Well here it is! After seven long years of having this story up, I am only now reaching Chapter 50. To me, it feels like a milestone has been completed, though the journey is far from over. And in celebration of the fiftieth chapter, what better way to post it than on my birthday? That's good timing on my part. So here's looking to reach the 100th chapter hopefully by its tenth anniversary. But, who knows right? Life has a funny way of timing everything just right.

Chapter 50: Shocked to the System

"Who's Destiny?" came D.Z.'s voice from behind Ted and I, startling us both as we turned about with a start.

"What the heck are you doing here now for?" I questioned him with a harsh whisper. "I thought you were on your way back to your 'home.'"

"You think I didn't try to?" D.Z. questioned. "This damn place is too confusing!"

"Would you keep your voices down please?" Ted asked. "We're trying to keep from being detected."

"Detected from what?" D.Z. demanded. "Why do we even need to hide?"

"Because there's currently a psychotic psychic type pokemon out there with an orb that's been collecting lightning for the past week and we have no idea what he plans to do with it other than knowing he wants to absorb the powers of every single legendary pokemon and quite possibly rule the world!" I said in one huge breath. "Come to think of it, I never did find out why he created that clan. I just assumed that he-"

"Sounds like my ticket out of here," D.Z. said, snapping me from my thoughts.

"Wait. Wha-?!" I began to say as he ran out from where we were hiding, catching everyone's attention, including Destiny's.

"That was poorly planned," Ted spoke with a slight tone of frustration.

"I didn't think he'd do that," I said in defense as D.Z. was questioned for being there.

"He's been going on nonstop about how we kidnapped him and how much he wants to return home since he's been on this team. How did you expect him to react?" My mind drew blank as I searched for an answer as D.Z. exposed our hiding spot. Ted sighed and composed himself. "It's all right. I have an idea. Just follow my lead."

I wordlessly followed out behind him into view as Destiny called for us to reveal ourselves, readying fir an attack if we didn't. "No need to attack there, bro," Ted said, walking into the open with his claws up. "We're compliant enough!"

I watched as recognition dawned in Destiny's eyes, his body slightly relaxing. "Well, well, well," he said with a somewhat satisfied smirk. "If it isn't my favorite quadruped and his friend. What fortuitous timing you both have."

"I most certainly concur," Ted said before turning his attention to D.Z. "I'm not going to fault you for trying, D.Z. Anybody would be intimidated before a powerful Psychic type such as him."

D.Z. blinked, looking slightly confused. "The hell are you talking about?" he asked.

"You were supposed to infiltrate the clan so you could keep us informed of their whereabouts and whatnot," Ted replied with a sigh, rubbing his head. "That's all irrelevant now though so…"

"What!?" D.Z. growled, bewildered. "I don't know what you're on about but-"

"Oh enough with the acting already," I chimed in to back Ted up, realizing he was trying to keep from having D.Z. befall the same fate as the last two we each battled. "Destiny's not going to buy the plan now that you went and screwed it all up." I then turned to Destiny. "Sorry about him. He's new to the team so he's still learning."

"So it seems," Destiny said, an eyebrow raised in suspicion. "Valiant as it were though, I don't take kindly to deceivance."

"But… I… Wha-!?" D.Z. tried counteracting, but as per usual was beaten to by me before he had a chance to speak.

"So what insane plan did you come up with this time?" I asked him to sway suspicion away. "We know about the lightning you've been storing. What'd you plan to do? Bend the lightning to your will and use that to rule over this city in fear?"

"Hardly," Destiny replied, turning to look at me. "That would be too easy a plan to predict. Besides, what do I care about ruling some measly city?"

"Well whatever you're using that orb for, I'll just have to smash it!"

"I beg to differ," Destiny replied, his smirk growing bigger. "I can predict the outcome of what's about to happen and I predict that you won't lay a paw on it."

"We'll see," I said with a growl.

"Quite," Destiny said as he turned. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to prepare for my ascension. I have no time to deal with you at the moment."

"You won't have to worry about dealing with me," I said as I started after him as he made his way back towards the orb. "Because in about five seconds you'll be- AAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!" I went to say, only to cry out as all my muscles froze up on me suddenly, finding myself lying on my side, unable to move as I heard what sounded like some odd, mechanical voice laughter.

