The Eon Academy [S.S. Wishmaker Side-Story]

[[Desolate Divine]]

Spiritwater Episode 13: Pain

Spoiler:

“Look everywhere!” Glimmer called out to Luneth and Jirachi, as she scoured through a set of drawers in the desk containing the Netherlink. Whilst Willow had said that the Netherlink would collapse in on itself if the final reagents weren’t placed in it at the correct time, the Netherlink seemed stable, and Glimmer didn’t want to leave it without finding some way of confirming Willow was correct. Especially seeing as their allies were outside in the most danger, and if there was a way of destroying the Netherlink without just waiting for it to destroy itself, then they wanted to find it.

Alongside Glimmer, Jirachi floated around the room, looking for anything that could have information about it, whilst Luneth sat on a desk on the other side of the room to the Netherlink with a large tome, using her mouth to grab the corner of each page, and turn to the next. Next to the tome, sat the three remaining reagents. The skulls of a Hydreigon, the eyes of Necrozma and the heart of Eternatus. All of which were intentionally placed to not accidentally get absorbed by the Netherlink during one of its growth periods.

“I’ve got nothing!” Glimmer said, after emptying the last drawer she could find. “What are the chances Agatha had this all memorised, or keeps her notes somewhere else?”

Neither of her companions were able to answer, and Glimmer already had a pretty good idea. She didn’t know Agatha personally, but heard a lot of her personality from Willow during her explanation. Agatha was proud and cunning, but she wasn’t stupid. If the Netherlink was simple enough she could memorise the spell, chances are somebody else would have done this by now, and if Agatha had Gail watching over the Netherlink, she wouldn’t have left her with nothing in case of an emergency. They had to be here…

Luneth flicked the page, and noticed something different. This page, unlike the others prior, which appeared to have been made with a primitive printing press, was hand written. Whilst there was no title, she quickly skimmed through the reagents, and saw what she was after. Necrozma, Eternatus, and Hydreigon…

“Here!” Luneth cried out, getting both Glimmer and Jirachi’s attention.

Luneth read through the process listed on the handwritten page, understanding exactly the role of the reagents on the table next to her. Glimmer rushed over, with Jirachi floating behind her, reading over Luneth’s shoulder.

“All the reagents but the ones needed to begin the process fit into one of three categories. Expansion, stability or separation,” Luneth explained. “Those in the expansion category will cause the Netherlink to expand. Those in the stability category will allow it to grow larger without collapsing on itself. And those in the separation category…”

Luneth read the explanation, though having not heard Willow’s explanation of the void, didn’t quite understand it. Glimmer quickly read it and explained.

“The reagents in the separation category are what keep energy from the void from bleeding through the Netherlink into this world when not actually harnessed, and what prevent the void from absorbing those nearby and consuming them…” Glimmer explained, as Luneth nodded with understanding.

“It seems like the reason they need to be added at the exact right times is to keep the balance of these three things in check. It’s like a fireplace…” Luneth explained. “If you have too much fire without the structure holding it being strong, the enclosure will break. If the barrier between the person and the fire is too strong, the fire itself will suffocate and die…”

“So how do we break it?” Jirachi asked, looking at the three reagents on the table.

“The Netherlink even without the expansion reagents will perpetually grow, just slowly,” Glimmer answered. “So if we didn’t have to worry about Agatha potentially beating us, we could just do nothing, like Willow said, and it will eventually expand until the container can’t handle it, and it collapses. But that could take another day or so, and if Agatha beats Triad, and we lose this fight, then Agatha wins…”

“Could we try and suffocate it with that third type of reagent?” Jirachi asked, however Luneth shook her head.

“We can’t,” Luneth said. “Proportionally, there are far less seperation reagents, as using too many will create a Netherlink that is strong, stable but inaccessible, and right now, the only reagents left are one of each. Putting in the heart of Eternatus, and destroying the others would make it too weak and too separated for it to be used, however, all it would need is for Agatha to source expansion and stability reagents to give it enough power to actually use. And the expansion reagent of these three is the Hydreigon skulls, which aren’t too hard to come by…”

“We could try putting in the Hydreigon skulls to expand it, and the heart of Eternatus to keep the void separate. Without the eyes of Necrozma to stabilise it, it would collapse quicker…” Glimmer suggested. “But we don’t know how long the skulls or the heart will take to activate, or the effect of putting them in early. The skulls could be absorbed instantly, while the heart is a delayed reaction. In that case, we risk being absorbed…”

Luneth looked in shock at the three reagents in front of her. They were the key to their success as well as Agatha’s. They could attempt to use them, at the risk of themselves, to destroy the Netherlink, or they could destroy them to prevent Agatha from using them, and risk destroying their only key to victory.

”Jirachi!” Jimmy said to Jirachi telepathically, via the pendant he wore. ”How’re things going in there?”

”We’re weighing our options to break this thing Jimmy!” Jirachi replied, trying to not convey the worry it felt, given that no option seemed to be without huge risks. ”How about you?”

”They’ve seen the three of us, and are now trying to breach our line and get to Triad,” Jimmy answered. ”I can’t keep talking, but stay in touch…”

As Luneth and Glimmer discussed their options, Jirachi considered mentioning another that hadn’t been considered, however, bit its tongue. What Jirachi was thinking of mentioning was impossible because of something out of their control, and it didn’t want to get its friends' hopes up for something that was already impossible. That, and another reason…

Suddenly Jirachi felt another consciousness, brush against its own. Not recognising it, it quickly severed the connection, realising one of the stones must have been found by someone not with the League. However a few moments later, Jirachi felt another consciousness, this one more familiar.

”Jirachi!” said Jon’s voice in Jirachi’s mind. ”We’re here to fight, but we need your help…”

”Jon?!” Jirachi replied, shocked that Jon had sought it out, asking for his help, especially having accidentally seen Jimmy’s memories of the night before. ”I’ll help, but what do you need?”

”I’m near the Megamart, ready to take on Giratina, once that Lugia thing has worn it out, but last time Rayquaza fought Giratina, Agatha came and won Giratina the battle,” Jon explained. ”Are Triad battling Agatha?”

”They’re talking with her now…”

”Good. I’m going to get into position. When they start fighting, let me know. That’ll be my cue to send out Rayquaza…”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

From where he stood in his place in the line, Jimmy could hear voices from where Triad and Agatha were, and he figured they were speaking, and hadn’t begun fighting just yet. However, as the talking continued, one voice became more prominent over the others. Shouting passionately, he recognised Cassandra.

“Today, the Diamond Ladies rise above their past. Nobody will be able to condemn us and have a leg to stand on. And we do that by stopping you!”

Jimmy couldn’t help but grin.

“Damn right you do…” Jimmy muttered with some pride, before noticing what he had been expecting. Someone entering via the hole made in the battle, and noticing him.

“Hey!” the witch called out. “They’ve gotten into the Megamart!”

Jimmy grabbed two Pokeballs, activating both of them, causing Grovyle and Salamence to materialise. If he had a Psychic Type, he’d have sent that out too to act defensively, blocking incoming projectiles, however, Jirachi was his only Psychic Type and was otherwise occupied.

Despite the enemy beginning to bear down on him, he figured this might be the last not inconvenient time he’d have to talk to Jirachi, seeing as he’d be kept busy from here on out.

Focusing on the pendant, but not letting his gaze slip from the two witches with their Ghost Pokemon who were now making their way towards him, he focused his thoughts.

”Jirachi! How’re things going in there?” Jimmy asked.

”We’re weighing our options to break this thing Jimmy!” Jirachi answered, still sounding chipper, though Jimmy knew that Jirachi would force that even if it were terrified. ”How about you?”

”They’ve seen the three of us, and are now trying to breach our line and get to Triad,” Jimmy answered, though realised that the enemies were now in attack range. ”I can’t keep talking, but stay in touch…”

“Salamence, Dragon Breath!” Jimmy called out. “Keep them at a distance! Grovyle, if they get close, you’re up!”

Salamence roared in acknowledgement, and for a moment, the oncoming force seemed to hesitate, before continuing their advance, all but one of the Ghosts missing the subsequent Dragon Breath attack. One of the witches began muttering an incantation, and knowing he was the slowest target, Jimmy quickly shifted form into a Pikachu, as the projectile launched struck the air where his head had been a moment earlier.

“Weren’t expecting that?” Jimmy called out, knowing full well the attacker likely didn’t understand him anyway. He darted towards Salamence, leaping onto its tail, before running up onto its back and jumping onto its wing.

“Bounce me!” Jimmy called out, and as Jimmy’s feet touched Salamence's wing, it lowered, before flicking up, launching Jimmy higher than he could naturally jump, even in this form. With a gleeful grin, and much practice, Jimmy unleashed a Thunderbolt attack, aimed directly at the witch who had just attempted to hit him.

“You doing okay Avery?” Jimmy called out as he fell back onto Salamence’s wing, knowing that only Avery could understand him as a Pokemon.

“Never better!” Avery called out, as Acacia’s telekinetic barrier blocked another projectile from the attacking force. The attacking witch didn’t get another opportunity before being thrown back violently, by Daybreak’s Flame Charge attack. “Now, Fire Spin!”

Daybreak neighed, before the flames on its back intensified, launching outwards at a nearby Dusclops that was getting too close to Avery, and encasing it in a fiery vortex, before Daybreak launched itself at the trapped Pokemon, striking it with a Megahorn attack.

Between the two trainers, Abital had four witches advancing on him, with Meir using its keen agility to dodge incoming attacks from them, and Abital using all of his own nimbleness, as well as all available cover. Despite having an innate fear of ghosts, he was forcing himself to remain calm, knowing that if he played his cards right, he could deal a heavy blow to the attacking force. It also helped that the cover kept the ghosts out of sight, and temporarily, out of mind.

“Hey, the guy in the middle only has one Pokemon!” called out one of the advancing witches, and Abital had to hide his grin. This is what he was after. He continued to dodge, giving audible commands by snapping fingers and clapping hands to Meir, who held them at bay, as another four witches arrived, leaving him significantly outnumbered.

Knowing he was taking too much of a risk to wait for a bigger group to take out in one move, Abital snapped his fingers twice in quick succession, which Meir understood to be an order to use Discharge and keep all attackers at bay. This was a command that as a Ranger, Abital had issued plenty of times, especially when large herds of Pokemon were attempting to go somewhere they shouldn’t.

Whilst the attacking force were distracted by Meir, Abital withdrew his Ranger Styler, activating the capture disc, but instead of launching it towards the attacking Pokemon, launched it at the ground between himself and the attacking force. It struck the ground, as he lowered his arm, pulling it closer towards him, and drew a slanted hourglass shape with the capture disc’s path. He withdrew the capture disc, as the invisible path it had traced now glowed in a golden light.

Before any of the oncoming force could question what he had done, there was a clap of thunder, and they were blinded by a large bolt of lightning smashing through the ceiling of the Megamart, crashing to the ground where the symbol had been drawn. When their eyes adjusted, they looked in horror at the creature that stood before them, growling.

“Raikou?!”

The Legendary beast would naturally stand a half foot taller than Abital, however this Pokemon was a foot taller than that. In all other aspects, it appeared identical to the Legendary Pokemon, from its yellow and black hide, to the purple mane on its back, reminiscent of thunder clouds, with one notable exception. Its silver eyes…

“Abital has a Raikou?” Jimmy called out, having heard the thunder and seen the spectacle from where battled. “Awesome!”

“Sort of!” Avery answered, unable to hide the grin. Abital was responsible with this privilege, and only used it in the most dire of circumstances, practically never around other people. However, they knew that their husband did enjoy the attention of it just a little.

The Raikou itself, was the spirit of an ancient Raikou that centuries earlier had lived in Teakwood Forest in the Oblivia region. Despite dying of natural causes, its spirit had remained in the forest, protecting it and its inhabitants from poachers and others who meant it harm. Abital however, in his role in stopping a group of poachers in the forest, had earned the trust of Raikou, and been given the symbol to summon the spirit at will.

Raikou roared, as those who were already changing their mind about focusing on this easy target began to step back. Raikou however, darted towards them with an Extreme Speed attack, hitting its target in the midst of the pack, before unleashing a Discharge, shocking all who were unlucky enough to be too close.

One of those who had been out of range of the Discharge attack attempted to sneak up on Raikou, muttering an incantation, however upon touch Raikou, was shocked when nothing happened, causing Abital to chuckle, as the unfortunate witch learnt the hard way that Raikou was even less normal than any other Legendary Pokemon, before Raikou snapped at the would-be attacker with a Thunder Fang.

”So you think I’m the easy target…” Abital thought to himself. ”Big mistake…”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

Cassandra knew the time for talking was over, however knew rushing in to battle Agatha was a recipe for disaster.

Like Violet and Jarena, attached to her belt were numerous pouches, however instead of carrying many, each containing their own reagents, she had grouped them, so each pouch had all the reagents for a different spell. She reached into one, grabbing some blunt shards of broken mirror, and Wingull feathers in the same handful before muttering an incantation.

She ran at Agatha, hand raised to hit her with a supposed spell, as Agatha, in retaliation, muttered something quickly, before launching her own hand out, attempting to make contact with Cassandra’s shoulder. Cassandra however, grabbed the hand, as she activated her spell. The Expavescimus Charm, which would redirect an attacking spell back at the attacker.

Agatha screamed as the flesh on her left hand began to burn, before chanting a few words, causing it to heal. Cassandra’s eyes widened at that. She knew various healing spells herself, having used them for many years at the Star Glade, and even using one to heal Jon’s broken hand, however they were normally much more time consuming than this.

“Nice trick…” Agatha muttered, looking at her newly restored hand. “But you’re going to need more than that if you want to beat me…”

“What about me?” Violet called out, as she ran at Agatha, with a spell she had prepared earlier, and had at the ready. She swiped at Agatha with an outstretched hand, which Agatha just managed to avoid. However, she was too late to realise that the attack itself was a distraction, as Jarena, despite being the shortest and lightest of the Diamond Ladies, rammed Agatha with her shoulder, knocking her back on her feet, before beginning an incantation of her own. She grabbed a handful of sand from a pouch, which activated upon her touch, and tossed it at Agatha’s face, knowing that if the spell activated, Agatha would begin to fall asleep.

Knowing the trick, Agatha used a shielding spell, like the one Cassandra had used to protect Jon years earlier at Sky Pillar, blocking the enchanted sand, as Violet, in the moment of distraction, took the opportunity to make her next move.

”Cass!” called out Jirachi’s voice in her mind. ”Are you fighting Agatha yet?”

“We just started!” Cassandra said audibly, knowing Jirachi would hear the intent, and not wanting to focus too hard on her thoughts. She began an incantation, of a spell requiring no reagents. Despite the spell being weaker because of the lack of reagents, she hadn’t seen all of Agatha’s tricks, and didn’t want to waste her limited resources in the early game.

”Jon’s outside, and when I tell him you’ve got Agatha busy, he’s going to handle Giratina!”

Cassandra was thankful to hear that the nightmarish Pokemon wouldn’t be joining them if all went to plan, and understood why Jon was waiting to know Agatha was busy. Just like Giratina’s presence would make battling Agatha difficult for them, Agatha’s presence would make battling Giratina difficult for Jon.

”We’ll keep them separated as long as we can!” Cassandra said, taking the risk to focus her thoughts, so as to not give away the bigger plan.

With her spell ready, she began her next assault on Agatha, as Violet and Jarena narrowly avoided a potentially deadly curse…

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

”Jon!” called out Jirachi’s voice in Jon’s mind. ”Agatha is occupied! Now’s your chance!”

Before Jon could respond, his attention was stolen by the piercing wail of Hellshriek, as Giratina placed one of its feet on Hellshriek’s neck, before the wail was cut off, with an audible crack. Willow grimaced at the sound.

Knowing they didn’t have much time, as any time between fights was time Giratina could use to go back to Agatha, or be healed by the witches who had been supporting it, Jon quickly grabbed six Pokeballs from the bag mounted to the back of the motorbike. He handed Willow three of the empty ones.

“We have to go, now…” Jon said, as Willow nodded, surprised herself at her own resolve.

Hellshriek’s corpse lay amidst an abandoned construction site, where Giratina was already surrounded by various witches, one that Willow recognised as Nicodemus once they got a little closer, being healed.

“Now or never!” Jon called out to Willow as the pair jogged. He withdrew Rayquaza’s new, legal Pokeball. “Go Rayquaza!”

Knowing he still had distance to cover himself, Jon threw the Pokeball far harder than he normally would, sending it soaring high in the air, before exploding in a flash of light. Rayquaza materialised with an ear-splitting roar, before diving towards Giratina, who stood to attention at the presence of yesterday’s foe.

Seeing the large Legendary Pokemon racing towards them, the witches healing Giratina scattered like insects, managing to just avoid being caught between Rayquaza slamming into Giratina, as both Pokemon tumbled to the side.

“I’ll try and thin their numbers, but I’m at a disadvantage here with Shadowcraft!” Jon called out to Willow. “Try and pick off their stronger witches, and Latios and Latias, watch our backs! When Marshadow appears, help Willow capture it!”

Jon had no doubt that Marshadow would appear. Giratina was worn out from the last battle, and Jon wouldn’t be letting the witches interfere. Agatha herself couldn’t help, which meant if she didn’t want Giratina being captured, Marshadow needed to come to its aid.

Jon and Willow reached the edge of the abandoned construction site before being spotted, by Nicodemus of all people.

“You! You traitor!” Nicodemus shouted, pouring all his anger and humiliation into his words. “I’ll kill you!”

Jon went to grab Jolteon’s Pokeball, however before he could, Willow stepped forward, surprising him, given her initial comments about staying off the front lines.

“Try it!” Willow called out. “I’ve wanted nothing more than to teach you some manners since I arrived at this dump!”

Jon grinned, before grabbing Jolteon, Blaziken and Nidoking’s Pokeballs. All Pokemon that could be a pest to any attackers from a distance. In addition to Nicodemus, there were twelve other witches, with close to twenty ghost Pokemon. He sent out his three Pokemon, knowing that if he sent out Scizor, it’d more likely be hit by Shadowcraft trying to attack in close quarters. Once they were all out, he placed the Pokeballs back, before grabbing from the rubble of Giratina and Hellshriek’s battle, a short iron bar, that had been reinforcement in whatever building was being built here once upon a time, that still had a sizeable, but not overly large and heavy, chunk of concrete attached. He held it in his right hand, testing the weight, before looking at the crowd of witches advancing on their small team.

“I’ve been waiting for this…”

Nicodemus was the first to act, rushing towards Willow with an incantation ready, and lunging at her with his right hand. Willow however, thought more about her own attack. Muttering a few quick incantations, she held the spell, until Nicodemus was only five feet away from her, activating the simple tripping hex. Jon almost burst into laughter when Nicodemus tripped on his own feet, losing focus of the spell he had readied, as Willow kicked forward, making contact with Nicodemus’ nose, as he tripped forward. She began to mutter her own incantation, however at the last second, stopped to duck behind cover, as a spell projectile whizzed past where her head was, from one of the other witches.

“Nidoking!” Jon commanded. “Sludge Wave!”

Whilst Jon wanted to direct Rayquaza, there was too much going on here for him to not have his focus be on this battle. His plan was to handle the witches and ghosts here, and once they were incapacitated, direct Rayquaza in its battle against Giratina.

Nidoking roared, before spewing a noxious purple sludge hitting one of the witches, but causing two to stumble as they avoided the attack, only to be struck by Jolteon’s Discharge attack.

“Keep the witches off us!” Jon called out to Nidoking and Jolteon, before looking at Blaziken.

The witches commanding Ghost Pokemon had seen Blaziken to be an easy target, its Fighting Type being weak to Ghosts, and they were beginning to surround Blaziken.

“Blaziken!” Jon ordered. “Protect!”

He had a plan, partially inspired by his own battle against Camilla Blakely ten months earlier, as well as Dylan’s battle against Brad Jenkins, and part of it involved one of the twelve Pokemon surrounding Blaziken, however, he needed Blaziken to ramp up its speed first. Surrounding Blaziken were six pairs of ghost Pokemon. Cofagrigus, Haunter, Mismagius, Chandelure, Banette and Rotom, both of which were possessing an oven.

A flurry of attacks hit Blaziken from all angles, blocked by the Protect barrier, before Jon gave his next order.

“Agility, then dodge!” Jon ordered, as Blaziken, whose speed now eclipsed that of the attacking ghosts, growing faster as Speed Boost activated for the second time. With expert agility, Blaziken dodged every attack from the attacking force, making it look easy, though Jon knew this skill was from over a decade’s worth of experience battling together.

“Now Protect again!” Jon ordered for good measure, knowing Blaziken was well and truly fast enough, but figuring if he had the opportunity, why not? Again, a dozen different attacks were blocked by the barrier, as Jon began preparing for his big move.

“Swords Dance and dodge!”

Given Blaziken’s now tripled speed, the time taken to perform Swords Dance was dramatically reduced, allowing the action to complete, before Blaziken dodged an incoming attack from Haunter, and then Mismagius, however, when a Cofagrigus got nearby…

“Stop!” Jon called out, as Blaziken stopped moving, being hit by a Shadow Claw attack by Cofarigus. “Now, Shadow Claw on Haunter!”

Blaziken leapt out of the way of being hit by another attack, striking at one of the Haunter with its own spectrally encased claw. However, as soon as Haunter took the hit, it fell to the ground, still conscious, however unable to move as it normally would. Blaziken dodged an attack from Chandelure, before striking out at the other Haunter.

“Now Rotom, then Mismagius!”

The witches commanding the ghost Pokemon watched in shock as every time Blaziken hit one of their floating Pokemon, it collapsed to the ground, still conscious, but unable to float like it had been. When only one of the Mismagius remained, Jon gave his final order.

“Blaziken, Role Play! Jolteon, Magnet Rise!” Jon said, unable to hide the grin. “Nidoking! Earthquake!”

Nidoking roared, as the ground began to shake violently, and all Pokemon that Blaziken had been battling took damage from the hit. The Rotoms, Haunters and Chandelures all fainted instantly, given their preexisting weakness to Ground attacks, followed quickly by the Mismagius who were already weakened from being hit by Blaziken’s Shadow Punches, that it had used to infect them with the Mummy Ability that Jon had let Cofarigus infect it with earlier in the battle. Blaziken however, had copied Mismagius’ ability before hitting it with a Shadow Claw. This left a pair of Cofarigus, and a pair Banette, both of which were uneasy on their feet. Jon considered having Blaziken dispatch them, but decided against it.

“Nidoking, give us another Earthquake!” Jon called out, and once the ground began to shake again, knocking out the remainder of the Ghost Pokemon that had surrounded Blaziken, called out to Blaziken. “Role Play on Nidoking!”

Nidoking’s ability, Sheer Force, removed the side effects of any attack it had, for the benefit of increasing its sheer attack power by a factor of thirty percent. Blaziken had a lot of moves like Power-Up Punch it could use with side effects, but at this point, Jon had done the prep work. Blaziken was now fast and strong and just needed to knock skulls.

Unbeknownst to Jon, another Ghost Pokemon had slipped into the fight, hiding in Blaziken’s shadow. Latios was the first to notice the form of Marshadow, rising out of Blaziken’s elongated shadow from the setting sun in the distance.

Turning visible, Latios roared, shocking all those there who hadn’t known where the Eon Pokemon had been, before launching himself bodily into Marshadow, grappling the small Mythical Pokemon, and carrying it away from Blaziken.

“Willow!” Jon called out to his partner in this battle.

“I’m on it!”

Willow sidestepped Nicodemus, whom she had been in a stalemate with since her initial strike on him, rushing past Jon, who swung his arm around, holding concrete tipped iron bar out, a matter of inches from the face of Nicodemus, who in chasing after Willow, had almost rushed face first into it.

“Willow’s busy,” Jon said evenly. “You’re fighting me now…”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

“So here’s what’s going to happen,” the leader of the returning raid party said to Brianna, before walking up to her. “I’m going to kill whatever the hell that thing fighting Giratina is. And I’m going to use the energy in that little diamond of yours to do it. Whether you hand it over now, or I take it from your lifeless corpse…”

Brianna went to speak, and as she did, Dylan took the moment of distraction, and sprinted at the witch nearest him, whilst pressing the button on the Pokeball hidden in his clenched fist. At the same time, Darkrai appeared from Dylan’s shadow, and launched a Sucker Punch at the witch. Not having a spell readied, and taken by surprise by Darkrai’s attack, the witch did little to stop Dylan, who was not small by any standard, from shouldering him to the ground, and making an opening for he, Abbee and Victini to run through, as Metagross and Dakrai began wreaking havoc on the group there. They took cover behind some nearby trees, which was helped by Victini’s telekinetic barriers.

Taking the moment of distraction herself, and not restricted by the time or effort it took to mutter incantations, Brianna quickly placed a hex on the leader of the raid party, causing him to collapse to the ground with his hands grabbing at his head. As the raid party were starting to prepare spells, she took cover behind the shack, readying more of her own spells.

The eleven remaining witches began to go after Brianna, however, one of the more senior members of the raid party took control of the situation.

“Don’t let the others get away!” the new leader called out. “They were at the hospital! That Metagross killed some of our own!”

Hearing the rally, five of them split off, and attempted to fan out around Metagross and Darkrai, trying to get past them to get to Abbee and Dylan.

“Metagross!” Dylan called out, as he pressed the button in his watch. “You’re on defence!”

Metagross grunted in agreement, as it became encased in light, which exploded in a rainbow of colour, revealing Mega Metagross. Now floating and much more agile, its supercomputer-like brain was now even more effective, and paired with its telekinesis, made Metagross the perfect creator of psychic shields to protect its trainer.

“Jon said these were for an emergency…” Abbee said with a grim smile. “Now we can finally use them…”

Calling out her Ampharos, Abbee pressed the keystone in her locket, which caused Ampharos to become encased in an identical light to Metagross, emerging with long, flowing white hair and an equally impressive tail.

Calling out Dusknoir, it joined Ampharos and Victini by Darkrai’s side, to begin holding off the five witches.

Brianna avoided one curse, while blocking another with a Shield Charm, and rebounding a third with an Expavescimus Charm, causing the caster of the third charm to be thrown back, covered with sores and screaming in pain. Her ability to perform Shadowcraft non-verbally dramatically decreased the amount of time she needed to perform spells, however in a normal fight, she wouldn’t be performing them this quickly, for two reasons. The first being that non-verbal Shadowcraft ran the risk of other thoughts interfering, and causing the wrong spell to be used. The second, being that if she kept using spell after spell in such quick succession, she’d run the risk of exhausting herself too quickly.

However, the diamond she held in her left hand disqualified the second reason. She had removed the enchantment on it causing it to stop absorbing energy when she took it, so it wasn’t growing in power, however, she knew they were in range of the diamond near the Megamart, which was still enchanted, and absorbing power from the fighting as the battles continued.

One of the five remaining witches that were attacking her lunged at her, right arm outstretched to place a contact curse on her. She didn’t know the effect of the curse, however didn’t care to find out. Instead of blocking or rebounding it, she instead sidestepped gracefully, slipping towards the man’s left side, causing him to attempt to turn. In that moment of imbalance, she kicked his foot out, before activating a spell she had found from her own time peering into the void. A simple spell would help in this situation.

Without a word, she tapped the stumbling man on the shoulder, and the gravitational pull on his body intensified to triple its normal rate. He went from stumbling, to being pulled to the ground, which he hit with a thud, before struggling and failing to get back up. She grinned. The amount of energy she was using keeping this battle going from the diamond she held was insignificant compared to the amount this battle would be adding to the hidden Megamart diamond. Her grin however, wouldn’t last.

In the forest on the south side of the abandoned Megamart, an inconspicuous tree housed the hidden diamond. A hole had been cut into it, in which Brianna inserted the diamond, before using Shadowcraft to repair it, giving no indication that anything was there. Despite Brianna having decided that today would be the day she retrieved the diamond, which contained enough energy to sustain her goals, but was not yet at capacity, there was something she hadn’t accounted for.

This diamond had filled with energy quickly, as for weeks, it had been in range of the home of a hundred witches, all using Shadowcraft throughout the day, giving a generous and consistent charge. This was how she knew they were in the Megamart. The one she held, had been placed near Heahea City, and despite charging slow initially, in the last week, had gained a great deal of energy from the consistent back and forth of Shadowcraft between Agatha’s followers, and the League’s own Shadowcraft users during the chaos of the Spiritwater Opening Ceremony, and the attack on Heahea hospital the day before. Whilst Brianna knew the Megamart diamond still had room for more energy, she hadn’t considered the sheer input of energy from a large-scale battle here…

The diamond in the tree had reached capacity minutes earlier, and began leaking out energy, seeping out as a slow trickle. However, as more witches got involved in the fighting, the amount of energy being absorbed increased, until the diamond couldn’t contain it anymore.

Brianna was shocked by a loud bang, as something exploded to the south east. Without intending to, she looked to the place where she had hidden the diamond, as the realisation of what had happened dawned on her.

Regaining her senses, she narrowly avoided being stabbed, instead, the knife held by the witch slicing across her upper arm, leaving a narrow trail of blood.

She glared at the witch, deciding this one would suffer…

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

As Luneth and Glimmer considered their options, they stopped talking suddenly as they heard the explosion, and Jirachi felt something. A source of power exploding to life. Before it even knew why, it reinforced its own telekinesis with wish energy, bringing a slight sensation of fatigue, and wrapped the Netherlink in telekinetic barriers.

The Netherlink suddenly exploded outwards, with the trio only saved from being absorbed by it, by Jirachi containing it.

“What was that?” Luneth asked, looking at the Netherlink which had tripled in size in a matter of seconds.

“I don’t know…” Glimmer muttered, before beginning the incantation of an insight spell. Closing her eyes, she saw the familiar glyphs that shed light on the nature of the spell in front of her, and noticed something odd. Most of the time, there were patterns in which glyphs appeared and which glyphs didn’t. There were some combinations of glyphs that were practically impossible to see together, as they correlated to two conflicting types of Shadowcraft that could not coexist. However, looking at the glyphs she saw in her mind’s eye, she noticed a similar abnormality, and began to piece together what had happened.

“Oh God…” Glimmer said, before grabbing the eyes of Necrozma and Eternatus heart, and throwing both in the swirling vortex.

“What are you doing?” Luneth asked. “Won’t that make it harder to destroy?”

“I’m buying us time!” Glimmer answered, as Jirachi, was now able to release the telekinetic barriers. “This is not good…”

“What’s wrong?” Jirachi asked. “What happened?”

“That Brianna Levine had left diamonds hidden all over the island, enchanted to absorb the energy released when Shadowcraft is performed. She wanted to use it to do something big, though I don’t know what. But that’s why she helped us enough that Agatha wouldn’t wipe us out, but not enough to actually help us stop her…”

“So she wanted there to be fighting between witches?” Luneth asked, as Glimmer nodded in confirmation.

“The Netherlink absorbed a heap of energy, but is now capable of absorbing energy from Shadowcraft, just like those diamonds, instead of just slowly growing from the energy in the void…” Glimmer explained. “One of them probably reached its capacity and detonated. That’s what we heard before…”

“So as long as people are fighting out there…” Luneth said, her voice trailing off as she realised just how much more dangerous the situation had become.

“The Netherlink will grow, and it doesn’t matter if Agatha gets beaten or not. It will grow perpetually, until it absorbs everything around it…” Glimmer explained. “Those reagents bought us time, but they only work once, and if we want to buy more time, we don’t know what other reagents will stabilise it and keep us safe from it, that haven't already been used.”

Luneth looked at Jirachi, not knowing of any other options.

“If we wished for it, could you close it?” Luneth asked. Jirachi shook its head.

“Not now,” Jirachi explained. “The clouds that they have summoned block my connection to the stars, which I need to grant bigger wishes. Even then, it would put me to sleep and I don’t know when I’d wake up, but if I tried without that connection, I’d just fall asleep and nothing would happen…”

Glimmer considered what Jirachi had said. She quickly dismissed the thought from her mind. Even if Jirachi could, it wouldn’t be okay of her to order Jirachi to do that without Jimmy’s permission.

