Chapter 88- Battle for Labradorra
A/N: This is an original Pokémon Fan Game made by Amethyst. 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.
Well... I was wondering what I forgot to do yesterday. I didn't think I would forget to post this. Welp, welcome to the Battle for Labradorra. We're almost getting to E4 Guys. Then a whole lot of Post Game... there's a lot.
As the battle of Labradorra was going on, a young girl with black hair and determined eyes entered a building. Inside were two Meteor Grunts, who immediately attacked Victoria. However, Victoria quickly took them down. Once they were beaten, the grunts didn't seem bothered by it. They were given orders to guard this building, though neither was happy since they were keeping one of their own in a cell.
Victoria was confused until she reached the cell. Down on a table was a man covered in bruises, missing an eye. His long ponytail was in disarray… This was Solaris. The man who was once the Leader of Team Meteor. The man who had threatened to destroy Apohyll, the man who had killed Kiki.
Seeing that someone had already done a number on him almost made Victoria jealous. Still, Victoria hadn't heard what had gone down in Agate City, so she didn't know why Solaris was being held captive. If only she could get inside the cell.
Lucky for her, the door was left unlocked. As Victoria pressed the cell door, the metal creaked and scraped against the cold stone floor. Echoing a loud screech…
"Who…" Solaris groaned, regaining consciousness as he heard the door creak open
"Good. You're awake. I would flinch off a sleeping opponent." Victoria warned this was the only mercy she was showing him. "Because I do have a sense of honor, unlike you."
"...hah. I see…" Solaris chuckled weakly as he sat hum, his body covered in wounds, bandages covering his missing eye. "So, you are here to take judgment for my crimes?"
"No. Not all of your crimes. Just one." Victoria said, stepping closer, anger filling her eyes. "You remember me, don't you?"
"I'm afraid I can't even see your face clearly, girl," Solaris said, his hand reaching across the bandages. "Not after my subordinate decided he wanted my eye above my position."
"Then I'll fill in the blank for you. My name is Victoria Marlow. Apprentice to Kiki Mikale Argall. The purest soul in this wretched world. Whom you extinguished atop Pyrous Mountain." Victoria grabbed a sharp torture instrument from the table. This would be the weapon for Solaris to die with; this would be the executioner's weapon. "That was your mistake."
Solaris, in a haze of pain, seemed to recall. "Ah, yes… I remember you now. Even yapping pups may yet to grow into their teeth."
"Then be bitten and die." Victoria raised the sharp weapon, ready to strike Solaris down.
"Victoria"
"WHAT?!" Victoria snapped, turning around to see Cal and Percival behind her. It seemed the two seemed to follow her.
"Easy, now…" Cal said, both hands in the air.
"Don't you dare try to stop me! I heard what you said before, and I've set it aside-" Victoria screamed; all her emotions were a mess, and she was lashing out. "But no matter what, there's no denying the irreversible truth that this man killed Kiki. So I'll do what I must!"
Cal just stood there silently. "I'm not here to stop you. Just to ask you a question."
"What."
"Is this what Kiki would want?"
"Don't." No matter how steady Victoria tried to act. It was a fact that her voice shook when Cal asked that question.
"Answer me." Cal was calm but also firm in his response.
Biting her lip, Victoria glared, "I have no obligation to answer you."
"Because you already know that it's not."
Her anger flaring, Victoria stepped away from Solaris and toward Cal. "Don't you DARE pretend for even a second that you know what Kiki would want!"
"Then tell me that it is," Cal said, reaffirming his belief that this isn't what Kiki wanted. "Look me in the eyes and tell me that this is what Kiki would want from you. Tell me that this is what she taught. That this is the future, not only of Apophyll, but of Reborn."
"I-" Victoria couldn't speak; she couldn't even meet Cal's gaze as tears filled her eyes. This wasn't what Kiki would want. "I'm-"
"That answer is enough," Cal said, consoling her. "Come on, let's step outside. You have no business here."