"Did you not hear our Supreme Ruler, quadruped?" it asked. "He has not the time to deal with the likes of you. I will be making sure of that."

I tried lifting my head to see who the one stopping me from stopping Destiny was, but to no avail could I do so, at least not until I felt the familiar pokes of Ted's claws upon several joints within my body, releasing whatever hold was placed upon me.

"Thanks Ted," I said as I got up and stretched out my limbs.

"No problem, Zack bro. Paralysis is a terrible feeling to experience, among others that is." Ah! Thunder Wave. I should have recognized the attack considering.

"That's an interesting technique you have there, Teddiursa," Destiny addressed to him. "You may be more of a threat than I had thought you to be."

"Never underestimate those you may think don't hold such potential," Ted replied calmly.

"I'll make sure to keep that in mind," Destiny said as he looked about the group of pokemon who had us surrounded. "You two, take care of his friends." I watched as the Sandslash from earlier obeyed by charging at D.Z. who stood there with a dumbfounded look upon his face while a Geodude hopped/bounced towards Ted, leaving cracks in the ground as he advanced on him. I really wasn't exactly sure how a Geodude was able to move the way it did. Perhaps I should have asked that one Geodude from the first gym. But then again, I wouldn't have known to ask back then as-

I was snapped from my thoughts as I became aware of an incoming lightning attack and barely managed to dodge it as Ted jumped out of the way as the Geodude attempted to flatten him with what I could only assume was his own version of Body Slam, yet watched as a couple of sharp stones sprung up from the ground, barely grazing by Ted who managed to slide back a few feet unscathed. Whew! Talk about being close.

Turning my attention to my attacker, I found myself staring up at a floating metal ball of sorts with an eye staring back down at me. There was some small metal spiral thing sticking up from its top with a round head as well as two others near the bottom which both were each close to a sideways letter U with the tips being red and blue. I blinked. What kind of crazy contraption was this that I was looking at?

I barely had time to revel in this thought as the metal contraption glared at me, I think, and fired off another bolt of lightning at me, to which I dodged as well, only for me to retaliate with a Psybeam, hitting my target directly in the… I guess its entire body is a face? I don't know.

"Ha, ha, ha!" the metal contraption laughed, seeming unfazed by my attack. "Your attacks don't have an effect on me, quadruped. You have met your match. I will make sure you will never lay a paw on our Supreme Ruler."

"Well then I'll just have to keep trying then, won't I?" I said with a challenging smirk as I fired off a Shadow Ball, making another direct hit, only for the attack to do absolutely nothing once again. I blinked, rather confused by this unexplained undamaged pokemon which was an opportunity for him to hit me with another bolt of lightning. Unlike Thunder Wave, this attack coursed through my entire body, resulting in me letting out a pained scream!

"You can try all you like," the metal contraption spoke. "But not one of your attacks is going to make a mark upon me."

I could feel my legs ready to give way as it talked, the lightning threatening to shut my body down from fighting. I wasn't about to give in and allow Destiny to get away with whatever plan he had in store. "Well if none of my special attacks won't hurt you, then maybe physical ones will!" I powered up my tail as I sprinted into a run and leapt at it, swinging my tail, hitting home a third time, but to no avail was it any effective like the last two times.

"I told you," it said irritatingly as it sent another jolt of electricity through me, causing me to fall to the ground as I felt my muscles lock up again from the paralysis effect. "Not a single attack you land upon me is going to affect me. I am practically invincible!"

"No one… is…invincible," I managed to say through gritted teeth. "Everyone… has a… weakness. Even… you!"

"Even if I do, you lack the key element needed to beat me," it laughed. Key element? What was this "key element" that could beat it with ease? "Besides, judging by the look of things, I would say that you and your friends are far out-matched by us."

A dreaded feeling of worry washed over me, curiosity also taking hold as I struggled to raise my head to see what situation the other two were in. As I struggled to lift my head up, I could hear a pained cry coming from Ted. Glancing over in his direction, I could see Ted lying face-down on the ground with the Geodude on top of him, appearing as if he landed upon him from jumping at an incredible height. "T-Ted!" I cried out weakly as he lied there, unmoving.