“That’s our last option then…” Glimmer said, before looking at Luneth. “I’m going to use another Insight spell, and try and figure out how long we have until the Netherlink will just absorb us, and if there is something we can do to stop it. Luneth, look in the tome again, and see if you can find anything about those clouds, in case Jirachi is our only bet.”

Glimmer looked over at Jirachi, wishing she didn’t have to say this.

“We’ll do all we can, but if it looks like the only thing we can do is wish this away, you should talk to Jimmy before that…”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

In the visitors room, the leader of the group of attackers grinned.

“This actually works out quite well indeed…” he said, repeating himself, looking between Chris and Lance. “Now that I see you next to each other, I take it you’re family?”

Neither of the dragon trainers said anything, as the leader’s grin widened.

“We just came here because Jon Drake has something we’re after, and we figured he’d be willing to negotiate if we took one of his precious students. But lo and behold, we find Lance, the most public enemy of our kind…”

Chris’ eyes widened at both revelations. They were after him, trying to force Jon’s hand in whatever fight he was in on Akala Island. However, if they were after him, chances are, they had gone after Charlotte and Justin as well. He felt a deep regret at going by himself and leaving them despite their protests, however forced himself to ignore it. He was in this situation because they decided to attack him in a place where he couldn’t carry Pokemon. Even with four of them, getting the jump on Charlotte and Justin, whilst taking them alive, would prove to be a difficult task…

However, Lance didn’t have that same luxury, and Chris could see that their unwanted guests were planning on making the most of that.

“This is an opportunity many of us would dream of,” the leader continued. “The great Dragon tamer, Lance, who tried to kill two of our brethren that were unable to fight back, now defenceless himself, with no dragons to hide behind…”

Chris looked at Lance, who gave no hint of worry. Despite having no way out of this situation, he was not going to give their attackers any satisfaction. Instead, he spoke evenly.

“You talk too much…” Lance said to the leader, who began to laugh, as did his followers

“You’re right,” the leader said. “The time for talking is over. It’s time for action…”

He stood forward, approaching Lance, however Chris stood to the side, placing himself between Lance and the person who was intent on executing him.

“You need me alive, remember?” Chris said. “And you’ve gotta get through me if you’re gonna kill him…”

“We need you alive, not whole…”

“Chris, step aside…” Lance said. He grabbed Chris by the shoulder, and not so gently shoved him out of the way, placing himself face to face with his would-be attacker, as another of the intruders made his way towards Chris.

Chris went to protest, however could hear something faintly. A high pitched whirring sound that was familiar to him. After a second, it registered to him what it was. Chris grinned, before swinging around, and punching the nearby witch in the stomach.

Despite the witch expecting the attack, the blow had winded him, delaying the spell he planned to use, as he grabbed Chris.

There was a flash of light as a large orb of electricity blasted through the door which led to the visitation office, crying out gleefully, before launching a thunderbolt at one of the other subordinate witches, who dived out of the way, missing it.

Taking advantage of the confusion, Lance grabbed the witch in front of him by the shoulders, headbutting him, before shoving him back, as he stumbled backwards, dazed by the blow. However, their element of surprise was gone, and knowing they were likely outnumbered by whoever sent the Pokemon in to help them, they went to their backup plan.

Each of the witches grabbed two Pokeballs from their belt. In an instant, Chris, Lance, and the Pokemon he now recognised to be Regieleki, were surrounded by Chandelure, Froslass, Aegislash, Golurk, Gengar, Dusknoir, Rotom and Banette.

“Chris!” called out a familiar voice, from the hallway where Regieleki had emerged. Chris grinned as between those in front of him, he saw Charlotte emerge, carrying his belt, and tossing it over the heads of those before him. “Get behind cover!”

Chris caught the belt, as he heard Justin call out a command, realising why Charlotte had told him to get behind cover.

“Regieleki, Discharge!”

Lance grabbed Chris, before the pair dived over the table they had been sitting at. Whilst it was barely any cover, the table acted as a lightning rod for all the electricity Regieleki had launched behind it. However, the Pokemon in front of it weren’t as lucky. Though it was spread thin across the eight of them, they were all struck by Regieleki’s discharge attack, stunning them for a moment.

Chris heard the sound of another Pokeball activating as Charlotte called out her Roserade, and commanded a Grassy Terrain attack. Despite the ground being concrete, Roserade blasted it with seeds, which grew into a lush grass, before various Leech Seeds hidden amongst them exploded into life, grappling some of the attacking witches and their Pokemon.

In the chaos, Chris grabbed one of his five Pokeballs, knowing the space was too small for Lugia, and may even be too cramped for Garchomp, Charizard or his Dragonite, instead sending out Ninetales.

“Protect!” Chris shouted, as he saw a nearby witch beginning an incantation, whilst seeming to be focused on himself and Lance. Ninetales cried out, raising a spectral barrier, which appeared in time to block and disperse the attack, before Chris gave a follow up command. “Icy Wind!”

With another cry, Ninetales unleashed a freezing gust of wind on their attackers, before they retaliated with their own, starting with Chandelure.

“Mystic Fire!” one of the witches called out, as Chandelure let out a gleeful noise, and purple spectral flames erupted from it in all directions, Charlotte avoiding the hit by Roserade using Protect, and Justin, Chris and Lance all diving out of the way. They however, weren’t the intended target. Instead, the thorny vines which held many of the attackers in place, were struck by the flames, before burning up, freeing them, and allowing them to move.

“Disable, both of you!” called another witch. “Against Ninetales and Roserade!”

Despite intending to prevent both Pokemon from using Protect, the witch commanding Dusknoir and Gengar had gotten his timing wrong, with Roserade now prevented from using Protect, but the other Disable attack only affected Ninetales’ Icy Wind.

“Froslass, Will ‘o Wisp on Regieleki!” called out another witch. “Banette, Hex!”

Froslass cried out, as a spectral flame launched at Regieleki, burning the Legendary Pokemon, before Banette followed its trainer’s order, struck Regieleki with a Hex, which, despite being used on a Legendary Pokemon, struck hard due to the burn Regieleki had just sustained.

“Golurk, Earth Power!” the witch who had commanded Chandelure called. “Take down Regieleki!”

In his distraction though, he didn’t notice Lance making his way into his blindspot, before boring down on him, and slamming his fist into his head, knocking him out cold. He fell limp, as his own Pokemon launched an Earth Power attack at Regieleki, who, despite being the fastest Pokemon alive, didn’t have the space in this cramped room to avoid the hit, as the concrete erupted underneath it, striking it with jagged edges.

“Aegislash, Laser Focus!” the last witch called out. “Rotom, Hex!”

As Banette did earlier, Rotom used Hex on Regieleki, striking it hard, though not enough to knock the Legendary Pokemon out.

“Regieleki! Zap Cannon!” Justin ordered, seeing the fact that Froslass and Chandelure were lined up perfectly. “On Froslass!”

Despite Zap Cannon not being an overly accurate move, the space was too small for Regieleki to miss, hitting both Pokemon, one after another, and knocking them both unconscious, as Justin grinned, though it was short lived.

“Banette, again!”

Banette hit Regieleki with a third Hex, which was enough to knock the Pokemon out, as Chris’ Ninetales hit Rotom with a Blizzard, and knocked it out. Angrily, Justin leapt at the witch who had given that command, attempting to swing a fist, however was blocked, before being punched himself in the head by the attacker, who had decided to forego Shadowcraft instead for a small, hard plastic knuckle duster. Justin took the hit, collapsing to the ground unconscious.

“Justin!” Chris yelled angrily, before launching himself at the attacking witch, grabbing him and tackling him to the ground. In the scuffle, Chris withdrew a fist, and launched it into the eye socket of the witch, causing him to yell out in pain, before Chris’ second punch found its mark at the man’s jaw. There was a sickening crack, as he fell unconscious.

“Roserade!” Charlotte commanded. “Petal Dance!”

Pointing at Gollurk, Roserade let out a cry, as petals whipped out from the flowers on its arms, launching at dangerous velocity into the larger Ground Type Pokemon, knocking it out, however the victory was short lived, as Dusknoir appeared out of nowhere, striking Roserade with an Ice Punch knocking it out as well.

“Aegislash, Iron Head!”

Chris, having forgotten that Aegislash had used Laser Focus, whilst he had fought against the witch with his fists, hadn’t been prepared for the near unavoidable attack that was aimed at Ninetales.

Aegislash flew towards Ninetales, cartwheeling through the air, before striking the Ice-Fairy Pokemon, which was extremely susceptible to Steel Type attacks, knocking it out.

Charlotte went to grab another Pokeball, however, before she could, felt a sharp pain in her right shoulder. She cried out in shock, as it felt like it had been stabbed, and looked to see blood welling from a wound made by a ghostly, spectral knife, that she realised had been sent by one of the two remaining witches. She slumped to the ground, shocked at just how much the wound hurt.

“One more move, and the next one doesn’t miss!” The leader of the witches called out, nodding to Charlotte as Chris had just grabbed another Pokeball. He looked over at Justin who lay unconscious on the ground, and Charlotte, who, despite the wound she had not being life threatening, was in a lot of pain, and at the mercy of their attackers. Between himself and the two remaining witches, stood four Ghost Pokemon. Gengar, Banette, Dusknoir and Aegislash. Chris scowled, and placed the Pokeball on his belt, with the other four. However, as he did, he realised that something wasn’t adding up.

“You’re all coming with me,” the witch said. “The more hostages we have, the better. But before that…”

He nodded to his only remaining companion that was conscious.

“Come over here, and kill this one if the others try anything,” the leader said, nodding towards Charlotte. The other witch made his way to Charlotte, readying another of the spectral knives that he had launched at her before, as the leader walked to Lance.

“But before we go,” the leader said. “We have to deal with you…”

Lance’s already clenched fists curled tighter, and Chris tried to figure out what wasn’t adding up. Whilst it may have been nothing, there was nothing that they could do to get themselves out of this, so his chances of escaping if he figured out what was bothering him could only be the same, or better.

“As someone who attacked a prisoner who couldn’t fight back,” the witch said to Lance. “I think it’s only fair you die the same way…”

Lance’s fists curled tighter, and Chris realised what wasn’t adding up. He handed six Pokeballs on his belt to the guard. Charlotte threw his belt containing six Pokeballs to him. And now, there were only five, and there had been ever since he had sent out Ninetales, which was right after Lance had grabbed him to throw the both of them out of the way of Regieleki’s opening attack.

Chris looked at Charlotte, and saw the witch who was supposed to be guarding her was watching intently as his leader prepared to execute Lance. He made eye contact with her, giving her a knowing look, before nodding slightly towards the guard's ankles.

“Any last words, Lance?” the witch asked. Chris knew if Lance were going to take action, it was either now or never.

“I do have some, actually…” Lance answered. “Who says I can’t fight back?”

There was a flash of light, as Lance pressed the button on the Pokeball hidden in his enclosed fist. At that moment, Charlotte, from her slumped position on the ground, kicked at the ankle of the witch guarding her, causing it to break, and the witch to cry out in pain.

Beside Lance, a Dragonite, larger than Chris’ own, materialised, and in an instant, launched itself at the leader of the witches, snarling as it struck him with a Dragon Claw. The attack hit the witch in the head, snapping his neck, as the four remaining ghost Pokemon were delayed in their reaction, by the shock of Charlotte’s victim screaming, as well as Dragonite’s sudden appearance.

In the moment of distraction, Chris leapt at the now crippled witch who half crouched with his broken ankle, and slammed his shoulder into him, crushing the witch between his own oncoming weight, and the concrete wall on the other side. The witch collapsed screaming in pain, as Chris, in the heat of the moment, kicked him in the head, concussing and silencing him.

“Dragon Rush!” Lance roared, as Dragonite let out its own roar. It became encased in an aura of draconic energy, before launching itself at full speed at the nearest Pokemon. Aegislash took the brunt of the hit, being knocked limp to the ground, whilst Lance and Dragonite were both prepared for their next move. “Dragon Tail!”

Banette was the next closest, and given the fact Lance was letting Dragonite choose targets, none of the Ghost Pokemon knew whether they would be hit next. Banette took the hit, falling unconscious from the force of it, as Dragonite turned to face Dusknoir and Gengar, who stood by a wall, ready to attack.

“Draco Meteor!” Lance yelled, as Dragonite cried out, charging up the most powerful attack in its arsenal. A purple beam of energy flickered to life between its jaws, before exploding, striking both opposing Pokemon, knocking them out, as well as destroying the wall behind them.

The silence that filled the room with the last enemy beaten was unnerving. Chris checked that Justin was still breathing, breathing his own sigh of relief when he was, before checking on Charlotte. However, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lance, Pokeball in hand, Dragonite by his side, staring at the hole he had just created in the wall that led out into the prison yard. Chris’ eyes widened as he realised the implications of this.

Standing to his feet, he withdrew Charizard’s Pokeball.

“Don’t,” Chris said to Lance, who turned to face him. “You are here because of your own actions. You don’t just get to walk away…”

Dragonite began to growl, as Lance gave Chris an irritated look.

“Even if you could use Lugia in this space, do you honestly think you could stop me?” Lance asked. Chris remained silent. Should he try to fight Lance, he had every intention of using his Key Stone, and Mega Evolving Charizard, though had kept it a secret this long, and wasn’t going to give that away before a fight where it being kept a secret so long would give him the advantage. Before he could speak, another voice answered.

“Do you really think you could take two of us with just your Dragonite?” Charlotte said, as she stood uneasily to her feet. Chris flashed her a concerned look, which she promptly ignored, before reaching around with her left hand to unclip Deoxys’ Pokeball from her belt. “We aren’t going to let you get away…”

Lance looked between the two young trainers who faced him, as well as the unconscious one on the floor nearby. He noted the pool of blood, collecting from what dripped down Charlotte’s hand from the wound in her shoulder.

“Chris, your friends need a hospital,” Lance said, making eye contact with Charlotte, before nodding at Justin who lay on the floor, groaning as he very slowly came to. “You said yourself, I’m here because of my actions. It’s not your responsibility to keep me here…”

Chris scowled at the comment, and Lance seemed to read his mind.

“You’ve made your own path, separate from me. So don’t act stupidly, thinking you need to do this make up for my actions…” Lance said coldly, before repeating himself. “Your friends need a hospital. A paramedic at least. Don’t let them suffer for the sake of your pride…”

“That’s rich coming from you,” Charlotte retorted, and Lance glared at her. Chris however, placed Charizard’s Pokeball on his belt. Charlotte noticed this and looked over. “What’re you doing?!”

“Let him go,” Chris muttered. “He’s right. It’s not our job to keep him here, and you and Justin aren’t in any shape to be in another fight…”

“You’re not buying this bulls**t are you?” Charlotte asked. “What would Jon say?”

“Who cares what Jon would say?” Chris snapped back. “If he were here and wanted to have this fight, that’s on him. He’s not, but I am…”

Chris looked towards Lance, as Charlotte knew Chris’ mind wouldn’t change, before lowering her own Pokeball. She was barely in a state to fight Lance with Chris, let alone without.

“Why do this?” Chris asked. “If you stayed, and behaved yourself, you might find some redemption. You really think people will change their minds about you if you break out?”

“I can’t give them a reason to, being stuck in here. I’ll never get the chance to prove them wrong…” Lance answered, as he walked towards the hole in the wall. “I’ll prove everyone wrong about me, even if it’s the last thing I do…”

Without saying another word, Lance climbed through the hole Dragonite had just created in the wall, leaving Chris to wonder what Lance would do with his newfound freedom.

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

“Shadow Ball!” Willow ordered the two Eon Pokemon who were battling under her command. At first she had been attempting to coordinate the two Pokemon separately, however after Latias took a heavy hit whilst she was focused on giving Latios orders, she quickly changed course. Her concern with ordering them together was that it would make them predictable, however Latios, who by this point had broken Jon’s initial rule of not communicating telepathically with Willow or Latias, had told her she was doing the right thing.

”Battle as if you’re battling with just Latias,” Latios had told her. ”I’ve been battling with Jon long enough to be able to act on my own. I’ll follow your orders, but adjust them enough that it keeps Marshadow guessing…”

Latias launched her Shadow Ball attack, which Marshadow dodged with ease, just like the one before, however had lost track of where Latios was during the scuffle.

Latios materialised behind Marshadow, launching his own Shadow Ball attack which struck Marshadow directly, throwing it back, as Latios dived in, following Willow’s next order for a Shadow Claw. Despite Marshadow’s Ghost Typing being problematic for the Psychic Type Eon Duo, it was a double edged sword, with both Eon Pokemon knowing some Ghost moves that would wreak havoc on the Ghost and Fighting Type Mythical Pokemon.

Marshadow however was far from ready to give up, and had set its sights on Latias, due to Agatha’s orders, as well as sensing that Latias was the least experienced of the two battling. Whilst Marshadow was sure it could handle Latios in a one on one fight, the fact Latias was distracting it gave Latios too many opportunities.

Marshadow darted towards Latias, striking the Eon Pokemon with a Sucker Punch, causing Willow to seethe at the sight. However, Marshadow was now in Latias’ melee range, and whilst Latias was far from a physical attacker, she knew a few physical moves.

“Breaking Swipe!”

Latias struck Marshadow with one of its claws, dealing damage, but also reducing its attack power, as Latios, having taken the moment between attacks to accelerate, also struck Marshadow with a Breaking Swipe, albeit at high speed.

In retaliation, Marshadow hit Latios with a Shadow Punch, shocking Latios with the intensity of it. He had taken hits from other Pokemon using Shadow Punch before, though never that hard. Even being a Mythical Pokemon didn’t explain it, and the other attack Marshadow had delivered like the Sucker Punch, which by all means should have hit harder, didn’t.

Suddenly Latios remembered Jon’s Scizor, and its ability, that had caused it to hit Latios hard in training. Technician, which caused relatively weaker attacks to hit much harder, and when paired with Scizor’s Bullet Punch, which almost always struck first, it made for a painful combination.

“There they are!” called out the voice of one of the witches from behind Willow. Latios looked around to see two of them approaching her, followed by a Drifblim, Sableye and Dusknoir.

Latios quickly considered their options. Whilst Marshadow would likely have the upper hand against Latias on her own, Willow and Latias would be in a worse position if he kept Marshadow busy while they got rid of their unwanted visitors.

”Keep Marshadow busy!” Latios called out to Willow. ”Buy time while I deal with these guys…”

Willow nodded in agreement as Latios descended on the attacking force, using Double Team.

”What would Jon do?” Latios thought to himself. Part of him considered reaching him telepathically, though he could see Jon was occupied with Nicodemus. However, that didn’t mean that he couldn’t listen to his opponents' thoughts. In a formal battle, it’d be cheating. In life or death stakes, it would be a good tactic.

Latios used Double Team, hoping to buy a little bit of breathing room for when he needed time to think. As he did, he began listening in to the thoughts of the witches that led the attack.

”Foresight will make Double Team useless, though it’s not like Latios is a ghost…”

Latios heard this as he audibly heard the witch command Sableye to use Foresight. He was right. Foresight would allow Sableye to hit Latios easily despite the copies, however…
Latios let the Foresight take effect, before accelerating up and over, making sure not to see any more attacks, and focusing his sights on Marshadow, before using Mimic.

Whilst the ability to hit Marshadow with Normal and Fighting attacks seemed like a waste, Latios knew right now, they needed options, and if intimidating Marshadow using Roar was now possible, that was one more that he had available at his disposal.

“Dusknoir, Shadow Ball!” called out the other witch as Latios descended, now with all three Pokemon in his sights. Knowing that the move was coming, and with Dusknoir not immune to Double Team like Sableye was, Latios dodged the attack easily, before slamming into Sableye with a Dragon Claw attack. Empowered by the velocity, Sableye fell, as its trainer’s thoughts darkened.

”We’ll see how strong it is once we put it on the ground…”

“Skill Swap!” The witch called out to Drifblim. Suddenly, the natural ability to float Latios had held since infancy disappeared, and with a shock, Latios dropped to the ground, now with whatever Ability Drifblim. However, having used Mimic earlier, an idea was already forming. With a telekinetic blast, Latios blasted the witches away, though their Pokemon remained unaffected, but most importantly, Latios was launched skyward, where he caught himself telekinetically, manoeuvring to be able to see Marshadow, where it battled Latias.

”Gotcha…” Latios thought to himself, before using Mimic, and feeling something inside him shift.

Latios knew he had temporarily lost the ability to fly simply, without using his telekinesis to carry himself through the air, and as such, his speed slowed, as did the finesse with which he could use Psychic attacks whilst trying to focus on keeping himself moving. What he gained however, was a boost in attack power for relatively weaker moves by a factor of fifty percent. And Latios knew from years with Jon that chances are, if a move is weak and doesn’t hit hard, it’s because hitting hard isn’t its intention.

Drifblim was the first target for Latios’ new temporary ability, and Latios already had an idea. He lined up his sights on Drifblim, flying above, before facing down and releasing his own telekinetic grip, as Drifblim launched a Shadow Ball, whilst Latios began to drop towards it.

Latios spun to shift aside, dodging the Shadow Ball attack, as he released an electric attack, which normally was hardly stronger than a Thundershock, but now had all the strength of a Shock Wave and then some.

The Charge Beam struck Drifblim, hitting harder than Latios had ever hit with the attack, before Latios’ own attack power for special moves rose. Drifblim was knocked out by the attack, as Latios caught himself telekinetically just in time to pull himself clear of Dusknoir’s Shadow Claw attack. Latios launched another Charge Beam, and this time, empowered by both Technician and the boost, the bulkier Dusknoir fell as well, before Latios roared at the witches, sending a telekinetic message.

”Leave now or die…”

The witches froze in their tracks, before looking back to where Jon fought Nicodemus, as his Pokemon handled the other witches there and the few remaining Ghost Pokemon. Figuring they’d try their chances with them, they ran back the way they came, as Latios chuckled to himself, knowing their chances were better with him than Jon.

“No witch to help you this time!” Rayquaza roared, as it unleashed a Dragon Pulse on Giratina, who took the hit, before retaliating with its own.

“Good!” Giratina roared back. “I’ll have the pleasure of crushing you myself!”

“I’d believe that, given how round you are!” Rayquaza roared, before darting in, and slamming Giratina with a Dragon Tail. “How much does she feed you?”

Giratina roared, with no words, just pure anger, before vanishing, and reappearing behind Rayquaza. Rayquaza however, had fallen for this trick before, and acted quickly, coiling itself around the space that at the time of action, was empty, but only for a split second. When Giratina appeared again, attempting to strike Rayquaza from behind, it found itself grappled, and roared in pain as Rayquaza tightened its grip.

“You’re weak!” Rayquaza roared. “Last time, you had help, but now, everyone, even the humans here to help you, are going to see just how weak you are!”

Jon jumped back, avoiding being hit by one of Nicodemus’ curses, before taking a swing at Nicodemus with his improvised weapon, not even thinking the swing would hit, but for the intention of keeping the space between them. Technically speaking, Nicodemus had Jon beat in hand to hand combat, and other than the weapon he held, which worked better at arm’s reach, Jon had nothing to combat it with. One touch from Nicodemus, and Jon would be subject to whatever gruesome effect he had planned out for him.

“You can’t keep running forever Jon!” Nicodemus taunted, as he darted forward, his outstretched hand aimed for Jon’s head. Jon ducked aside, slamming the concrete laden piece of scrap metal into Nicodemus’ left wrist, causing the witch to cry out in pain.

“Focus less on talking s**t, and more on beating me,” Jon mocked. “This is stuff my three year old knows…”

“I hope you said your goodbyes,” Nicodemus sneered. “You’ll never see her again…”

Knowing that this was an attempt to rattle him, Jon quickly dodged another attempt, this time for his chest, however didn’t get a chance to swing at Nicodemus like he did before, as the witch closed the gap a little. Jon hated being on the defensive, however Nicodemus’ Shadowcraft abilities gave him an offensive edge, and despite the hybrid protection spells Triad had learnt from Brianna, the instantaneousness of this attack allowed no time to do any real preparation.

Nicodemus made another attempt at Jon’s head, and Jon avoided it, by diving under Nicodemus’ arm, and clumsily rolling away, before scurrying to his feet. It was an action that looked better in movies and seemed to hurt less, as small pointed pieces of crushed rock on the ground dug into his arms. However, Jon realised something.

Nicodemus was only going for his head or chest. The brain or heart. He dodged another attempt, swinging again, though missing, just to keep the distance between them, as he considered why. It took him a few minutes to understand. The curse he was using was likely a slow spreading curse. If he hit Jon on the wrist with it, chances were it would not kill him, or at least incapacitate him quick enough, whilst also giving Jon precious moments to strike back. This gave Jon an idea, albeit a reckless one, but he was running out of time. He was not as young as he used to be, functioning on less sleep and more stress than ever. He could already feel himself slowing down.

Nicodemus lunged again, and Jon dodged it, though glancing at Nicodemus’ feet looking for the indicator. After another attempt, he spotted it. Nicodemus would take normal paces, though right before he’d lunge, he’d take a long step onto his left foot, pushing himself forward with it.

Knowing he had to time this right, Jon focused, forcing the thought of all else out of his mind. What would happen to Alyssa and Lili if he failed. What would happen to him if he messed up. What would happen to Abbee and Dylan, wherever they were during this fight. Instead, he focused on the timing of Nicodemus’ steps.

”Now!”

As Nicodemus lunged for Jon with his right hand, containing some variety of ugly curse, Jon reached out with his left, and grabbed the hand with an iron grip, holding it upright, as if it held a firearm. Nicodemus gasped in shock, as Jon did this, and his hand seemed to have blood explode from a dozen small but deep cuts that appeared, and began to stretch up his forearm. However, despite the pain, Jon swung his concrete laden club, hitting Nicodemus at the base of the skull, and causing him to fall limp, as Jon let go of Nicodemus’ hand.

The curse, which looked as if it would have spread to the rest of his body if it held contact for any longer, seemed to stop the moment Nicodemus fell, however it was not a pleasant sight. The skin of Jon’s forearm and hand was bloody and stung, however, the flesh underneath the blood was now near black, and shrivelled as if that of a corpse. He grimaced at the sight and the pain, but knew he had no time for that. He looked over to where Rayquaza had grappled Giratina, and seeing this as his opportunity, dropped his improvised weapon, and with his good right hand, grabbed an empty Pokeball from his pocket.

“Rayquaza!” Jon called out, as he approached, however, any response was cut off by the sound of an explosion from south of the Megamart. Jon glanced over his shoulder to see a group of trees on fire, however, put it down to a stray Shadowcraft Spell.

Jon rushed to Rayquaza, readying the Pokeball, however, Giratina went still for a moment. Surprised by this, wondering if Giratina had given up the will to fight after this long, Jon hesitated for a moment. However, in that moment, Giratina roared, and began to writhe, and try to shake loose Rayquaza.

“What’s this?” Rayquaza roared, as Giratina began making progress to freeing itself. “It’s getting stronger!”

Jon looked in shock, knowing he only had three Pokeballs, and couldn’t afford to waste them. In the back of his mind, where Jirachi was just connected through the stone in Jon’s pocket, he felt a sense of panic.

Jon looked to where Marshadow battled against Willow, Latios and Latias, and despite the three of them wearing it down, he watched as Latios took a heavy hit from a Shadow Punch attack, which had shocked Latios, being more powerful than it was when Marshadow had its Technician ability.

”Jirachi!” Jon called out with his thoughts. ”What’s going on?!”

”It’s the Netherlink! One of Brianna’s enchanted diamonds overcharged, and exploded!” Jirachi answered. ”The energy and the enchantment leaked out, and the Netherlink absorbed it! It has grown huge, and is going to keep growing!”

“S**t…” Jon muttered to himself, having not considered there being a link between the Netherlink, or more specifically, this void that was the source of Shadowcraft, and Ghost Pokemon. However, the results were there. The diamond had exploded, and now Giratina and Marshadow were getting stronger.

”We’ve managed to keep it from absorbing us!” Jirachi explained. ”But we don’t know how to stop it, and the more spells used in this fight, the bigger it will grow, and eventually we won’t be able to stop it!”

”Could we wish it away?” Jon asked, not normally wanting to resort to such heavy handed tactics without considering the implications, however knowing the consequences of failure, he was more than considering it.

”If we could see the stars,” Jirachi answered, as Jon looked up, and saw what Jirachi was talking about. The black clouds that surrounded the island blocked any view of the stars, that at this time of evening, would be becoming more and more visible. ”But without them, it’d just put me to sleep for nothing.”

Jon looked to where Rayquaza was now visibly struggling with Giratina. He knew nothing of Shadowcraft, and whilst Willow may have an idea, they couldn’t abandon their task here. The best thing he could do was succeed, and then give the others a hand ending the fight, before the Netherlink grew too large and uncontrollable…

”I’ll wrap this up as fast as I can, and do what I can after to end the fighting,” Jon replied. ”Giratina and Marshadow have to go down before I can do anything else…”

”We got this Jon!” Jirachi replied, with an upbeat attitude that Jon could see was being forced. ”If anyone can beat them, it’s you! We’ll handle things down here! Don’t you worry!”

Jon felt a sense of guilt rising up at his own previous assessments of Jirachi, hearing the faith the Wishmaker Pokemon showed in him. He quickly put it aside, knowing it was a distraction, before putting all of his focus towards Rayquaza. Rayquaza had the natural strength to act unguided before and be able to beat Giratina, but now, strength alone wasn’t going to cut it.

“Rayquaza!” Jon called out. “Breaking Swipe!”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

Brianna roared in anger, as she struck the witch in front of her that had sliced her arm with a curse that literally caused his blood to boil. He screamed in pain, collapsing on the ground, as Brianna turned to those who faced her. Without that diamond, and the battle here not powering anything, and likely being the end of either Agatha or the League, her plans for control were now memories. However, she did still hold a diamond, with not enough energy stored for her original plans, but more than enough to make the end of these witches' lives extremely painful.

There were four witches in front of her, two of which who were either very brave, or didn’t understand just how dangerous the woman in front of them was, rushed at her, whilst the other two pretended to notice that Dylan and Abbee had whittled down their numbers until they were now only facing two witches themselves. Instead of going after Brianna like their comrades, they began their own assault on the two League operatives behind their wall of Pokemon. The first joined his two comrades in attacking directly, using ranged spells, which seemed ineffective considering Metagross’ quick and precise Psychic barriers. The other however, went for a more indirect approach.

“Thunderbolt!” Abbee ordered, as Ampharos cried out, launching a powerful bolt of lightning which struck the tree the witch it had targeted had just hidden behind, causing the outer layers of bark to explode and splinter. “Victini, Searing Shot!”

The Victory Star Pokemon let out a gleeful cry before sending a jet of intense flame towards the witch, who had poked their head out from behind the tree, only to realise the need to withdraw it, just missing being seared by the powerful attack.

“Darkrai, now!” Dylan called out, as the Nightmare Pokemon emerged from the shadows behind two of the witches. It had been hiding for a minute, whilst Victini and Ampharos kept them from getting too close, and Metagross kept Dylan informed as to where Darkrai was. “Dark Void!”

Multiple red and black orbs rushed from Darkrai’s claws, striking the two witches, causing them to fall asleep, as Victini finally managed to hit the third, knocking it out cold with a Flame Charge, knowing V-Create was overkill for such a target.

Meanwhile, Brianna had used another Expavescimus Charm to reflect her attacker's spell, but in the moment of reflection, had taken some of the excess energy from the diamond, and overloaded it. The spell which would have caused debilitating nausea in Brianna, caused the caster instead to vomit violently, tearing apart his digestive system trying to bring up what now wasn’t there. As he collapsed on the ground, Brianna kicked him, knocking him out, before ducking aside another spell, and striking the final attacker with the same blood boiling curse she had used on his companion.

