Chapter 5- Analyzing the Battle

A/N: This is an original Pokémon Fan Game made by Amethyst. If you wish to check it out and play the game, download it at Reborn Evolved. Search for it on your web browser to get to the website.

Edited/Rewritten as of 12/17/2024

KABOOOOM!

A thunderous blast rang through the streets, sending dust flying high as bricks broke and walls collapsed into each other. It was quite the sight as the ex-Meteor Base fell, much like the old train station.

While some of the ones present were somewhat apprehensive, somewhat from having been at the scene of Reborn Station's destruction, another part since this building exploded just barely after they escaped.

One member, in particular, grinned as if she had successfully pulled off the best prank in the world. Her green ponytail flitted in the air as she cheered for their success. "Well, that's a wrap! Goooo Team!"

"Uh huh…" A sour voice reasonably rang out after almost being killed due to this explosion. "If you're done with your pyrotechnics, I'm gettin' out of here."

"Fern, please halt your departure for a moment." An emotionless voice rang out. Her glasses blocked her green eyes. She looked over Fern, Percival, and Lucille.

"That's not like you…" The green-haired boy Fern sighed in annoyance. "What's up, Flobot?"

Florinia didn't seem even to acknowledge the term Flobot. Continuing onto the question she needed to ask. "After the defeat of the individuals from Team Meteor. Percival acknowledged a name. Nero, correct?"

"Yes, do you know anything about him?" Lucille intervened, maybe hoping Nero had escaped unscathed somehow or another.

"This individual had Pili with enough melanin to be determined black, with grey iris, and a predilection toward Dark-Types?"

"Huh?" Lucille's head hurt upon hearing words that were unfamiliar to societal norms.

"Uh… Do you mean black hair and grey eyes? Yes, he did." Fern shook his head at his sister's insistence to use complex words. "But I don't recall seeing him with a Dark Type. Percival, he was with you. Did he have any?"

"He had a Dewott… which, unless he's got a time machine that won't become a Dark-Type. Though… He did have a Cacnea, Skorupi, and a Scraggy. Does his type preference matter?" Percival asked in a hesitant tone.

"Indeed. The individual known as Nero, legally known as Nero Umbrasyl, is now concluded to be the individual classified as the Black Demon."

"Rini, what?!" Julia, listening to the conversation, suddenly screamed, hearing her friend's words, "Didn't that kid go missing three years ago?!"

"Umbrasyl?"

"Missing? Wait, Sis. Did you know that guy?" Fern looked on in confusion, not understanding.

"No, wait, you're saying he's the Demon? You're telling us he attacked himself then!" Percival's emotions started to rise. Percival was sure he saw Nero take a sword to the cheek for him, a sword that almost hit him a while later.

"Nero Umbrasyl's team lineup consisted of a Zorua, which is now confirmed to have evolved into a Zoroark." Florinia calmly stated, confusing Percival and Lucille further.

"Line up… wait, was that guy a Gym Leader… Wait, isn't the Dark-type Leader Blonde?!" Fern shouted. He wasn't the most invested in the Reborn Region's Pokémon League. However, as the younger brother of a gym leader, it was normal for him to know or hear something.

"Fern. The leader pertaining to dark types is blonde and registered as female. Last confirmed to have taken residence in the Chrysolia Region," Florinia stopped the sudden misconception that Fern had. "Nero Umbrasyl was registered as Reborn's Reserve Dark-Type Leader until he disappeared three years ago. Comments about his whereabouts were never clear. Though several members of his lineup are identical to the said "Demon," as stated, Zorua to Zoroark, Houndour to Houndoom, Murkrow to Honchkrow, and his signature registered as a Black Absol."

"..."

"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" Fern snapped, breaking the silence. "Fuck this, I'm tracking that bastard down. He's gonna pay for trying to hit me with that damn blade."

No one stopped Fern as he ran off into the City.

"This speaker is overdue for departure as well." Florinia bowed her head. "It is imperative that Ame and other League Leaders are informed of the status of the missing reserve leader. Also, reports indicate that the situation in Obsidia Ward continues to deteriorate rapidly."

"Reports in the Obsidia Ward?" Lucille's brows furrowed.

"Something weird was going on with the plants there." Julia just shook her head, looking at her friend. "How does that even happen? There's like, two plants in that park! If that!"

"The use of the literary device known as understatement is noted." Florina nodded her head. "Nevertheless, attention is warranted."

"Well, boo." Julia puffed her cheeks, "Fine. I know you've been really distant since our graduation, but I'm glad we could hang out at least a little~ Just like old times, right?"

"And equally destructive, correct." For a split second, Lucille swore she saw Florinia smile as she said that. "However, sentimentalities remain counter-productive. This speaker will report today's proceedings to Ame and the resident police force before returning to Obsidia. Farewell."

