Hundreds of winged dragons soared across the sky, their wings creating a cacophony of sound as they headed in a singular direction. The sight was both mesmerizing and ominous. Ash looked up, worry etched on his face.
"Not a great sign..."
"Indeed not." N nodded gravely. "She's about to bring her father back. She's drawing on the Dragon Force from dragons around the world."
"Then we better pick up the pace..." May said with determination.
"Okay…" Ash agreed, the urgency clear in his voice.
"If we have to fight through an army, I have to cut through and get to Iris... so I'm going to need everyone else's cover." May's expression hardened with resolve.
"I'm with you..." Glaceon nodded in agreement. May looked at her friends, her voice filled with trust.
"I trust you all..." Pikachu climbed onto her shoulder, nuzzling her cheek affectionately. "What's up?" May asked, glancing at Pikachu. Pikachu nuzzled her again, offering silent support. May smiled a little, touched by Pikachu's gesture. "Thanks. Help watch Ash for me?"
"Of course." Pikachu nodded.
"I feel so much better." Ash chuckled, shaking his head with a small smile.
"Thanks very much." May rubbed Pikachu's chin, gratitude in her eyes. Pikachu cooed, enjoying the attention. May chuckled softly before turning serious again. "Let's move." Ash nodded, following her lead. Dawn and N followed closely behind, their determination matching May's. As they ran, a tense silence filled May's mind. Reshiram and Zekrom were gone…and even Kyurem's voice she could no longer hear. Something felt wrong, eerily quiet. "Something's wrong... it's way too quiet..."
"...Maybe they'll come back once we stop her..." Ash glanced at her, trying to be reassuring.
"...I hope so..." May's gaze hardened with resolve. Ash reached out, rubbing her back in a comforting gesture. May's voice softened but remained resolute. "They trusted me with their power in their last moments... I can't let them down... or Kyurem..."
"You won't," he assured her. The air buzzed with tension as dragons filled the sky, their wings a dark cloud against the setting sun. The group pressed forward, urgency in every step, when a familiar figure appeared before them.
"There you all are," Lance said, his voice cold. May turned, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Lance..."
"Stand aside, Lance. There's still time for you to stop this path you're on." N stepped forward, concern and determination in his eyes.
"You're behind the times, salad head." Lance smirked, his eyes hard. N's face fell with regret.
"Then I'm sorry it has to come to this." He launched a Dragon Rage attack without hesitation. May followed with a Thunderbolt, her stance firm. One of the Dragonite with Lance countered with his own blast, creating a fierce clash of power in the air. Ash charged an Aura Sphere, his expression resolute. May performed a quick Dragon Dance, enhancing her speed and strength before launching a powerful Thunder attack. A Salamence responded with a stream of Flamethrower. Gary jumped in, blocking the flames with his shield. A Charizard swooped in, his wings gleaming with Steel Wing, but N was faster, striking down with Dragon Darts. Lance leapt towards May with a fiery fist. Her eyes widened as she barely evaded the strike, her mind racing.
"Wait a second..." She watched Lance's movements closely, then mimicked his next attack, blocking with her own Fire Punch.
"Nicely done!" Ash cheered as he took advantage of her distraction and fired an Aura Sphere into Lance's back. Lance cried out in pain, but May didn't relent, sending a Thunderbolt straight into his chest. Lance screamed as Pikachu rushed in with Volt Tackle, followed by Glaceon's Ice Beam. Lance hissed as his arm froze, struggling to melt the ice with another Fire Punch, but Pikachu rammed into him again. Ash swung his staff down on Lance's head, followed by May blasting down several approaching dragons. Gary slashed his sword through Lance's shoulder. Lance hit the ground, bleeding and clutching his shoulder.
"Gah!" Ash gritted his teeth, charging forward with his staff. Lance unleashed a desperate Overheat from his mouth, collapsing in fatigue. Ash screamed as the intense heat burned him, and Gary fell beside him, both injured.
"Ash!" May shouted, rushing to his side with Dawn close behind. Lance, panting and bleeding, his arm numb, watched as N approached.
"Forgive me, old friend," N said softly, launching a point-blank Dragon Dart into Lance's chest. Lance gasped before blacking out.
"Are you okay?!" May cradled Ash.
"Am I missing... an eyebrow?" Ash groaned weakly as May gently examined his face.