It suddenly went silent, as Brianna looked over the mass of corpses and unconscious bodies of her attackers, as well as the unconscious bodies of those that Dylan and Abbee had disposed of. Even with the eleven on the ground now unable to fight, if they were even still alive, Brianna still felt the burning rage inside her. All the years of planning, and the careful preparation she had taken when this perfect opportunity arose, now wasted.

“This is your fault!” she yelled at Dylan. “If you had minded your own business, I’d have removed the enchantment on the other diamond before it overfilled!”

Dylan, who had taken a moment to breathe when things had calmed down, looked at Brianna, shocked at what she just said.

“That explosion, that was your diamond getting too full?” Dylan asked.

“Yes!” Brianna roared, as she stepped towards them. “And now it’s gone, and the League and Agatha will kill each other before I get a chance to place and charge another! And I’m going to make you pay for that!”

Brianna felt herself pushed back by an invisible force, and stumbled backwards, just retaining her footing, though growing more angry. She glared at Metagross, then Dylan.

“You can try and kill us,” Dylan said in disbelief. “But good luck getting past these guys…”

“It’s all your fault!” Brianna yelled, her eyes now welling up with tears. “You had to stick your nose where it didn’t belong!”

“For f**k’s sake, will you shut up?!” Dylan yelled back at Brianna. “Even if I’m glad your f**ked up little plan failed, it’s your own goddamn fault it did!”

“How dare you!”

“There was nothing hidden here! And we’d have never found those indicator stones if you hadn’t shown us! We had no other lead as to where you might have hidden the diamonds!” Dylan yelled back, sick of Brianna. “You could have gone straight there, grabbed it, and had them ready to do the spell whenever you liked, but you didn’t! You came here to gloat, and it cost you everything!”

“Dylan…” Abbee said quietly, not liking the idea of mocking a visibly deranged woman.

“You made it abundantly clear just how strong you are, and how special your Shadowcraft is, and how you know everything about everyone!” Dylan said, his voice still very firm, but now lower. “Your plans are dead in the water, and I’m glad. But honestly, I didn’t do a damn thing to stop you. If you’d been just as careful about executing your plan, as you were about giving yourself opportunities to rub salt in our wounds, and gloat over your victory, then you’d have Necrozma by now!”

“Dylan!”

Dylan looked to Abbee, who was rushing towards him, though unsure what was going on. He stepped towards her, however as he did, she shoved him in the shoulder, causing him to tumble backwards. As he fell however, he saw it. A knife in the space where he had been, being held by the last remaining member of the raid party, who had decided to try and sneak behind his targets.

He watched in horror, as the witch in front of him, knowing his initial target was out of the way, dug the knife into Abbee, stabbing into the flesh just above her top left rib, before pulling diagonally down hard. Abbee felt her mouth go dry, and despite feeling the pain, within moments, felt a numbness, with the exception of the warm feeling of the blood trailing down her chest. She felt her head go light, before collapsing to her knees.

“Abbee!” Victini cried out in shock, as he ran at the attacking witch, hitting it with a V-Create. The witch stepped back, narrowly avoiding the rushed attack, before being hit by Dylan, who had launched himself with full force into the attacker. In shock, the witch dropped the knife, as Dylan pinned him down.

“You f**king a**hole!” Dylan roared, before landing the first punch, feeling the man’s nose break under his fist. He hit him again, before yelling. “She never tried to wrong anyone!”

The third punch hit, and Dylan yelled again.

“She only ever wanted to help people!” he screamed, though the man he hit was already unconscious. Still, he hit him again.

”Dylan!” said a frantic voice in his head, that he recognised as Victini. ”She needs help!”

Realising Victini was right, Dylan rushed off the man, towards Abbee. He quickly took off his shirt, and began putting pressure against her left arm, in a vain attempt to close the wound, whilst he held down the shirt against it with his other hand, however, Abbee continued to go pale, and her breathing became shallow.

“It’s not working…” Victini said telepathically to Dylan. ”Dylan! It’s not working!”

“I know!” Dylan yelled, as tears escaped him. “You think I’m not trying?!”

He quickly sat down, before carefully picking Abbee up, to hold her against himself, trying to put pressure on the wound, and still holding his already bloodsoaked shirt against the gaping wound. However, nothing changed, as Abbee seemed to drift further and further from him, no matter how hard he tried.

“Abbee, please don’t go… Please, stay with me… I love you…”


Christopher Kingswood, as drawn by johnrielduana

[[Desolate Divine]]

Episode 13 is up, and boy it is a one of the best of Spiritwater (by my standards, though I may be a little bias).

[Neo Emolga]

Finally all caught up (I’ve been for a few days now but I didn’t leave a formal review beyond Discord messages yet :P) and…

Spoiler:

Daaaaang, dude, that’s a HECK of a cliffhanger to end on!

I love the way you constructed all the RP stuff into great narrative format and pieced everything together in a nice, sequential and chronological order that makes it very exciting to read [s]even though I already know what happens.[/b] But what really shines are those custom modifications you implemented to add an extra level of depth and breadth to the story. In the RP, Boris was just fried and that was the end of him, whereas in this, the whole idea of Willow turning him into a Latias to serve as a decoy was something I totally never thought of but it really plays well into the story as a clever plot device. Same thing with the Netherclysm. In the RP, simply kicking over the table would have disrupted and destroyed the spell, whereas in here, they carefully need to disarm it and safely deconstruct it like they’re trying to disarm and deactivate a nuke. Seriously, these modifications are pretty nifty and I get that “why didn’t I think of that!?” feeling that definitely has me applauding your creativity with these!

I also like how you’re giving everyone’s characters a chance to shine and a role to play. I imagine that’s a tough balancing act but you’re doing a great job with it and I like reading how you handle each of them. Even the NPCs (Nicodemus, Gail, Aaron, etc…) are handled really well and you give even the supporting characters careful and mindful treatment to make sure they stay true to their character personas and adhere to their roles.

Seriously awesome work and kudos to you for all the time and effort you’ve put into giving this RP series plenty of deep lore and amazing character depth!

[[Desolate Divine]]

Spiritwater Episode 14: Responsibility

Spoiler:

Jirachi watched as the Netherlink which had continued to grow from the sheer number of spells being performed in the active range fueling it, whilst Luneth and Glimmer both looked desperately for other reagents that may buy them more time, or a way of dispelling the clouds. However, as it touched the ceiling, Jirachi knew that their time was running out.

Reinforcing its telekinesis with wish energy, Jirachi placed larger barriers around the Netherlink as it touched the ceiling and within an instant, absorbed it, removing it from existence before swelling to an even larger size, now well and truly above the roof line of the Megamart.

“We’re running out of time!” Jirachi called out. “I can hold it in place for a little longer, but the more it grows, the harder it is!”

“I’ve got nothing!” Luneth cried out in despair. “The spell they used to make the clouds isn’t there!”

“Same!” Glimmer answered, panic appearing in her voice. “I don’t know what to do…”

Jirachi said nothing, not having any idea of what to do to end this.

On the defensive line, Jimmy tried taking a second to catch his breath, however was forced to leap aside, dodging a spell from an attacking witch, before Salamence launched a Dragon Pulse in retaliation. Thankful, Jimmy breathed a sigh of mild relief, knowing that he had used more electric attacks in this battle than he had ever before, and was growing exhausted. Grovyle leapt for a Haunter descending on the Pokemon, striking it with a Night Slash, before landing, and staggering a little as it made contact with the ground.

”Jimmy…” said Jirachi’s voice in his head. ”We got a problem…”

”What is it?” Jimmy asked, as he dodged another attack, this time letting off a Thunder, striking the witch directly and knocking them unconscious.

”It’s growing and we can’t find any way to stop it…” Jirachi explained. ”I’m containing it now, but as long as the fighting continues, it will keep growing, and I can’t do this forever…”

Jimmy felt his heart sink at the assessment, and Jirachi sounding so hopeless.

”Just hold on as long as you can…” Jimmy said. ”Something will present itself, and when it does, we will be ready to end this. I know it will…”

”Jimmy, if we can find a way to clear the clouds, I could get rid of it…” Jirachi said. ”But that will…”

”I know,” Jimmy answered, having thought of it himself. ”But the clouds are there, so let's not waste our thoughts on it. If we need to do that, we will talk about it then…”

Jirachi went quiet, knowing Jimmy was occupied, and that there was little more to say.

“Goddamn it…” Jimmy muttered. Despite his optimism that something would present itself, he knew their best bet was finding a way for Jirachi to grant the wish, and knew what the consequences of that were. Focusing the bitterness at the situation he felt, and the anger at what Agatha had created here into strength, he found a small reserve of energy, and lashed out with a Shock Wave at an approaching witch.


************************************************** ************************************************** *****

“Crap…” Cassandra muttered as she narrowly avoided being struck by Agatha’s open hand, which she didn’t even know the effect of the curse it held. She knew chances were it wouldn’t be pleasant. She retaliated with a Pokemon transformation hex, using the scales of a Dunsparce as the template, however Agatha quickly blocked it, as she had the last three curses Cassandra had tried.

The fighting had been going for a while now, and whilst Cassandra, Violet and Jarena hadn’t taken a hit yet, they hadn’t landed one either.

“Stay still, you old bat!” Violet sneered, as she lunged at Agatha with a silencing charm, which she dodged with uncanny agility. Despite her age, not only had she used Shadowcraft to make herself appear young, but it appeared to also bolster her reserves of stamina, and whilst Cassandra, Violet and Jarena were slowing down, Agatha still seemed as unbothered as the moment the fight began.

There was a bang as the roof was absorbed, and Agatha looked up in shock, before smiling.

“Nicodemus must have gotten that Eon Blood…” Agatha said with a smile. “He’s not so useless after all…”

“Eon Blood?” Jarena asked through gritted teeth, before launching herself at Agatha, dizzying hex readied. Agatha just grinned, as Cassandra put the pieces together.

Agatha had been after something the League had in order to speed up whatever she was doing. It must have been the blood of Latios. She knew that Jon would never let Agatha take Latios’ blood, and it’s not like they had much time to get it. She quickly shook off the thought that something had happened to Latios or Jon, focusing on the task in front of her, which was to bring Agatha down.

Cassandra knew exactly what their issue was, and why they couldn’t get the upper hand over Agatha. Despite there being three of them, compared to Agatha, they all had limited knowledge of Shadowcraft. Despite having practised for years, the only offensive Shadowcraft the knew were the spells that they used to cover their tracks as the Diamond Ladies, and none of them were anywhere near as lethal as what Agatha was attacking with. They had been spells to confuse anyone getting too close, or to discredit them or painlessly silence them, by turning them into Pokemon. And the trio had exhausted most of their tricks by now, whilst Agatha seemed to have more and more up her sleeve with every passing minute, each of which more worrying than the last.

Cassandra stepped forward, attempting to lunge, however stumbled when her foot seemed to stick to the ground. It was a simple hex that Agatha had left, likely when Cassandra was focused on avoiding one curse, however before Cassandra could even begin to mutter a counter spell, she felt a soft tap on the shoulder. She went to cry out in shock, however found no noise came out, and realised that Agatha hadn’t hit her with some lethal curse, at least not yet. She’d been caught out by a simply silencing charm.

“Cass!” Jarena called out, before running towards her equal best friend, however, wasn’t fast enough in dodging Agatha’s hand that struck her with the same charm, silencing her, before striking Violet as she attempted to take the moment of distraction to hit Agatha.

”Jirachi,” Cassandra called out with her thoughts. ”I need you to undo a silencing charm on the three of us…”

Cassandra was shocked when the response was not Jirachi’s usual chipper voice, but that of someone broken.

”I’m sorry, I can’t…” Jirachi said, starting to sob. ”This thing she has built is expanding with every spell cast, and trying to contain it, and stop it consuming us all is taking everything I have…”

Cassandra’s eyes widened. Despite having had enough confidence in themselves to bring the fight to Agatha, part of that stemmed from knowing they had Jirachi in their corner to back them up in a pinch. However, now, the three of them were on their own…

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

“Air Slash!” Jon commanded, as Rayquaza darted towards Giratina, the speed paired with the fins on its body creating sharpened air currents, which slammed into Giratina, however Giratina seemed to almost laugh the attack off.

Jon heard a crack coming from the Megamart and looked to see a section of roof at the back of the building had been ripped out from the inside, seemingly devoured, as a swirling vortex of grey smoke poked out of the gap, appearing to be fighting against an invisible force trying to hold it back.

Giratina roared, before dozens of large rocks were ripped out of the ground, and sent flying towards Rayquaza, striking it hard as it cried out in pain.

“Outrage!” Jon ordered, knowing that it was a heavy-handed move, however he had exhausted all options, and Giratina seemed to be growing stronger by the minute. He knew his best bet was to hope that Rayquaza could weaken it quickly enough that a Pokeball would work, however Jon didn’t even believe that whilst the Netherlink was growing, and empowering the two Legendary Ghosts, a Pokeball would be able to contain them.

Rayquaza let out a vicious snarl, as it darted towards Giratina, who stood ready for the attack…

On the other side of the construction site, Willow watched in shock as every attack that had done substantial enough damage to Marshadow before, seemed to not have any effect, whilst Marshadow was hitting even harder than it had been before. Willow knew this was the power of the Netherlink, and could see it growing, though wasn’t sure why it had expanded the way it had when it was not supposed to be this size for another day. However she knew there was no point questioning it, considering there was nothing she could do now. All she could do was hold out until Jon captured Giratina and could help, or his allies destroyed the Netherlink.

“Latios, Protect!” Willow ordered, as Marshadow closed in on Latios, its fist encased in ice, as it readied an Ice Punch. Latios managed to erect the barrier, before turning invisible, and slipping past. “Latias, Recover!”

Marshadow cried out, and Willow heard Latios’ voice, cursing in her head.

“S**t…” Latios said, shocking Willow a little.

“What’s wrong?” she called out.

”It used Role Play…” Latios called out bitterly. ”The attack enhancing ability I busted my a** to steal, it now has again…”

“S**t…” Willow muttered, now understanding Latios’ frustration, as it used Mimic, copying Marshadow’s Role Play on Latias, giving itself its ability to levitate back.

”It’s getting stronger by the minute,” Latios said to Willow and Latias. ”I’ll take it on directly, but I need you two have my back, and follow my lead…”

Latios used Dragon Dance, increasing its attack power and speed, before darting in towards Marshadow, crying out to hit it with a Heal Block. The move hit, however Marshadow leapt at Latios, striking him with a move he hadn’t seen before, in and outside the battle. Latios felt the hit, and cried out in pain, however more concerning was the fact that Latios felt his speed leave him, putting him back to the same speed he was flying at before Dragon Dance, and he suspected that his attack power was also returned to normal.

”S**t…” Latios muttered again.

“Latias, Heal Pulse!” Willow ordered, as Latias cried out, restoring Latios’ strength as he avoided another of Marshadow’s hits, before attempting another Dragon Dance, and fleeing Marshadow, who gave chase, now faster than before…

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

“Any idea when they’ll question you?” Charlotte asked Chris, as he sat on the chair between her and Justin’s beds. It had been an hour and a half since Lance had escaped, and given the fact Chris had brought the Pokeball containing Dragonite to the prison, which Lance had used to escape after the Pokeball was brought into the visitors room by Charlotte and Justin, they were wanting to speak to them very much. Charlotte and Justin however were both in need of medical attention, Charlotte with a stab wound to the shoulder, and Justin with a concussion, and the police weren’t going to question them for a few days. Chris however they wanted to speak to that afternoon.

When the police arrived, despite not needing the medical attention that Charlotte and Justin did, Chris was brought in for a quick examination, however when the police attempted to get him to come with them to the station for questioning he refused.

“S**t’s going on in Alola right now, and my friends are there. Before all this, we were going to be going there ourselves…” Chris had said. “You can hold on to my Pokemon, and lock me in with Charlotte and Justin, but I’m not leaving their side, or looking away from what’s happening over there for a second…”

“Your actions led to a dangerous criminal escaping. We could arrest you on suspicion of facilitating an escape, and skip the formalities…” the police officer had said, annoyed at Chris’ refusal.

“And I’d lawyer the f**k up, and tell you nothing,” Chris retorted. “Or you wait until tomorrow, question me when you question the others, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know. Until then, I will stay with them…”

The police officer had tried to argue, however Chris refused to budge, and after a call made to their chief, the officers relented, allowing Chris to remain in the same room as Charlotte and Justin under their guard.

“Probably whenever they question the two of you,” Chris answered. “Though honestly, Justin may need more than a few days…”

Justin had come to before the police arrived, however had an obvious concussion and had been unwell since, with a severe migraine, leaving him in pain and nauseated. Charlotte, after having the wound in her shoulder checked for any sign of infection, had it stitched closed, and was now on strong pain relief, whilst she remained in hospital for observation. The fact the knife was a product of Shadowcraft meant that they didn’t know if it had any other effects, which worried Chris.

The trio, though Justin was struggling to focus in the aftermath of his migraine, watched the TV in anticipation. The League had arrived at the Megamart half an hour after Jon, and were battling witches in the grounds surrounding it, whilst in the distance, Raqyuaza battled Giratina, and Latios seemed to be in battle with something too small to make out.

”It appears that the roof of the witches base of operations has been consumed by some sort of otherworldly vortex,” the reporter explained. ”And the Rayquaza, that had been captured by High Seas Champion, Jon Drake yesterday, is losing the battle it seemed have under control ten minutes earlier…

“I can’t believe this is happening…” Charlotte said angrily. “They’re facing God knows what over there, and we can’t do anything to help…”

Chris sighed, agreeing with Charlotte’s statement. Despite fighting with the police to be allowed to stay where he was, this was far from where he wanted to be.

“I’m sorry,” Chris said. “We should be at Goldenrod Airport right now, getting ready to go help him…”

“It’s not your fault,” Charlotte answered. “It wouldn’t have made a difference if you hadn’t have gone to see Lance. This would still be happening over there, and we’d have been a day and a half too late…”

Chris nodded, though still felt guilty. He blamed himself for the fact that Charlotte and Justin both wound up in hospital saving him from the ambush. And now, it looked like Jon, Abbee and Dylan were in the fight for their life, and potentially even more. They could see on the screen the vortex poking out of the room of the Megamart, slowly growing bigger, and had a hunch it was nothing pleasant.

“They’re strong…” Charlotte said. “All of them. And when things are like this, they always rise to the occasion…”

“I know, but…” Chris began, before gesturing to the screen. “This? Rayquaza hasn’t landed a hit that has seemed to even affect Giratina in minutes, and Latios is obviously fighting something just as strong, because normally, Latios would have won by now and be helping Rayquaza…”

“They always rise to the occasion,” Charlotte repeated, staring intently at Chris. “They have too much to lose if they fail, so they will do everything they can before letting that happen…”

Chris sighed, wishing he could have Charlotte’s faith in them.

“I hope so…”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

Giratina disappeared from sight, and despite Rayquaza knowing what to expect, couldn’t react in time to grapple the Legendary Pokemon like it had earlier. It was too exhausted from the prolonged fight, whilst Giratina seemed practically untouched, despite having beaten and killed Hellshriek, and at one point having been at Rayquaza’s mercy. Rayquaza cried out in pain, as Giratina materialised behind it, slamming itself hard into Rayquaza before opening its jaws, and hitting the serpentine Pokemon with a Draco Meteor attack. Jon watched in horror, as Rayquaza was thrown by the attack, limp and unmoving across the air, before crashing into the ground on the other side of the construction site, where Willow continued to battle with Latios and Latias.

“Rayquaza!” Jon called out in shock, having never seen the Pokemon beaten so badly. Even when he and Cassandra had beaten it, Rayquaza didn’t seem anywhere near as worn down as it was now.

Despite the throbbing pain in his left hand, he went to run to where Rayquaza had landed, however stopped, realising something. Giratina, turning to face the Megamart, and beginning to walk towards it. He realised that Giratina was done with Rayquaza, and didn’t blame it. Rayquaza was laying limp on the ground, with the only movement being from the deep pained breaths it was taking. However, it couldn’t keep fighting like this, and not only did Jon know it, Giratina knew it as well. No, Giratina was returning to its master, to aid her in her battle, and Jon knew that with Giratina in the empowered state it was in now, those fighting in the Megamart would not last a second…

He looked towards where the ever growing Netherlink was now visibly above the roof line, and the invisible forces seeming to hold it back growing weaker.

“S**t…” Jon said angrily, as he considered the cruel circumstances they were in. The battle needed to end, so the Netherlink would stop growing. To end the battle sooner, he and Willow needed to capture Giratina and Marshadow, before they could go help end the battle. However, Giratina and Marshadow were growing stronger as the Netherlink expanded, creating a vicious loop, which offered no clear course of action.

He looked at the Netherlink again, which was already larger than it was when Giratina had beaten Rayquaza, before looking back to see Rayquaza laying beaten on the ground, with Latios and Latias desperately fighting Marshadow between them.

Again, the image of Rayquaza after being beaten by himself and Cassandra came to mind, seeing the similar sight, however, with it came a thought. An idea, that had such a slim chance of success, but was their only hope at this point.

Jon began running towards Rayquaza, as he focused on the stone in his pocket.

”Jirachi!” Jon called out desperately, as he skirted around the side of the battlefield where Latios attempted to fight Marshadow whilst Latias supported with blocking some attacks and healing Latios. ”You said if you could see the stars, you could close the Netherlink?”

”Yes…” Jirachi answered, its voice weak. ”If these clouds weren’t here, I could grant the wish to end all this…”

”I have an idea. It may not work, but it’s all I have left…” Jon said. ”And if you and Jimmy are willing to do this, be ready to act the moment you feel those stars shining on you…”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

”Jimmy…” called out Jirachi’s voice, forcing back sobs, exhausted and obviously straining at the incredible force it was attempting to contain. ”Jon might have a way of getting rid of the clouds…”

Jimmy felt his heart sink in his chest hearing these words.

”He says if this works, we need to be ready to make the wish…” Jirachi explained. ”But I’m only going to grant it if it comes from you…”

Jimmy felt tears begin to well up in his eyes as the possibility of what he feared became more apparent. If the stars were shining on Jirachi, it could end this, but the sheer amount of energy would put Jirachi to sleep, and he had no idea how long for. The more it grew, the longer Jirachi would sleep.

”Why now…” Jimmy couldn’t help but think. ”He’s always the first with an idea, so why couldn’t he have thought of this an hour ago…”

”You don’t mean that Jimmy…” Jirachi said. ”That’s just not who you are. We’ve all been trying our hardest…”

Jimmy remained silent, knowing Jirachi was right. They had acted the way they had because they had seen an opportunity and taken it. And honestly, it was still the best opportunity they could have gotten. And despite that, they still had arrived at this point.

”I don’t know when Jon’s plan will take effect, if it even will,” Jirachi said. ”But we have nothing else, and are running out of time, so if it does…”

”If it does…” Jimmy said, feeling his heart break at the thought. ”I’ll make the wish…”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

Jon tried his best to recall his first battle with Rayquaza. He and Cassandra, for its own good had battled dishonestly, with Jon distracting Rayquaza, whilst Cassandra attempted to put it to sleep with Shadowcraft, and their plan had succeeded. However, after explaining their reasons to Rayquaza, that they were doing this to save it from people who were coming to find it and kill it, Rayquaza had made an offer. If they had a fair match, and won, Rayquaza would come willingly. If they lost, they would leave, on the basis of Rayquaza being able to protect itself better than they could protect it.

Seeing this as a chance to do the right thing by the Legendary Pokemon, and potentially make training it easier, Jon and Cassandra had accepted the challenge, and in turn, something happened. Rayquaza Mega Evolved, something Jon had not seen since that night on Sky Pillar. And when it did, strong winds kicked up, that were strong enough to disperse any electric attack that would have hit Rayquaza, as well as any other weather conditions.

Jon arrived at Rayquaza, where it lay limp, and ran towards its large head.

“Rayquaza!” Jon called out. “I need you to wake up!”

When Rayquaza didn’t move, Jon placed his hand on Rayquaza’s armoured head, and not so gently tapped at it.

“Wake up!” Jon yelled. “Are you going to let yourself be beaten like this?!”

Irritably, Rayquaza opened its eyes and glared at Jon, roaring weakly.

“Don’t you dare say that…” Rayquaza growled. “I fought it with every ounce of strength, while you shouted orders from the side-lines…”

“You’re right…” Jon sighed. He knew that he had to give Rayquaza a reason to get up and fight again. And after such a heavy loss, and years of a strained relationship between the two, with Jon risking a prison sentence if he were caught, he knew that this would be difficult.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been the trainer you deserve. I came to your home, and told you to come with me for your own safety. And when you trusted me enough to do that, you spent most of the next three and a half years in your Pokeball, only ever being brought out off Southern Island when I needed to use you…” Jon said. “I failed you as a trainer, and you deserve better…”

As he thought about what to say next, he couldn’t help but think about Jirachi and Jimmy. About the way Jimmy still had faith in Jirachi, even when it had slipped up. How he had advocated for Jirachi, even going as far as to publicly go against Jon, when he had tried to bring up Jirachi’s past.

“Instead of treating you like the powerful and majestic Pokemon you are, I treated you like a liability. Something that would ruin my life if the truth got out, and when I had to choose between my own wellbeing and yours, I left you in a Pokeball for nearly a year…”

Rayquaza’s eyes narrowed on Jon as he said this, well aware of what Jon was referring to.

“I should have thought more of the effect you being with me had on you, not just myself,” Jon said. “You deserve far better, and I want you to give me that chance…”

Jon looked at Giratina, who was inching closer and closer to the Megamart. Rayquaza’s eyes darted towards it, as Jon continued.

“But neither of us will get that chance if we don’t finish this, here and now…” Jon said. “So I’m begging you, get up and fight-”

“Jon-” Rayquaza began, shocked that his trainer was willing to grovel like this.

“But this time, let me fight and bleed alongside you,” Jon begged, holding up his blackened and bloody left arm to show the damage that Nicodemus’ curse had done to it. “Let me fight alongside you, not as a weapon or a tool like I’ve treated you this last week, but as my equal in ending this…”

Rayquaza looked between Jon’s shrivelled hand, and Giratina who was now less than thirty metres from the Megamart.

Jon was unsure if his words had reached Rayquaza, as the Legendary Pokemon began to growl. However, slowly, Rayquaza began to float, sitting in its upright position, coiled loosely above Jon. It rotated its neck, rolling the stiffness out, before taking a deep breath, and letting out a ground shaking roar.

Jon placed his shrivelled left index finger to the keystone embedded in the ring he wore on his right hand, before pressing, feeling the pain in his left hand, as he hoped that his words had reached Rayquaza, enough for the Legendary Pokemon to trust him, and bring about their only chance of salvation…

The response was a flicker of light, so tiny that Jon thought he had only imagined it. A split second later though, and it exploded into a ferocious orb of rainbow light, encasing Rayquaza from nose to tail, before disappearing. Jon felt tears well up, as hurricane winds struck up out of nowhere, and Rayquaza emerged from the light, twelve feet longer, and more well built, before letting out another earth-splitting roar. Looking up, he saw the clouds being blown away by Rayquaza’s Delta Stream ability, and the stars which had become unobstructed, now shimmering in the night sky…

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

Jirachi’s eyes widened as it felt something it hadn’t felt in nearly a week. The connection to the stars in the sky being restored. It had told Luneth and Glimmer that Jon had a plan, and the two had been continuing to try and find something that could help. Either a way that didn’t involve Jirachi sleeping for a potentially very long time, or a contingency in case Jon failed.

“He’s done it…” Jirachi said quietly… “I can feel the stars…”

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Luneth asked, and Jirachi nodded, forcing resolve that it didn’t know it had.

“It’s the only way…”

Outside, Jimmy had just knocked out another witch, when he heard the roar of Rayquaza, and through the hole, had seen a mysterious flash of light, as winds began beating at the sides of the building. Whilst he didn’t know what Jon had done outside, his suspicions that his plan had worked were confirmed, when Jirachi’s voice appeared in his mind.

”The clouds are gone…”

Jimmy let out a pained breath, wishing that he could at least be with Jirachi when this happened, however knew he couldn’t. Right now, the only thing making up for Agatha’s superior knowledge of Shadowcraft, was the fact she was battling three opponents, and the moment he, Avery and Abital’s defensive line broke, witches and Ghost Pokemon would rush through, outnumbering them and spelling doom for Triad, even if the Netherlink were destroyed.

”I’m already barely able to stay awake holding this open…” Jirachi said. ”If we make the wish now, I’ll fall asleep but I’ll have got it started, and the stars will do the rest. But we don’t have much time…”

”I know…” Jimmy answered, even telepathically unable to hide the tears that had formed. ”I love you buddy. And I’ll be waiting for the day you wake up…”

”It’ll be over before I know it,” Jirachi replied. ”And then, we can do all sorts of fun stuff. With Luneth, and Glimmer. Avery. Cass, Violet and Jarena. Maybe even Jon…”

”Maybe…”

”Jimmy, I need you to say the words…”

Jimmy took a deep breath, having been thinking of this the last few minutes, though trying not to. Finally, he said it.

”Jirachi, I wish for the Netherlink to be destroyed, and everyone here to be safe from it…”

The moment he finished saying it, Jimmy already regretted it, despite knowing it was for the greater good.

”See you soon Jimmy…”

In the room with the Netherlink, Luneth and Glimmer watched, as the eye on Jirachi’s belly opened, and a pillar of light began to appear through the hole in the roof to encase Jirachi. Its eyes began to close, as the two comet tails extending from its back began to wrap around the Pokemon, swaddling it as it fell into its slumber.

The pair watched in awe as the telekinetic barriers that had been struggling to hold the Netherlink in place reinforced, not seeming to struggle against the vortex anymore, before shrinking down, compressing the swirling mass of grey cloud. It grew smaller and smaller, before eventually being the size it was when they first entered the room, and from there compressed further, before compressing it into nothingness, leaving an empty table.

“Jirachi’s done it…” Luneth said in disbelief, looking at where Jirachi lay, floating in thin air. Glimmer moved over to pluck Jirachi out of the air, holding the Pokemon gently, knowing it had saved everyone, even at the cost of falling asleep and not knowing when it would wake up…

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

Avery dodged a spell that had slipped past Acacia’s telekinetic barrier, as Daybreak began to charge at the attacker. It wasn’t the first. Whilst Acacia had blocked practically all of the spells from the first few attackers, when more began to enter, some began to slip through, keeping Avery on their feet. They looked to their left, and sighed at the forms of more people in the distance entering the Megamart warehouse from the entrance at the south of the room. They sighed, before grabbing another Pokeball. The battle had lasted a long time, and was seeming to be a battle of attrition. As such, Avery was being conservative with their use of Pokemon, and Daybreak had been holding the bulk of their attackers back. However now…

“Flash Cannon!” called out a familiar voice, and Avery watched in disbelief as three of the witches trying to break past their section of the line dived out of the way of an extremely powerful Flash Cannon attack. Suddenly it clicked who had given the order.

Leading the crowd of League operatives was Steven and Cynthia, alongside their Registeel and Garchomp respectively.

“Charge!” Cynthia ordered, as close to fifty people rushed past, armed with firearms and Pokeballs, and began swarming those trying to get past Avery, Abital and Jimmy.

“Thank God…” Avery muttered, struggling not to laugh at the disbelief. Steven approached, quickly flashing Avery a grin of mock disbelief.

“We’d tried to avoid getting you wound up in all this, with your wedding and all,” Steven called out, before looking around. “Is the lucky guy here?”

Avery nodded north up the line to where Abital battled, though those who were trying to break past him were quickly being overrun by League Operatives.

“Up there,” Avery said, before lowering themself to the ground to sit for a moment, exhausted. “I’ll introduce you later…”

Jimmy had known when Jirachi had granted the wish, not from any sort of physical reaction in the space around him, despite the Netherlink having been visible through the hole in the roof, but the vanishing of a presence in his mind Jimmy had felt for nearly four years. Something that now gone, left him feeling like a part of himself had disappeared. He looked towards the door that had led to the Netherlink to see Glimmer and Luneth walking out, Jirachi’s sleeping form held in Luneth’s arms.