"Bye, Rini!" Julia jumped and waved as her friend left. Now, the Explosive enthusiast was left with Percival and Lucille. Realizing these two were still with her. "Thanks for your help today, Percy and Lucy! You were great! And now that my Gym isn't gonna randomly blow up, I'm gonna head back there now! Although, if it did blow up, that might be fun, too… Whatever! Percival, once you feel ready, you should totally come by and challenge me! I'll be waiting! Bring coffee!"

"I'm not sure about the coffee, but I'll bring my best," Percival smiled.

Time had passed since the Mosswater Industrial Factory was destroyed. The clouds from smog, smoke, dust, and the previous rainstorm blocked the night sky. The city was dark while the few working streetlights barely lit the streets.

A boy with silver eyes and black hair was high on a nearby rooftop, sitting on the edge of the building. His hand traveled across the soft black fur of the Pokémon beside him.

"That certainly didn't go as expected," Nero muttered, methodically checking where the green spines landed on his partner's side. "You…"

"..." The black-furred Absol silently looked down at the city below. It was an amateur mistake, one that had never happened before. Grim was never that careless.

"Haaa… that Percival certainly isn't a slouch, but that girl…" Nero thought back to Lucille, her appearance… it was just like-

"Ah, Nero, there you are! What are you doing on such a ledge? Don't tell me you want a recreation of our Damsel in Distress plan, do you?" Came a voice in a playful tone. Wearing a purple hat and a matching suit. They had been looking for Nero since he disappeared after the destruction of Mosswater Industrial.

"Ace, what do you want?" Nero spat out. It wasn't that he wanted to be found. If Nero didn't want to be found, Ace wouldn't have shown up like this. There was a reason Nero had been missing for over three years.

"If you must know, I managed to get some new information on our little pests. You will also find out you are now a certainly wanted criminal. Though the picture needs to be updated." Ace chuckled as they held out a tablet to Nero.

It was a released arrest warrant for Nero Umbrasyl, also known as The Black Demon. The warrant described Nero's appearance, his signature mask now appearing, his registered Leage Pokémon team, and his unregistered Team Members. The picture used in the warrant, however, certainly wasn't up to date. Even when he was only twelve, or at least by the time of this picture, Nero had acquired his signature natural glare.

Nero was all but pleased looking at his twelve-year-old self. Even with his glaring silver eyes, he could still read their naivety: "I mean, does this change anything for me?"

"No, not really. You're still the ground agent who moves from place to place." Ace sighed, perhaps hoping that Nero would give more of a reaction than an annoyed tone.

"Thought so." Nero flicked the screen to the side, and Ace said they had more information about the two from Mosswater. "Percival Whitehall, huh? With silver hair like that, I wonder if Shiro will annoy him."
"Who knows, it's quite rare to see a trainer from Galar appear."

"And we have… Luxen… Wow… Could this be more of an obvious twist of fate?" Nero looked at the page and let out a hollow laugh.

"Um… is it?" Ace noticed the shift in Nero's eyes. Sure, his silver eyes were always cold, but this somehow seemed colder.

"In the old tongue, Lucille roughly translates to Light…" Nero trailed, thinking of a different light, "And Luxen can mean to shine, or someone sent by God. No wonder she got such a hit on you, Grim."

"..." The Absol shifted his body, grunting as Nero's lips turned into a sardonic smile.

"Shiro will be put on hold. After all, what could be more Iconic? An Angel vs Demon, who will end up winning." Nero twistedly sneered.

"...Ahem." Ace cleared their throat; they knew when Nero was truly annoyed or angry at someone. Nero would make that person suffer. If it wasn't for Lucille being their enemy, Ace might have pitied Lucille. In fact, they already did, for Lucille Luxen's sin to Nero was her name. "You may do what you wish, but please do not stray from the cause."

"Yeah, I know." Nero sighed, "So what's the next assignment?"

"Well, we have continued with the experiments in the Obsidia Ward. It would be best if you could meet up with ZEL and Borealis." Ace quickly explained.

"Borealis, the old man's a bit of an ass, but it shouldn't be too bad. But not as bad as the other guy." Nero spat there were several people he hated in Team Meteor, and ZEL was up there.

Nero's attitude to Borealis was complicated. "Whatever, I'll get it done."

The night had passed. The reports of the Mosswater Raid were submitted to Ame. It was the dawn of a new day, the day of Percival's first gym fight against the Reborn League. Percival's gym fight against Julia.

This fight would hopefully shine a light on Percival's downtrodden mood between the explosion of Reborn's Trainstation and his defeat at the hands of the Demon. Percival felt rather down… This wasn't how he thought his journey would take him. So far, his best hasn't been enough, though this new dawn would hopefully change that.