Cal led Victoria out of the building. Only Percival and Solaris were left inside. Solaris was silent. Cal's behavior differed from what he had heard and seen from Pyrous Mountain.
"Hmm… so, that was Cal." Solaris seemed impressed by Cal's growth. "Perhaps… he is nothing like his brother said after all."
"I'm not sure what Blake has said… But Cal has certainly grown since last you've met." Percival said, calling for Solaris' attention.
Solaris' eye landed on Percival, apprehension, annoyance, and apathy all etched onto his face. "And how about you? Do you wish me dead as well?"
"In all honesty… I can't tell." Percival said, smirking as he shrugged. If Percival still hated Solaris, what would the point be? Solaris was no longer in the position to control Team Meteor… well, at least right now. "Part of it could be blissful innocence to scared of bloodshed. Or it could be because of traveling across Tourmaline with Taka."
"..." Solaris was silent at the mention of Taka. His son who died without his notice… A son who was used as a pawn by Lin and killed because of it. Percival, however, was one of the few who knew Taka's last moments. The fact that Taka had traveled through Tourmaline with Percival was news to him.
"I've heard a lot about the Order from Taka, and honestly, I can see many justifiable actions. Other parts I saw as just too cruel." Percival admitted the history of Reborn should never have been forgotten. That was the one point Percival could agree with. "I did have some hope to discuss things in a civilized manner, but I doubt that now's the time or place to do so."
"I see." Solaris' nodded. "It is an interesting thought… though also very unfortunate. They have decided that I am a "risk" if not captive. I've heard that one many times before, but it's been quite a while since it was from those whom I called my allies. This world is given to change in so many ways… Nonetheless, that refuses to be one of them."
"I don't remember who's said it to me. But I recall what someone has said to me. Never say never." Percival said, idealism singing in his voice. "Even if Siris and Lin have taken over Meteor so far… I think you still hold a fair bit of authority."
"..." Solaris was silent, looking past Percival. "My former subordinates plan to flee north when they are done playing with you. I suspect several of them are in as much danger as I am." Solaris stepped toward the door, flashing Well, let us see if this old man can make any kind of difference."
Elsewhere in Labradorra, a door suddenly opens, and three people rush out. Seeing something skittering in the shadows of the dark room, a boy with one arm slammed the door shut.
"Bennett String shot!"
"Ah, yes! Ariados!" on command, a giant red spider with a black stripe shot out string webs, gluing the door shut.
"What in the world was that thing?!" Laura screamed as the webbing finished clogging the cracks in the door.
"Barrier…" Nero was still catching his breath from running away from that damned PULSE. For one reason or another, it seemed like the PULSE mime had it out for Nero.
Bennett sees both the chaos of Labradorra and Nero's state. Tried to subdue Laura's worries"I'll explain later, but as long as it's locked, we're-"
"Iniuriae qui addideris contumeliam…Non diligere Deum, qui mandata eius participando cum perfidis non custodit." An unwanted voice cut off Bennett. Everyone turned to see a man with white hair wearing yellow robes. Elias Hazel, Luna's biological father, indoctrinated Bennett into Team Meteor. Elias had always, for whatever reason, assumed Nero would defect. But Bennett… "To what does your loyalty lie?"
"You're welcome to draw that conclusion yourself."
"What did my supposed death give no peace?"
Elias ignored Nero's comment; whether he truly cared about Nero's well-being was up in the air. Elais only focused on Bennett. "As my past is given to, I can see no answer. Consider this an opportunity."
"If you think I'm suddenly going to repent and bow down like the sheep you expect me to be, then I'm afraid you will be sorely disappointed."
"As if I've ever listened to your commands."
"..." In response, Elias only sighed. "Little more can disappoint me yet. There are no shepherds here, only lunatics howling in the streets."
"Does that include yourself?" Bennett countered, indicating Elias had shown rather lunatic behavior previously.
"No man may judge what is God's to tell." Elias preached. "I, too, may yet be a ram or wether bleating for its master."
"Don't tell me something happened to your boy-" Bennet said to mock Elias, only to get elbowed by Nero.