“You’ve done enough,” Glimmer said softly to Jimmy, as he reverted to his human form to accept Jirachi. “Let us handle it from here…”

Despite being terrified, Luneth nodded in agreement. Everyone had given so much to get this far, and she didn’t want to cower away while they ran the home stretch.

Jimmy nodded, thankful to them, and also the League Operatives who had arrived to relieve him. He stepped aside, looking down at the sleeping form of Jirachi.

“I’ll see you soon, buddy…”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

“To think, when people thought of us, you three were the ones that everyone thought of…” Agatha said smugly. “What a joke…”

Cassandra glared at the witch, who now that they couldn’t use incantations, was taking the opportunity to gloat.

“You know, when the truth got out about you three, I actually admired you,” Agatha said. “I saw myself in the three of you. People who had what it took to place themselves above the weak, and who actually did it. But everyone loved you as well! Not only had you given yourself all the power and glory a person could ever want, you’d managed to do it whilst everyone was eating out of the palm of your hand!"

Cassandra noticed that she wasn’t the only one whose expression darkened at being compared to Agatha. However what she said next only served to worsen this.

“You know that you inspired half of my followers here?” Agatha asked, not waiting for an answer. “There were a few, like myself and Nicodemus who had been practising Shadowcraft for years, but the three of you were the inspiration for half of the people here to seek out Shadowcraft…”

Cassandra glared at this, feeling like this was worse than her mistakes being rubbed in her face.

“I realised that with the three of you bringing Shadowcraft into the spotlight, I’d be able to find so many people who could help me achieve my goals,” Agatha explained. “And now, the Netherlink is complete, a day ahead of schedule, and as soon as I am done with the three of you, the world will never be the same…”

As Agatha spoke, there was a thought Cassandra couldn't shake...

”I wish that she would just shut up…” Cassandra thought to herself. However, as she did, there was something else. An odd sensation she felt, that was familiar, but only just. It took her a moment to remember. The battle at the hospital. Specifically, the blinding hex she had used on one of the attacking witches.

The day before, her desire to take action had been enough for her to use a spell, before she even began an incantation, and when it happened, it felt the same. She had been about to start it, before the reagents began to glow, and at the time, it had been too convenient to question it.

“But now that I think about it,” Agatha said, as she stepped towards Cassandra. “I think it would be a waste to kill you before you get to see the show…”

Cassandra hated the feeling of Agatha grabbing her by the chin, and pointing her head so she could see the vortex of swirling grey clouds that were visible through the hole in the ceiling.

“With this, I’ll learn the innermost secrets of the void, before flooding this world with it, and controlling it all to my perfect image-”

The monologue was cut off by the sound of Rayquaza roaring, and heavy winds beating against the sides of the building. Agatha looked with some concern in the direction that the roar came from, before shaking it off, and continuing her monologue.

“Look at how beautiful it is…” Agatha said in wonder, however Cassandra couldn’t help but notice something. Despite not being able to talk, she could still let out an amused snort. Agatha looked at her in irritation. “Is something funny?”

With words not able to come from her mouth, Cassandra nodded towards the Netherlink, causing Violet and Jarena to look up as well, before holding her hands apart, then slowly moving them together.

“What’s happening to my Nether-” Agatha began, before being silenced by a small tap on the shoulder. She hadn’t even registered it until she stopped hearing the sound of her own voice, and realised that she had been hit with a silence charm.

She looked at Cassandra in shock, as did Violet and Jarena, before Cassandra, focusing on the spell she wanted to use, and the effect she was after, attempted a minor, yet general curse removal spell on herself, well pleased when she was able to lift both of her feet off the ground.

“Thank God…” Cassandra said. “If I had to listen to one more word of this drivel…”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

Latios found himself close to being able to make a move on Marshadow, but seeing the opportunity to be just out of reach. He had used Dragon Dance three times since Marshadow had stolen the effect with that unusual attack it had used. However, there were two main problems. The first was that if Latios got too far from Marshadow and made it difficult for Marshadow to even attempt an attack, Marshadow would go after Latias, who Latios needed to support him with recovery moves if this were to turn into a battle of attrition, like it looked like they would have to rely on given Marshadow's strength growing with the Netherlink. The second was that if Latios got close enough to land a hit on Marshadow, Latios risked being hit himself and losing the effects of Dragon Dance, and even worse, giving them to Marshadow.

As such, Latios had been letting Marshadow get just close enough to try and hit, alternating between using Protect and Substitute, as Latias used Heal Pulse to make up for the toll of using Substitute. However it couldn't go on forever. All three of those moves had limits which they would reach eventually.

They had all seen Rayquaza beaten by Giratina minutes earlier and Latios had seen Jon moving towards Rayquaza, as Giratina left to aid Agatha. However there was nothing he could do.

"I need some sort of distraction," Latios said to Willow and Latias. "Something to give me time to land one good hit…"

"I could try and blindside it?" Latias offered though Latios quickly dismissed the idea.

"It is getting stronger with the Netherlink, and our only advantage is that there are two of us battling it," Latios explained. "Giratina managed to beat Rayquaza when Rayquaza had all but won before, just because of the Netherlink. We can't risk this becoming a one on one battle…"

"Rayquaza looks like it still has some fight left in it…" Willow commented, surprising Latios with the statement. Latios quickly glanced to where Rayquaza was now floating weakly above Jon, before roaring. As Jon went to press his finger into the ring on his right hand, Latios realised this was the opportunity he needed.

"Marshadow will be distracted for a second and I'm going in!" Latios explained. "I'll keep it busy and buy you time to build towards a big attack!"

Without waiting for confirmation, Latios rushed Marshadow as it was distracted by the light of Rayquaza Mega Evolving, and slammed into the Pokemon with a Zen Headbutt, lifting it off the ground and carrying it fifty meters downhill. Knowing what to expect, Latios placed telekinetic barriers around its head, neck and wings, blocking the punches Marshadow attempted to land, which would drain the effect of Dragon Dance if they struck. Once they were clear of Latias and Willow, Latios launched a Stored Power attack, launching Marshadow back, and removing all of Latios' boosts to strength and speed, giving him nothing to be stolen, and no reason not to go all out.

"You shouldn't have done that…" Marshadow sneered at Latios. "Now you're all alone and weak…"

"See, that's where you're wrong…" Latios answered back. "I'm not trapped here with you. You're trapped here with me…"

With a grin, Latios turned invisible knowing that he was the only target Marshadow had now, before moving around to the side in an attempt to flank the Mythical Pokemon.

From where they stood, Willow and Latias watched as Latios and Marshadow spoke for a few seconds, before Latios turned invisible and began his assault on Marshadow.

Willow looked back to the Megamart, and was shocked to see the Netherlink which had been poking out of the roof, shrinking, and becoming more and more difficult to see.

"They've done it…" Willow muttered in disbelief. "The Netherlink is shrinking…"

Latias nodded gratefully.

"We still have a job to do though…"

Latias cried out, using Dragon Dance, as she felt her own strength and power increasing. However as she did, she was using her telepathy to force her way deeper into her brother's mind. Latios didn't fight it, trusting Latias at this point, as she looked through his memories. Despite being a powerful Pokemon, and having been used in some difficult battles, Latias was no championship trained Pokemon, and Willow wasn't a championship winning trainer. And though Latios was acting without Jon's instruction, she knew this was from years of his training, and wanted to make sure she could make the most of this opportunity Latios was buying them before she joined the fight herself.

Latias stopped at a vivid memory, which she realised Latios was remembering at that moment, when she recognised her former home. Southern Island. Jon stood in front of Latios, looking to be in his early twenties, which told Latias just how long ago it was.

"When you battle under my command, you aren't battling as an individual Pokemon, but as part of a team. Even if you're the only Pokemon there, you are part of a team with a specific role to play," Jon explained. "Your role is just as important as Blaziken's, Jolteon's or Scizor's. No more, no less. You all have your own strengths and they play into what role you have in the battle. So stick to your role…"

Latios nodded in understanding, having battled against Jon and lost in the months prior. Despite not knowing Jon long, he recognised his new trainer's strength, and the potential he had himself to grow under a trainer like Jon.

"Sometimes I will need you to make your own decisions mid-battle. Maybe me giving orders will give our opponent an edge, or maybe things will be serious and I won't be around. Even then, you still have your role. And the best thing you can do fill that role, and battle to the best of your ability is to ask yourself 'what can I do that nobody else here can?'"

As Latias used Dragon Dance a second time, she pondered the memory she had seen, wondering what her role was in the battle and what she could do that others couldn't.

Her role in the battle had been supporting Latios as he attacked, but now the tables had turned, with Latios keeping Marshadow away from her so she could prepare for a big attack on Marshadow.

As for what she could do that nobody else here could, her first thought was a Mist Ball attack, however she knew she was thinking too simplistically. Mist Ball was strong but would not be empowered by Dragon Dance, like Shadow Claw would. And even without being a Ghost-type herself, Shadow Claw would hit Marshadow far harder at this point than Mist Ball would.

She looked at Latios as he battled Marshadow, though invisible still giving signs to his presence as he attacked, and changed her thinking.

"What can I do that Latios hasn't already done, and why?"

As she pondered this, she remembered her own observation about Shadow Claw's potential, and despite not being a Ghost Type herself, thought of a move she could use that Latios, if he knew it, would have used by now. One that would give her an edge, though also put her at a disadvantage. And as she realised this, she remembered one other advantage her and Latios shared, that Marshadow lacked. A telepathic connection.

She began scouring through Latios' recent memories, until she found what she was looking for. Latios using Mimic to copy a Foresight attack on Marshadow, allowing him to hit it with normal moves.

"This better work…" Latias thought to herself as she memorised what Latios had learnt of Marshadow using the attack, before reaching out to Willow's mind. "I'm ready. I'm going in. Be ready to catch this thing…"

Willow gave a nervous nod, as Latias rushed forward, before running to catch up.

As soon as Latias could see Marshadow clearly and it was in range, she focused her thoughts on Latios' memory of using Foresight, before using her own move. Reflect Type.

Latias had known the move had worked when she felt an odd sensation of her telekinesis and telepathy disappearing, something she had rarely been without. However, in return, she was now part Ghost Type, and able to use Ghost moves that little bit better.

Marshadow's back was turned when Latias struck with a Shadow Claw, empowered by her temporary partial Ghost-typing, and throwing Marhadow back. The Mythical Pokemon stood to glare at her, before advancing on her, ready to hit with the same attack it had used on Latios earlier to steal the effects of Dragon Dance. And despite every instinct telling her to use Protect, or to flee, she knew that wasn't her role. Her role right now was to attack, and Latios' role…

Marshadow was centimetres away when Latios struck the Pokemon, tackling it to the side, and whilst the attack didn't seem to do much damage, it had served its purpose, preventing Latias from being hit, and giving her the opportunity to land her own hit.

Latias cried out as it used another Shadow Claw, striking Marshadow hard, as Latios blocked a counter attack with Protect.

Behind her, Willow had caught up, Pokeball in hand, as Latias hit Marshadow with her third Shadow Claw.

"Now Willow!" Latios instructed, with Latias sacrificing her psychic abilities in this battle for the sake of more power.

The Shadow Claw struck and whilst Marshadow was recoiling, Willow leapt forward, pelting the Pokeball which hit the Mythical Pokemon before exploding into a bright light, and absorbing the Pokemon into it.

The trio watched intently as the Pokeball shook violently. For what felt like an eternity it continued to shake and Willow knew that she only had two Pokeballs left.

There was a collective groan of relief when the Pokeball finally clicked, marking the Pokeball as sealed and the Pokemon captured.

Willow scooped up the Pokeball, and looked to where Rayquaza was now battling Giratina.

"Let's go help Jon," Willow said, as both Latios and Latias, gave up on remaining afloat, and lowered themselves to the ground, exhausted by the battle. She quickly realised that she was being optimistic. Both Pokemon were on the brink of exhaustion.

"We'd just get in the way like this. Let's rest for a minute, and then go help at the Megamart," Latios said, hating admitting it. "Jon can handle it…"

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

"Either of you know that spell she used?" Cassandra asked Violet and Jarena after she removed the silencing charm. Despite it taking longer without the dire need, she had opted to do it non verbally, knowing that any practise she may get now using spells without incantations could save her life. "The one that stuck my feet to the ground?"

"No," Violet answered, being the most knowledgeable in specific Shadowcraft spells. "That one was new to me…"

"I guess we're doing this the old fashioned way then," Cassandra said, nodding to Agatha. "Jarena, see if you can find some rope…"

Agatha glared at her, which was noticed by Jarena, who couldn't help but grin at the now powerless witch.

"Don't worry, we're just going to tie you up, not hang you…" Jarena said to Agatha as she departed, attempting to find something to bind Agatha with. Violet and Cassandra stood either side of their now prisoner, and after a moment of silence, Violet spoke.

"So how did you do it?" Violet asked. "Until yesterday we didn't even realise non-verbal Shadowcraft was possible…"

Cassandra went to answer, but realised that may be a mistake. She nodded towards Agatha, who glared at her in return.

"I'll tell you later," Cassandra said. "I have a rough idea, and really, I just got sick of hearing her voice…"

Violet smirked at the comment, before another roar from the battle outside shook the building. They had become commonplace at this point, and now that their focus wasn't on surviving whatever disgusting spell Agatha had planned for them, they were becoming more and more obvious, as was the wind.

"Have they conjured a storm or something?" Violet asked. "I grew up in Olivine City and we never had winds this brutal…"

Now that she had mentioned it, Cassandra realised just how out of place the winds beating against the Megamart were. Her first thought was to agree with Violet until she heard another roar, causing her to remember the battle she and Jon had with Rayquaza years earlier.

"No, that's not it…" Cassandra said as a grin crossed her face. "Rayquaza Mega Evolved. It was the same back then…"

Agatha looked at Cassandra confused, as Violet grinned as well, knowing that Mega Evolving would give Rayquaza a significant edge over Giratina.

"Your little pet isn't going to save you now," Violet said to Agatha, as the silenced witch glared at her, before looking past her, with a satisfied grin.

Confused, Violet couldn't help but look over her shoulder to see what Agatha was looking at, and realised Agatha was looking at nothing when the silenced witch rushed her, shouldering her to knock her back before running.

"Violet!" Cassandra called out, before helping her friend up. "You alright?"

"I'm fine," Violet muttered irritably, as she got up and began to give chase. "But I'm going to kill that old has-been…"

Agatha rushed out, looking for any of her supporters who could remove the silencing spell. However everywhere she looked, they were being beaten by the ever growing number of League operatives who were overwhelming them. Still, she ran, looking for somebody who would help her in her time of need…
************************************************** ************************************************** *****

“Abbee, please don’t go… Please, stay with me… I love you…”

Despite her eyes being open, Abbee was far away from Dylan as he spoke those words, which seemed to echo meaninglessly in the space she found herself in. Around her was pitch black, and whilst she seemed to stand on solid ground, the sheer darkness made it look as if she were standing on thin air. In the distance was a small white light that seemed to grow larger. The words she had heard were already forgotten, as she became entranced by the light that seemed to be getting closer.

"Abbee…"

The voice was shockingly familiar, despite having not heard it in over a decade. It was strong, despite the last time Abbee heard it, it being weak after years of battling illness. She turned and found herself face to face with her mother.

"Mum?"

Emma was barely an inch taller than Abbee, though shared her jet black hair, granted, Abbee's was naturally straight whilst Emma's was wavy. Unlike Abbee, she had brown eyes, which Abbee recognised to be the same as her brother, Tyler's. She still looked to be in her mid thirties, the same age she was when she passed away, though didn't look as unwell as she did in her final months.

Abbee rushed towards Emma, tears filling her eyes, as she embraced her, having only had photos and videos of her for the last twelve years. As she held her mother, she felt someone else embrace the pair of them from behind her. She looked up and found herself looking at the face of Richard, her father, who looked identical to the day he dropped her off at the Eon Academy…

"Dad…"

As Abbee took in the sight of her father, she could see behind him, the light growing ever larger and closer. Her memories of the moments leading up to finding herself here were now foggy, but for some reason, this didn't seem to concern her.

"You've grown up so much…" Emma said, disbelief evident in her voice. "I'm so proud of you."

"I wish you could have been here to see it all," Abbee said, her voice beginning to break. "Both of you. I just missed you so much…"

There was a pained silence between them, broken by a familiar yet muffled voice, that sounded to be that of a Pokemon.



"Â̸̡̢̢̛̤͍̦̙͚͇̭̹͈̹̌̚͘̕͠b̵̪̓̉͝b̶͙̫͓͓͗̓͗̒͊́̈́̿̍͛͌̍͝e̶ ̤͕̙̻͇̘̉͑̋͌̾̍͛̓́̽̾̈͗̀ė̴̛̛͉̩̱̘̲͈͔̝͐͂̉̽́̾̎͌̒̚͝͝ͅ!̷͒͠ ̖͙̝̺̬͒́̄̇͆̆̂͘ ̷̥̹̜͈̝̬̺̰̋̎̓͌͑͘P̶̧̧̡̞͍̠̘͕͈͈͙̚ļ̵̙͉̜̘͈̂́̐̄͝ẻ̸̎̈̂̆͘ ̛̣̰̼̫̰͕̾̒̐̎a̴͉̞͕̟͚̕s̷̲͕̤̼̘̥̈̀̿̀̓̐͠ͅė̵̛̺͓̲́̔̂̈́͋̓̅͝ ̨̠͈̗̻͜,̵͖͈͇̭͙͕͖͖̫̭̥̪̹͕̯̒̓͋̇̎̃̂̍͑̋̈́͛͊̊͝ ̶̛̮̲̱̹̣̳̤̰͍͉͎̪́͂͜͠w̴̧̛̯̝͔̬̻̼̎̃ͅa̴̡͖̟̫̞̮̹̫͚͋̋́͜͜͜k̶ ̤̤͆ȩ̶̡͚͉̯̦̘̻̹͚̣̥͖̣͐̎͗̓͒͆͐̕ͅ ̴̢̡̰̭̜͙͖̟̝̥̝̪̦̿ų̷̯͚̳̙̻̥͕͔͕̲̺͛̇̊͠p̷̡͕͙̭̱̮̹̬̟̘͂͒̏͝ͅ ̲!̸̨̛̪̟̝̜̲̗̼̳̤̖͕̩̽̌̎́̀̄ͅͅ"



"Where am I?" Abbee asked, looking between both her parents. "Have I died?"

Emma and Richard both looked at Abbee, sadness evident in their eyes.

"Not yet…" Richard answered. "But Abbee, few reach this place, being on the brink of death. Most just pass through before they even know what is going on…"

"And even fewer return after being here…" Emma added. "You've been hurt, so badly, and don't have long left before it reaches you…"

Emma nodded towards the light, and Abbee realised that once it did reach her, she wouldn't have a choice in the matter.

"What do I do then? Abbee asked.

"You have two choices, but one of them may not make a difference in the end…" Richard explained. "You can wait for the light to reach you, and once it does, cross over, like we have…"

"Or, you can fight it. Reject it, and hope that before it reaches you, that you are able to return…" Emma said. "The choice is yours…"

Her memories of the last week were foggy, and she had no recollection of how she had found herself in this place. And as she found herself face to face with her parents, more memories became foggy. She found herself more content at the idea of staying with her parents, and crossing over to be with them.



"İ̶̧͚̯̬̜͖̖̺̬̜͓͓͚͋̕͜ͅ ̴͔̝͉͕̮͇̬͗̎̆̈́̅̐͆́̇̎̉l̶̡̨̢̜̠͔̝̲̻͇͉̖̞̳̮̑͐̐̂͌o̵͛͑̀̑̿̕͝ ̢̺͉̭͖̻̬̩̝̽͑͒̑̐̌͜v̶̡̛̘̓͂̆̈́̃̑̈͌̎̿̒̋̕ȇ̵̙̪̑̎͛̈̀͑͋ ̷̠̱̮̱̤̼̰͋͗̋͗̂̀̈̕̚y̸̢̦̞̥̘̖̱̠̜̑̑ơ̴̳̭̠̪̮̥̤̼̤̘̭͇̿̓̾̾͝ ̡ư̷̥̬̾̆̾̊͐̋͛̋̈́̆͝͝ ̸̥̞̦͖̭͌̃̽̓͒̈̊͘Ą̶̝̱̥̞̱̰̞͓̞̖̮̯̓̄̈́̽b̶̟͚̫̈́̂̌̅̌̽̈̇̊̎́͘ ̢̨̹͚͚b̶͓̹͕̻̠͎̤̞͖̳̂̒̿͊͆͗͑̿͐̑̾̈́̄̀͜͠e̵̡̛̛̝̹̥̰̝̬͉͗̒̌͑ͅ ͓̬ë̷͍͚͍͍͚͚̳̼̫͕̱́̕ͅ.̶̢̛̘͇̠̖̮̥͒̅̽̽́͛͌̑̐͌̒̚̚͜͝.̴͐͊͋͒̈́ ̣̣͚̜̌.̷̡̞̪̖̪̼̻͚̱̺͕͇͖̳̊̓̐̄̎̄̍̓̑͂͝͝ ̴̳̣͚̊̋͂̋̈́͊̆̋̋̐̕͝͝P̶̨͎̗̩̑̽͠l̸͉̥͊̌̎͒́̕͝ḙ̶̒̋̽͛͘ā̵̛̿ ̗͓̖̓̉̈́̋̊̂̐͐͗̿̒͝ś̴̡͇͓̞̤̱̲̜͉̫̜͖͉͎͊̒͂́͜e̵̋͆̒͗̓̐͋͂͋̚͝ ̡͉̗͚̝̖̤̹͎͓͕̣̀̔̽̋ ̷͙͎͐̕ͅd̴̨̡̧̛̛̜̺̻͖̲͈̭͉͙̮̈̓͋̑́͗̂͆͋̿͝o̶̊͑̄̍̎̇̽̔̏̾̉͑͝͠ ̡̢̦͍̮̩͔̦͕̹͖n̴̨̰̯̰͎͖̫̖͈̓̀̃̕'̶̝̎̈́t̵̰͉̦̏͂̂̐̈͂ ̸̢̢̞̙͔̘̗̠̗̣̥̞̩͈͈̃͒̂g̶̙͙̗͍̱͋̐̊̾̅͐̇̇͒̅̑o̵̦̦͈̪̤̓͜͜.̶̅ ̧͊̄̈́͘.̴͉͇̺͈̳̥̞̩̹͚̥͈̮̋̍̋͂͘ͅ.̶̨͍̼̩̩̦̣͇̮̦̝̩̼̄͑̀͐͗̔̽͜͝ ̤"



This voice was different from the first. It was human and though it was muffled and she couldn't recognise it, she knew it was someone dear to her. Someone who obviously didn't want her to go.

However, she couldn't remember. Meanwhile, her parents were right there in front of her. She could simply just let the light take her and go with them.

Trying to make the right decision, she looked at Richard first, then Emma, having not seen her like this in twelve years. However as she looked into Emma's eyes, she remembered something.

"Tyler…" Abbee said, seeing the same eyes as her older brother. "If I go with you, he'll be all alone…"

Emma nodded gravely, as Abbee, despite the fogginess, forced her way into her memories, thinking of who she'd leave behind, now that she'd been reminded of that by Tyler. She found herself remembering Jon, and how he didn't want her coming to Alola because of the danger. She realised just how much he would carry that weight, if something happened to her, and how he was still fighting without her, and still in danger himself. She remembered Justin, who despite hurting her so badly in their first summer at the Academy, had risen from it, and grown into someone she respected more than almost anyone. She saw Chris, who once upon a time, she had loved, and despite things not working out the way either of them had hoped, she still regretted how badly things had gone wrong between them, and wanted the chance to make them right. She saw Charlotte, who had quickly become one of her best friends, and had earnt her respect for her strength, resilience and determination. She remembered Victini, who after battling alongside one of the most famous battlers in history, had chosen her to be his partner, and had fought by her side, and protected her valiantly since.

Then she remembered Dylan, recognising his voice, and understanding the words he spoke. She remembered just how hard it was to get him to say anything during their first summer, and how hard she had to work to get even a word from him. She remembered slowly learning more about him as time went on, understanding how he operated, seeing his strength, and growing to admire him more with every passing moment. She remembered why she had put herself in harm's way when she had seen the witch who had escaped notice, bearing down on him with a knife…

"You've made up your mind, haven't you…?" Richard asked, as Abbee nodded solemnly.

"I want to stay with you both… I want to see you again, more than anything…" Abbee said softly. "But I have others I am not ready to leave just yet, and if I can fight this, and have even the smallest chance of seeing them again, I have to take it…"

There was a silence, as the light was getting ever closer, seeming to be less than a few minutes away.

"Good…" Emma said, with a weak grin, that Abbee realised was identical to her own. "It's far too soon for you to join us just yet…"

Abbee stood still as her parents both held her against them, for the last time until Abbee's time came.

"We are so proud of you Abbee," Richard said. "More than you'll ever know…"

Before Abbee could reply, she blinked, and found herself standing alone, with the light that was terrifyingly close. She tried to step back but realised that relative to the light she wasn't moving. Instead, she focused her thoughts on a single sentence.

"This is not my time…"

The moment she thought the words, the light seemed to stutter, stopping for a moment, before continuing towards her.

"This is not my time."

The light stopped again, this time for a few seconds longer, before advancing again, albeit slower than before, as if fighting a force pushing it back.

"This is not my time!"
************************************************** ************************************************** *****
Brianna watched as Dylan held Abbee, who looked more like a corpse with every passing second. He had removed his shirt, using it to apply pressure to the wound, however, the shirt, alongside his shorts and singlet, were now stained dark red with her blood.

"Abbee, please…" Dylan wept, as Victini cried out softly from where he stood on the ground, holding her limp hand. "We need you…"

"Pathetic…" Brianna muttered to herself, as she watched. She remembered when Abbee had tricked her into admitting that she was a likely enemy of the League. Her own words to the girl.

"Be careful or it may get you killed…"

"Well I guess the orphan will be seeing her parents again after all," Brianna said quietly to herself as she turned to walk away, however noticed something in her peripheral vision as she did. A flicker of green, as the light from the nearby battles reflected off Abbee's glazing eyes.

Brianna couldn't help but remember her mother, who had green eyes similar to Abbee's. She had inherited them as well, though knowing they were too distinct, had used Shadowcraft to change them to another colour when she assumed this form.

"Abbee…" Dylan wept, and as she looked at the young man holding his dying friend, Brianna couldn't help but remember her mother dying.

She remembered that night, being woken in the late hours of the night, and told to hide. She had tried to argue, however her mother had placed a silencing charm on her, before putting her into a cupboard, and sealing it with Shadowcraft, knowing that Brianna, or Amy, as she was at the time, would be freed if Carol survived, or when the charm broke as a result of her imminent death.

Amy had been forced to wait in that cupboard, hearing the taunts and jeers of the people Carol had once called family, as they tortured her, before leaving her to die. As Carol's energy dwindled, the spells keeping Amy concealed broke, and Amy only had enough time to hold her mother, who was beyond recognition after the treatment she had received as punishment for leaving years earlier, as she died in her arms…

She watched Dylan weeping for his dying friend, and saw herself sitting there instead. Feeling her heart sink, she looked at the diamond that she held, quickly trying to gauge how full it was, before making up her mind.

She walked slowly towards Abbee and Dylan, before being intercepted by Darkrai, who stared her down, its cold blue eye meeting her own. Victini saw the movement and glared at her.

"Haven't you done enough?!" Victini roared at her, shocking her with the intensity of his telepathic presence. "Just go…"

Normally, Brianna's temper would have flared however she knew Abbee had little time left at this point. She had learnt the spells she was going to use for a reason.

"I can save her, but it takes time…" Brianna said. "And every breath she takes makes it more likely to be her last…"

Victini growled at Brianna, not trusting her, however Dylan, his eyes red and teary, looked her in the eyes.

"Let her do it Victini…"

"What if she-" Victini began.

"What if she what? Hurts Abbee?" Dylan asked. "She's going to die if we do nothing. But if this has a chance to save her…"

Realizing he was right, Victini stepped aside, as did Darkrai, as Brianna made her way to where Dylan held Abbee, kneeling down.

"Do you know her blood type?" Brianna asked, as Dylan shook his head. "I can figure it out but we may not have the time."

"She's AB negative," Victini answered, surprising Dylan. Brianna nodded as she grabbed a reagent out of her pouch, placing it against the wound, and without a word, began performing a spell, causing it to glow. She focused on the diamond she held, using it to fuel a spell that would otherwise fail given the complexity of it.

"I'm A negative, so she can receive my blood," Brianna explained. "What about you?"

"I'm O negative," Dylan answered, not sure whether it would work. Brianna sighed with relief.

"Good. It means I am not going to have to do this on my own…"

The reagent continued to glow, as Abbee's breathing continued to grow fainter.

"It's not working!" Dylan exclaimed, as Brianna shook her head.

"It is, but this on its own isn't going to save her," Brianna explained. "I'm closing the wound and repairing any internal damage, before I use Shadowcraft to give her a transfusion. If I rush this, we risk her just bleeding out internally and just delaying it…"

Dylan realised she was right. Abbee was on the brink, and whilst this on its own wouldn't save her, it would give her a better chance of recovering with the transfusion.

"How do you know all this?" Dylan asked quietly, shocked at what he was witnessing. "Half an hour ago you were hell bent on ruling the world by controlling light…"

"After my mother died, and I realised that Shadowcraft couldn't bring her back, I figured that the next best thing I could do is make sure I don't lose anybody else I cared about…" Brianna answered, though didn't look away from Abbee, as the wound continued to close. "But not having anyone else that I actually cared about, I thought I'd feel better once I killed the ones who killed her…"

"Did you?"

"I wouldn't have been here if I did…"

Abbee's breathing had all but disappeared when the reagent finally stopped glowing, marking the wound and any internal damage as healed, however she had still lost a lot of blood.

"Hurry up and grab my hand," Brianna said to Dylan, as Abbee stopped breathing. He grabbed at her hand, as Victini watched in shock, praying to whatever was watching them that this would work.

Brianna placed her free hand over Abbee's chest, before closing her eyes and performing a spell. With no warning, Dylan felt a sharp pain in his hand, and slowly began to feel his strength leaving him, as he realised that his own blood, alongside Brianna's, was being transfused into Abbee. They watched in silence as Abbee's breathing hadn't returned, Dylan struggling to fight back the panic, as his own energy was dropping dangerously low.

After a minute, Brianna ended the spell, however Abbee was still unmoving.

"Don't stop!" Dylan said to Brianna, however she shook her head.

"She now has more blood than either of us…" Brianna said weakly. "More won't help her at this point, and likely kill us. She needs CPR..."

Brianna went to perform it herself, however collapsed as she attempted to rise to her knees. Dylan quickly but gently placed her down, before performing compressions. After he counted thirty, as he had been instructed during his first aid training, he placed his mouth over hers, giving two short breaths, before resuming compressions.

"Come on Abbee…" Victini said. "It can't end like this…"

"Abbee, you need to wake up…" Dylan said through gritted teeth as he continued the compressions. The sense of defeat he had before Brianna had intervened was now gone, replaced with determination. Abbee had lost a lot of blood, to the point where her heart had stopped and she had stopped breathing. But now, the wound had been closed and the damage from the blade undone. She had the blood replaced, and all that she needed now was for her heart to start beating again, and pumping it around her body. He gave another two breaths, before continuing the compressions. "Breathe, Abbee!"

Victini and Brianna watched in terrified anticipation as Dylan continued the compressions, until finally, Abbee gasped, taking in a deep breath, before coughing violently. Before anybody could say anything, Dylan grabbed her, holding her tight against him, as tears welled up in his eyes.

