Chapter 132:

Longshot

Shooting a person felt underwhelming.

There wasn't a big oomph, no blood curdling scream or a spray of blood flying everywhere. No heart beating against my ribcage or crushing guilt. It just happened.

A red spot blossomed like a flower on Flamera's chest, underneath her left collarbone and close to her heart. It was smaller than I imagined it would be and only a small trickle of blood flowed from the hole.

A look of shock froze on Flamera's face as it hit the beautifully decorated floor. A betrayed surprise lingered in her eyes. I felt the same surprise and couldn't bring myself to react to my own shot.

The sheer weight of what happened pressed down, making it hard to move for both me and the Pokémon present in the room. I felt Fay's incredulous gaze locked onto me, but I didn't look back. I bet Luna had similar thoughts as well. I had never shot someone, I mean not like this and not a human. Crimson I had shot in the foot, but this time I actually did intend to kill Flamera. Well, no, not kill. I just wanted her to get out of my way.

Even Flamera's Charizard was too stunned by surprise to move. Instead its gaze was fixed on Flamera.

Outside the room, through the open windows I could see reality continue to unwind around us and the void crawling over the torn fabric of reality like a rot. The world was now barely cohesive anymore and just a miasma of colors and nothingness. The little parts of reality left were all circled around the Space-Time towers.

Dialga wasn't anywhere to be seen but considering I saw Palkia still firing in the distance, I assumed he was at least somewhere. They just straight up didn't care about the world they ruined around them.

"C-s-ha—," a soft voice whispered. My eyes drew back to Flamera. She was painfully trying to breathe.
That was another part of shooting people that felt underwhelming. They don't always die immediately, unless you hit them right in the brain or heart it can take time for them to die.

Flamera's lips parted, red liquid spilled from her lips. A voice out of time tried to gasp a few words between short breathes. "Charizard—" The dragon in question reared its head, overcoming the surprise. I suddenly was reminded how cramped this little music room was and how the threat was still very much present, despite Flamera bleeding on the floor.

On instinct, without even logically thinking, I aimed my small gun at Flamera's Charizard.

Flamera coughed up more crimson, With great pain Flamera whispered, "—Stop his music."

What does that even mean?

Fay's eyes widened when she saw Charizard raise its tail. "NO!"

I squeezed the trigger.

It did absolutely nothing. My weapon barely even registered when the bullet clashed with Charizard's scales.

The music machine was ornately designed, displaying scenes of myths, heroes and local legends. It was a masterful work of craftsmanship and it had been in the towers for a long, long time, resisting multiple earthquakes, ferocious storms and the end of reality.

Charizard only swung his tail sideways. The flesh, muscles and scales were enough to plow through the delicate machinery and crack open the ancient machine like an egg.

Gears, springs and pulleys were all molten instantly by the scorching flame on top of Charizard's tail and the entire machine crumbled and dissolved from the inside until it was a smoldering pile of junk.

It took less than 2 seconds to doom the world. There would be no music, Oracion was now completely useless.

"Ha, ha." Flamera gasped painfully. Blood spilled out of her mouth and pooled around her, staining her purple dress while adding a new vibrant color to her hair. "Good luck, my hero-"

Another red flower blossomed on Flamera's forehead. This time she died instantly.

Her final words remained stuck in her throat and whatever the end of her sentence was going to be, I wouldn't hear it.

"Goodbye Fla-"

I wasn't allowed to say my final words either. A flashing pair of silver teeth lunged towards my face and the heat of a burning stomach radiated out of Charizard's maw.

I leaned back but I was too slow, the dragon was onto me within an instant. I could smell its foul breath and could practically hear the jaws snapping close and crunching my fragile bones.

It would've torn off my face right there and then, but as the dragon reached me it suddenly slammed into a translucent blue barrier that materialized between it and me only a mere millisecond away from my face.

I took a step back and the back of my shoulder bumped into the barrier that now surrounded us like a sphere.

I was safe. Midna and Luna were also inside the aura shield. We were all saved.

I let out a raspy breath. "Thanks for the save."