"..." Regardless of the sides they were on. Nero still didn't fully consider Solaris, his enemy, but he still respected him.
"He was overthrown, captured, and then vanished, seeing to those who have no purpose in this fight," Elias answered. Perhaps Meteorr's ways were misguided… Maybe the way to continue should be elsewhere. Finally, Elias smirked at Nero. Possibly, the defiant boy he always hated was rightfully so. Nero always showed loyalty and carefulness… but he was rather rough around the edges.
"Well, good luck with that." Bennet shrugged; he was gone from Meteor. No more would he need to help them
"Do you not yet owe us a debt of gratitude?"
"I don't think so, no." Bennett shook his head at Elias. "There's no need for gratitude when I am as aware as you've been that we were both just using each other. I would sooner pity you. First a daughter, and then this."
"I beg you pardon?" Elias said, his eyes bulging at the mention of something happening to his child.
"She walked into a black hole at the workstation," Nero answered Elias.
"If you require someone to blame, I suggest looking to the one responsible for this conflict." Bennett lingered on the topic. "Whether you consider that your master or Lin is up to you."
"Personally, I'd say all of the above," Nero admitted, Many people were responsible for this conflict, and not one was innocent...
"Forgive us if we don't live up to the Lord's sympathy or whatever tired sermon you're biting back." Bennett said, "Don't try to stop us. Come on, Laura, Nero. We're done here."
"You two might be, but as long as Lucille and Percival are here. I ain't." Nero responded he had no reason to leave this city until Lucille and Percival did. So now Wih Bennett and Laura gon. Nero was left with a quiet Elias.
"Luna…" Nero heard Elias quietly mutter… "So the Lord has swallowed you whole at last."
"..." Nero glared at Elias. He might be an Elite Four, but was he really stupid enough to cause a fight in all this chaos?
"Much is lost and little gained under the eyes of the Lord." Elias sighed as he met Nero's Glare. "And yet… Nec deus intersit, nisi dignus vindice nodus inciderit."
"Oh, I think that avenger is already cutting said noose." Nero countered. While in the Sanctum, Nero learned a bit about the ancient tongue.
"Then a common enemy is decided." Elias nodded, seemingly understanding that he and Solaris had been on the wrong side of the conflict.
"Fiat voluntus dei." Nero said in the ancient tongue. But even if it wasn't God's will for Meteor to fall… Then Nero, Percival, and Lucille would certainly change it to be.
As Elias left. Nero was now left in the chaos. With the PULSE Mime temporarily locked away, Nero wondered who he should meet up with. The echoing blasts overhead… Nero considered…
"Two PULSE's one day… huh?"
"Aroo." In response, a pitch-black Absol with a white horn responded. Pressing his head into Nero's body.
"Is something wrong, Grim?" Nero asked when suddenly Grim's Red eyes flashed blue. And Nero's sight was filled with not one… but two visions. "*Sigh*"
Glancing to the east, Nero saw a man with blonde hair and a white lab coat hiding in the chaos.
"PULSE will have to wait…" Nero glared. Normally, he'd be happy to see Sigmund dead… but where Sigmund would die… Nero heard a bang against the door that Bennett webbed up and shuddered. He really didn't want to go back down there.
A burst of flames blew open a hatch on the rooftop. Following the burst of flames, a man with dark skin and white hair emerged. As he reached the top, a chilling wind hit, carrying flakes of snow. The sky was now opaque.
"Of course, it's snowing…" Kuro muttered under his breathed
All the while, the newly chilling snow was not doing good for the improperly handled PULSE. "No, no, no- Come on, come on already! There!"
PShhh!boom!
"Ah!" Kuro instinctively ducked as a blast of something shot past him.
"No, no- So close!" Zero shouted as he played with the controls. "Just a hair… Come on, come on…"
"..." Kuro was speechless as he stared at the monstrosity before him. Normally, Clawitzers were blue creatures with a small main body and a giant blaster cannon as an arm. This thing, however, was red, mixed with black and green… Kuro couldn't even tell where the Main body was until he realized it had fused with the cannon.
