearing down his punch. But, like his Trainer, he refused to accept defeat.
"You're…" AU-Nic started.
"…DONE!" Nic bellowed.
It didn't take long before Mega Mewtwo was unable to hold off the attack any longer. The immense physical force tat he was so proud of what shredded away, along with the rest of him in the wake of the attack. His howls of agony were mute in the high-decibel projectile that continued its path. The Legendary's silhouette briefly convulsed in the shredding mass before vanishing.
Giovanni's eyes shrank as the high-speed disc made way towards him. Time slowed down for him as he realized what was happening. And from the look on his face, he couldn't believe it. 'I...I lost...'
His cries of agony were cut off when the attack reached him. Several flashes went off in the far distance before a large-scale explosion went off, sending shockwaves in all directions. Multicolored energy ripples expelled skywards as an enormous pillar of energy centralized around the base of the attack. It expanded outwards, but everyone managed to hold their ground as they witnessed the blow with a mix of shock and awe.
The shockwaves reached so high up that every cloud in the sky was torn to vapor, revealing a clear sky.
After several minutes, the shuddering airspace finally simmered to a tolerable level. Everyone gathered their bearings as they stared ahead at what remained of the island and Giovanni.
Nothing.
Several meters in front of a calm Nic-Greninja, the land down towards the ocean had been completely eradicated. Fresh basin water took up space where land worn down by numerous Earthquakes was. After all the carnage that happened, not a shred of Rainbow Rocket was left in one piece.
In the water, island debris sank to the dark depths. Amongst the wreckage was a rainbow R that slowly crumbled apart and sank deeper into the darkness.
A long silence fell as everyone took in what happened. The power they all used. The battle. The struggles they went through to see this very moment.
At long last, Rainbow Rocket has fallen.
"Giovanni…he's finally…" AU-Nic nearly collapsed, but AU-Greninja supported him.
Likewise, Shiin was at a loss for words. His attention was more towards Nic's Zygarde Form and Nic-Greninja than anything else. 'Unbelievable. That level of power…there isn't a shred of Mega Mewtwo or Giovanni left…' His breath left his lungs as he marveled at their might. 'This is the true power of Nic Pularis.'
"Free…" Butterfree muttered.
"(Ooooohh…)" Junior's yellow eyes were wide with fascination. "(Nic is…so cool…)"
Nic and Nic-Greninja exchanged looks with each other. As Nic-Greninja diffused his transformation, Nic ascended into the air, his body glowing bright green. Dozens of green meteors that made up Zygarde Cells shot at light speed in all directions. Nic reverted back to himself, landing beside his partner.
"(Is it really…?)" AU-Greninja questioned.
"(Yeah…it's over.)" Greninja answered.
Just then, the sun had started rising in the distance. Everyone in their battered states felt the warmth of the sun embrace them. The bright days of dawn shimmered across the water – a beautiful sight to behold after an arduous battle.
"…we finally won." AU-Nic said softly.
"Yeah…we did." A warm grin crossed Nic's face as he turned back towards him. "This…was our victory. All of us."
First of all, I need to apologize for my absence for over 7 months. I was starting on the chapter back in March, but then external matters started pressing onto me. Work, and on top of that, I was trying to finish Pokémon Violet Indigo Disk. Throughout spring and summer I just couldn't get the motivation I needed, and I suffered a burnout as a result of that. But, for the most part, I'm out of that slump now, and I'm eager to finish this arc.
I understand that this chapter was an incredibly long read again, and I exceeded 30K again. But I'd rather not have this massive mayhem of a battle extend to two chapters. But moving forward, I will make it a point to trim it down the best I can so it'll be a smoother read for you all.
Nic's Zygarde Legendary Force is posted on my Deviantart if you need a reference to what he looks like.
Next chapter will be the finale to this arc. Then there will be a couple chapters of characters and preparations for the Grand Magic Games, then finally the games themselves.
I'm going to be very busy coming November and December, but I can guarantee the next chapter will be by Thanksgiving.
Thanks to everyone who have been worried and waited for me. Please leave a review on how you thought this chapter went, and see you next chapter!