Fay released a small smile. "No proble-"

Charizard let out a guttural roar and brought down its head onto the barrier. Fay clenched her teeth the moment Charizard's head hit the barrier. The dragon's head bounced off with a resounding crunch. Fay let out a whimper, the brilliant shine of the aura flickered slightly but it still remained standing.

"What now?" Midna panicked as Charizard brought down its head again without regard for brain damage.

{I can't teleport him out! He's too strong!} Luna scanned the room. {There's literally nowhere to go!}

Yeah, the deep void of nothingness below us discouraged me from taking a leap of faith.

A loud shattering sound resounded again as Charizard used his entire might to break the aura shield.

Fay tried to mouth something but she was severely struggling keeping up the shield around us.

Charizard let out a high pitched wail and smashed his head down like it was a sledgehammer.

"He's trying to bloody kill us!" Midna cried out, as if we didn't know.

Charizard's eyes were bloodshot, his movements had become erratic and strange, unfit for a room as small as this. It was as if he were possessed by a demon.

His head was brought down again and I could almost hear the bones in his break, so strong was the impact.

But Fay's shield held.

We were caged. But at least we were safe.

Charizard didn't agree, realizing that this wasn't working he took a step back. He began beating his wings like he was trying to fly and for a brief second I thought he was trying to fly away. However, the room was too small and caged him as well. It didn't deter him, he opened his jaw wide. Small pits of fire rose from his stomach. I didn't even have time to curse before I felt the heat.

A storm of fire was released from his mouth and engulfed the entire room, casting everything in an orange glow while the flames roared just as loud as Charizard. The flames danced against the shield and surrounded it on all sides, trying to breach into our little safe haven.

But despite the flames not physically breaching it, the heat broke through the aura and I started to sweat. "He's trying to cook us alive." I tried looking for a solution but thinking was a bit hard when all around you were flames, the void and a raging dragon.

Outside, the situation probably wasn't much better, considering I still heard the sound of two colossal Pokémon fighting, they sounded nearer.

"Can't-hold," Fay gasped. The barrier was rapidly growing dimmer and flickered erratically. Swaths of flames slithered through the cracks in the aura and lurked like a pack of snakes.

{Try talking!} Luna yelled, she was hopping side to side, avoiding the fiery tendril. Midna had crawled up my body and clung to me.

"Charizard," I screamed desperately. "We don't need to fight! I CAN OFFER YOU SOMETHING BETTER!"

I couldn't even hear my own voice over Charizard's flames, and even if he could hear me, I don't think he was in the mood to listen.

The hellish heat continued to grow furiously, making it extremely hard to do anything except cower in fear.

A searing white pain flared up in my ankle and I almost fell over. Flames engulfed my left leg for a brief second before the shield restored itself.

"S-sorry." Fay gasped. She was looking pale, unnaturally pale, but her shield looked a fair bit stronger. At what cost though? Fay was looking sickly while the blue flames poured out of her.

I tried to stand straight but my leg screamed, the damaged nerves were firing blindly. I clenched my teeth, I could get that fixed later. First priority, remove the Charizard.

"Fay, at one, drop your shield and we all scatter. Luna, Confusion, Midna, try to kick him out of the tower using Tsareena! Treat it like Smash Bros."

{I don't have space!}

"He's too heavy!"

"Three!" I called out.

The plan was suicidal, but staying put and doing nothing was worse. Charizard wanted a fight, let him have a fight.

"Two!"

"What the hell is Smash Bros?"

I had absolutely no plan. This felt awful.

"One!"

I swung an arm around Fay and jumped to the side. At the same time the barrier fell and for a brief moment I felt nothing.

Then I realized there was fire and my nerves shrieked in agony. A large purple ray hit Charizard and the attack dissipated. Immediately the flames faded without Charizard sustaining them and I was left with only horrendous pain.

I tried to push it away with all my might. The floor was smoking hot, the air was absolutely foul and white flashes of pain threatened to overwhelm me but I managed to keep my focus.

In front of me, only a small distance away was Flamera. Her hollow eye sockets were looking back at me in an almost pitiful stare.

I had to choke back a nasty feeling from my stomach. The girl I talked to and hung out with was now a burned corpse, not an inch of her skin was left untouched by the scorch marks and her beautiful hair was ravaged. The smell of burned meat was something that I would never forget.