Kuro was horrified when he saw the cruelty of a PULSE. He had heard details from several people through physical reports and word of mouth, but seeing it in person… paled compared to those reports…
"Kuro, are you okay?" What was worse was when Kuro heard the voice of a small child. Kuro's eyes widened as he turned around and found Noel climbing the ladder.
"..." Why the fuck did he follow me of all people?! Kuro cursed internally. He barely knew the kid, so why'd he come here?!
"I saw you go out here, and then the light… overhead…" Noel became quiet, thinking he wasn't wanted here, but then noticed the monstrosity before them. "Oh. It's the PULSE."
"That's right, it IS the PUSLE!" Zero turned with a twisted smile. His hand was on a lever, pulling it down. "Why don't you see for yourself!?"
"Huh…?"
Kuro couldn't react; he couldn't even shield his eyes from the bright flash of light before his eyes. He assumed the worst happened to the child, who was not much older than Marie. But to his surprise, when the light cleared, the child was fine, Radomus was now present, and the Clefairy doll that Noell carried was now in pieces on the ground.
"What the…"
"Noel, are you all right?" Radomus carefully placed his hands on Noel's shoulders. Looking over his son for any type of injuries.
"...Yeah," Noel said, almost not believing he had made it unscathed. He glanced at the tatters of his former doll, Nomos. "What... happened to Nomos?"
"He protected you, after all. I suppose I owe my safety to him as well." Radomus said. He had just followed Noel up the ladder as the PULSE fired.
"But he's just a…"
"It would seem not all things are as they seem."
"I don't… get it."
"..." Kuro sighed in relief when he saw the kid was fine. He might not have interacted with Noel, but Kuro wasn't heartless enough to be horrified at the idea of a child being killed. With that, a silent flame of rage flickered toward the man controlling the PULSE.
Zero, seeing how the PULSE that has kept Saphira busy, blocked by a stupid little doll, was having a practically nervous breakdown. "How could a stupid doll stop an attack like that anyway?! Is this thing just worthless?!"
"..." Zero's words were only stoking Kuro's anger. The Clawizter looked in so much pain… and this guy called it worthless.
"None may interfere with the Lord's precession."
"Arceus will yet grow to save us!"
Things were not getting any easier. Two people in golden robes jumped up from the floor below. They seemed to be enemies on two sides.
Radomus glanced toward Kuro's direction, then back at his son Noel. "Noel, would you do me the honor of allowing me to fight at your side? Whether that be as father and son or as equals."
"...Sure." Noel nodded toward Radomus.
"Then that is victory enough for me in any case."
"I won't let you, I won't let you, I won't let you…" Zero muttered in a crazed daze. His eyes were hazy… as his hands reached for another Pokeball.
"Oi, you have me to deal with as well, asshole!" Kuro shouted, calling Zero's attention.
Zero's shaky gaze met Kuro's glare. "You can't, you can't, you can't… Go down already!"
Zero's first pokémon was a strange stone that emitted a gaseous face of purple and green. A Spiritomb, a very bulky stone… Zero was stalling for time. Unfortunately, as the snow turned to hail, the weather wasn't on his side.
"C'mon Salamander. Let's teach this idiot that he can't stall us out." Kuro said, throwing out a black lizard with pink accents and purple eyes. "Toxic!"
"Sal!" The Salazale crouched to all fours as her poisonous organs congealed toxic energy before ejecting it onto the ghastly rock.
"..." The rock barely reacted as it reached for the shadows, lashing out at the Salazzle.
"Salamander, Flamethrower!"
"Lzze!" Salamander took a deep breath before explaining a blast of flames across the floor and even the rock, knocking away the shadows. Forming a crack to appear in the rock.
"Spiri…" The rock seemed to growl as the shadows started to gather once more
"Protect!" Kuro shouted as the shadows surrounded Salamander. As the shadows surrounded Salamander, a clear sphere formed around her, keeping them at bay. The protection sphere took hit after hit from the shadows, slowly starting to crack until… the shadows suddenly stopped.