I shifted my eyes around, searching for D.Z. to see if he was all right, only to find him knocked flat on his back by the Sandslash before being mercilessly Fury Slashed with Puncture on top. I then turned my attention back to the metal contraption as it laughed, fury taking hold of me. All I could do was glare at it until I noticed something oddly peculiar. On one of its sides involving the sideways U's, I noticed that it was dented inward, like something heavy had constantly beat against it. Again, curiosity took ahold as had concern.

"Hey!" I managed to say. "What happened… to your metal… U side?"

The metal contraption ceased its laughing and blinked, confused by what I was referring to when it dawned on him to what it was I asked him of. "How did it… get dented? Did Destiny… do it… to you?"

Whatever reaction I was expecting from it, anger was the last thing I was expecting from it. "You dare accuse the Supreme Ruler of hurting his own kind?" he yelled. "He relates to the pain we all have suffered! He would never harm those like us. Humans are the ones who did this to me!"

"Not all humans… are bad," I replied, which only infuriated him further as he sent out another bolt of electricity, only this one was more painful than the last few times he shocked me.

"Humans are evil!" he yelled. "All they care about is hurting our kind for their own enjoyment! And anyone who sides with them will perish along with them! And you'll be the first to do so!"

I writhed and screamed in agonizing pain as the electricity intensified, lying helplessly upon the ground with no hope of any chance of being saved. Or at least that was what I believed until the sound of a loud roar ceased the attack, leaving me violently twitching

"At last, you have come, legendary beast of thunder: Raikou!" I heard Destiny say triumphantly. Shit! A legendary was here? Why? For what purpose? Panic spread through me being that a legendary pokemon was now here and tried fighting against the paralysis, but to no avail could I make any attempt to get up.

"What's going on here?" I heard the Raikou demand in a slightly deepened voice, but with a bit of a high-pitched tone within it.

"Raikou!" I heard Destiny say. "The time has come for you to relinquish your powers to a more suitable user! You need not worry any longer to bear weight to the name 'legendary.'"

'Who are you that demands such an order?"

"The soon-to-be ruler of the coming new age," Destiny exclaimed. "Destiny!"

"Destiny," the Raikou mused, pausing momentarily. "Tell me, Detiny. What is that which draws me here?"

Another momentary silence followed before a reply was given. "Have you ever wondered what a pokemon dreams about?" he questioned softly, but didn't bother waiting for a reply. "A pokemon dreams of becoming stronger than they are as of current. Growing up, they are told by their parents the stories of the Legendary pokemon who are able to do extraordinary things and spend their youth pretending to be like them, looking up to them like they're all that matters in the world; almost like they're their heroes. I stand up for those dreams, daring to do what no pokemon would ever think to do! And with this orb, I shall take the first step towards having that dream realized!"

"That still does not answer my question," the Raikou spoke. "What is that orb? And how is it able to contain electricity?"

"A small, psychic field I have set is the only thing keeping the electricity from breaking free," was the response he gave. "I have spent the past week storing this electricity, building its raw power up to match that of a Legendary's. And here you stand before me, heeding its call."

"Don't act so cocky," the Raikou growled. "There is no such power of lightning that can overpower me!"

"The come," Destiny taunted. "Prove me wrong if you're so certain."

I heard the crackling of the Raikou's electricity as he fired it off at the orb, leaving me bewildered over the fact that Destiny was about to succeed in his first plan ever of absorbing a Legendary's power. And all I could do was lie here helplessly to the effects of paralysis; unable to stop the event from occurring.

"That's it, Raikou! Release all your power and give it all to me! Your time as a Legendary is at an end!"

I could hear the grunts and panting of shortened breath from the Raikou as his power was slowly being drained from him. All around the lightning began picking up, striking down more erratically, sporadically, and overall more deadly as the ground was charred black upon being struck. I dug my nails into said ground that had not yet been touched, scraping the dirt as I focused on freeing myself from the paralysis, halting as my ears picked up what sounded like a silent, yet painful scream coming from… somewhere.