"Just a little off the side..." She looked to her partner. "Glaceon, please help." Glaceon nodded, using a weak Ice Beam to cool down Ash's burned skin. Gary lay nearby, his armor partially melted. Dawn quickly helped him out of the destroyed armor and began treating his injuries.
"Fire and metal don't mix..." Gary coughed weakly. Dawn wrapped his burns carefully.
"Maybe we keep the armor off for the rest of our march," she suggested, only half joking at this point.
"What armor?" Gary shook his head sadly. Dawn smiled sympathetically.
"Point taken." She helped him out of the remaining armor, and he took a deep breath.
"Get him next, Glaceon..." Ash called out, still in pain. Glaceon finished cooling Ash's burns and moved over to Gary to do the same. May helped Ash sit up. He looked at her, his eyebrow burned partially off and his hat in tatters. She leaned in and kissed him gently. Ash kissed her back, tired but grateful.
"How do you feel...?"
"Hot..."
"I got that much…" May sighed. "You and Gary stay here with Dawn. N and I will keep going."
"May... That's not..." Ash began, but she cut him off.
"You're not dying today, you hear me? Stay here and recover. Catch up when you can."
"What about you..?" Ash looked at her with concern.
"I'll be fine."
"Promise..?"
"Promise. As long as you are too." May nodded firmly.
"...Okay..."
"Love you." She pecked his lips.
"I love you too..." They exchanged one last kiss before May turned to Dawn.
"Take care of them," she begged.
"With my life." Dawn nodded. May looked to Pikachu and Glaceon.
"You're with me." She then turned to N. "Let's go." With that, she ran off, determination in her every step. N followed without hesitation. Glaceon and Pikachu were close behind. Ash watched them go, a mix of pride and worry in his eyes.
"Stay safe..." Dawn took out more bandages, preparing to patch Ash up further.
"Let's get you patched up to make sure she does." Ash clenched his fist, determination mingling with the pain.
"We will..."
The remaining members of May's team sprinted through the desert, the castle looming ever closer.
"Up ahead. That's the castle entrance," N said, his eyes focused on their destination.
"Then that's where we're going," May replied, her voice firm with determination. Pikachu's ears perked up, picking up distant sounds.
"It sounds like there's some kind of fight up ahead!"
"Understood." May nodded. "Keep going! But keep your guards up!" Glaceon nodded, her resolve evident. As they neared the commotion, the sounds of battle grew louder. They arrived just in time to see Zinnia cry out in pain, a blade of ice piercing her.
"ZINNIA!" N shouted in horror. May's eyes widened in shock as she saw Clair standing over Zinnia, shoving the blade deeper.
"I'm real tired of your whining," Clair sneered.
"Get away from her!" N roared, blasting Clair with a powerful Dragon Pulse. Clair stumbled back, glaring at him, but N was relentless, attacking with a flurry of Draco Meteors.
"Zinnia!" May rushed to Zinnia's side.
"Took you... long enough..." Zinnia's breath came in ragged gasps.
"We're going to save him... I promise." May's voice was gentle but determined.
"It's... too late..." Zinnia whispered, her voice weak.
"It's not. I won't let it be."
"You can't stop Rayquaza's return now..." Zinnia coughed.
"You don't know me very well if you think he'll scare me away." May's eyes blazed with resolve.
"If you're not... you're stupid..." Zinnia managed a faint, pained smile. May's expression softened.
"You just be stubborn enough not to die. Think you can handle that?"
"Made it this far..." Zinnia nodded weakly.
"Good." May stood up, watching Clair's every move. Clair spewed an Ice Beam at N, who countered with a Dragon Pulse. May gave a small nod to herself, slowly moving into a better position with Clair was occupied. Suddenly, Altaria sprayed N with Toxic.
"ACK!" N stumbled backward, poisoned. May's eyes widened. Acting quickly, she mimicked Clair's movements, firing an Ice Beam that encased Clair's feet.
"UGH! You need to chill out, you brat!" Clair snarled, retaliating with a Blizzard. May countered with a Shock Wave, managing to protect herself.
"I prefer to heat things up actually." She rushed in, delivering a Fire Punch to Clair's gut. Clair let out a miserable groan, clutching her stomach and dropping to her knees.
"You little...!" The Altaria spewed Dragonbreath at May, who gasped and blocked with her arms, skidding backward from the hit. Clair broke free from the ice and landed an Ice Punch to May's jaw.
"Ack!" May fell onto her back from the hit, gritting her teeth and struggling to rise.