"..." The Stone was silent, no more gas emitting from it. It seems as though poison finally made it's course through the Spiritomb, making it unconscious.
"No, no, no… Umbreon!" Zero cursed as a spark came from the panel. Zero really needed to try and get the PULSE ready to take out Kuro. But his timing wasn't good.
"Umbra!"
"Oh, no, you don't, Salamander. Toxic it again!" Kuro commanded. Salamander ejected another glob of poison, this one covering the body of the Umbreon.
"Breon!" as it was covered in poison, it struck Salazle, retaliating for Spiritomb.
"Another strong one, huh… Atlas. Countin' on you bud." Kuro returned Salamander and took out an orange fluffball. It was another Eeveelution, though this one was a Flareon.
"C'mon, there?" Zero muttered, playing with the control panel.
"Atlas, Protect!" Kuro immediately screamed when he saw the PULSE start to glow and fire a giant blast right at his Flareon. Just at the right moment, Atlas produced a transparent shield that protected himself from the blast, but not before the Umbreon managed to coat the floor with toxic poison, poisoning Atlas.
"Flar…EON!" As the poison started to course through, Atlas' fur glowed a deeper orange. The intensity of its heat melted the hail around its body. Poisoning Atlas was probably the worst move that the Umbreon made.
"Atlas, Superpower!"
"Uh…Uh… Umbreon Foul Play!"
The two small creatures ran at each other. Clashing head-on. One heated and empowered by a blue fighting spirit. The other is covered in poisons and dark energy. Both hit, and the power from the clash sends a shockwave back, knocking both eeveelutions out.
"Ah… no, no… Honchkrow!" Zero yelled, throwing a black bird with a hat atop its head. It was very much glaring at Kuro.
"Oh… no… Helen! Shoot this damned bird out of the sky!" Kuro muttered, throwing out his next Pokémon.
"Mag!" A large orange Pokémon with an egg-shaped belly appeared. It was predominantly colored in red, orange, and yellow, with two large arms that seemed capable of morphing into cannons. Hellen raised her arm as it flew, and some electric currents sparked from it.
Krakooom!
The thunderbolt from the arm shot straight into Honchkrow. Like a true lightning bolt, the thunder echoed through the city… though it was drowned out by all the chaos that was happening. But like a bird flying through a thunderstorm, Honchkrow was taken down by a single bolt. "Gaaahh…" Zero screamed in frustration as the PULSE still wasn't charging correctly and half of his team was out… "Ah… ah Weavile!"
"Weave?" Out came a bi-peadle creature with claws and a large red crown. It looked at the Giant red creature before it… and sighed. "Weave?"
"..." Helen just raised its other arm, ready to blast it.
"Weave." The Weavile smirked before disappearing from the spot it stood. Its speed was fast and unexpected. And with a surprise attack, the Weavile struck Helen behind the head. Knocking Helen down.
"Oh… for frick.. Yuki!" Kuro took out his prized Alolan Ninetales. It was a surprise for any fire-type expert to have Ice Types… But it was a precious fox of Kuro.
"Nin!" The snow seemed to hide Yuki very well as the storming hail picked up. Weavile quickly lost track, leaving the area open to a Moonblast.
"No… no…"... Zero was panicking. He still had a Houndoom… but would that have been any use in this situation? There was a beep, and the PULSE's panel glowed green. The PULSE Clawitzer was finally fully charged. Zero smiled ecstatically as he saw his chance to obliterate his enemies. "Yes… Now… Go down, go down, go down, go down, go down, go down, go down, go down, go down, go down, go down, go down, go down, go down! GO DOWN!"
PShhh!boom!
The pulse shot a bright orange beam of energy, narrowly missing the Ninetales. Kuro let out a sigh of relief. "Eve and Marie mentioned that things water dragon huh… Well. Yuki, freeze out that moisture! Freezdry!"