"Thank God…" Dylan sobbed quietly, as he held Abbee, who despite the shock and fatigue, was wondering why she didn't feel the pain anymore. "You're okay…"


************************************************** ************************************************** *****

The broadcast of the battle on Akala Island has continued as the sun set on screen whilst the battles continued. Chris and Charlotte, as well as Justin who was recovering now from the migraine he had, though still a little out of it, watched intently, as Rayquaza and Giratina battled.

They watched as Giratina disappeared from sight, before reappearing behind Rayquaza, who turned around just in time to be hit by a Draco Meteor from Giratina, sending it flying back, unmoving on the ground.

"S**t…" Chris muttered, unable to believe that Jon had lost when battling with Rayquaza. The Legendary Pokemon was strong, and whilst Lugia theoretically would match Rayquaza's strength, Rayquaza had been training under Jon for years, and had an unknown amount of experience in battle before being captured by Jon. Yet even now, Rayquaza couldn't beat Giratina.

The camera showed Giratina walking back towards the Megamart, where the swirling grey vortex that had been visible earlier was now well and truly above the roof line.

"Goddamn it Jon!" Charlotte shouted at the TV, causing Justin to jump. "Don't just let this happen!"

Chris went to speak and could see tears forming in her eyes. She had genuinely believed that Jon would find a way to beat Giratina, however considering how hard Rayquaza had been hit, she had been a trainer long enough to know that nearly all of the time, a Pokemon doesn't stand up again after a hit like that…

"What's he doing?" Justin asked, causing Chris to look back at the TV. The camera now showed Jon running past another battle between Latios, what looked like a Latias, and a Pokemon too small to distinguish from the distance the camera was filming from.

"Trying to wake Rayquaza up…" Chris said, though feeling resigned to their fate. Despite knowing Charlotte was right, that even if they weren't attacked they would not even be on the plane to Unova yet, he still felt like he had failed. Jon had sent Justin and Charlotte, who were both extremely talented trainers in their own right, with Legendary Pokemon, to check up on him instead of getting their help in Alola. Furthermore, had he not burnt the bridge with Jon, and avoided his calls, Chris may have been in the loop about what was going on, and could have come as well.

"It's my fault they are there alone…" Chris muttered, causing Charlotte to look at him in shock. "If I hadn't been acting like such an idiot, he wouldn't have sent you two to check up on me. You would have been there already. I might have been as well, and he wouldn't be fighting Giratina alone…"

"You don't know that…" Charlotte began, however Chris shook his head.

"Your first reaction was to be there, wasn't it?" Chris asked. "And if Jon hadn't have sent you here, would you have gone as soon as you found out?"

Charlotte solemnly nodded her head, not wanting to belittle Chris by trying to lie to him.

"It's not your fault," Justin said firmly. "You weren't the one who gathered all the witches you could find to bring about the end of the world."

"Still, if I hadn't have been acting like an a**hole we all would be there with him…"

"Even if you're going to use that butterfly effect bulls**t reasoning, the point remains," Justin retorted. "This is happening because the people Jon is fighting right now chose to make it happen. Not because we aren't there…"

"Guys…"

It was Charlotte who spoke, staring intently at the TV, causing Chris and Justin to look back at the screen. Jon stood next to Rayquaza, who was slowly getting up to float above Jon, before letting out a roar.

"Rayquaza is going to keep fighting…" Charlotte said in disbelief.

"How?" Chris asked. "Giratina looks like it could go another six rounds without breaking a sweat…"

"Jon's doing something…" Justin said, pointing to Jon on screen who in the distance could be seen moving his left hand to his right, and pressing against one of his fingers.

All the questions were answered, when Rayquaza exploded into a bright, colourful light, before emerging from it in its Mega Evolved form. The three trainers couldn't help but watch in silent awe, as Rayquaza roared again, before darting towards Giratina.

"Kick its a** Jon! Beat that son of a b***h!" Chris shouted at the screen, a new sense of hope burning in all of them, at the sight of the Legendary Pokemon…

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

"Scale Shot!" Jon commanded, as Rayquaza launched four large scales at Giratina whilst its back was turned. "Then Breaking Swipe!"

The timing was perfect, as Scale Shot increased Rayquaza's speed whilst reducing its defense, giving it enough of a boost to land Breaking Swipe on Giratina as it turned around, dealing damage and reducing Giratina's own attack power, effectively negating Rayquaza's own reduced defense.

"You should have taken the chance to survive when I gave it to you, and just stayed down!" Giratina roared, before disappearing.

This time however, faster than its standard form, and sped up by Scale Shot, Rayquaza flew up, before whipping around, and descending on the position where it had been moments earlier. Giratina materialised, and taken by surprise when Rayquaza descended on it again, hitting it with another Breaking Swipe, before taking a Dragon Breath attack from Giratina.

"Scale Shot again!" Jon ordered. "Then Swords Dance!"

Rayquaza roared, as three scales were launched from its hide into Giratina, causing the Pokemon to cry out in pain, as the boost to its speed allowed it to use Swords Dance before being hit by Giratina's Dragon Claw attack.

Rayquaza recoiled at the damage of the attack, still weakened from its loss against Giratina earlier, despite it being faster and stronger now in its Mega Evolved form. However, in terms of offensive power, Rayquaza, especially in this form, eclipsed Giratina, whose strength lay in its bulk and ability to take a hit.

"Where's your trainer now?" Rayquaza roared, taunting Giratina. "Do you need her to come fight me like last time, now that her spell has worn off?"

Giratina didn't answer, instead, just snarled, as it leapt at Rayquaza, using its small wings to carry it through the air, and collided in mid air.

"Draco Meteor!" Jon ordered. Rayquaza roared, as it opened its mouth, and a purple orb of draconic energy sparked to life, before growing and being launched into a deadly purple beam, which struck Giratina directly. Despite this, the Pokemon still flew at Rayquaza, hitting it with a Shadow Claw attack. However, Jon could see Giratina's attacks were growing more desperate.

"Grapple it with Dragon Claw!" Jon ordered.

Giratina launched a Dragon Breath attack, which Rayquaza dodged by twisting in the air, taking on a cylindrical coil shape, that Giratina's attack went through the central empty space of. Rayquaza reached Giratina, striking it with Dragon Claw before wrapping itself around the large Pokemon.

"Now Dragon Ascent!"

Jon hoped that Rayquaza's increased size and strength would be enough to lift Giratina and whilst Mega Rayquaza was still not strong enough to lift Giratina on its own, Dragon Ascent gave enough thrust for Rayquaza to gain altitude, carrying the grappled Legendary Pokemon with it.

Rayquaza carried Giratina into the sky, as the captive Pokemon struggled weakly, before Jon gave the order.

"Drop it, and hit it with the attack!"

Rayquaza roared triumphantly before uncoiling itself with a flicking motion, launching Giratina towards the ground, before descending itself, encased in the draconic aura, and launching itself bodily into Giratina with Dragon Ascent, as both crashed into the ground, causing it to rumble, whilst Giratina broke Rayquaza’s fall.

Giratina roared in pain, whilst Rayquaza used its additional length to wrap itself around the Pokemon, constricting tightly, as Giratina struggled in vain.

"It's time to end this…" Jon said, as he grabbed an empty Pokeball from his pocket. "Once and for all!"

Jon ran towards the two Pokemon, as Giratina flailed helplessly, and Rayquaza didn't move, holding the Pokemon in place. Jon roared in determination, as he took the final step, before throwing the Pokeball hard at Giratina, an action he hadn't performed since catching Rayquaza years prior.

The Pokeball soared through the air, striking Giratina, before opening and converting Giratina into a blinding light, which was sucked in. Rayquaza jolted for a moment, as the resistance of Giratina's body which had been there previously was now gone, before flying up into the air above where it had been.

The ball shook violently, before exploding as Giratina rematerialised, however Rayquaza had been prepared, letting off the Dragon Pulse attack it had readied, which slammed into Giratina, serving to stun it for a second as Rayquaza launched itself into the Pokemon.

"Goddamn it, just stay down!" Jon yelled, lobbing the second Pokeball. It struck, sucking in Giratina before exploding again. Ready, Jon lobbed the third, needing this one to work. It was his last empty Pokeball, and if it were destroyed like the previous two, Rayquaza would have to kill Giratina, who seemed like it would die before being incapacitated without a Pokeball.

Jon watched as the Pokeball shook violently, with Giratina fighting as hard as it could to break out before…

BANG!

The Pokeball exploded into light, as Giratina emerged, even more enraged, before disappearing as Rayquaza's next Dragon Pulse struck the ground where Giratina had been.

"Look out!" Jon called out to Rayquaza, however had made a mistake in his prediction. His heart stopped when he heard the sound of Giratina appearing behind him…

Rayquaza lunged at Giratina, snarling viciously as it struck Giratina with an Outrage attack, whilst Jon desperately tried to figure out what his options were. Killing Giratina wasn't ideal, and despite Rayquaza Mega Evolving, he wasn't sure Rayquaza could end the fight. It had taken a beating and this Mega Evolution was merely a second wind, which had allowed Jirachi to destroy the Netherlink that was empowering Giratina.

He considered trying to find Willow, or go to his motorbike and get more Pokeballs, however decided against it. He wasn't going to abandon Rayquaza, even for a moment.

Realising the others may be nearby, he reached into his motorbike jacket, looking for his phone in his pocket, before feeling it. A Pokeball.

He brought six empty Pokeballs with him, not having had time to get more before the battle, and gave Willow three. His six that were assigned to his Pokemon were on his belt. So this Pokeball confused him. He pulled it out, and looked in shock as he realised what it was.

The Pokeball was a glossy black. An unregistered Pokeball. The one which had contained Rayquaza before Jon had captured it the day before. And unlike any other Pokeball, being unregistered, it could house any Pokemon as long as it wasn't housing one already.

"This is our last shot Rayquaza!" Jon roared. "Hit it hard!"

Rayquaza roared in agreement as the Outrage attack continued, Rayquaza slamming and biting into Giratina, as Jon threw the black Pokeball.

The black Pokeball made contact, sucking Giratina in, as Jon quickly opened a text to Steven to say he needed more Pokeballs.

The Pokeball shook violently for a minute, with each passing second growing more stressful, Jon knowing that both of them were running on adrenaline and would be at a detriment by a long pause.

Finally however, the Pokeball began to slow, before…

*click*

Rayquaza roared victoriously as Jon picked up the Pokeball. He heard the silence from where he and Rayquaza were, and from where he knew Latios, Latias and Willow had been battling Marshadow. He realised that they must have succeeded, and was shocked at the fact this battle was finally over. However he knew his victory was short lived.

"Rayquaza, I need to go help the others in the Megamart!" Jon called out. "Follow me there and deal with any Ghost Pokemon that are harassing us!"

Rayquaza roared in confirmation as Jon, exhausted and pained by his cursed hand, began an awkward jog towards where his other Pokemon had been battling, before moving towards the Megamart…

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

Agatha ran desperately, as Violet and Cassandra gave chase. She could not call out for help, and the sound of battle muffled the noises she tried to make as she hit the nearby shelves, hoping to get the attention of an ally. She rounded a corner, and saw Jarena emerge from an aisle, holding a length of rope, before her eyes widened and she began giving chase too.

She looked desperately for Gail, however realised that she was likely incapacitated given the fact that they had managed to destroy the Netherlink. She then considered Nicodemus, however he had been sent to deal with Aaron and she wasn't sure whether he was even still alive at this point.

Reaching the end of the aisle she was in, she looked to her left and saw Leah, one of Willow's former subordinates who Agatha had noticed to have a quick wit, hiding behind cover, only emerging to launch projectile spells at her attackers.

She ran towards Leah, hoping she could remove the spell, however was halfway there, when Leah stood up to attack, before Agatha heard a gunshot, and Leah collapsed to the ground, bleeding out on the floor.

As Agatha looked around she realised just how many of her followers were captured, unconscious, or in a few cases, dead. She changed course, running to the south, hoping to exit the Megamart by the main entrance, and find help outside.

However, as she reached the door from the warehouse to the main store, she saw someone enter, that at this distance, she didn't recognise, but seemed familiar to her. She waved her hands, continuing towards her ally, until she got close enough to make out the figure, and realised her mistake.

"Oh this is too good…" Willow said, as she understood what Agatha was saying as she waved her hands and pointed to her mouth. "The woman who loves the sound of her own voice, being silenced…"

From the space below the high ceilings, invisible to all present, Latios and Latias watched, as Agatha's aura of relief, turned to an aura of panic before she ran.

Turning another corner, trying to avoid the defensive line, she crept past at the south wall, whilst Avery was occupied dealing with a pair of witches and their four Ghost Pokemon, before running north along the western wall to the hole that Hellshriek had made, however as she was about to reach the breach in the wall, a figure walked in, one hand blackened by some sort of curse and holding a black Pokeball that he was not going to let go of.

"You…" the man said, who Agatha recognised as Jon Drake. "Willow has Marshadow, and Giratina is nice and safe in here…"

Jon readied another Pokeball, however Agatha knew she couldn't fight him in this state. Her Pokemon were fighting off the League elsewhere, as she was more than capable of defending herself. Or so she should be.

Running back towards the centre of the warehouse, Agatha stopped when she found her path blocked by Cassandra, Violet and Jarena. They fanned out around her, and as Agatha spun around to go back the way she came, was stopped by Jon and Willow. From the ceiling, Latios saw her aura turn, black, knowing he had seen someone else's do that somewhere but struggling to remember.

"It's over Agatha!" Cassandra called out. "Hand yourself over and we won't kill you like you did to so many other people…"

"Marshadow and Giratina are both captured, the Netherlink is gone, and you're on your own!" Willow shouted. "You've got nothing to gain by making this difficult!"

Agatha glared at the five people who had her path blocked. She knew there was no way out of this. She had given Violet and Cassandra the slip when they were distracted and they wouldn't fall for the same trick twice. And now there were five.

Unbeknownst to Agatha, the five were actually seven, with Latios and Latias watching, invisible, from above. And as Agatha's aura grew blacker, Latios remembered where he had seen that black aura.

It was four years earlier, on the S.S. Wishmaker. Cassandra, right before handing herself in, hit her lowest point, and had an aura similar to this. However this time, Latios wasn't going to encourage Jon to show mercy. It was far too late for that..

Agatha thought about what the rest of her unnaturally long life would be like. She had used Shadowcraft to revert herself to her younger state, and would likely face life in prison, which would be at least another sixty years. However she would likely be isolated from other inmates, given the risk of common items being used to perform Shadowcraft.

She then considered the interrogations she'd be subjected to, and likely the telepathic assaults for her knowledge of Shadowcraft, that likely would be passed on to the Diamond Ladies, and being the full fledged traitor that she is, Willow as well.

That was the thought that confirmed what she wanted. She would rather die than be taken alive by them. She glared at those around her, who knew what the glare meant. They began to close in on her…

As she continued to think this, she felt the familiar power of Shadowcraft being activated inside her, though normally it required an incantation and in a lot of cases, reagents. However, one thought was in her mind, that she forced herself to echo…

Cease…

Agatha smiled smugly as at her feet, a grey vortex, reminiscent of the Netherlink appeared, before growing upwards, and consuming her. In seconds, it was gone, leaving only the clothes she wore and any items she had in her possession behind…

"Did she just teleport?" Violet asked, as Cassandra and Jarena looked at her in shock.

"No, she's gone…" Willow answered. "As good as dead…"

Cassandra looked at Willow, unsure of who the newcomer was, until Jon spoke.

"This is Willow. The defector I mentioned. She told us about Agatha's plans, and Latios helped her and her Latias to capture Agatha's Marshadow…" Jon explained. "We'd have failed without her choosing to help us…"

Cassandra nodded in approval, thankful for the help Willow had offered, before Willow explained further.

"The void is the power source of our Shadowcraft, however it is perpetually hungry and wants to consume whatever it comes into contact with. The Netherlink Agatha made was to be able to interact directly with the void without being consumed," Willow explained. "I don't think that was non-verbal Shadowcraft. I think the void, despite providing us with the power to perform Shadowcraft, would still consume us in a heartbeat, and Agatha, genuinely preferring death than being taken alive, unintentionally gave it her permission to consume her…"

Cassandra's eyes widened at this revelation, remembering her own lowest point on the S.S. Wishmaker, and wondering whether she could have potentially met the same fate.

Around them the sounds of fighting began to cease, as the few loyal enough to Agatha to still fight despite losing slowly fell, one by one.

Willow looked at Triad, before asking the question that was on her mind.

"How did you close the Netherlink?" Willow asked. "I didn't think it were possible to close it once it reached the size it had?"

Jarena looked between Violet and Cassandra, visibly confused, before Jon spoke up.

"We have a friend who did it…" Jon said, before looking around. "Are the others alright? Avery, Luneth and Jimmy?"

"We haven't seen them since we started fighting Agatha…" Violet explained. "Luneth and Jirachi were trying to close the Netherlink, while Avery, Jimmy and Abital kept the others off our back…"

The five made their way to where they had heard Jimmy's Salamence roaring. In the distance, they saw a huddle of people surrounding somebody, causing them to think the worst.

"Oh s**t…" Jon muttered, as he began to jog. The others followed behind him, and he arrived at the group to find Steven, Avery, a man he hadn't met but recognised as Abital, and Glimmer, who held Luneth, huddled around Jimmy, who sat silently, holding a small form that Jon recognised after a moment to be Jirachi…

"What happened?" Jon asked as the others arrived, Triad having varying reactions of shock to the sight.

Jimmy looked up at Jon, his eyes damp with tears, though with an even expression, as if trying to hold it in.

"Even with the starlight, granting huge wishes puts Jirachi to sleep…" Jimmy explained, as he began to tear up. "And this is the biggest wish Jirachi has ever granted. It will take months for it to wake up, if it's lucky. Maybe even years…"

Jimmy's grip on the sleeping Wishmaker tightened, as he began to sob, as Jon realised that having Jirachi close the Netherlink had effectively taken Jimmy's partner away from him for an indefinite amount of time.

"Jimmy, I'm sorry-" Jon said, however Jimmy glared at him.

"Don't say you're sorry about this! For giving Jirachi the opportunity to end this!" Jimmy retorted. "I know you'd do it again, and apologising for it just cheapens what Jirachi did for us!"

"I know…" Jon said quietly. "I'm sorry for not trusting Jirachi before. For questioning whether you or Jirachi could be trusted. Fact is, everyone owes Jirachi their lives…"

Jimmy's first reaction was anger, that Jon had the nerve to slander Jirachi the evening before, and now try and apologise, but he knew Jirachi wouldn't want that. It had mentioned Jon as well, when it mentioned seeing everyone after waking up. Jimmy sighed, before speaking, drying his eyes, and trying to talk firmly.

"It wasn't just Jirachi. It couldn't have granted that wish if you didn't remove the clouds. Everyone owes you just as much…"

Steven looked at Jon, confused for a moment, before speaking.

"How did you get rid of the clouds?" Steven asked. "They've been a thorn in our side all week…"

Jon looked between Steven and Jimmy.

"I took a leaf out of Jimmy's book. I stopped treating Rayquaza like a liability, that will hurt someone or get me thrown into prison. I apologised, and promised to fight alongside it, as equals," Jon explained. "And it was enough for Rayquaza to trust me enough to Mega Evolve…"

"Did you know that would work?" Willow asked. "Even if Rayquaza Mega Evolved, how did you know the wind would disperse the clouds?"

"Because Rayquaza Mega Evolved when I captured it the first time three years ago, and the same thing happened…" Jon answered, very intentional to not implicate Cassandra in his answer. "I just didn't know if I could get Rayquaza to Mega Evolve…"

Avery, who had been content listening at this point, had to chime in.

"You've had Rayquaza for three years, as well as Latios?" Avery asked in disbelief. "Are there any other Legendary Pokemon you have stashed away?"

"Giratina now…" Jon said, holding up the black Pokeball. "But come by Mossdeep during summer. We have Legendary Pokemon coming out our-"

Jon was about to finish the sentence, before the talk of all the Legendary Pokemon at the Eon Academy reminded him of something. He looked at Glimmer, who held Luneth in her arms.

"Where're Abbee and Dylan?" Jon asked, concern now very evident in his voice.

"We found this shack that was sealed by Shadowcraft nearby, west of here, but the assault here was beginning and I wanted to join," Glimmer answered. "Dylan said once I got the shack unlocked I could come and help here…"

"And nobody's seen them since?" Jon asked, now growing very worried. There was an ambiguous shake of the head, before Jon ran towards the hole in the wall, with Willow following him, barely knowing any of the others present.

"I'm going with them," Cassandra said to Violet and Jarena. "Wherever Abbee is, Victini will be and they may be in trouble."

"All the more reason you need our help," Jarena retorted but Cassandra shook her head.

"Look for any of ours that are injured here and see if you can help them," Cassandra said. "The fight's over but our job is far from done…"

Violet nodded in understanding, before giving Cassandra her own instruction.

"Stay safe…"

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

Jon spotted the shack once he was outside, and began running, albeit exhaustedly towards it, praying that he wouldn't see what he was worried he would see. As he got closer, he saw the familiar forms of Darkrai, Metagross and Ampharos silhouetted against the moonlight, before seeing the forms of two people. One sitting against a tree, and the other laying across him.

"God no…" Jon said as he continued to run, Willow behind him and Cassandra trailing behind them.

The shack was at the top of a hill, and as Jon ran, he called out, hoping to hear a response.

"Dylan! Abbee!"

"Up here…"

The response was from Dylan and was weak. Jon rushed forward, finally reaching the top of the hill, where he saw Dylan sitting against the tree, with Abbee's head resting on his lap, her eyes closed. Victini sat by her side, holding her hand. Around them were four corpses of Agatha's followers, and the pair were soaked with blood.

"Oh my God…" Jon said, in shock before Dylan cut him off.

"She's okay, just sleeping…" Dylan said. "She lost a lot of blood, and I had to give her a lot of mine, so neither of us have it in us to really go very far right now…"

Willow and Cassandra arrived in time to hear Jon ask Dylan what had happened, and Dylan tell the story of how they found this place and were attacked.

"It looked like we won, and Brianna's plan was ruined because the diamond near the Megamart was destroyed," Dylan answered. "But then there was one with a knife who had stuck around and tried to get me from my blind spot. Abbee saw it, and pushed me out of the way and…"

Dylan felt himself choking up, as he couldn't finish the sentence.

"She had been trying to get me to go and join you guys, but I refused. I was convinced that if we didn't find something then and there, Brianna would have caused bigger problems for us later…" Dylan said weakly. "And because of that, we were here when the fight broke out and she was nearly killed…"

"Still, you stopped Brianna-" Jon tried to reason, but Dylan cut him off.

"I didn't do s**t! Honestly, I could have never found this place, and chances are, she still would have failed because of the assault on the Megamart overloading the diamond," Dylan said angrily. "The only reason Abbee didn't die is because Brianna's plans were ruined, and she took pity on us. If Abbee had have died, it would have been for nothing, because I didn't listen to her…"

Victini stood by Abbee's hand that was thankfully warmer now, refusing to let go with his own two paws. Cassandra moved towards him, kneeling on the ground next to him before patting him on the head.

"I couldn't save you back then, and I couldn't save her myself now…" Victini said to Cassandra telepathically, though unable to hide the guilt he felt through the link. "Some 'Legendary Pokemon' I am…"

Victini hadn't looked up from Abbee's face the entire time since they had arrived, though part of that was to hide the tears.

"She deserves better…" Victini said. "You did too…"

"Stop thinking like that!" Cassandra replied with an intensity that made Victini flinch. "I was lucky to have you by my side, and Abbee is luckier because you actually chose her…"

"She nearly died because I didn't realise that we hadn't accounted for one of them…"

"Victini, look at me…" Cassandra said, forgoing the telepathy. "Look at me…"

Victini looked around at Cassandra, whose heart broke seeing her friends eyes so filled with tears.

"I'm glad you feel like you need to protect me, and that you are doing the same for Abbee, but everything that happened to me, was a result of my own decisions…" Cassandra said quietly. "And it wasn't until Abbee put herself in harms way to save Dylan that she got hurt. You can't account for things like that, and you can't blame yourself for not protecting her…"

"Still…"

"Abbee was unharmed before she saved Dylan, correct?" Cassandra asked, and Victini nodded in agreement. "Then you didn't fail her…"

Victini let go of Abbee's hand for a moment, to dry his eyes as Cassandra spoke.

"I know first hand that Abbee has a partner who could never let her down…" Cassandra said. "And I don't believe for a second that she thinks you were anything less than perfect during all this…"

Victini's shoulders relaxed a little hearing this, however he still wasn't convinced.

"I need to get stronger…" Victini said. "I won't let this happen again…"

"Where is Brianna?" Jon asked, looking around.

"As soon as she could walk without collapsing after the blood transfusion, she left. Said she didn't want to stick around for the League to find her…" Dylan answered. "Has Agatha been detained?"

Jon shook his head.

"She was cornered, outnumbered, and unable to use Shadowcraft. Willow and I had captured Marshadow and Giratina," Jon explained. "She chose to kill herself before being taken alive…"

Whilst the thought of somebody killing themselves normally shook Dylan, he felt little sympathy for Agatha in this case.

"So it's over?"

"It's over," Jon answered. "We've won…"


Jonathan Drake, as drawn by johnrielduana

[[Desolate Divine]]

The action is over, with one last episode of Spiritwater (not counting the side story) before it's over. It's been a ride...

[Neo Emolga]

Dang...

Spoiler:

Holy smokes, you definitely have a nice way to keep everyone at the edge of their seats!

This was definitely an amazing and action-packed climax chapter that wrapped up so many intense and suspenseful battle situations! I also like and appreciate the fact that you gave everyone a role of importance to play in this. I definitely like the way you handled Cassandra, Jarena, and Violet and you did a great job with all the other characters as well, keeping true to their personalities and tendencies.

Also, never once did it seem like things were too easy for the good guys or someone found a way to cheat themselves out of a tight spot. Any accomplishment made had to come with a cost. Everyone had their struggles in one way or another and this proved that victory had to come with hard effort and sacrifice, and that this war was costly for both sides.

Without a doubt, we definitely need to get another RP out there and I’m hoping we can do that soon. Both of these RPs are great and the story you crafted in response to those and to add an AMAZING new amount of depth to the lore and background is awesome!

Great work as always, dude!

[[Desolate Divine]]

Really glad you liked it. Just finished proofreading the last official episode now, with only an Epilogue left. As much as I am glad I did this, I am also glad it's over XD I miss the interactions between all the interns and the Academy antics, so am glad to get back to that!

[[Desolate Divine]]

Spiritwater Episode 15: Homecoming

Spoiler:

“It hasn’t worked…” Violet muttered as she turned Jon’s cursed forearm and hand, not so gently to inspect it. Jon winced in pain at the rough treatment. Despite the pain largely having disappeared over the last two days, whenever Violet took charge in attempting to use a healing spell, he always found she was considerably less gentle with her manhandling of the afflicted area.

“Let me look at it…” Willow said, moving forward to grip Jon’s arm and inspect it herself. Despite Violet’s handling being rough, Willow’s was worse, and Jon grimaced in pain.

The curse itself had confused all of the six Shadowcraft users that were aligned with the League over the two days since their victory over Agatha. Jon had grabbed Nicodemus’ hand, despite knowing it was channelling a curse, in order to buy a split second opportunity in order to land a hit and end the fight. It had worked. Jon hit Nicodemus with an improvised weapon, which had incapacitated one of Agatha’s most loyal supporters. To the point where Nicodemus had sustained a severe head injury, and would be requiring high care for the rest of his life. However, Willow showed little sympathy.

Where this turn of events was far from ideal, was that the curse that he had used was one that none of them had ever seen, Willow believing it to have been taught to Nicodemus by Agatha herself, which she had learnt from peering into the void. This was far from the first time Jon had gathered with those who may be able to remove the curse, as they sat in one of the secure rooms on the S.S. Wishmaker that the League had commissioned for the Diamond Ladies investigation. Ironically, it was where Jon had taken the Diamond Ladies after detaining them.

“Any idea on what it is, Glimmer?” Luneth asked, back in her human form, as Glimmer had her eyes closed, attempting to use an insight spell on the cursed hand, having grown exceptionally proficient in identifying curses over the last few days.

“I have figured out some stuff, but none of it is good…” Glimmer said, as a nervous silence came over the room.

“What have you found out?” Jarena asked.

“Firstly, this isn’t a simple curse, though it looks like it. This is actually a hybrid curse, with a conditional delay on one of the effects,” Glimmer explained.

“That was definitely a curse from Agatha. Nicodemus wasn’t smart or creative enough for this…” Willow remarked.

“The first effect is the one you see here,” Glimmer explained. “The blackened, shrivelled flesh, and underneath the skin, it appears to have been cut with hundreds of small lacerations. If this had have made contact on the chest or head, you’d be in a body bag…”

“I figured that was the case when he kept going for my head,” Jon answered. “I figured if the curse he was using could kill me by making contact with my arm, he’d be going for that, so I could use it to give me a window…”

“And had that hit to the head not knocked him out, it would have killed you anyway,” Cassandra retorted, as Jon gave a weak grin.

“So what’s this second curse?” Jon asked, trying to hide the worry. He had been worried that there was something nefarious under the surface, and this confirmed it.

“I don’t know,” Glimmer explained. “The hybrid modification alongside the conditional delay makes identifying it difficult if the curse hasn’t activated. Like trying to read the inside of a folded piece of paper. I managed to see one glyph, however it is vague, and didn't give any sort of indication of what this curse is…”

“And the glyph is?” Violet asked.

“Gravity...”

“So this curse could activate and I begin to float away?” Jon asked.

“I doubt it’s that simple, but yes. Your body is now cursed, and we have no idea what that curse is and when it will trigger,” Glimmer answered. “It’s a ticking time bomb…”

All present in the room went silent. Knowing Nicodemus, the curse was likely lethal, and at any point, in a day or a year, it could activate…

“Could we Nox Purge it?” Jarena asked. “Surely with the six of us…”

“Without knowing what the curse is, we risk killing all of us, if it is that ingrained into Jon that it exhausts us…” Cassandra replied bitterly. “And besides, Jon is still alive because he interrupted the curse by knocking Nicodemus out. But remember when we Nox Purged Avery?”

“We had to let the curse run its course…” Violet agreed. “Even if we knew how to force this curse to run its course, if it did, it would probably kill Jon, given what we know it does under the surface…”

“We couldn’t have one or two of us healing him at the same time while the curse runs its course?” Glimmer asked, however Cassandra shook her head.

“We’d risk killing the healers, if the curse is too strong, and also risk killing the purgers more than we already would be…” Cassandra muttered angrily. She had spent the last four years using Shadowcraft to help Pokemon, and in the last week, people, and now, was faced with one of her friends having what seemed like an incurable curse.

“Then we leave it…” Jon said, as he withdrew his arm, and rolled his sleeve back down to his wrist. Despite having become more comfortable with his scars being visible, they weren’t as obvious as the current state of his hand.

“The curse could activate at any time…” Willow warned.

“And it could not. And even if it does, it will likely kill me…” Jon answered. “But it seems like our only other options are to risk killing me by removing this thing, whilst risking killing all of you…”

All went silent. Whilst the idea of Jon living with this curse was far from what they had hoped to discover, he was right. He could live with the risk of it activating and killing him, or he could risk his own life and the life of those present in order to remove a curse which may never activate.

“So what, you just live with this curse until it activates and kills you?” Cassandra asked. Jon shook his head.

“I live with it until we figure out a safe way to remove it,” Jon answered firmly. “Until then, the pain is pretty much gone most of the time.”

“Most of the time?” Violet asked. “When is it bothering you?”

Violet reached out to inspect Jon’s wrist, however he quickly recoiled, as Jarena hid a grin.

“Not now…”

************************************************** ************************************************** *********

It was shortly after noon when Jon arrived at the S.S. Wishmaker infirmary, the reason for staying on the S.S. Wishmaker despite it being stuck on Akala Island until the damage was repaired. In his hand, he carried a plastic bag, containing disposable plastic containers, each with a serve of dumplings.