Attempting to force my head up, I quickly glanced around to locate the source of where the noise had come from, only to see Ted walk by in the next instant. What the-?! How did he get up? When did he get up? And what happened to the Geodude he was fighting? Following him best I could, I managed to call out to him, albeit a bit weakly. "T-Ted?"

Hearing his name, he paused momentarily, turning back to look back at me with a small smile which I found rather odd. I couldn't tell what it was, but there was something about how he expressed it that worried me.

Without saying a word, Ted resumed what he was doing, walking right underneath the metal contraption who was oblivious to his presence. I continued to watch as Ted picked up two, small metal poles and proceeded over to where Destiny and the Raikou were, the latter being some sort of big beast of sorts that I couldn't put a paw on. Of course, by doing so, he came into full view of the metal contraption.

"What the-?!" it said in surprise as it turned away from Ted. "How did-" I'm not sure what he saw that made him go silent, but it gave Ted the opportunity he needed to walk straight up to the orb and, raising the poles up, touched Destiny with one whole the other was upon the Raikou. My eyes went wide as the electricity traveled along the pole and enveloped Ted's entire body as Destiny and the Raikou became aware of his presence.

"What are you-?" Destiny began before realizing what was happening as the electricity traveled along the other pole back to Raikou. "No! My power! What have you done?!"

Ted's agonizing scream was all I could hear as the electricity coursed through his body yet he stood his ground firmly, not once succumbing to its overwhelming power. The orb, on the other hand, began to glow only after a few moments. However Destiny said he was containing the lightning the way he had everything set up, there was only so much the orb could hold in way of power, what with the electricity being transferred from one pokemon to another to a third and back to the orb again, only for the process to be repeated. Huh. Didn't realize how smart I could be some times.

Regardless of that fact, however, the orb continued to glow brighter and brighter with each passing second, sending warning signals off that in no way was good. Having not much time, I focused all my energy into moving a paw, slowly sliding it inward towards me as I found myself regaining movement before long, fighting of the paralysis only to find myself back on the ground as a jolt of lightning struck my back.

"Stay down, quadruped," the metal contraption said angrily. "You are better off that way, you lowlife! You are nothing compared to the Supreme Ruler. You never will be!"

I growled, snorting in distaste by what was said and made the attempt to stand once more, only for another lightning attack to course though my body. I was already at my limit and had no time left to succumb to its will to lie helplessly any longer. Gritting my teeth, I pushed past the aches and pains of my burning muscles, breaking off the attack as I managed to stand upright.

"Im-impossible!" the metal contraption said astonishingly. "H-how did you do that?" I could smell the charred fur emitting off my body as I gave it a hard glare, causing it to flinch. "St-stay back! Don't you come any closer!"

"I don't have time to deal with you," I told him flat-out. "This next attack will finish it." Focusing what energy I had for an attack I sent straight to my tail, activating an Iron Tail and running straight for the metal contraption.

"I won't let you!" it cried. "Thunder!"

Yet another bolt of lightning was fired from it, only this one had a lot more power to it than the previous, yet I pushed forward, increasing my speed despite the desire to drop down and never move again. Once I was close enough, I leapt at it, swinging my tail around with full force and smacking it dead center in the middle where I assumed its face was at. Though Iron Tail may not have much effect on a pokemon like it, the strength of power behind the swing alone was enough to send it flying back with an excruciating, painful scream.

I could hear the loud smack of two metal objects colliding with each other as I crumpled back upon the ground, no doubt having it sent into the unfinished building's structure. The force of impact would probably keep it out for a good while, which was one problem taken care of. Focusing my attention back to the main problem at hand, I found myself in a panic as I viewed what the situation was, only to find myself on shorter time than I had thought I had. Whilst the situation hadn't changed much between Ted, Destiny, and the Raikou, the orb, on the other hand, was a different matter. Its once clear self was now a yellow glowing ball of stored up lightning which was now streaking out from cracks that were formed in it.

Having staggered to my feet, I slowly ran at normal speed towards it, my Quick Attack all petered out due to the massive amounts of lightning I took. Of course, it also could have been the sheer exhaustion as well. Aside from that, upon a few stumbles, I managed to reach the orb, only to tackle Ted with the last ounce of normal strength I had left in me.

A clap of thunder roared loudly in my ears as everything went white upon doing so.