As expected, Percival quickly worked through Julia's "Puzzle". The reality of just using Voltorb to explode through small sheets of metal. It was quite a dangerous puzzle, but the puzzle nonetheless.

Kaboom!

"*Sigh* her gym is an eccentric one." Percival sighed as he looked at the destroyed metal sheet.

He alone walked into the next room, filled with machines and a glass-pane floor. The floor was attractive; looking down, one could see it was filled with flashes of yellow. Electricity arced through the glass, leaving a scent of ozone in the air.

"Ah, Percy! Hihi!" A shout came from the leader of this gym. A green-haired cheerleader with yellow pompoms in her hands. "Welcome to the Super-Duper Ultra-Hyper Electro-Dazzle Happy Boom-Time House of Cheer!"

"That sounds… very peppy," Percival said, trying to avoid looking at the flashing lights and potential fire hazards.

"Uh… just ignore all the super-lame machinery junk," Julia said, misinterpreting what Percival's eyes were avoiding. Thinking Percival was trying not to look at the essential electrical equipment that keeps this power plant running. "I need more banners! And streamers! And-...Fireworks!"

"Um… so more safety hazards?" Percival's worries intensified, thinking of how close those fireworks would be to the cloth

"Oh, who cares?!" Julia shouted in annoyance. "Anyway, don't think I'll go easy on you just because you helped me out earlier! I have pride to uphold."

Percival smiled, letting out a slight snicker as he saw Julia's competitive nature. "I'd hope you wouldn't hold back. Because you'd hurt my pride otherwise."

"As former captain cheerleader, the Onyx Trainers School's honor depends on me!" Shaking her pompom, Julia spoke rhythmically. "OTS, we represent! We pack a punch and don't relent! But all right, all right, all right! I'm wired, so let's fight!"

"Mini!" Cried out a tiny mouse-like Pokemon with long blue ears and minus symbols on its cheeks, with a blue tail and a minus.

"Electric types, well… Vee, it's your time to shine!" Percival smiled. He threw out his small, tanned fox with leaves growing from its body. "This shouldn't be a problem! Leaf blade!"

"Vee!" Shouting out loud; the leaf atop her head glowed a deep green. Rushing forward, Vee ran to the side.

"M-mi!" Minun lost track of Vee as she ran and was surprised to see a green blade raked down her side.

"Oh no, Minun!" Julia shouted in surprise. "Okay, Oricorio! Let's give some cheer!"

"Vee, return. I know electricity isn't your type, but Pheobe come out!" Percival's Pokeball shot out a red beam, recalling the leafeon to its Pokeball while releasing a long serpent with two red antennae.

"Cooor!" Cheering and dancing the yellow bird, Oricorio's cheering style summoned a torrent of cutting winds.

"..." though the bulky Milotic, Phoebe, was unbothered by the blunt air cutter.

"Oh, a toughie, huh?" Julia saw how unphased Miltic was and started to cheer for her Oricorio. "C'mon, Ori, show them your cheer!"

"Cori!" the Oricorio danced, shaking its yellow pompom-like feathers. Sparks started generating at the ends before blasting into Pheobe's body.

"Mii!" Phoebe, this time, shouted in pain, taking a heavy hit from the blast of electricity. Shaking her head, Phoebe cooled her mind as she produced a blue ball of energy before firing it at the Oricorio.

Cheering did much to help Oricorio move, but it was rather fruitless against Phoebe's cold anger, turning the yellow bird into frozen poultry.

"Agh… no Ori!" Julia cried as her bird was frozen solid. "Okay, Voltorb, go boom!"

"Hm?!" Percvial nor Phoebe had a chance to react as an angry red and white orb appeared on the field. Its body glowing white from a blast of destructive energy.

Kaaaboooom!

"..." For over a minute, Percival couldn't perceive or hear anything due to the blast. When his vision cleared, he saw that Pheobe was unconscious on the ground.

"..." It appeared like Julia was shouting something, possibly the name of her next Pokémon… Though all Percival could hear was Ringing.

"Okay, then that makes this more difficult… Vee, I'm counting on you!" Percival shouted, only able to hear his thoughts. Throwing back out his Leafeon. With a score of 3 to 1, Percival felt confident in his victory. Perhaps he'd meet with Lucille in Obsidia Park sooner than expected.

Elsewhere, a girl with blonde hair and silver eyes stood surrounded… by many black and yellow pokémon in rubber pants, one tall ring leader with an orange mohawk.

"Noi!" cried a small purple bat as it was smacked to the floor, unable to keep up with the fight.

"Scra!" The Scrafty roared, happy to eliminate the pest making so much noise in its territory.

Lucille paled, a cold sweat dripping down her face… It looked like she was in trouble, and she had no backup to help her out…