“Sorry I’m late,” Jon said as he entered the room. In one corner of the room, Abbee sat in a bed, hooking up to an IV drip, and various bits of monitoring equipment, with Dylan sitting on the chair next to her bed. Victini sat on her lap, as she spoke to him. Whilst Abbee felt fine, she had been kept in for observation, considering she received a substantial blood transfusion, through medically unorthodox means.

Not too far from Abbee, Jimmy sat in a bed, hooked up to a similar setup to Abbee, as did Avery and Abital, though resting on Jimmy’s lap, was the sleeping Jirachi who had not stirred at all since it closed the Netherlink. The trio had battled themselves into sheer exhaustion, defending their line in order to allow Triad to battle Agatha without being flanked by Agatha’s allies. They had been on the verge of collapse when the battle finally ended, and had remained under observation in the infirmary since.

“Any news?” Avery asked, as Jon made his way towards them, handing them a container with their lunch.

“Nothing good,” Jon said flatly. “There is another curse hidden beneath this one that they can’t remove without risking killing me, or themselves. It’s dormant, but they think that something may trigger it, and if it does activate, it will not be pleasant…”

“Jirachi could remove it…” Jimmy said quietly, as Jon handed him his lunch.

“Jirachi has done enough,” Jon answered. “I don’t want him waking up after all this, and then risking falling asleep again trying to fix this.”

Abital began signing something, though Avery, who already had a mouthful of dumplings, wasn’t able to translate.

“Abital says ’could you get an answer out of the witch who did this’, I think,” Dylan said, shocking Avery, and more so, Abital, who grinned at him. Dylan looked between the pair in slight embarrassment. “My grandma was deaf, so I learnt a few signs when I was a kid, then started actually learning when I found out my uncle was deaf…”

“Unfortunately, the reason it stopped at my hand was because I hit him hard enough that he’ll be spoonfed for the rest of his life…” Jon explained. “And Willow thinks that the only other person who knew the curse was Agatha herself…”

Jon handed Abbee, Dylan, Jimmy and Abital their lunches before sitting down on a chair near Avery and Abital’s beds.

“So I owe you guys an apology,” Jon said to the pair quietly. “For keeping you in the dark about what was going on, especially when I knew you were here. I’d hoped that you could have a normal wedding and honeymoon, so told Steven not to call you, Avery, and bailed on the wedding myself. Really worked a treat, with both of you now in the infirmary…”

“Twice in two days for Abital,” Avery remarked, earning a grin from their husband, as he ate his lunch. “Honestly though, I’m not sure whether it was dumb luck Abital and I wound up here, or some sick act of fate. We boarded the S.S. Wishmaker originally as a bit of a joke, and sure enough…”

“You both get caught up in another Shadowcraft s**tshow?” Jon suggested, and Avery grinned.

“Not my exact wording, but I’ll take it…”

Jon looked around the infirmary, and couldn’t help but grin.

“At least you aren’t sharing the room with a psychotic dragon trainer,” Jon noted. “Remember last time we were here?”

Avery couldn’t help but laugh at the recollection. Abital looked between his spouse, and Jon, who he hadn’t spoken to much at this point, a little confused.

“Last time Avery and I were here, was on the S.S. Wishmaker, when Jirachi wanted to play,” Jon said to Abital, as Jimmy looked up from where Jirachi lay, his eyes fixed on Jon. Jon noticed this, however continued. “Avery and I came here because Lance was detained here, and one of his guys was his guard. We were worried something may happen, and Lance would get out…”

Dylan looked to see Jimmy staring at Jon, hoping his teacher wouldn’t have a repeat of the meeting the night before.

“It was the funniest thing I had ever seen,” Jon said, struggling to keep a straight face. “Lance had been turned into a Flapple…”

“It was an Applin,” Avery corrected, as Jon grinned.

“Even better. An Applin,” Jon explained. “And the operative that was there, probably to help him break out, got turned into a Munchlax, and kept trying to eat him. We were outside and could hear something going on, and found Applin-Lance climbing onto a trolley or something where the Munchlax couldn’t reach him…”

Despite himself, Jimmy chuckled at the story being told, having not heard it before.

“So when do all of you get out?” Jon asked.

“Abital, Jimmy and I get out this afternoon,” Avery answered, before nodding towards Abbee.

“Same,” Abbee answered. “They’ve been checking me for any indication that my body has reacted badly to the transfusion, but found nothing. So I’ll be getting out later today…”

Jon nodded, however noticed Dylan seeming quieter than usual, and a little deflated. He had been this way since the aftermath of the battle, and despite Jon having tried to talk to him about this, he had blamed it on fatigue and changed the subjected. Jon, during one of his many calls to Alyssa in the previous few days, had mentioned this.

"You've all lived a nightmare and survived," Alyssa had said. "Dylan's naturally quiet at the best of times, so give him some time to process things and then see where he's at…"

She was right. Whilst Dylan was definitely more talkative than he was during his first year at the Academy, there were two reasons for that. The first being he simply was close to Jon, Alyssa, Steven and the other interns, who he found easy to talk to, until Chris began acting out the summer before, in which case Dylan became relatively silent around him again. The second reason being that Dylan, despite being naturally quiet, understood that in positions of leadership, such as his role at the Academy, communication was integral, and as such had adapted in those sorts of circumstances to be more comfortable speaking. However deep down, he was still the same quiet person he always was.

And now, Dylan had almost had his best friend, and Jon had a solid hunch of something more, all but die in his arms. It seemed no wonder Dylan had seemed to regress a little.

"Just give him some time," Alyssa repeated. "He's a smart kid, and will talk when he's ready…"

Despite Dylan not being a kid anymore, Jon also struggled to not fall into the trap of thinking that way. Dylan had been under he and Alyssa's care for nearly three years now, and despite being very independent, only asking for help when he clearly needed it, and in a lot of Eon Academy projects, actually taking the lead, they still felt a sense of responsibility for him, which was why Jon was against Dylan coming in the first place.

Jon sighed as he watched Dylan, who seemed to be exhausted by the million thoughts racing through his mind, but trying his best to hide it.

"I hope you'll be alright…"

************************************************** ************************************************** *********

Jon stepped off the S.S. Wishmaker, having been told Willow had headed into Heahea City and was immediately greeted by overzealous news reporters, with cameras and microphones placed in front of him. Despite the heat, he wore his motorbike jacket, and quickly placed his left hand in the pocket.

Normally he would have flown on Latios off the ship to avoid the cameras, however Latios was his reason for leaving the S.S. Wishmaker. He had been gone all morning, and Jon suspected he was with Latias, as he tended to be most of the time since recovering from the battle. Jon had been seeking out Willow to find out if she knew where they were.

"Mr. Drake, do you have anything to say about the claims that you had been in possession of Rayquaza in an unregistered Pokeball prior to arriving in Heahea City?"

"Are you aware that three of your students were visiting former Indigo Champion Lance at the time of his escape?"

"Is there any truth to the claims that the people removing curses from attacked civilians in Heahea City Hospital are actually the Diamond Ladies?"

Jon ignored the questions, making his way through the crowd of reporters, who despite Jon's clear role in stopping Agatha by battling and capturing Giratina, were simply looking for clicks on their website and asking leading and incriminating questions. The difficult part of the situation was that every insinuation they made was true.

"Do students of the Eon Academy and their parents need to be concerned by you being in possession of Giratina, considering its role in destroying Heahea City Hospital, and it being under the command of Agatha?"

This question was the one that stopped Jon in his tracks, like four years earlier as he left the S.S. Wishmaker.

"I guarantee you, that there is not a person alive better suited to rehabilitate Giratina, and make it safe than myself. This isn't to say it will happen, however it is to say that there is nobody else who has a better chance of undoing the damage to Giratina's mind that being under Agatha's command has done than myself," Jon answered. "I have trained Latios to be loyal and obedient to a fault, I have battled alongside Rayquaza to the absolute brink and beyond, and created enough of a bond for it to Mega Evolve, and under my instruction, Charlotte Jones had Deoxys safe to battle against the College of the North Wind in a matter of months, and has continued to compete to this day with Deoxys, with no incidents whatsoever. Let that speak for itself. By the time I allow Giratina out of its Pokeball the way I do my other Pokemon, around my students especially, it will be safe…"

Jon quickly left as there was a flurry of follow up questions, particularly pertaining to Rayquaza, donning his riding gloves, the left of which stung as it rubbed against his hand, and his helmet, before starting up the motorcycle and leaving the reporters to ask their questions to the exhaust smoke behind him.

It was on the beach on the southern coast of the island where Jon found Willow, who watched with a grin, as Latios and Latias dived in and out of the water, before flying up in the air.

"If one good thing were to have come from all this, it'd be what we're seeing right now…" Jon called out as Willow turned, and flashed him a grin. "I have barely seen Latios as happy as he is with his sister…,"

"Honestly, neither…" Willow answered. "Latias knew where to find him, but she had tried to approach him before, during one of your battles, and he hadn't recognised her…"

"He took a hit to the head when they got separated, and until recently, didn't remember anything from before then," Jon answered, having been shown Latios' recovered memories. Willow nodded in understanding.

"She figured as much," Willow said. "She saw how happy he was with you, and figured why weigh him down with a past he obviously doesn't remember?"

"He wasn't this happy…" Jon said, unable to hide the grin as he watched the pair of Eon Pokemon, despite being fully grown, acting like juveniles as they played in the air and water. Latios, having surfaced first from their dive, waited for Latias to surface, before using a telekinetic blast to splash her. "It's a shame that they can't just stay together…"

Willow considered the statement, before answering.

"Why not?"

"I need Latios at the Academy," Jon explained. "Fact is that all the publicity around this has likely put a target on my back, and I don't think the Academy would be safe without Latios. Agatha actually sent people who were still in Johto after three of my students, hoping to take them hostage and force me to hand over Latios…"

"I wasn't thinking of Latios coming with me," Willow answered. "You said it yourself, the Eon Academy needs to be protected. But you can't do much against Shadowcraft…"

Jon's eyes widened as he realised what Willow was saying.

"You want to come to the Academy?"

"If you'll have me. I can help keep it safe from Shadowcraft," Willow answered. "Besides, I'm the traitor who stole Agatha's Marshadow, and helped the League beat her. If they've got a target on your back, they have one on my head…"

"You're not wrong…" Jon answered, feeling sorry for Willow. If Agatha had more followers out there, and she likely did, Willow would be looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life…

"Safety in numbers?" Willow asked. Jon nodded.

"That, and during the summer, we now have the highest concentration of Legendary Pokemon on the planet…" Jon added causing Willow to grin. "Not even the government have that many…"

"You think they'd come after us?" Willow asked.

"Let them try. We'll send a message…"

************************************************** ************************************************** *********

Despite Abbee only being let out of the infirmary an hour earlier, she had insisted that she, Dylan and Victini go get an early dinner on the ship, quoting her distaste for the food they were given when Jon didn't bring them food himself. As their food arrived, Abbee noticed what was simply the next example of a trend that she had seen in Dylan since the battle against Agatha.

Having got her chair out for her when they arrived at the table, to pouring her glasses of water, and now, when the waiter had arrived with their food, taking hers first from the waiter to place in front of her, before getting his own. Even on their way there, he had walked far slower than his usual pace, as if he thought she'd collapse from exhaustion trying to keep up.

"Do you want to blow on it too?" Abbee asked jokingly nodding towards the bowl of pasta in front of her. "Make sure it's not too hot?"

Dylan grimaced a little, only realising just how fragile he was treating Abbee.

"Sorry," Dylan said as Abbee gave an apologetic grin.

"I'm happy for you to keep getting me drinks, and placing my food in front of me," Abbee joked. "But I can walk faster than a Slowpoke…"

"I was going just as fast as I normally do for you to keep up," Dylan retorted and Victini choked back a laugh, as Abbee fixed her gaze on him.

The pair ate with quiet small talk, as Abbee wondered how to ask the question she wanted to ask. She had really not minded the food she was given in the infirmary, however wanted some time alone with Dylan, and although having accepted by this point that Victini would always be the third wheel, after two days of always having Jimmy, Avery and Abital in the same room with the only privacy being the curtain that sectioned off each bed, finding that alone time had been difficult.

"Something wrong?" Dylan asked, as Abbee glanced up, realising she had been daydreaming.

"I was just thinking about the opening ceremony, before everything went to hell…"

"That costume you made me wear?" Dylan asked and Abbee grinned remembering the Bewear costume.

"No, not that…" Abbee answered. She considered putting Victini in his Pokeball, however knowing how carefree he was with his telepathy, she figured Victini knew the answer already to what she was going to ask. "About how we said we'd finally have that conversation when this is all over…"

Dylan, who had barely eaten at this point and was simply poking at his food with his fork, stopped as Abbee continued, Victini watching the conversation progress with great anticipation.

"Even after a year in Nimbasa City, working at the gym, and now this, nothing's changed," Abbee said. "We agreed to wait for a year because I'd just broken up with Chris, and was worried about moving, and you were worried about meeting Brent and potentially losing your hearing, and both didn't want to risk messing things up by just trying to latch on to each other…"

Dylan remained as Abbee asked the direct question.

"I still feel the same," Abbee asked. "But I want to know, do you?"

A silence permeated the table, as Dylan struggled to make eye contact. He already knew this would be hard, and seeing her eyes as he said it would only make it harder.

He sighed, before looking her in the eyes and speaking.

"I'm sorry, but I think we should just stick to being friends…"

Abbee felt her heart sink in her chest as she heard this, whilst Victini fixed his gaze on Dylan, Dylan suspecting this was the protective nature Charlotte had mentioned Chris being subject to when he was with Abbee. However he knew this was different.

"No, don't be sorry…" Abbee said, albeit quietly. "This is why we decided to wait…"

Dylan nodded in agreement.

"Still, I'm sorry…"

"It's okay Dylan," Abbee said, though Victini knew she was lying. "I'm okay…"

Abbee began picking at her food again, although silently, and Dylan attempted to do the same. However, Victini continued to stare at him.

"Why lie to her and hurt her?" Victini asked, shock and anger evident in his voice. "You said you loved her! Or did you only say it because she was dying?"

Dylan didn't look at Victini when he replied knowing that it was a dead giveaway they were talking telepathically. Instead he continued to eat as he focused his thoughts.

"She came here because I did, and almost died because she was following my lead. She almost died stopping me from being killed…" Dylan answered. "I don't want anything to happen to her, and if she is safer with someone else, then so be it…"

Victini wanted to argue, especially seeing how much this hurt Abbee, however could see that Dylan genuinely believed that he was doing the right thing by her, even if it was the complete opposite of what he wanted. He sighed internally, before beginning to poke around at his food, having lost his appetite.

************************************************** ************************************************** *********

Despite the fact he had barely eaten, Chris' appetite had deserted him, as he started at the late lunch that sat in front of him. Next to him sat Charlotte, who had opted for a bowl of nachos, as she could eat with her free left hand, whilst her right remained in a sling, as to not pull at the stitches holding the wound closed. Opposite the pair of them, Justin sat with a bland sandwich in front of them, his stomach a little sensitive from the migraines he had been suffering through as he recovered from the concussion.

“How did Candice take the news that you were in hospital?” Charlotte asked. Justin groaned.

“She freaked…” Justin answered. “She still doesn’t know we were planning to go help Jon. I’ll tell her when I see her next, but right now, she only knows we were attacked, and realised they were going after Chris…”

“When will you see her?” Chris asked.

“As soon as I get back to Jubilife,” Justin answered. “She’s taken leave and is on her way there now, and will meet us at the airport.”

Despite the warnings about travelling, both Charlotte and Justin had decided to head back to Sinnoh. Whilst Chris had offered for them to stay with him at his family’s home in Blackthorn City, they had both declined. Justin because Candice would be waiting for him to return, and worrying, and Charlotte because she figured if Justin was going, it would be best that she went too, so they could keep an eye on each other during the flight, and help in the event of any complications. Both of them figured they’d be more comfortable at home, and had arranged flights for that evening. Chris on the other hand, had decided to pull out of the next few tournaments, having been shaken up by the attack, and subsequent police investigation.

When Charlotte, Chris and Justin were finally taken in for questioning, they asked for a phone call each. Justin had tried calling Jon, however he didn’t answer his phone, they realised because he would be using a League issued one, so instead, Charlotte used hers to call Alyssa, who passed on a message.

The trio were interviewed for a few hours, being asked all manner of questions, as the police attempted to determine if there was any intentionality in their role in Lance’s escape. However, after answering all the questions truthfully and giving no reason to suspect any intentionality, as well as a very pointed phone call from Steven Stone midway through the interview, they were given the all clear to leave.

The waiter dropped off the check as they finished their meals, and Charlotte knew she was running out of time, as the taxi they had booked earlier to take her and Justin to the airport would be arriving soon.

“So next summer…” Charlotte said to Chris. “Will you come back to the Academy? I’m almost glad it didn’t run this summer, because it wouldn’t have been the same without you…”

“Agreed,” Justin said. “Jon doesn’t hold a grudge about what happened, and honestly, Abbee and Dylan aren’t the sort to hold grudges either…”

Chris grimaced at the references to their last summer at the Academy, and his own actions.

“Seriously,” Charlotte said. “We all know you love being there…”

“I do,” Chris answered, surprising Charlotte a little who expected him to deny it. “But honestly, even if Jon isn’t holding a grudge, I don’t deserve to be his student…”

Silence struck the group at Chris’ statement, as he continued.

“Honestly, I was hurt, and doing myself no favours. He tried to help me, and I spat in his face…” Chris muttered. “The fact that he isn’t holding a grudge just proves he deserves a better student than me…”

“Chris, you were the first one to decide we were going to Alola when we realised he was in trouble…” Justin said. “Surely that makes up for what you said to him?”

“Deciding to do something and actually doing something are two very different things,” Chris replied bitterly. “In the end, he won without my help…”

Charlotte sighed, knowing that she stood little chance of changing Chris’ mind.

“Just think about it,” Charlotte said. “You have nearly a year, and I’m going to make sure I beat you enough between now and then, that you need to go back to catch up…”

“Good luck…”

The trio continued to speak, mostly in disbelief that forty-eight hours earlier, they were watching a battle that could have decided the fate of the world as they knew it. Charlotte had spoken to Jon since the police let them go, and he had briefly explained what was going on, though Charlotte hadn’t understood more than the fact that had the League failed the day prior, it would have been the end of the world. However, before long, the taxi arrived. Chris helped the pair load their bags into the taxi, before saying goodbye, with Charlotte repeating her statement from earlier.

”Just think about it…”

Once the pair left, Chris started his motorcycle, before beginning the trip back to Blackthorn City. Whilst normally, leaving at this time, he’d have camped the night, he, like Charlotte and Justin, just wanted to return home, even if it meant arriving in the early hours of the morning.

After checking that his bag was secured properly to the back of the bike, having made that mistake once before in his early days of travelling on it, he donned his helmet, before attaching his phone to the handlebar mount, putting on his gloves, and climbing onto the bike. However, before he flicked the stand back up, he heard the sound of his ringtone, through the speakers in the helmet. Looking down at his phone, he saw a call coming through from an unfamiliar number, with a strange area code. Figuring it may be the police with more questions, he quickly took off his gloves and helmet, and stopped the engine, before grabbing the phone and answering.

”Chris Kingswood,” Chris answered, and heard a surprised voice on the other end.

”Chris, it’s good to talk to you,” said Jon’s voice, as Chris realised who was on the other end. ”I thought I was about to get voice mail.”

“I saw a weird number and thought it was the police,” Chris answered, shocked he was talking to Jon before kicking himself, as he realised he just admitted to screening Jon’s calls. Jon however didn’t seem to notice.

”S**t, I forgot this was my League phone,” Jon replied. ”Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you…”

”It’s fine,” Chris said awkwardly, wanting to change the subject. “How’re things in Alola?”

”Still messy,” Jon answered. ”There are still scattered groups of witches on the island, and the League are intercepting everyone leaving, and searching them for any spell reagents and stuff. But with Agatha gone, and Giratina and Marshadow captured, they are disorganised and much easy to track down…”

“I watched the battle on TV. We all did,” Chris said. “I can’t believe that Rayquaza Mega Evolved.”

”I can’t either…” Jon answered with a laugh, surprising Chris a little. ”Honestly, it will take a few days before I am convinced we didn’t fail and this is some huge afterlife hallucination…”

Before Chris could answer, Jon continued.

”By the way, yesterday I got to watch the recording of that battle between you and Charlotte from the other day,” Jon continued. ”You both battled really well. Honestly, if the three of you had been able to get here, I think the whole thing would have been over by sundown…”

”Thanks…” Chris answered awkwardly, though thankful that the conversation hadn’t moved towards their last few encounters. “But it seemed like Rayquaza Mega Evolving was what was needed to get rid of that Nether-thing…”

Jon sighed.

”In a way, yes, so you’re right about that. Maybe I’m being optimistic, but that’s irrelevant. You did really well in the tournament,” Jon said. ”I haven’t seen Charlotte that rattled in a long time…”

“She won’t fall for the same trick twice…”

”I’d be disappointed if she did,” Jon retorted. ”But keep coming up with tactics like that and you won’t need to worry about her pulling ahead…”

There was an awkward silence, before Jon spoke again.

”Chris, about Lance…” Jon began, however Chris interrupted.

“Jon, I stand by what I did. I know you would have fought him until help could arrive and detain him, but I’m not you. I was barely in a position to fight him alone, and Charlotte was injured, and-”

”Chris, back up…” Jon said. ”You did the right thing…”

Chris went silent, shocked to hear this.

”You’re right. Justin was unconscious and needed medical attention, and Charlotte was injured, but would have fought anyway. Lance and I have our history, but I’m not going to put that over the safety of my students,” Jon explained. ”You did the right thing letting him go, and looking out for Charlotte and Justin. Lance is dangerous even without his Dragonite, and chances are, even if nothing happened to the three of you, anyone else who came to try and detain him would be at risk…”

Despite this making sense, and Chris realising he should have known this was how Jon would feel about the situation, the commendation took Chris by surprise.

“So what now?” Chris asked. “Will you go after him? You have Latios and Rayquaza, and once Giratina is trained…”

Jon chuckled to himself, finding it funny that after all this time, Chris still treated him like some sort of superhero.

”No, that’s not my job. Besides, I didn’t get away from this business in Alola unscathed, and got a bit too close to being killed for my liking. I don’t want to leave Alyssa and Lili without me, and while I’d fight Lance if he showed up here, I’m not going to try and bring him in. Cornering him would make him even more dangerous, and I’m not taking that risk. I’ll leave that to whoever the League decide to send after him…”

Chris’ eyes widened at Jon’s comment about not escaping unscathed.

“Are you alright?”

”I’m fine now, but it’s complicated…” Jon answered, choosing his words carefully. ”Next time you’re in Hoenn, we can get a beer, and I’ll fill you in…”

Chris’ first response was to reject the offer, however couldn’t do it. He felt exhausted, not from the previous few days' events and stresses, but something else. Exhausted from trying to convince himself that he didn’t want to go back…

“Sure…” Chris said cautiously. ”I’ll be in Hoenn later in the year…”

”Great,” Jon said. ”But Chris, just something to think about…”

Worried that Jon would be choosing now to lecture him about the year before, he sighed.

”Between us, I think that next summer will be the last one with Charlotte, Justin, Dylan and Abbee,” Jon said. ”And during the fight, we were terrifyingly close to losing Abbee. It was an actual miracle that she survived…”

“Wait, is she alright?!” Chris asked before he could even think.

“She’s completely fine,” Jon said. “But it was a one in a million chance that she survived…”

Chris felt his heart sink hearing that Abbee had been so close to death.

”What I’m saying is, if you wanted to try and talk things out with Abbee, you just got given a chance that a lot of people would kill for,” Jon said evenly. ”And I know it would mean the world to the others to spend the last summer that some of them have at the Academy with you there as well…”

“What makes you say this will be their last?” Chris asked.

”Because you all have dreams that will pull you away from being here every year, and you’re starting to reach them…” Jon answered. ”Take Justin. By the time next summer comes, he will have finished his degree and will be trying to join the police. I’m willing to bet Giratina that he will apply to join the Snowpoint Police to be with Candice, and given his own reputation, and the fact that Snowpoint don’t exactly get a lot of cops wanting to relocate there, they’d be stupid not to accept him. Charlotte and yourself both want to compete, but given the biggest tournaments are in summer, you can’t keep avoiding them to come here every year…”

Chris knew Jon was right. Justin wanted to join the police, and he wanted to be closer to Candice. He wouldn’t let the Academy delay that any longer than it has to. And Charlotte would not avoid the summer circuits forever.

”I am certain they will all be here next summer, since this summer went to hell and back, but after that, I don’t know that all four of them, all five of you, will be here together again…” Jon continued. ”Don’t let this last chance slip by…”

Chris considered Jon’s words, before taking a breath. He spoke again, saying the words he’d wanted to say since he last saw Jon, back in Jubilife airport.

“I’ll be there…”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****
"Is there any truth to the claims that the people removing curses from attacked civilians in Heahea City Hospital are actually the Diamond Ladies?"

Cassandra, Violet and Jarena watched the television as the news played, showing footage from the battle two days earlier. As the cameras hadn't been inside the Megamart, the most they captured was Rayquaza against Giratina, which was the fight they had been oblivious to from where they battled Agatha. However, after that, the footage had changed to footage of news reporters harassing Jon only a few hours earlier as he departed the S.S. Wishmaker. As per his policy, he had ignored all questions, though broken when the safety of the Eon Academy and its students came into question, and answered that before leaving.

"I guess less people are buying into us dying in the fire," Violet said, sounding uncertain. Cassandra nodded. The trio sat in the same room where they had been taken after being detained during their previous trip on the S.S. Wishmaker.

"Based on what I am seeing here, it seems like all the hard work of covering our tracks back then is out the window," Jarena said, as she looked at Jon's tablet which was logged into his Twitter account. After relocating operatives onto the S.S. Wishmaker, the Diamond Ladies had realised that short of borrowing a flying Pokemon and flying off the ship, their only way off was blocked by media personnel who would recognise them in an instant. As such, they spent most of the time in their room, though this time allowed to leave and choosing not to. As such, Jon had left his tablet so they could entertain themselves. Jarena passed Cassandra the tablet, which was on the hashtag #DiamondLadiesLive.

"My brother was in Heahea City and got cursed. Said the three hospital workers handling the witchcraft were familiar. Now that somebody has said it, he is certain it was them…" Cassandra read out as Violet grimaced. "Then there is this. 'I always thought it was too convenient that they just died in a fire and that was it. Good thing they didn't. I heard they stopped Agatha personally.'"

"That doesn't sound too bad…" Violet said, though Cassandra had to correct her.

"There are still plenty of bad ones…" Cassandra said, as she scrolled through. "That being said, last time we were this popular on Twitter, there was nothing good to say…"

Cassandra locked the tablet, before placing it on the coffee table and sighing.

The trio had remained for the last two days on the S.S. Wishmaker, with an unspoken agreement that they would take some time to rest, and make sure they weren't needed anymore, before returning to the Star Glade.

"So when do we go home?" Jarena asked. "Luneth, Glimmer and Willow seem to have the Shadowcraft needs of the League met…"

"We can't leave this room without risking being discovered," Violet said, and Cassandra nodded solemnly.

"Honestly, we are stuck on the ship until the media get bored and leave. Now that everyone is looking for us, our Pokemon forms would stand out, especially not being native here. And if we tried to escape the ship and got spotted it would draw more attention…" Cassandra explained. "Even then, I don't want to end things the way we did last time…"

"How so?" Violet asked, though Jarena, having to have done the same thing as Cassandra last time, knew.

"Abandoning our Pokemon," Jarena said solemnly. "Cass is right. That was hard enough the first time, and she was lucky to see that Victini ended up with a good trainer. I have no idea whether my old Pokemon are even still alive…"

Violet understood then, and nodded in agreement. They had all gone and taken in Pokemon that had been abandoned or given up, thinking they'd be battling with them during this fight. However, being surrounded by more experienced trainers, whilst being more familiar fighting with Shadowcraft themselves, their Pokemon had barely been used. And now, they were talking about giving them up so they could return to the Star Glade.

"If we are going back, we either give them the option to come with us and be wild Pokemon, or we make sure they end up with good trainers," Cassandra said. "We don't just release them and hope for the best…"

There was an awkward silence, as all of them considered this before Jarena spoke.

"If…" Jarena said. "Why if, and not when?"

Cassandra gave Jarena a puzzled glance, so she elaborated.

"You said if we go back, not when we go back…" Jarena explained. Cassandra shrugged.

"Slip of the tongue…"

Violet looked between the pair before focusing on Cassandra.

"Cass, do you actually want to go back?" Violet asked.

"Of course I do," Cassandra answered. "Why?"

"Because considering we just saved the world, and can now go back home, you don't exactly seem like your heart is in it…" Violet said. "And the more I think about what you said to Agatha, the more I wonder whether you want to stay here, or go back…"

It took Cassandra a moment to remember what Violet was referring to.

“Today, the Diamond Ladies rise above their past. Nobody will be able to condemn us and have a leg to stand on. And we do that by stopping you!"

"Let me ask a different question," Jarena asked Cassandra. "Do you want to stay? Not here specifically because I'm going to lose the plot if I gotta spend too long here. But as a human…"

Cassandra was quiet for a moment

"I do…"

"More than you want to go back to the Star Glade?" Violet asked.

"Yeah," Cassandra admitted. "But at the same time, the world rejected us, and honestly, I don't know that anything has changed…"

There was a silence among the group for a brief moment before Jarena answered.

"Honestly, I do too…" Jarena said. "But I thought you guys would both be wanting to go back, and would have preferred to go back with you than stay here by myself…"

Cassandra nodded in understanding as Violet gave a cynical snort of laughter.

"I guess that makes all three of us," Violet said. "I was only planning on going back so we could stick together…"

"Still, we went there in the first place because it was made abundantly clear that we weren't wanted here…" Cassandra murmured. "If we stay, hiding will be nearly impossible. We'd be staying as us. And once the truth is out, we can't just disappear again and go back to the Star Glade. People would actually be looking for us, and chances are it would be discovered…"

"Cass, you said it yourself. We have risen above our mistakes, and anybody who judges us for our past now, doesn't have a leg to stand on!" Violet said. "Every breath that they waste abusing us, is a breath that they have because of what we did!"

Cassandra considered the thought as Jarena added to it.

"Honestly, people had every right to be mad at us. We lied, cheated and hurt people to get what we wanted," Jarena said. "But honestly, I believe that same sense of justice and fairness that drove them to hate us, will be the same thing that causes them to give us another chance…"

"And if they don't, screw them!" Violet said. "The fact they'd still hold a grudge despite what's happened here speaks more about their character than ours!"

"We have two regional champions, dozens of cured Shadowcraft victims, and the founder of the Eon Academy all backing us," Jarena said. "With that sort of support, who cares if we have a few haters…"

Cassandra considered what her two best friends had just said. They could play it safe, and go back to the Star Glade, at the expense of cutting ties again with their friends and giving up their new Pokemon, but remaining safe from the abuse they suffered beforehand. Or they could take the risk, and live the life they wanted to live, with their friends and Pokemon by their side, and despite facing the same abuse they had prior, facing it this time with their heads held high, after what they had done in the last week.

"I'm not going back…"


************************************************** ************************************************** *****

"So how bad is it?" Jon asked before sipping his beer. It was early evening in a small bar in Heahea City. Despite trying to pay, the owner had recognised Jon and Steven, and allowed them to drink for free in his establishment, stating it likely wouldn't be there if not for their actions.

"Far from ideal but we couldn't have asked for better," Steven admitted before sipping his own. "Your no comment approach is good for now but when the League start asking questions it will do more harm than good. So we gotta be honest with them and tell them everything."

"Except Cassandra being involved…" Jon added. Steven nodded.

"They know Hill had me detained. I'll tell them that I escaped with Cynthia's help, and ordered you to capture Rayquaza. I gave you the illegal Pokeball, and told you to keep it hidden," Steven explained. "That takes most of the heat off you, as you were just obeying the Hoenn Champion and your former commanding officer from the S.S Wishmaker incident…"

Jon's brow furrowed hearing this.