I turned my eyes away from the miserable scene and focused on Luna and Charizard.

Luna managed to fire another Confusion successfully. There was no time for fancy tricks or strategies, she was trying to stop Charizard with brute force.

But the Confusion didn't stick and trigger the status effect, instead it only caused Charizard to flinch ever so slightly. It turned its head to the left where Luna was. The psychic, undeterred by the dragon towering over her, opened her mouth and prepared another attack.

Charizard spun around and his tail swept across the room again. Its devastating journey ended with Luna slamming her against the wall.

"Luna, telepor-" oh fuck, she couldn't teleport, and worse, she had fainted..

Charizard made a move to finish off Luna but before he could a pair of legs pummeled into his side.

It was a beautiful kick, one straight out of a wrestling movie. Tsareena's execution was perfect, the small creature managed to hit Charizard's square in the center.

But Charizard weighed a shitton and was high on whatever fueled a Pokémon when they were in rage mode.

He grabbed her by the waist and shoved her down. The floor shook from the impact. Charizard let out an anguished roar while it towered over the softly moaning Pokémon, drinking in all its well earned glory and vengeance.

Fay lay unconscious in my arms, her body was cold but at least her chest was still going up and down.

Charizard raised a foot to crush Midna, I couldn't have that happen.

"Hey fucker," I said, my voice laced with venom. "You made a fine piece of work." I pointed at the Flamera's burned up body lying on the ground. "Didn't know she wanted to be cremated, but I guess you would know best."

Charizard heard my words loud and clear this time and they stung like a dagger to the heart. The crazed fury in Charizard's eyes grew tenfold as its gaze passed over what remained of Flamera. Charizard made a noise, it was a strange noise, almost as if it was crying. Then, he turned his gaze to me, he was fuming with rage.

I got up from the ground and raised my gun slowly at the monster, meeting his challenge head on.

Only aura infused bullets would penetrate Charizard's scales. Anything less would just bounce off, especially coming from me, a weak human.

A mad idea came to me. It was a longshot and I had no way to actually test it, but what about the eyes of a Pokémon? What if I tried to shoot a bullet through it? Would the force that protected Pokémon from bullets still apply or would it shatter the tissue and make it pop like a water balloon?

I was in a shitload of pain, my Pokémon were unconscious or unable to move and my aim was at best okay.

My finger rested upon the trigger. Charizard finished his grieving process and prepared for his strike.

The room we were in felt incredibly cramped. No, not just the room, the entire world felt smaller. It really felt like this was the only place and the only thing in the world that mattered, and technically, it probably was as well.

Charizard could drink my blood and he would, but I only needed to hit his eye and I would explode his brains.

My hand shook slightly while I tried to aim.

Arceus, please let my aim be true. I don't pray usually but hey, some help would be nice.

Charizard dove forward.

My gun fired.

A black blur exploded into the room before the shot could hit and slammed into Charizard. It hit like a truck and Charizard crashed into the molten pile of scrap that was once a machine.

Surprised, I stumbled a step back and was ready to line up another shot. But then I saw the shadow better and I lowered my weapon.

"Took your time, eh?" I let out an exasperated sigh and released my finger from the trigger.

Darkrai looked awful. His wispy smoke tendrils now had faded into thin strands, the darkness he generated was see through and parts of his body seemed almost disconnected. If you could put darkness through a blender, this is what would come out of it.

Darkai let out a small growl. His eyes passed over the scene, first landing on Flamera, my gun, the Charizard and then my own Pokémon.

Midna was mumbling something incoherently, but she was at least still awake. Luna slowly crawled up from her spot, warily eyeing the Darkrai but unable to do anything but stare, even her small steps were shaky.

The dragon growled and got up, his ire was now aimed towards the nightmare.

"You look… terrible." Darkrai's voice sounded as shredded as he himself looked, yet it still managed to sound somewhat gentle. "You killed her."

I swallowed and nodded without saying anything.

"Can you put an end to this?" Darkrai asked warily. Dialga and Palkia were still going at it. Even though there was nothing left to tear apart they kept at it like a pair of animals.

