I know that Registeel was probably pretty predictable in that last chapter, but hey, trio appearances are typically pretty predictable, right?
Chapter 10
A Hitmonchan Named Larry
"Rock."
"Ice."
"St-st-steel."
The seven eyes of Registeel re-ignited firey red and it raised back to its rounded feet. It's Regi-Brethren stood before it, eyes glowing just as its own were. The three rounded in the tunnel, sensing the presence of their attackers not far ahead. Slowly, they began moving forward...
Not far behind, too burly figures watched with amazement as the golems started away. Machamp and Abomasnow turned back to their boss, still lurking in the shadows. "Well, isn't this a strange turn of events."
"I-I don't get it," Abomasnow sputtered. "There was absolutely no trace that those three were lurking here. Not even any footprints. The only reason we found them was because of all the battle damage to the tunnel."
"Well, this is no reason to panic." The boss turned his head and and spat a seed into the dirt. "Those three were already weakened by their battles with the other three intruders."
Machamp raised his two right hands. "But what about the two fugitives? We still haven't found any trace of them."
"We'll worry about them once the surface-world intruders have been taken care of," the boss spat. Once again, a seed shot out.
"Of course," Machamp and Abomasnow nodded as one. They turned back to face the Regis, which were still lumbering sluggishly down the tunnel. "But what about them?"
The boss shrugged. "As I said, they've already been weakened by battle." He shot out of the shadows at lightning speed, aiming straight for Registeel's back. "We strike now!"
"Ok, we took down Regirock. We took down Regice. We took down Registeel. That's all of them, right?"
"Just so long as we don't come across Regigigas, now."
"Don't even mention that, you'll jinx the mission."
Piplup marched on ahead down the tunnel. Chimchar dragged along aways behind him, still more pulp than Pokemon after his beatings, Grovyle was still shivering after being frozen by Regice, and Dusknoir was barely floating after the attacks from Registeel. Out of all of them, Piplup was the only one still fit for battle, so he desperately hoped that they were done with their brawling for the day.
"Piplup, we've got to find somewhere to bunk down for the night," Grovyle sighed.
Piplup gasped. "Grovyle, you're asking for a rest? I can't believe it. And how do you know it's night, when there isn't any sky to see?"
"Come now, Piplup," Dusknoir moaned. "We're on the verge of collapsing, here. And considering that if I fall unconscious, I fall out of the sky, I'd prefer to land of my own accord."
Piplup sighed. "I suppose you're right. I think I see something up ahead, though."
"He's right," Grovyle agreed. "It's a little brighter, like there's a lot more of the glowing moss. I think we're coming to a cavern."
"And a pretty big one, from the looks of it," Chimchar added.
As the four hauled themselves down the tunnel, they discovered that what they were entering was indeed an enormous chamber. The ceiling was a thousand feet above their heads if it was a foot. Piplup suddenly felt the weight of the surface pushing down all around him. "If the ceiling's clear up there, doesn't that mean that the surface is even further up?"
"Oh, not a lot," Dusknoir shrugged. "Surely only another five-hundred or so feet more."
Piplup swayed queasily and he almost passed out.
"Hey!" Chimchar cried out suddenly. "Look!"
Piplup and Dusknoir turned to see what Chimchar was pointing at. The remains of a cluster of ancient structures loomed ahead of them. They appeared as if they would collapse and turn into dust if breathed on. "That can't be safe," Dusknoir mused.
"Imagine what a bargain you'd get from the realtors to live here," Chimchar snickered. "You couldn't pay me enough to stay here for one night."
"Ah, but that is exactly what we must do," Grovyle pointed out. "This'll be better shelter than the open tunnel, agreed?"
Chimchar grimaced. "Agreed, I guess."
"What? You think this is some kind of motel? Well, you'll not be staying here tonight, or any other tonight! Turn back now, and perhaps I'll allow you to stay on this earth to see another day."
The four looked up in alarm. For the first time, they noticed the being perched atop the ruins. His eyes were closed and he balanced on a single stone spire. The spherical sensors under his ears lifted into the air, staying suspended as if held. His eyes opened suddenly, revealing startlingly crimson irises.
"Wh-who are you?" Piplup gaped. "What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here?" the figure growled, his long blue tail flicking madly. "I live here! Or, reside here currently, at least."
Chimchar frowned. "You actually live here?"
"Yes, I live here!" the figure howled. "I am Lucario, the Guardian of the Core!"
Grovyle frowned. "The Guardian of the Core? You alone? Exactly what does it need protecting from?"
Lucario nodded. "Well, it is not me alone. There is one other, but they are away now." He paused. "And you know very well what it needs protecting from."
"What?" Dusknoir challenged. "Tell us, you lousy excuse for a canine!"
"From what?" Lucario snarled and he leapt forward. "From you!"
A long blue bone formed in his hands as he dove. He swung the thin weapon like a staff as he came down towards the group. Grovyle stepped up ahead of the others. The leaves on his wrists extended outward to form Leaf Blade as he prepared for the attack.
But Lucario never reached them. The bone abruptly snapped in two as Piplup's Brick Break landed square in its center. Lucario fell back, landing gracefully on his feet, with Piplup landing in front of him. "Bring it!" Piplup taunted.
"Piplup, what are you doing?" Grovyle called. "You're going to take him on alone?"
"Well, none of you are exactly in good fighting condition," Piplup shrugged. "Really, I'm all we've got. Besides, you guys'll be in trouble if you take many more hits."
Chimchar started to protest, but stopped as a Hydro Pump from Piplup sloshed against the ground at his feet.
"Have at you!" Lucario cried. He bounded at Piplup, the spikes on his wrists glowing white. They extended forward until he had claws extending out across his hands. He swiped at Piplup, but the Penguin Pokemon used Brick Break again to block. The two jumped back, then back at each other again. The air clanged as the attacks continued to meet, like the swords of fencers.
"You're not that bad!" Piplup admitted, staring Lucario in the face over their Brick Break and Metal Claw, which were at a standstill, neither able to break through.
They backed away again, but this time Piplup lunged first. Lucario parried easily, the two pushing against each other, desperate to break through. "You're not that bad yourself."
The two pulled apart once more. They continued sparring in this matter, lunging and parrying, then leaping back once again. As they clashed together again, Piplup began to speak. "I once knew a Hitmonchan. He was missing both arms and half an eye."
Lucario danced back, then shot back forward. "What did you call him?"
Piplup pondered for a second. "Larry."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Lucario frowned.
"I don't know," Piplup shrugged. "I was just trying to get you off your guard."
"Well, let's end this now!" Lucario screamed. A blue light flared up around him, then formed into a ball between his hands. "The Aura is with me!" He launched the Aura Sphere straight for Piplup.
Piplup retaliated with his Hydro Pump. "Whatever that means!" he whooped. The two attacks, both radiating raw energy, beared down on each other.
Grovyle ushered Chimchar and Dusknoir back into the tunnels. "Let's back off, boys. When those attacks meet, it's not going to be pretty."
Piplup and Lucario both tensed, waiting for the shockwave from the explosion. But it never came.
"Stop!!!"
The two looked up to see a round pink blur rushing towards the spot where the attacks would meet. "What are you doing?" Lucario gasped. "Get out of there, now! Let me finish this!"
But it was too late. The attacks smashed into the flying shape, and the explosion filled the cavern with smoke.
"No!" Lucario cried through the blackness. "Mew!!!"
Hope you all like it!