"Firstly, that puts a lot of the heat on you, and secondly, that still leaves a bit of heat on me…"

Steven nodded.

"Thankfully this works well for us, as our actions, despite being illegal, worked out for the best on multiple fronts. Hill had been proven to be corrupt and dismissed, which gives some justification to our actions back then," Steven explained. "Then when you consider what would have happened if you didn't capture Rayquaza…"

"Hill would have killed it," Jon said. Steven shook his head.

"Hill would have tried to kill it and Lance may have captured it. He admitted it himself at the hearing. So straight up we have an attempted murderer, loose with one of the strongest Pokemon known to man," Steven explained. "Then for this operation, Rayquaza intervened during the attack on Section B, helped capture Giratina, allowing Latios to aid Willow and Latias with Marshadow, and removed the clouds that allowed Jirachi to destroy the Netherlink. If Rayquaza weren't here, Latios would be fighting Giratina alone and likely losing given it being empowered by the Netherlink, as would have Latias against Marshadow. The Netherlink wouldn't have been destroyed, and Giratina and Marshadow would have joined the fight in the Megamart, effectively dooming us to failure. I mean, s**t, you even caught Giratina in the same illegal Pokeball as Rayquaza…"

Steven took a swig of his drink before concluding.

"As co-commander of the mission, I have to say that had we not conspired to catch Rayquaza three years ago, this mission would have failed and we would likely all be worse than dead…" Steven said. "And honestly, that terrifies me that we came that close…"

"Agreed…" Jon affirmed before taking a swig of his own. "So what should I expect? Another hearing?"

Steven shook his head.

"The government won't want this being as high publicity as the hearing last year," Steven explained."They're in the awkward situation where one of their citizens committed a serious crime at the order of their League Champion, and the result of that was extremely beneficial. On the one hand, if they throw the book at you they would destroy public opinion of them given your role in recent events…"

Steven set his bottle on the bar in front of him, and signalled to the bartender for another.

"On the other hand, if they ignore it, they set a precedent that laws can be broken as long as it all works out in the end," Steven continued. "Either way, the decision being a public affair is detrimental to them. So they will likely take written statements, deliberate and then give you a warning not to do this again and everyone moves on with their lives."

"I'll take that," Jon answered. "What about Giratina and Marshadow? Will they try and take them?"

"Given your history with training Legendary Pokemon, they will likely leave them with you," Steven explained. "Though because the Pokeball used to capture Marshadow was yours, Marshadow is technically registered in your name. Even if Willow holds onto it, I'd keep it that way until Willow is viewed with less suspicion. She will likely be looked at with the same scrutiny that the Diamond Ladies were four years ago…"

Jon scowled at the thought. The fact that they were able to win at all was based on Willow betraying Agatha and risking her life to help them. But sadly, he knew Steven was right. Agatha was dead, Nicodemus was a vegetable, and if the truth got out that Willow was once part of Agatha's inner circle, even if she betrayed her, she would be the one they directed their anger at.

"I don't mean to interrupt…" said the bartender cautiously, being able to see the pair were talking about something important. "But have you seen this?"

Jon and Steven looked towards the large TV mounted on the wall, where the bartender was pointing.

'Cryptic tweet from Jon Drake.'

"What the f-" Jon began as he grabbed his phone from his pocket before realising it was his League phone, which wasn't logged in to Twitter

He looked at the screen, where it showed a tweet. His profile picture, a photo of him commanding Blaziken during the battle against Camilla Blakely the year before, was on the screen next to a single sentence.

"In five minutes, things will get very interesting…"

"Have you been hacked?" Steven asked.

"I don't see how? I have two-factor turned on which needs my phone to approve a new login," Jon explained. "And my phone has been turned off since we got here, and would be equally hard to crack…"

Realising the person who wrote the tweet must be using a device he is already logged in on, Jon knew who it was.

Before he could say anything though, the screen changed to a Twitter Livestream, and visible was the familiar room on the S.S. Wishmaker and the faces of Cassandra, Violet and Jarena.

"What are they doing?" Steven asked in shock. Jon however didn't answer.

"Mind turning it up?" Jon asked the bartender, who nodded and grabbed the remote. The volume meter on screen appeared and increased as Jon could hear the voices of the Diamond Ladies.

"We figured we weren't fooling anyone at this point," Cassandra said on screen. "So we thought 'screw it'..."

"We've been hiding out since the rumours that we were still alive started, and Jon lent us his tablet to keep occupied," Jarena added. "Sorry Jon, but we needed your audience!"

Jon couldn't help but laugh at what he was seeing here, and had a hunch he knew where this was going.

"So for those of you who from the start, didn't believe we died in that fire, congratulations, you were right…" Violet said, causing Jarena to grin. What stood out most to Jon was how excited the three of them seemed, something he had never actually witnessed from the trio before now.

"Let's just cut to the chase. We didn't do this live stream just to make jokes," Cassandra explained. "Chances are if you're watching this, you know who we are. And if you know who we are, you also likely know what we did…"

There was an awkward silence among them, as they realised how heavy this was going to get, before Cassandra's resolve hardened and she continued.

"For quite some time, myself, Violet and Jarena here used an unknown at the time form of magic called Shadowcraft in order to cheat in Pokemon battles, taking fame, fortune and titles we didn't deserve, and at one point, using Shadowcraft to silence anyone who threatened to expose us," Cassandra explained. "We cheated people out of what they had earned with hard work and determination, and were willing to screw over whoever we had to in order to not get caught…"

Cassandra grimaced remembering this, as Jarena took over.

"Then we had an encounter with a Pachirisu, Buizel and Latios, and everything came crashing down around us," Jarena said. "In the space of half a day, our lives as we knew them were over…"

"We tried to fight our way out, and we tried to negotiate but the more we did, the more we realised just how badly we had backed ourselves into a corner, and just how messed up our actions were, that led us to that place," Violet added. "So we turned ourselves in, and accepted the consequences…"

"Over the next day and a half, we followed the League's instructions, and attempted to help undo the damage we had caused," Jarena continued. "But despite that, we were attacked, with former Indigo Champion Lance attempting to kill us, as well as harassed by rogue operatives who would settle for nothing less than us being burnt at the stake…"

"There were posts made online, calling for violence against us, and even once the League had issued their punishment, and we had faced the official consequences of our actions, we were still punished. From snide comments from strangers in the street, to being harassed, to even having my own Pokemon stolen, and the police refusing to even file a report…" Violet said. "We realised that no matter how much we paid for our actions, the world would continue to reject us, and was never going to forgive us…"

"So we disappeared. Lived a peaceful and contented life away from the rest of the world, letting all who knew us, and the few remaining who loved us, believe we were dead, just to live peacefully and try and make up for our mistakes," Cassandra said, as in the comments section, comments flooded in with questions, and some slander. "Until recently, when the three of us had a dream, of Agatha inviting us, alongside all other users of Shadowcraft to join her on Akala Island, promising knowledge and power to all who joined her. And as people who knew first hand how the prospect of power that Shadowcraft offers changes people, we knew it was bad news…"

"We sought out the League, who then mobilised a small force to meet on Akala Island, to figure out what Agatha had planned, and stop it, and joined the force ourselves under aliases," Violet explained. "We had hoped to act as consultants, however after the opening ceremony for the Spiritwater Festival, and people began being attacked in the streets, we set up a ward in Heahea City Hospital, where the three of us worked day and night to treat those who had been attacked, putting us in Agatha's sights, as she had her Giratina level the place, and her followers tasked with finding and capturing us, with some horrific punishment in mind…"

"Then two days ago, when one of Agatha's own turned himself into some horrific monster, and began attacking their base of operations, we took the fight to her," Jarena continued. "With the League covering our backs from her followers, and working to remove the world-shattering spell Agatha had been concocting, whilst Jon led the charge against Agatha’s Giratina and Marshadow to keep them busy outside the Megamart, we faced Agatha head on, at the risk of our own lives, and managed to defeat her, and bring an end to this nightmare…"

Cassandra nodded, before addressing their audience.

"Which brings us to now, and why we are here…"

Cassandra took a breath, before steeling herself and continuing

"We are here to say that we are done hiding. As of today, the Diamond Ladies are back…" Cassandra said. "We know exactly how much we screwed up back then, and why the world rejected us. But now, having risked it all, and succeeded in saving the world, we are done apologising. We are ready to live, and we aren't going beg for forgiveness, or permission to do that…"

Those in the bar watching jumped when Jon loudly began to cheer at the TV, before giving him an irritated glance.

"We are ready to make lives and names for ourselves, and actually work for it, like we should have been originally," Violet continued. "And as Cass said, we'd love for the world to be willing to give us a second chance, but if after all that's been said and done, it doesn't, we aren't going to beg for it…

"They've come a long way…" Steven said quietly to Jon, who couldn't hide the grin from his face. "To think, you thought you had royally messed up by listening to Latios and giving them a chance…"

"We don't know just yet what the future holds for us. We only decided to do this fifteen minutes ago…" Jarena said. "But we know we're ready to face whatever is thrown at us…"

"Actually, I know what the future holds for me…" Cassandra said, earning a puzzled glance from Violet and Jarena, who obviously hadn't heard this before. "As soon as I see Jon next, I will enrol at the Eon Academy, where I can learn from the person who ended my winning streak, alongside some of the best battlers the world has to offer. And one day, if the League can find reason to lift my ban, and allow me to compete again, I will prove to everyone, but most of all to myself, that I don't need Shadowcraft to rank among the best…"

"I think that may be the best advertising you could ask for…" Steven said before looking at Jon who could not contain the enormous grin on his face…

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

"Do you two think they want some space?" Dylan joked quietly to Jarena who got out of the van after him, when they saw Alyssa practically tackle Jon with a hug before kissing him. Jarena hid a grin, which Dylan shared, until he looked down to see Amelia looking up at him curiously. He realised his mistake, knowing that three year olds were naturally curious and Jon and Alyssa's daughter was even more curious than the norm.

"Why do they want space?" Amelia asked, as Jarena looked between her and Dylan.

"You're on your own for this one…" Jarena said, as Dylan, looking for any sort of solution, called out to Kaen, his pet Vulpix. The Vulpix ran out of the house towards him, which he promptly gave a scratch behind the ears, before prompting Amelia to do the same. Amelia was immediately distracted by the Pokemon, and forgot the question she was asking. He gave Jarena a relieved grin.

"That was low…"

"When the battle was on TV, I was so worried…" Alyssa said. "Lili woke up and I had to turn it off. Not knowing made it even worse…"

Before Jon could answer, she looked to see Amelia was distracted by Kaen, before turning Jon so he could remove his left hand from his jacket pocket without her seeing.

Realising, Jon removed his hand, revealing the blackened and shrivelled appendage to Alyssa, who by this point had been informed of the curse that lay dormant beneath the surface…

Alyssa looked at it in shocked and saddened disbelief, as Jon spoke quietly.

"I'm not leaving like this again," Jon murmured. "This was too close. Unless the fight comes to my doorstep, I'm done…"

Alyssa nodded, grateful to hear Jon say that, before embracing him again, whilst he put his hand back in his pocket. When she let go, Jon looked around to where Amelia played with Kaen, distracted from all going in around her.

"Lili, I'm home!" Jon called out, as he walked towards her, grateful she was still small enough he could pick her up with his remaining, normal hand. She walked towards him, as he scooped her up with his right arm, holding her as she hugged him, and thankful he had made it home.

"You alright?" Violet asked Abbee, as Cassandra and Willow stepped out of the van, leaving just the two of them. "You seem like you're a million miles from here…"

Having been swimming in her own thoughts, after seeing Jon and Alyssa's reunion, and unable to help but think about how a few weeks earlier, she had honestly expected to have that same sort of bond with Dylan, Abbee dismissed the image, and addressed Violet.

"Yeah, just tired…" Abbee answered. She wasn't wrong. It had been two weeks since the battle with Agatha and they had been initially filled with various medical tests to make sure she was still okay, before all sorts of reports had to be written by operatives, and other documents signed, in addition to helping round up stray witches when her assistance was needed.

Violet nodded, not believing Abbee completely, but knowing that she didn't know the girl well enough to pry further.

"I'm sure we all could use a break…"

Dylan went into Jon and Alyssa's house, leaving his bags by the door, and making his way straight to the coffee machine. However, after pressing the button, nothing happened.

"S**t," he swore, as he remembered how they convinced the public that the Eon Academy couldn't run its summer program, before calling out. "Jon, we got no power…"

In order to cancel the Eon Academy’s summer program without raising suspicion, Dylan concocted a cover up, which involved pretending a Rotom got into the properties electrical grid. He had installed a hidden isolator switch near the battery that stored all the solar energy, cutting the battery off from the rest of the property, before overloading it and destroying it, and whilst he could simply flick the switch and connect the property back up to the battery, the battery was beyond dead…

Whilst Dylan wanted nothing more than to sit down, he knew the sheer amount of people staying on site made going without electricity for however long it took for a new battery to be installed, far from ideal. He sighed, grabbing his keys from the bench where he had left them.

“I’m going into town,” Dylan said casually to those present. “Jon, we’ve talked about getting a generator for emergencies for a while. Can I use the company card?”

Jon nodded with a grin.

“We’re going to be reimbursed well for this little stunt, so may as well…”

Dylan nodded, before climbing into his car. Whilst before they left Mossdeep a few weeks earlier, Abbee would have jumped in to tag along without another word, Dylan wasn’t surprised when she didn’t, and instead said nothing. He turned the key, and heard the starter motor turning weakly before giving out, realising the battery was dead from the car having not been driven for weeks.

“For fu-” Dylan began before realising he hadn’t closed the door and Amelia could likely hear him. He looked to Jon, who was grinning.

“Mind if Jolteon jump starts me?”


************************************************** ************************************************** *****

”So despite knowing that there were likely dozens of deranged, power hungry witches in Alola, you volunteered to go on this mission?” Tyler asked in disbelief, as Abbee spoke to him on the phone. ”Abbee, please tell me there is something I’m missing here, like you discovering you’re actually immune to this Shadowcraft business?”

“Not that I’m aware of,” Abbee joked. “Ironically enough the biggest danger to me was a glorified kitchen knife…”

Abbee knew instantly she had made a mistake referencing that, as Tyler began to freak out.

”What do you mean?! What happened?!”

“Nothing major,” Abbee lied. “I got cut, and bled a bit. I was fine, and it’s already healed…”

Conveniently, Abbee left out the fact that the only reason it had healed was Brianna’s intervention, as Tyler began to lecture her for doing something so dangerous.

“They better have made this worth your while!” Tyler ranted. ”I’m going to give Jon a piece of my mind about this-”

“Jon didn’t want us going for the same reason you’re mad at me,” Abbee interrupted. “This is completely on me, not him…”

”He could have stopped the League from recruiting you!”

“Technically I’m eighteen, so he couldn’t if I was volunteering,” Abbee reminded Tyler. “And if he did, Dylan and I would have made our own way to Alola, without any of the training they gave us beforehand. Charlotte, Justin and Chris were going to do the same thing, before they got attacked…”

”They were attacked?”

“The witches wanted Jon’s Latios for its blood, and they tried sending people after the three of them to take hostage,” Abbee explained. “So add that to the list; if I had stayed behind, I’d have likely been attacked, without Jon or Dylan there to back me up…”

”Abbee, just promise me you won’t do something like this again…” Tyler said, realising he was making little progress trying to extract remorse from her.

"Okay," Abbee said, taking advantage of Tyler's vague wording. "I promise that if I ever accept another dangerous mission, I will tell you first…"

Tyler sighed, knowing he was wasting his breath at this point.

"I've been in Unova competing and planned to spend a bit of time here so I could catch up with you," Tyler explained. "When will you be back?"

Abbee considered the question. She had booked her flights thinking this would be a normal summer at the Academy and as such, her return flights weren't until the end of summer. However, she had been thinking since she arrived at Mossdeep just how much she wanted to go home. Whilst she was exhausted from the mission, that on its own wouldn't be enough to cut her time here short. Things with Dylan not working out the way she had hoped however, was.

"I hadn't considered it. My flights were booked when I thought I'd be working at the Academy, so I booked my flight back for the end of summer," Abbee replied. "But it's looking like I'll try and get them shifted forward. I may as well be back home and working if nothing is happening here."

"Well I'll be in Nimbasa in three weeks, and have a week off competing, so how about you keep some of your time off, and we can catch up?" Tyler said. "You can fill me in on what was happening in Alola?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Look, probably not…" Tyler admitted. "But we'll catch up anyway."

Abbee said goodbye, before ending the call, and collapsing onto her bed in her room at the Eon Academy lodge. Victini, who had been sitting on the bed, was propelled upwards a little by the rebounding mattress. He looked at Abbee, his expression neutral.

"We going home soon?" Victini asked.

"May as well," Abbee answered, before unlocking her phone again and searching for the airline that her return flights were booked with. "Jon will be busy between getting the Diamond Ladies and Willow settled in, and making up for lost time with his family. And honestly, I think some space between Dylan and I would be for the best right now…"

Abbee had been looking at her phone when she said this, and hadn't seen Victini grimace. However, he held his tongue.

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

"Careful…" Jon said to Dylan as he went to start the generator. Dylan looked at him evenly, as Jon relented and nodded his approval. Dylan pulled on the starter cable, as the engine in the generator spluttered for a moment before roaring to life.

Despite Dylan being more adept at these sorts of things than Jon, Jon had helped Dylan get the generator running to power both Jon and Alyssa's house, as well as the guest lodge where Abbee, Cassandra, Violet, Jarena and Willow were staying. He had said he would help because despite his technical skill, Dylan wasn't a qualified electrician, and powering the property had more potential to go wrong than removing power from the property. What Dylan found ironic, was despite him not being a qualified electrician, neither was Jon, and his own lack of skill in technical fields limited his helping to passing Dylan whatever bits and pieces he needed.

"This should be able to power all the lights, fridges, TV's and chargers. The coffee machine as well, though use it sparingly," Dylan explained. "The oven in the cottage is gas isn't it?"

"I think so?" Jon answered. "The cottage is about forty years old, and we haven't made any changes to it."

"It'd be gas," Dylan said. "Use that, because the one in the lodge is electric and will pull too much power. And no hair-dryers either…"

Jon nodded in understanding, though wondering when he started following Dylan's orders about his property, as Dylan continued.

"The electrician will be here with the new battery in two days, and after that, we will be back on solar. If the battery is empty we will be on mains, and if the island loses power, the generator will kick in," Dylan explained. "Until then we just have to rough it a little…"

"You guys got a minute?"

Both turned to see Abbee, who had approached while Dylan was explaining the capabilities of the generator, with Victini sitting on her shoulder.

"Always," Jon answered. "What's up?"

"I got word that Tyler is in Unova now, and making his way towards Nimbasa," Abbee explained. "So I've actually brought my flight home forward…"

"When do you head back?" Dylan asked, somewhat surprised though realising he shouldn't have been. Abbee had been distant since he turned her down, and probably had been wanting to go home anyway.

"The day after tomorrow," Abbee answered, as Jon nodded.

"I'll make sure we are around to see you off," Jon said. "How're you getting to the airport?"

"Haven't thought that far ahead yet," Abbee answered with a weak grin.

"I'll take you," Dylan said. "I've got some shopping I want to get done in Lilycove so it works well…"

Abbee nodded in understanding, as Victini fixed his gaze on Dylan, having read his thoughts and seen through the lie.

"She's hurt enough as it is…"

Dylan heard Victini's voice and responded with his own thoughts.

"I want to say goodbye on good terms, even if it's not the terms we'd hoped for…"

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

Two days later, Jon found himself sitting in the lodge, now fully powered thanks to the new battery and regulator that had been installed to replace the fried one, opposite Cassandra, Jarena and Violet. It was a meeting Cassandra in particular had been eager for, however all present had wanted time to recover from the events of the summer.

"So, I know you want to enrol Cass," Jon asked. "But what do you know about the Eon Academy?"

The question took Cassandra by surprise. Being in civilisation again as she had been the last few months had revealed just how respected the Academy was in the eyes of the public.

"Honestly, not a great deal," Cassandra answered. "Victini showed me the recordings of your students last summer against the College of the North Wind, and I know you run a summer program…"

Jon nodded, figuring it best to cover all bases.

"The summer program is the core of the Eon Academy's work. We do run week-long camps here and there during the school year, but they are minuscule compared to the scope of the summer program," Jon explained. "But the thing that makes the Eon Academy different from places like the College of the North Wind, is what we teach. The most important lesson we try to teach trainers is to think outside the box…"

Cassandra nodded, remembering when she saw Jon battle for the first time against Ethan Caldwell. He had used a Baton Pass strategy, laced with a few other tricks, in order to beat Ethan. This was definitely his strength.

"We teach this by focusing on a few things in particular," Jon continued. "We put a lot of time into creating and practising tactics, both in order to use them in battle, and also to identify them being used against us, and combat them appropriately. Equally important is analysis. Even more than the trainers Pokemon, but the trainers themselves…"

Jon grinned at the memory, worrying his three guests.

"Two years ago, when the interns were away for a week, and I was training their students by myself, I spent that week with each group, showing them footage of battles their team leaders had won and lost; and helped them identify their strengths and weaknesses, and from there, pushed them in the right direction to come up with a strategy to beat them…" Jon explained. "When they returned each had a student challenge them, and despite a clear gap in skill between them and their students, all but Dylan were beaten…"

Cassandra's eyes widened at the revelation as Jon grinned.

"Why Dylan?" Violet asked curiously. "Is he the strongest?"

"No, that would be Charlotte, though Chris is usually just behind her," Jon explained. "Really, the others are all stronger but the difference is that they all had an exploitable weakness, allowing a weaker trainer who knew what it was to beat them. If Dylan did, or has, I have no clue what it is. He even beat me in an all out battle last summer by picking my own weakness…"

Jarena grinned at the idea of Jon having an exploitable weakness and how shocked he must have been to have had Dylan use it to beat him.

"In order to give a good foundation for the tactical and analytical focus, we also spend a lot of time focusing on Pokemon knowledge, and raising Pokemon. That way trainers will hopefully be able to identify most common Pokemon's abilities and attributes outside of just type advantages," Jon explained. "During the summer, during the weekdays, we have classes from nine 'till noon, before a one hour lunch break, and two teams each having a training session with me for an hour. Then on weekends, we usually have a seminar. However, it is made abundantly clear to students that whilst they shouldn't work themselves too hard, if they want to get the most out of the summer, they need to do more than the bare minimum…"

Cassandra nodded determinedly at the statement. She, like her friends next to her, had tried to succeed on the bare minimum. She knew how that had worked out.

"We have five classes that run during the week. Tactics and Strategy, and Practical Training are run by me. Dylan handles Raising Pokemon, Steven handles Pokemon Knowledge and Alyssa handles Trainer Career. However, if the program keeps growing at the rate it has been, I will likely get the other interns to take a class each, and have three classes running simultaneously instead of two…” Jon explained, however Cassandra interjected.

“Tell me about the interns, even Dylan and Abbee,” Cassandra said. “Honestly, we’ve met them, and spoken briefly, but it sounds like I’ll have a bit to do with them…”

Jon nodded in agreement, before taking a minute to think.

“Dylan is almost twenty-one, and is my second in charge here. When he has the luxury of being able to, he is usually pretty quiet around people he doesn’t know well, so don’t take it personally if he isn’t the most chatty. He isn’t that passionate about battling Pokemon, more raising and caring for them, but he has a good head on his shoulders, and can battle with the best. He’s lived on site here with Alyssa and I, working as an intern all year since after his first summer. Cass, what I am thinking for you, is a slightly modified version of Dylan’s role when he first took it on,” Jon explained. “But I’ll get to that later. Abbee is eighteen and a half, and is a Gym Trainer at Elesa’s Electric Gym in Nimbasa City, eventually hoping to become a Gym Leader herself, and once she is a little more settled, compete. She’s had a pretty difficult life. Lost her mum when she was six, and her dad, who is the competitive battler, Richard Strauss, passed away during her first summer here when she was fifteen. But, she has a very bubbly personality, and is always looking out for the people around her, even at her own expense. And her and Victini make a really good team…”

Cassandra nodded, though was surprised to hear that Victini’s new partner had suffered so much loss in her young life. Jarena however grinned, having had a few conversations with Dylan, and figuring he mustn’t have minded her company.

“And the three who weren’t here?”

“First, there’s Justin. He’s turning twenty at the end of this year. He took a little while to get his act together, but when he did, he really did. He went from not taking anything seriously, and honestly, being a bit of a pain in the a**, to setting the goal of capturing a Legendary Pokemon, and not only did he do that, he was a part of an expedition that Steven himself went on, to find an undiscovered Legendary Pokemon and capture it. He’s extremely self-aware and mindful, and very dependable. He’s wants to become a cop, but knew he wouldn’t be able to get in straight out of high school, so managed to get into a law degree at Jubilife University, which he’ll complete in the coming academic year,” Jon explained, as Violet’s eyes widened at the talk of this student of Jon’s casually getting into one of the best law programs in the world, for the sake of keeping occupied until he could join the police. “Then there is Charlotte, and she is one of the most determined people I have ever met. Just turned nineteen a few months back. At first, her determination was to a fault, but she’s grown past that, and honestly, one word I keep finding myself using to describe her battling, and others do as well, is terrifying. Of all five interns, she has beaten me the most times. She is easy enough to get along with, but if she thinks you need to be told to get your s**t together, she will, no worries. Her goal is to compete, and honestly, if I see any of my students taking the next High Seas Tournament, it is her…”

Cassandra grinned, now eager to meet this terrifying student of Jon’s, as Jon considered his next words.

“Then there is Chris…”

Violet and Jarena looked at Jon slightly puzzled, though Cassandra’s mouth shifted to a flat line, knowing what Jon was about to say from when Victini told her.

“Chris is actually Lance’s cousin, and if I’m being realistic, his skill is mostly on par with Charlotte’s. He’ll be nineteen in a few months. The two of them drive each other ahead, trying to be better than each other, and until recently, Charlotte had the most wins, though Chris managed to force a tie in their last battle, which against Charlotte is not much less difficult than beating her,” Jon explained. “I’m telling you about him being Lance’s cousin, so you have time to process that he isn’t Lance. He had a few troubles last summer, but honestly, they were a mixture of a few things going wrong all at once, and he seems to be doing better…”

There was a sense of unease in the room, as Jon looked between the three listeners in front of him.

“I need to make it clear that Chris is not Lance. He shares a little of the same pride that Lance did, but honestly, ninety percent of the time, you wouldn’t be able to see it past the fact he is one of the most loyal people I have ever met. He is the sort of person who you want in your corner for that reason, and it took a lot of hurt to rattle him enough that his pride took effect…”

There was silence for a minute, before Violet spoke.

“Thanks for letting us know,” Violet explained. “We know how much it hurts to be judged based on our own past, so we’ll do our best not to hold another person’s past against him. We may just need some time to get used to that though…”

Jon nodded, before looking to Cassandra, who quickly hid her unease.

“I’ll ask Violet and Jarena as well, but since you made it clear you want to enrol here, what are your goals?” Jon asked. “I mean beyond this place. As much as I love having the interns around, I don’t want them here forever, because I don’t want them to need me. Same thing goes for you. If this place is a means to an end, what’s that end?”

Cassandra considered the question for a moment, before answering.

“I want my life, up until now, to be the prologue of a story that will inspire people,” Cassandra explained, as Jon nodded. “Falling into bad habits with Shadowcraft, and getting all the materialistic crap anyone could ask for by cheating my way to the top. Getting caught, and learning from my mistakes. And now, finding redemption, even if it’s only in my own eyes…”

Jon grinned, as Cassandra continued.

“The best way I can do that, is by doing something extraordinary with the time I have left, and proving to everyone, myself included, that Shadowcraft wasn’t a crutch to me, but a weight. That I didn’t need it to achieve greatness, and that I can be a better trainer without it than with,” Cassandra continued. “So firstly, I want to become strong enough to battle among the best. That even when I lose, I will still inspire respect. And I want to be able to compete again…”

Jon nodded in agreement, before continuing.

“So here’s what I’m thinking. We have a little over nine months before the next Eon Academy summer program. And by the time that comes, if you’re willing to bust your a** to make it happen, I will have you at the same level the other five interns were at by the end of their first summer at the absolute minimum. Ideally, the end of their second summer,” Jon explained. “You will live on site, like Dylan does, and work at the Academy, however far less hours than Dylan, because you will need them for all the training we will be doing. Work will be a mixture of planning, administration, and brainstorming for improving the Academy. You will be paid, minus living expenses, but I’m not here to turn a profit on you. If your only cost to the Academy is water and electricity, and you want to organise your own food, then it will be negligible. But we can go over details later…”

Cassandra considered Jon’s proposal, as he asked a question.

“What do you think?”

“It sounds amazing, Jon,” Cassandra answered. “But do you really think you can get me to that level in nine months?”

“I think that the biggest factor to anyone growing isn’t natural skill, but a solid mix of determination to improve, and humility to see the need for it and be willing to listen to do it,” Jon answered. “And unlike the Cassandra Silvers who turned herself into an Eevee on the S.S. Wishmaker, you have both of those in spades…”

“Then I’m in…”

Jon beamed, before looking to Jarena, who had listened to the exchange in awe.

“What about you, Jarena?” Jon asked. “I told you all four years ago I’d help you get your feet firmly on the ground. Where do you see yourself going?”

“Honestly, until now, I wasn’t too sure. I had a rough idea, but no clue how to get there. But now, I think I know…” Jarena answered. “If you have room for one more, I’d like to enrol here as well…”

Cassandra looked at Jarena in surprise, which Jarena noticed.

“Not with anywhere near as much of a focus on battling, though I do want to improve. But really, I couldn’t care less if I never competed again. But I would like to work in Pokemon rescue. Maybe even open my own shelter one day,” Jarena explained. “And it sounds like the Raising Pokemon and Pokemon Knowledge classes would help me make that happen. And if the League did decide to let me compete again alongside Cass, being able to compete at a high level might help with funding whatever I decide to do…”

Jon nodded in agreement.

“It wasn’t my reason for competing in the High Seas Tournament, but winning that was what funded this place,” Jon agreed. “So in terms of training here, how much of a focus on battling do you want? Because if you just want to be able to compete in standard tournaments, it wouldn’t take the same level of training as it seems Cassandra is after. I mean, I don’t push Dylan or Justin anywhere near as hard in terms of battling as I do Abbee, Charlotte and Chris, because they aren’t after the level of skill that the other three are…”

Jarena considered the question for a moment.

“If you’ll take me on, it’s an opportunity I don’t want to waste. Fact is, whilst I want to stay here, I don’t want to stay here forever, and I’d rather put in the effort now, than focus purely on the Pokemon Knowledge and Raising Pokemon stuff, and realise in five years I should have made the most of my time here,” Jarena answered. “So while I don’t dream of being one of the best battlers like Cassandra does, which means having to be better than almost anyone else, I want to do well enough that battling can be a means to a different end…”

Jon nodded, as he considered her thoughts.

“In that case, minimum, I expect you to do half the training Cassandra does. By the time summer comes, I will hopefully have you at the point where Charlotte was when she arrived here, which was still a cut above a lot of professionals,” Jon explained. “In terms of the work side of the role until summer, I’ll have you working closely with Dylan, almost like a shadow, as much as he’d love that…”

Jon knew that whilst Dylan was far from unfriendly, he did prefer his own space, however, given what Jon knew Dylan’s own goals were, and how they aligned with Jarena’s, it was too good of an opportunity to pass.

“Dylan handles the Raising Pokemon curriculum, and also cares for all of the Academy’s Pokemon which are used in classes,” Jon explained. “But also, he has a very logical and technical skillset. You saw him when he prepared the property for the fake Rotom damage. Honestly, so much of the property-side things that work as well as they do, work because Dylan has become very handy over the last few years, and if you’re wanting to start a project that requires having your own property and space to build and maintain, he is honestly a really good person to learn from…”

Jarena nodded, having spent some time with Dylan, and seeing what Jon spoke of in him. Jon looked to Violet.