"Nine…tales!" Yuki roared, and a beam of dry freezing gusts hit the PULSE. Evaporating all moisture from the monstrosity, also freezing it solid…
"GO DOWN, GO DOWN, GO DOWN, GO DOWN, GO-" Zero had his head cradled, hoping desperately that the Claitzer would thaw through and strike the Ninetales down… up until he heard it. "h- ...huh?"
Krrrk… Crack! Crack!
The frozen solid Clawitzer seemed to shift and shatter into millions of pieces of ice… for all its strength, the monstrosity's body gave out against the elements.
"Phew…" Kuro sighed out, though his breath was bitter. The monstrosity was dead… but the Pokémon couldn't have been saved. Kuro glanced back to see Radomus and Noel had beaten the Cultists.
"Are you well?" Radomus asked Noel
"I'm okay, just confused." Noel looked back at the remains of Nomos…
Radomus patted his son on the back. "As any would be after seeing something like that.
"No." Noel pulled away. "Also about you."
"Ah…" Radomus had a pained expression. "I may be far from perfect as a man or a father, But if you are willing to humor the thought, allow me to suggest this: That doll- Nomos, was it? It may have been more real than either of us can ever either understand or accept. But regardless of logic, fact, or any reasoning behind it, there is no denying that, against all expectations, it was real enough to save us both. Could love not be the same way?"
"I Don't know…" Noel said, his head shaking in confusion.
"Nor do I, not with any certainty." Radomus kneeled before Noel, "But if you'll have me, I'd like to find out with you."
Noel made Radomus' gaze; he was scared… but could see Radomus was too. "Okay."
"Zero!"
"Kuro!"
Two girls then climbed up onto the roof. One was Lumi the sister of Eve, the creator of the PULSE, and a victim of Zero. The other was Ari, Kuro's younger sister.
"You…" Zero blinked out of his madness… not expecting Lumi of all people to come for him.
"Yo… Nice going, Kuro!" Ari said with a childish smile. "Guess that makes the two older siblings of the Whitehall family Monster killers."
"..." Kuro sighed; the idea of killing pokémon was a sour taste. "Well, if Percival could handle it, so could I."
"Zero, are you okay? They didn't do anything to you, right?" Lumi said out of care. It was interpreted that Lumi didn't mean Kuro hurting Zero. But Team Meteor.
"I…I was stripped of my position… of everything…" Zero said, curling in on himself, and had been pushed to his breaking point… "And why…"
"That doesn't matter, right?" Lumi asked, a reassuring smile. "You're safe, right?"
"Why would you care?" Zero asked, his voice cracking… It was his fault that Lumi and Eve became hostages of Team Meteor. It was his fault Lumi had to spend part of her childhood trapped in another body. It was his fault that Lumi and Eve could've died when he chose to fight Nero with PULSE Magnezone.
"Because I can't not," Lumi said, determination in her voice.
"Lin said… If I failed again… she'd-" Zero started to hyperventilate as he recalled Lin's threats… She was a terrifying woman, and that was for sure.
"The others are keeping her busy right now." Lumi pointed to the center of town, and explosions seemingly went off down there, keeping Lin busy. "You don't have to worry about Lin! Come on, I'll get you out of here!"
"Ah, just a moment," Radomus called out as Lumi took Zero by his hands. "An inquiry, if you will humor me: One of those robed men mentioned something about Arceus "Growing". What is that about?"
"...The Arc-PULSE…" Zero muttered.
"Oh, that thing!" Lumi seemed to recall information about it. "One of the features we were requested to include was the ability to quicken a Pokémon's natural development.
"In other words, it's meant to mature an underdeveloped Pokémon into adulthood."
"Yeah, that's it!" Lumi nodded. "I don't really think it's good for them to miss out on their childhoods, though… I really didn't want to, but…"
"..." Zero looked down. The guilt about what he did truly starting to sink in…
"...um!" Lumi pulled Zero's hands. "Come on, let's go!"
"Oi, don't forget about your bodyguard!" Ari said, following after Zero and Lumi.
"Well, now, no point in dallying here. Shall we?" Radomus smiled as the PULSE was now taken out. It was time to continue to press into the City.