"I've had enough of you..." Clair summoned another Blade of Ice. May panted, her eyes fierce.
"Back at you...!" She launched a shuriken that she had hidden between her fingers, hitting Clair in the eye. Clair shrieked in agony as May pushed off the ground, knocking her over. Clair hit the ground, bleeding profusely. May pulled out her dagger and pinned Clair. "Forgot about the ninja skills, huh?" She stabbed Clair in the stomach. Clair choked on her dying breath.
"I'll... see you... in... Hell...!" With every last bit of strength, she drove an Ice Shard into May's ribs before collapsing dead. May gasped, knocked back and gritting her teeth in pain as the shard stuck out of her chest.
"May!" Glaceon cried, rushing to her side.
"I'm f-fine...look away for a second..." May said, her voice strained. Glaceon winced.
"I don't know if pulling it out is the best—" May yanked the shard out, screaming as she covered the wound with her hand and Glaceon flinched. "idea..."
"I'm fine..." May panted hard. "We have to keep going..."
"May... your chest..."
"I'll live...but we're short on time..." May steadied herself, grunting in pain as she stood up.
"You really shouldn't have taken that out..." Glaceon winced. May ignored the pain, moving into the castle. Pikachu gently shook N, who groaned, the poison taking its toll on his body.
"I'll be fine... go with her..." N urged.
"Pika…" Pikachu hesitated.
"You promised her husband, didn't you...?" N's voice was weak but firm. Pikachu nodded, his resolve strengthening. "Then go..." N insisted. Pikachu ran off to join May, leaving N to battle his own pain.
May burst into the castle, clutching her wound with one hand.
"Kyurem?! Kyurem, where are you?!"
"May!" Pikachu ran alongside her. She glanced at him, desperation in her eyes.
"Can you guys hear or smell anything?"
"Yeah." Glaceon sniffed the air. "There's a lot of dragons ahead..."
"Kyurem specifically?" May asked, her voice tense.
"Hard to tell..." Glaceon shook her head. May readied her weapons and powers, moving down the main hall with caution. She soon came upon the entrance to a massive arena with an open roof. The sight before her made her heart skip a beat. Thousands of drawings lined the arena, each one massive and dangerous in their own way. A Hydreigon snarled at several neighboring dragons. The Noivern screeched back, while a Flygon rolled his eyes. Suddenly, a Dragonite roared, signaling Iris's approach. Iris slammed the last totem down in a circle of dozens of others.
"Today, we see the true conclusion of the Dragon Purge!" May glared, climbing up a support beam and using her skills to move in closer without being spotted. "So many of your ancestors, grandparents, parents, and even mates were lost to this senseless blood feud, started by dragons who didn't even care for you!" Iris's voice rang out, filled with fervor.
"Char!" a Charizard spewed fire into the air, enraged.
"Who turned on you!" Iris continued.
"Dos!" a Gyarados launched a Hyper Beam into the sky.
"And when the going got tough for the heir it was all for, he fled to a snot-nosed girl like a sniveling coward!" Iris's words incited a furious roar from the assembled dragons.
"My nose is perfectly clear, thank you very much..." May huffed under her breath. She moved further in, her eyes locked on Iris.
"But now the slaughter of both sides can be avenged!" Iris proclaimed. "Now the wretch responsible will finally get what he deserves and die knowing that he isn't the God he saw himself as!" She lifted her arms as every totem glowed green from the eyes and mouth. The sky turned pitch black, and the agonized screams of hundreds of dead dragons echoed across the tower.
"No...!" May gasped, covering her ears tightly. Somewhere nearby, Kyurem wailed in pain and agony. Iris watched eagerly as bones began assembling in the sky, stretching out to freakish lengths, blanketed in a spectral haze. "KYUREM!" May screamed.
"Yes!" Iris laughed as a Mega Rayquaza was slowly assembled, bone by bone, into a 600-foot-long spectral skeleton. The sight made May gasp as the other dragons roared out in triumph. Mega Rayquaza let out a deafening roar that carried for miles, even reaching the ears of those May had to leave behind along the way.
"Oh, this can't be good..." Ash muttered, feeling the tremors from the roar.
"Rayquaza..." N groaned. May bit her lower lip, anxiety gnawing at her. The monstrous skeletal form of Mega Rayquaza lowered his head down to Iris.
"Welcome home, father..." Iris said, her voice dripping with triumph.
To be Continued...