“What about you? We have space for one more, if you’d like…”

Violet grinned, but shook her head.

“Maybe down the track, but for now, I think I want to see what’s out there for me, outside of Pokemon battling and all that,” Violet explained, as Jon nodded. Cassandra and Jarena slumped a little, causing Violet to reiterate. “At the same time, I’m not ready to make a life somewhere else yet. I’m wanting to stay on Mossdeep with Cass and Jarena, and honestly, the idea of living on an island sounds pretty nice…”

“So you have some ideas of what you’re going to do?”

“Potentially financial advice, or maybe real estate?” Violet suggested. “Something in that field, where I can crunch numbers. But I do need a favour…”

Jon gave Violet a puzzled look, as she continued.

“It’s kind of hard to find a place to rent when you have no job and no rental history even when you have a nice sum of money promised by the League…” Violet explained. Her, Cassandra and Jarena had all been promised a substantial amount of reimbursement for their assistance in Alola, however given the general belief they were dead, didn’t have bank accounts anymore in order to receive the funds. “Would you let me rent a room here? Not as a student, but as a tenant?”

“Oh, that,” Jon said, having not considered the thought. “Live here at what it costs me to have you…”

Violet’s eyes widened a little, as Jon explained.

“Fact is, because of my win on the S.S. Wishmaker, as well as the reimbursement for that operation, the only finance I needed to get on this place was to get it ready to open the Academy. But there has been more grants and sponsorship than I had anticipated, and the growth has been rapid enough that honestly, plus the reimbursement for Alola, at this rate, I’ll have it paid off by the time I’m thirty-five,” Jon explained. “I run this place because it’s what I enjoy doing, and could quite easily charge students more than I do, but don’t because I’m not running it to make money. Same here. A landlord would charge you enough to cover expenses and make a buck. But honestly, I don’t need that. So whatever I deduct from Cassandra and Jarena’s pay will be your rent.”

“Jon, are you sure?” Violet asked, as Jon shrugged.

“Wouldn’t have said it if I wasn’t,” Jon answered. “Think of it this way, when I need to buy another property to keep up with expansion, you can get me a sweet deal…”


************************************************** ************************************************** *****

“Considering this airport is the closest to Mossdeep, Fortree, Sootopoolis and Ever Grande, you’d think they’d improve the parking,” Dylan remarked as he drove around the Lilycove Airport’s car parks, trying to find somewhere to park his car. Abbee sat quietly in the passenger seat with Victini in her lap. She looked at the time on her phone, and saw it was getting closer to her check in time for her flight. They had been driving laps of the car park for twenty minutes with no luck, and time was running out.

“I don’t have much to take,” Abbee said. She wasn’t wrong. She only had a backpack and a suitcase, both of which she could carry easily, and was taking as carry-on luggage. “You can just drop me off at the terminal.”

Dylan sighed internally. He had wanted to walk Abbee to the gate, not wanting what may be the last time he saw her until next summer to be limited by the drop off area’s strict five minute time limit. However, it was looking like their only option. They had arrived at the airport intentionally with half an hour to spare before her check-in time, and had used twenty minutes of that finding a park. At this rate, if they left now, they’d have just enough time to drive to the terminal’s drop off area, and get Abbee unloaded and ready to go. However goodbyes would be short.

“I guess it’s our best bet,” Dylan answered, trying to remain casual about it, despite the fact he was less than pleased with the outcome. “We’ll do that then…”

Dylan drove towards the exit of the car park, before finding himself back on the busy road that led to the terminal entrances of the Lilycove Airport. The pair drove in relative silence, as Dylan finally managed to pull into the drop-off lane, turning off the ignition. He climbed out of the car, as did Abbee, before quickly being descended upon by a parking officer.

“Five minute parking,” the officer said brusquely. “Keep the engine running.”

“I need the keys for the hard-lid,” Dylan said evenly.

“Well the car had better start again, or it’s getting towed after five minutes…”

“Considering how much you want me gone in five minutes, you’re doing a great job of wasting my time…” Dylan remarked, growing irritated by the parking officer. He went to speak, though realised he raised a good point, before pretending to notice another car arriving. Despite his slight animosity towards Dylan, given how much he knew Abbee was hurting, Victini couldn’t help but grin.

Dylan unlocked the hard-lid that secured the bed of his car, and picked up Abbee’s suitcase, given that the height of the vehicle and Abbee being slightly on the shorter side, would have made it difficult for her to lift it out over the tailgate, before closing the lid again, and locking it. Abbee already had her backpack on her back, which had been sitting at her feet in the car. She took the suitcase, extending the handle, before glancing over her shoulder towards the terminal, as Victini jumped up onto her other shoulder. Knowing they didn’t have much time, Dylan spoke.

“Listen, I’m really sorry things didn’t work out the way you and I had hoped…” Dylan said quietly. “But I don’t want this to come between us.”

Abbee looked back at Dylan, as he continued.

“I meant it when I said I wanted us to be friends…” Dylan said.

”Liar,” said Victini’s voice in his head, which he promptly ignored.

“But I get that things are weird right now,” Dylan continued. “So when you want to talk, get in touch, okay?”

Abbee nodded, and seemed to hesitate, before hugging him.

“I’ll see you around, Dylan…”

Abbee made her way through the sliding doors of the terminal, forcing herself not to look back, as she sighed. Victini, despite his animosity, and comment to Dylan, remained silent. The knowledge he had from his telepathy was proving to be a burden, as whilst he wasn’t fond of Dylan lying to Abbee, he couldn’t help but empathise with his reasoning, feeling like he had let Abbee down back in Alola as well, and knowing that Dylan was only doing this because he thought it was for Abbee’s benefit.

They walked in silence as Abbee made her way to one of the self-serve kiosks, where she checked in, before considering going through security. However, she knew that check in time allowed a generous wait before the flight, and once she went through security, Victini would have to be placed in his Pokeball, which would be locked, as to prevent any sort of terrorist act on the flight. And whilst she had offered for Dylan to drop her off at the gate and go, she didn’t want to be alone just yet.

“Let’s get something to eat first,” Abbee said, trying to sound cheerful. “Food on the plane is never good…”

The pair made their way through the now familiar airport, before finding a cafe with baked goods. She bought herself a piece of slice, and a muffin for Victini, before the pair found some seats. Despite being the one to offer food, she didn’t have much of an appetite, and struggled to finish the dessert.

They sat in silence, as Victini slowly got through the large muffin that sat in front of him, with Abbee staring at the table, immersed in her thoughts.

“I wanted to say it…” Abbee muttered to herself, as her mind wandered, not realising she had said the thought out loud. She realised, before glancing at Victini, who looked at her puzzled.

“Tell him what?” Victini asked, his mouth full of muffin. Now that Abbee could verbally understand him, she was growing used to hearing him talk with his mouth full, seeing as one of his favourite past-times was eating. Abbee considered dismissing the conversation, however knew Victini would simply listen in to her thoughts, and know anyway. She sighed, though hadn’t noticed that Victini already knew she was wanting to tell him...

“That I didn’t believe him…” Abbee said quietly, looking down at the empty plate in front of her. “I’ve known him long enough to know when he isn’t telling the truth. And even if I didn’t, there was something else…”

Victini made a noise that Abbee had only heard a few times over the years, and had never known what it was. However, now that she could understand him, she realised it was a groan of annoyance.

“What?” Abbee asked, shocked at Victini being so callous.

“Honestly, you humans…” Victini said in exasperation. “You always dance around the subject, and never say what you want to say, then mope about it when you don’t get what you want!”

Abbee looked at her partner in shock, as he continued.

“Honestly, I thought it was just a teenage girl thing you’d grow out of!” Victini said. “But Dylan is just as bad!”

Abbee’s eyes narrowed on Victini for his chauvinistic comment, however after a second, she registered the second half of what he said.

“Did Dylan say something?”

“Abbee, I’m a telepath, remember?” Victini asked. “And one who doesn’t really make an effort with boundaries…”

“Victini, what am I missing here?” Abbee asked, however Victini swallowed his mouthful of muffin, before glaring at her.

“I’m not going to tell you! That’s my whole point!” Victini answered. “If you want to know, go ask him, be honest with him, and if you think he isn’t being honest with you, call him out on it!”

“I’m not having that conversation over the phone-” Abbee began, however Victini shook his head in disbelief.

“The ferry won’t be going back to Mossdeep for another two hours, and really, you only left today because things didn’t work out the way you had hoped,” Victini explained. “If you’re right, and he wasn’t telling the truth, would you want to stay here for a little longer?”

“I guess…” Abbee said, before earning a glare from Victini. “I mean, yeah, I would…”

“And if you’re wrong about this, and you want to go home,” Victini said. “Well, you got twice as much from the League as you would have earnt from Jon this summer, so what’s the cost of a flight for peace of mind?”

“I suppose,” Abbee said, as Victini glared at her.

“Then what are you waiting for?” Victini asked. “Let’s go!”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

The ferry appeared over the horizon from where Dylan sat, watching the ocean roll in and out from Lilycove Beach. He had his car backed into a space that afforded the best view of the beach and ocean, where he had lowered the tailgate, and sat. On the beach, Walrein and Flygon both amused themselves in the sea and sand, whilst Darkrai remained blended in the shadows cast by the hard-lid, which sat closed over the bed.

To his right, the ferry depot had a few cars lined up, eager to be first onto the next ferry to Mossdeep, which was set to depart in a little under an hour, and by extension, be the first unloaded, and on their way home. The reason for this vantage point however wasn’t the beach or the ocean. Unova was north-east of Hoenn, which meant that from here, he could see the planes leaving Lilycove, and travelling in that direction. One he knew he would see soon, being the one taking Abbee home.

”I did this for her…” Dylan thought to himself, and whilst he believed it, that didn’t prevent him from hating it. ”She’s better off away from me…”

”Try telling her that…”

Dylan’s eyes widened as he recognised the voice in his head, as he slid off the tailgate, and looked around, shocked to see Abbee, with Victini sitting on her shoulder, standing by the driver’s door, still carrying her bag and suitcase.

“Abbee, what’re you doing?” Dylan asked, looking at his watch. “You’ll never get back to the airport in time for your flight-”

“Screw my flight,” Abbee said, a little more intensely than she had intended. Dylan looked at her confused.

“Why are you here?” Dylan asked. “And how did you know I was here?”

“You need the ferry to get back to Mossdeep, so I thought I’d catch you there. But then, when we got to the ferry station, we could see Flygon digging up the beach…” Abbee explained, nodding to Dylan’s Pokemon on the beach, who was now covered in sand.

“But why aren’t you taking your flight?”

“Because there’s something I needed to say to you,” Abbee replied firmly. “And Victini made it abundantly clear how sick he was of me not saying what I really wanted to say, so I decided to take his advice…”

Dylan looked silently at the pair in front of him, as Abbee continued.

“I wanted to ask why you lied to me, when you said you only wanted to be friends…” Abbee said, taking Dylan by surprise. “Why you said that, when I know that you feel the same way…”

“Abbee, I meant it-” Dylan began, but Abbee shook her head, cutting him off.

“Don’t, Dylan,” Abbee argued. “I know you well enough to know when you’re lying, and even if I didn’t, I heard what you said, when I was bleeding out, just before I lost consciousness…”

Dylan remained silent, as Abbee stared at him intently.

“Victini’s right. We’d all be a lot happier if we just said what we wanted to say, so for once, I’m going to just say what I want to say,” Abbee said, before pausing, trying to find the nerve to follow through with it.

“I love you…”

Silence fell between them at the words, as Dylan looked at Abbee in shock.

“I don’t know for sure why you lied to me, and I don’t know why Victini has been keeping secrets for you,” Abbee asserted. “I don’t know if you don’t think you’re good enough, or if you think what happened to me in Alola is your fault, or you’re protecting me from something. I don’t know…”

She focused her gaze on Dylan, leaving no room for misunderstanding how she felt about the situation. She took a step towards him, before speaking again.

“All I know is that I love you, and I am certain you feel the same way,” Abbee said. “Neither of us are fooling anyone here, so can we just be honest with each other? And give ourselves the chance to actually be happy?”

“Abbee…”

“What’s it going to be Dylan?” Abbee asked, shocked at how forceful she was being. “All the other s**t aside, be it Alola, witches or League missions, what do you want?”

The silence that sat between them seemed to last forever, as Dylan, still trying to convince himself that he had been doing the right thing by Abbee, finally lost the will to keep up the charade. He sighed half heartedly, deciding to take Victini’s advice, before looking Abbee in the eyes, and speaking.

“Abbee, I love you…”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

It was mid-afternoon, four weeks later when Cassandra found herself waiting out the front of the locked battlefield, with Jon cutting it awfully close to being late for their training session, which she had picked up quite early was out of character for him. She pulled out her phone to double check he hadn’t cancelled and instead found a text from Alyssa.

”Sorry he’s late. Come to the house, and you’ll see why…”

The previous four weeks had been shocking to say the least. #EonWitches had been trending after it got out that Cassandra and Jarena would be attending and working at the Eon Academy, and even though the trend died down, when Violet finished her first week in a trial shift working in a real estate agency, finding it to be too boring and mundane compared to her former life, she had decided to enrol at the Academy as well, which brought the trend back to the surface. However, to their shock, the context was mixed. Whilst there were still people who hated them for their previous crimes, the bulk of the tweets were cautiously optimistic. Making it clear that whilst they hadn’t completely forgiven the Diamond Ladies for their crimes, they were glad to see them going to the effort to work towards their goals. And for the first time in four years, some of the tweets were actually supportive of them, thanking them for their role on Akala Island, and wishing them the best in their training.

Even the media attention, whilst not hesitating to refer to them as banned cheaters, was still far better than it had been before they initially disappeared, with most news outlets withholding any sorts of judgement on the Diamond Ladies decision to learn under Jon until they could see the fruit of that decision, be it good or bad. However, some bolder outlets even began supporting them publicly, much to their shock. The biggest change however, was after two weeks, being able to leave the Academy grounds themselves, to go shopping or other places on the island, and realising that, whilst they were getting looks, they didn’t have to fear mistreatment or abuse.

Cassandra didn’t have to knock on the door for Alyssa to let her in. She was waiting, and stifling a laugh. She put her finger to her mouth, gesturing for Cassandra to be silent, and led her through the house, towards the lounge room. Sitting on the couch, as Super Sylveon Smile Squad played fruitlessly on the TV, was Jon, head resting back, mouth hanging open, and asleep, as Amelia, Lili, as he called her, sat next to him, equally catatonic to her father, resting against his arm. Cassandra noticed, with a twinge of sadness, that Jon’s cursed hand remained hidden in the pocket of his hoodie, which she knew he only wore as a means of hiding the cursed hand.

“She’s barely left his side since you all got back…” Alyssa whispered, trying to not laugh. “It’s starting to catch up with him…”

“She definitely takes after her dad…” Cassandra replied.

Hearing the chuckling, Jon began to stir, however he and Alyssa’s three-year-old remained sleeping, as Alyssa picked her up to put her into her bed.

“I can reschedule, if you’ve got other things to do?” Cassandra asked, half joking.

“No, it’s fine…” Jon answered. “I love her to bits, but if I have to hear that theme song, or the magic being the friends you make along the way, one more time, I think I may lose it…”

Jon stretched, letting his hand become visible, now that Amelia was safely in her room. It didn’t pain him anymore, meaning the physiological damage had healed, however they knew the curse remained, and still had no idea what it would do, or what would trigger it.

“Violet and Jarena around?” Jon asked.

“Violet’s in town, and Jarena is helping Dylan with the Academy Pokemon,” Cassandra answered. Part of Dylan’s role at the Academy was making sure all the Pokemon that the interns had caught two summers earlier, which were used for Academy purposes, were allowed out of their Pokeballs on a regular basis, to be fed, exercised, and generally checked up on. If a Pokemon was showing signs of aggression, or any sort of shift in temperament, it was Dylan’s role to spot this, figure out why, and if it could not be fixed, make sure the Pokemon was not used by students. And now, Jarena assisted him with this.

Abbee had left Mossdeep two weeks earlier, having decided to extend her stay at the last minute, though given how close her and Dylan had been, everyone present knew why. She had returned, knowing her brother would be visiting her in Nimbasa City, though Dylan was already planning when he could visit her. Violet however, had been the most enthusiastic about Abbee’s return, having been considering trying to earn a position as a Gym Leader herself, dreaming of potentially becoming a member of the Elite Four, if she could grow strong enough, and speaking to Abbee about her job, had helped make that idea a little more feasible.

An hour later the pair were in the stadium, Cassandra’s Ampharos battling Jon’s Jolteon. After a long and tiresome exchange between the two electric types, intentionally chosen to prevent Cassandra from relying on type advantages, Jon pulled Jolteon back, figuring that they were passing the point of diminishing returns. As he took a breath, he looked up, and stifled a laugh.

“What’s up?” Cassandra asked, as she called Ampharos back.

“I’m just sorta surprised that in the four years I’ve been at this place, other than the Deoxys incident, I haven’t had to repair any Latios shaped holes…” Jon answered. “If he keeps behaving himself, I might have to stop calling him Wrecking-Ball…”

“Well, if he wants to, there is another similar shaped Pokemon who could make finding a suspect confusing…”

“Yeah, don’t tell him that…” Jon laughed. “I don’t think he realises, and I’d hate for him to start again, especially after a beer or two…”

“Latios trying to take the tome, and leaving the hole in the chapel wall was what confirmed that you guys were onto us,” Cassandra laughed. “You should have heard Jarena! ’I swear, if I find out whose Latios that was, they’re toast!’”

“I would have been turned into a Dunsparce?” Jon asked, remembering the first conversation.

“A Dunsparce that felt like they were under the influence of a cocktail of recreational drugs…” Cassandra joked, before noticing Jon missing a Pokeball. “Latios off with Latias again?”

“Yeah, they’re pretty inseparable these days,” Jon answered. “I’m hoping they get it out of their system before next summer, because we are already breaking records for registrations…”

“How many?” Cassandra asked, this being the first she had heard of the numbers.

“One hundred and eighty and counting…” Jon answered. “I’d put half of it being the coverage from Akala, the other half being that the staff have a total of eleven Legendary Pokemon between them, and kids are hoping to be able to see them in person…”

“Wait, what?” Cassandra asked in shock. “We’re nearly a year off and that many kids are registered?”

“I know, I’m gonna have to build more lodges…” Jon laughed. “If the numbers keep increasing, I might need to think about buying the nearby land, or even opening another campus somewhere else…”

Cassandra thought over what Jon had said about Legendary Pokemon, particularly two of the three in his care.

“Are you in much trouble for the truth about Rayquaza getting out?” Cassandra asked, remembering when Jon shared with all operatives at the meeting about how he had been in possession of Rayquaza for over three years. Naturally, the truth got out in the form of rumours, and Jon and Steven came clean to the Hoenn government about Jon being in possession of the illegally captured Pokemon.

“Nowhere near as much as I would have been if this happened a year ago, but as much as Steven expected,” Jon explained. “Steven took most of the heat, and whilst I was still the one who committed the crime, Steven has told them that he used his position as Hoenn Champion and my former commanding officer on the S.S. Wishmaker to coerce me into doing it. And the fact that this directly helped to stop Agatha, means they are letting us get away with quite a bit…”

Jon grimaced a little as a thought hit him, and Cassandra gave him a puzzled look.

“Something we hadn’t considered however, is the government actually trying to get involved,” Jon explained. “They never interfered with Latios, because relatively speaking, Latios is no stronger than a Metagross. But Rayquaza is far stronger, and because of the myths surrounding it, and its role in Hoenn Mythology, there are some in government advocating for me to be forced to release it…”

“And you don’t think it’s ready?”

Jon shook his head.

“Fact is we captured Rayquaza because it had been terrorizing aircraft, and the previous government were going to kill it. And while I have no doubt Rayquaza will obey me, especially now that I can treat it like a normal Pokemon, I don’t feel comfortable letting it loose just yet,” Jon explained. “Rayquaza spent a lot of time in a Pokeball because I couldn’t risk it being seen, and because of that, is pretty restless. I think if I were to let it out now, it may start acting out again. So before that can happen, I need to focus some of my attention on it. Maybe even start competing with it again to get this out of its system, before I release it. But even then, I run the risk of training Rayquaza, and making it much more dangerous if it falls into old ways when I do release it…”

“So if all goes to plan, you’re going to release Rayquaza eventually?” Cassandra asked. She noticed Jon’s face darken a little.

“Not as soon as I want to…” Jon answered. “Even if I could, with absolute peace of mind, release it now, I need to hold onto it until Giratina is safe…”

Cassandra shuddered at the mention of the Legendary Pokemon. Rayquaza struggled to restrain it, even after Mega Evolving, and Jon was lucky to have been able to capture it himself. Using a specialised machine, Giratina had been transferred into a standard Pokeball from the unregistered one it had been captured in, however hadn’t been let out of the Pokeball since that night on Akala Island.

“I don’t know Giratina’s nature outside of the influence of having Agatha as a trainer…” Jon explained. “I will train it at the same place I trained Latios and Rayquaza, but Rayquaza is the only Pokemon I have that can restrain it, and keep it in check, and it could take years before Giratina can be released without the risk of it rampaging…”

“And what if it is never safe?”

“Then for its own sake, I hope that it learns to appreciate my company…” Jon said solemnly. “I really do want to set it free one day, but I can’t take any chances…”

Cassandra brow furrowed over the conversation. Whilst she did want Giratina to live a normal life like other Pokemon, seeing the damage that Giratina did, and the people it hurt made it difficult...

“But maybe things will work out,” Jon added, sensing the hopelessness permeating the conversation. “We thought that we needed to hex Rayquaza to force him into a Pokeball, when really, we were able to earn his respect. I don’t know how, but maybe I can earn Giratina’s?”

“Maybe…” Cassandra replied, though wanting to change the subject. “Aside from taming a potential demon, what does the future look like for you and Alyssa? All we’ve talked about until now is what the three of us are wanting.”

Jon laughed.

“Really, I just want to live a normal-ish life,” Jon answered. “Not a nine-to-five, but if I can go the rest of my life without another mission like Akala, then I’d be pretty happy. Maybe I’ll compete again, and defend my title. Maybe I’ll stay here and teach. Kind of taking it a year at a time, you know? Alyssa is slowly getting back to working as much as she was before, so maybe I’ll end up as a trophy husband, and spend my days looking after Lili...”

As Jon said this, he glanced down at his cursed hand, and Cassandra noticed a slight sigh as he did. He had mentioned going the rest of his life, however they both knew that there was an uncomfortably high chance that it may not be too long.

“We’ll figure out what’s going on with your hand,” Cassandra said. “You’ve survived too much for this to be what does you in…”

“You’re not wrong,” Jon said, laughing weakly, before Cassandra changed the subject.

“If you start competing again, and the League lifts my ban, we might end up facing each other again. Granted on a more equal footing…”

“Well if you want to beat me, then stop stalling,” Jon teased. “You gotta be able to beat me here before then…”

Jon sent out his Scizor, as Cassandra grinned, remembering its battle against her and Victini. Jon guessed what that smile was about pretty quickly.

“For months after he got here, Victini wouldn’t stop talking about how he owed Scizor one for that fight…”

“Did he ever get it?” Cassandra asked.

“I’d always Baton Pass Scizor out when Victini appeared,” Jon said with a grin. “Partly to wind Victini up, and also because I think that Victini could probably put Scizor in hospital for a few weeks with how strong he is now…”

“Who’s stalling now?” Cassandra asked as she readied a Pokeball.

“Point taken…”

************************************************** ************************************************** *****

That evening, Jon sat in the kitchen, as the clock on the oven read 01:14. It was not the first night Jon had struggled to sleep since returning from Alola. When trying to sleep, it was hard to force from his mind the thought of just how close they had come to failing, and what the consequences of it were. And when he was lucky or tired enough to be able to not think about that, the potential lethality of his cursed hand plagued his mind, as did the worry about retribution from some of Agatha’s followers, as he wondered what exactly would cause the dormant curse to activate, and what it would do to him when it finally did.

Jon was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of his phone, in silent mode, vibrating on the table in front of him. He grabbed the phone, seeing it was a call from a private number, before walking through the door onto the Eon Academy property. In the distance, he could see lights on in the lodge where Dylan, Cassandra, Violet, Jarena and Willow all lived, indicating that at least one of them was still awake.

“Hello?” Jon asked as he answered the phone, curious to know who was calling at this time. The voice on the other end was familiar enough to shock him.

”Did I wake you, Jon?” Lance asked, his tone indicative that he couldn’t care less if he had.

“Surprisingly no,” Jon answered, forcing himself to hide any shock at a call from the fugitive former Champion. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

”It’s nothing personal, just a tip off for the League, but all their numbers are well hidden, and the ones I could call, are ones that would trace me in a heartbeat,” Lance explained. ”You on the other hand, are in Steven’s pocket, and have no reason to have your phone tapped…”

”Why bother, Lance?” Jon asked. ”You’re risking a lot calling me, for what? To try and win over a little favour? Restore your pride a little?”

”I said you have no reason to have your phone tapped, but I’d be stupid to assume you don’t, so I won’t waste our time giving you the opportunity to trace the call if you can,” Lance explained, dismissing the question. ”I have been following a lead, and found out something that the League aren’t aware of…”

“And that is?”

”You ever heard of Blackstone?”

“Can’t say I have,” Jon asked, before adding, patronisingly, “are they a rock band?”

”They are technically a mercenary group, but that’s only because there is little evidence that sticks to them. You’d be more accurate in referring to them as terrorists…” Lance explained. ”They are incredibly dangerous, and I have set my sights on them…”

“Super Lance to the rescue,” Jon commented sarcastically with a yawn, as Lance ignored the comment.

”The reason they are so hard to pin down, is that they are able to blend in far too well. They don’t use firearms, but instead, Pokemon, that are specially bred and trained for Blackstone’s purposes, but honestly, that isn’t what makes them so dangerous…” Lance explained. ”They have four Legendary Pokemon in their possession that I am aware of, but from what I heard, they may have just as many, if not more, as you and your little Academy friends have between you…”

Jon’s eyes widened hearing this. He and Willow had their hands full dealing with two Legendary Pokemon, whilst battling with three between them. However, a group that Lance of all people considered terrorist, with many more, was concerning.

“Are they kept in unregistered Pokeballs?” Jon asked. “The League would have tabs on these Legendary Pokemon if they didn’t…”

“If they were using unregistered Pokeballs, they would have likely been caught by now. Sneaking them through airport security is near impossible, and deep water is usually patrolled, by squads who know what they’re looking for. Think about it, you only got away with having Rayquaza as long as you did, because I presume you didn’t leave Hoenn with it until this gig in Alola?” Lance asked. ”Yeah, I know about that…”

“So how do they keep these Pokemon hidden?”

”The guys in Blackstone developed a program that will allow them to break through the security on the standard, chipped Pokeballs. The security that the League believes whole-heartedly to be unbreakable, that prevents people from changing the information stored on the chip,” Lance explained. ”So these Blackstone guys can board a plane, going through airport security with six Pokeballs containing all manner of Legendary Pokemon, and when scanned, it will come up as six Eevees, under a fake trainer card…”

“Shouldn’t the computer detect it’s fake?” Jon asked, shocked at the implications of Lance’s intel.

”It would, if they didn’t have access to League Databases,” Lance explained. ”Remember what Steven discovered about the League laptops? Like the one you found with those poachers?”

A little under a year and a half earlier, Jon and the Eon Academy interns had taken a trip to the Whirl Islands, where they had been attacked by poachers, after Latios, Victini and Regieleki. Jon had been taken hostage, however after breaking free, escaped, taking the poachers laptop with him. It had been discovered that the former Hoenn Minister for Defence, Mark Hill, had ordered at least a dozen laptops, all with access to government servers, which he had then removed any record of existing from government documentation, before selling illegally to the highest bidder. This had been how the poachers had known the three trainers with Legendary Pokemon had landed in Goldenrod City, and decided to follow them.

“Steven went through the device list and found all twelve laptops, and removed their access?” Jon said. “It took him months to weed them all out. They should be glorified paperweights at this point…”

”I thought the same thing, but Blackstone had one long enough, and knew what they were doing enough that it doesn’t make a difference,” Lance explained. ”When they had access to the list, they managed to steal hundreds of IP addresses of machines that are legitimately allowed access. And now, any of those computers can be hacked, and used as trojan horses to access whatever they want. The only way that the government can keep Blackstone out would be to destroy everything, and make a new system, with no information about it saved on the current one, which they’d never do…”

Jon’s eyes widened hearing this. Despite Agatha being incredibly dangerous, she was one woman, who had a lot of followers. But she didn’t have access to government information, or potentially a dozen Legendary Pokemon. And she was contained on Akala Island. Now however, a new threat was presenting itself, alongside the existing threat of her followers setting their sights on Jon.

”I’m telling you this, because I know they are working towards something big,” Lance continued. ”I don’t know what it is, but something big enough that the guy I was getting this information out of wouldn’t spill, under threat of death, because, according to him ‘it won’t mean anything if they succeed’...”

“Did you kill him?” Jon asked, shocked to hear Lance speak of this so casually.

”He had killed four operatives in the last two years who were investigating Blackstone,” Lance said, which answered Jon’s question. ”I’m telling you this, so you can tell Steven, and watch your back…”

“Do you think they’d come here?” Jon asked, dreading what the answer might be.

”I don’t think what they’re working towards right now involves you at all,” Lance explained. ”But I got access to one of their computers, and by extension, the League database, and know that when summer rolls around, you will have eleven Legendary Pokemon, most of which are extremely powerful in their own right, gathered in one place. And if I were running Blackstone, and needed an edge to do whatever it is I am trying to do, your Academy has nearly a dozen Legendary Pokemon, and is nowhere near as secure as the sites they normally target…”

Jon felt his stomach sink hearing this. Lance was right. They had the power of a small army, on the property during the summer, and relatively speaking, that power wasn’t secured.

”I’m not telling you this because I give a s**t about you or your school,” Lance explained. ”I’m worried about whatever Blackstone have planned, and I’ll keep looking into them. But if they got a hold of even a few of your Legendary Pokemon, they go from being very difficult to take down, to f**king impossible. So watch your back…”

“I’ll pass all this on to Steven,” Jon said with a sigh. “Thanks Lance…”

[Neo Emolga]

More great stuff!

Spoiler:

Blackstone, eh? Do I sense a third RP in the workings? ;3

Definitely another great and fulfilling episode and I like the directions you’ve taken with all of the characters. I feel bad Jon’s stuck with that ticking time bomb of a curse and that not even a Nox Purge can help him, but you never know. Jon’s curse is kind of a good reminder to live every moment to it’s fullest. Still, I hope something comes along to help him out so he doesn’t have to live with that for the rest of his days.

I also enjoyed the broadcast the Diamond Ladies made. That was a nice touch on how they did that. xD And Steven is right, that’s gotta be the best promotional material for Eon Academy ever! xD

Also, I think Victini would be a dang good marriage counselor. He knows people better than people know themselves. xD

Awesome work as always, amigo!

[[Desolate Divine]]

Spoiler:

Haha Blackstone will make an appearance in Season 5, however if I do write a threequel RP, it will be based after Eon Academy for lack of better words concludes it's main story. That way I can keep things a bit more untangled haha.

I have many many plans for the curse, not all of them pleasant....

Haha I had some fun with that. It was a tricky balance of capturing their remorse for their actions but making it clear they are standing on their own two feet and are done begging for forgiveness.

Haha that could be a good sidestory. Victini Marriage Counselling. A comic maybe? If I has the artist skills I'd be doing that haha it helps being a counsellor who can read minds.

Working on the Epilogue in my spare time and am keen to see that come together. Its the delicate balance of not rushing through the process of writing it but not dawdling too much and losing momentum.