I nodded again, I had to fix this problem. No one was left but us. Besides, this is what I wanted.

Charizard got up and growled, his eyes began to shine a radiant blue. Flames engulfed his body.

"Then do that." Darkrai almost gave me something I would call a respectable nod, before he dashed forward and his shadows engulfed Charizard. He was upon the dragon in an instant and together they flew out of the window. Blue flames and gray shadows intertwined and streaked across the broken sky, away from the tower and returning the silence.

Just as sudden the shadow had appeared it had vanished. At least this time it took Charizard with it.

Well, time to act.

I quickly recalled Fay, allowing her to rest and prevent further damage.

I took a look at Flamera's burned out body. I felt I was supposed to do something, maybe show respect or say something, but I couldn't find anything. So instead I pushed Flamera's body to the side, somewhat out of view.

Outside it was now complete blackness. I gazed over the edge and I swear there was something behind the nothingness. I narrowed my eyes, I could almost make out the shape of something. No not shape, the lack of a shape. Just thinking about it made my skin crawl.

The two legendaries, I had to get their attention. Convince them to stop fighting and if possible, get some answers. It's why I had come all the way and why I went through all of this shit. Except, I didn't think things would go off course this far.

Oracion lay useless at my feet, Flamera also wouldn't talk. I had an idea where the sword would be, but it was impossible to get it now and there was no way I could challenge the gods with 1 and a half Pokémon.

Seems like Fate really did want me here.

"Luna," I turned away from the window. "Status?"

{I can still fight!} She said right before stumbling over her own legs.

"Midna?" I moved towards the Tsareena. The ground around her had shattered slightly but she looked relatively fine. I knelt down next to her. "We're moving to plan Z."

"Kir!" Luna couldn't help but make an mphhh sound.

"Yes, I am fine too, thanks for asking," Midna complained.

I laughed. "If you're able to make jokes, then you're able to stand. We're talking about the Fate of the world." I patted her on the leg.

Midna groaned painfully but ultimately managed to get up. Her form shifted and the smooth pale skin made way for brown long feathers and crooked claws.

"We're actually doing plan Z?" Midna opened her mouth and vomited.

It's weird seeing a bird vomit.

Luna eyed the broken machine. "We can't make the music, right? Maybe you can sing?"

I shook my head. Music machine was broken, the speakers were unavailable and I couldn't do it myself.

{Plan Z it is.} Luna resigned.

Midna pulled herself together and ruffled her feathers. She experimentally tested her wings "Alright." The Pidgeot moved towards the window. Midna stopped for a second and pondered out loud. "You know what? Secretly, I was hoping we'd go for Plan Z." Of course she did.

{I hope you crash.} Luna muttered.

"Well, if everything goes horribly wrong, it was nice knowing you all and stuff." I made a mock salute.

With something resembling a grin, Midna flew off.

It was strangely silent.

I waited at the window, taking in the view and enjoying the brief moment of respite in this ocean of chaos.

Luna joined me and again, it was just her and me.

{I got some words for you, for when this is over.} Luna telepathically shared, she sounded not very amused.

I looked at her, my expression blank. "Pfft, women."

Luna tried to look solemn but she failed to hide her own immature laughter, especially while I kept my face perfectly calm.

{You're horrible. You're the worst person I've ever met.}

I looked up.

Midna continued to climb against the colorless sky, beating her wings and riding the invisible currents of the void. She was going higher and higher until she herself was just a blip.

A bright light appeared above the sky. A tiny dot of white against the skyhole.

I couldn't see Midna but if everything went right, I knew she had transformed. She was now a Zweilous, the two headed dragon Pokémon.

If my timing was correct, by now Midna had opened her second mouth.

A chill ran across my spine. Something small was dropping from the sky.

"Time to meet your maker, Luna."

A/N And just like that I drop a chapter.
I just wanted to say that I am surprised so many of you were happy with Dust using the gun. Someone even commented: "Glockachu, I choose you."

No judgment, just surprised how happy everyone is with the gun being used.

Anyway, Discord in the comments. This should be one of the last chapters in this arc.

Thanks to MuffinRatKing and The One You Love for beta reading. o7

See ya!

-CaptainMoonShine