Missingno. Master
Poison-type Trainer
Turns out, I had more time on my hands today than I thought I would. Enjoy this short but eventful chapter!
Chapter 37: The Castle Of Castleness
--------------
Though extremely nervous at the battle that was coming, Jack could not help but marvel at the splendor that was Team Plasma's castle. At the end of the hallway stood a staircase. Wordlessly, Jack led his friends up said staircase, only to find another hallway, just as long and ornately decorated as the previous one.
"Jack," said Roy, "Are you nervous?"
"Of course not," lied Jack. "Why would you think that?"
"Because Yucky just said you were extremely nervous, and that you just lied to me."
"Stop calling me that!" the narrator exclaimed.
"Yeah, well- OOF!" Jack grunted as he walked right into a figure clad entirely in black.
"Oh, not this again," groaned Roy. Then he blinked and looked around. "Wait, where's the rest of you guys?" For before the group stood one third of the Shadow Triad.
"Come with me," said the man. He wheeled around and led the group forward, then stopped as they approached a door. Jack couldn't help but notice a few streaks of green hair poking out from the man's light blonde hair.
"What's up with the green hair?" Jack asked suspiciously. In response, the man wheeled around to face the group.
"I have no green hair. Your nervousness is making you see things," he replied. "In this castle, you can heal your Pokémon. Fear not."
"Hold on," said Roy. Jack has a point. I saw those strands of green hair. What's that about?"
"I tell you, I don't know what you're talking about," the man stated with a hint of impatience (and in the super ultra sexy narrator's opinion, a tinge of nervousness). As Toxicroak burst free of its Poké Ball, the narrator swiftly stepped off to the side, allowing Toxicroak to execute a Cross Chop on the Shadow Triad member. The man fell to the floor, and his black mask and blonde hairpiece flew across the hall.
"Cilan?!" exclaimed Jack, Roy, and the narrator simultaneously. Laying next to the Striaton Gym Leader was a small green Pokémon. It was human in shape, but with a massive head. It was unconscious; Toxicroak evidently knocked it out with the Cross Chop.
"Elgyem, the Cerebral Pokémon," said Roy's Pokédex. "Elgyem possesses potent psychic powers, and can Teleport with ease. It is also able to turn invisible."
"So, you, Chili, and Cress, you're the Shadow Triad?" Jack demanded.
"Fine," sighed Cilan. "Our positions as Striaton Gym Leaders were all too perfect a cover. Nobody would ever suspect a trio of flamboyant Gym Leaders that doubled as waiters."
"He's got a point," admitted the narrator.
"So it's not just Lillipup and a Pan-thing you have?" asked Roy.
"Of course not," snapped Cilan. "Each of us have an Elgyem, that's how we can warp all over and turn invisible. And each of us also has a Galvantula, that's how we sealed up the entrance to Chargestone Cave.
"Why?" asked Jack. "Why work for scum like Team Plasma?"
"A long time ago," replied Cilan, "Ghetsis saved our lives. Ever since then, we've sworn our loyalty to him. We don't completely agree with the whole releasing Pokémon deal, but fulfilling our duties as the Shadow Triad is the least we can do to repay him.
Roy opened his mouth to say something else, but at that point, Elgyem regained consciousness. Cilan made an odd hand gesture to it that seemed to be some sort of code, because immediately afterwards, both Pokémon and Gym Leader/waiter/criminal vanished. Looking down the hall, Jack could see that Cilan's mask and wig had also vanished.
"Wow," murmured Bianca as the group continued down the hall. "I never suspected the Striaton Gym Leaders... Hey, Jack, aren't you gonna heal your Pokémon?"
"Already on it," replied Jack as he rapidly pressed buttons on his Pokédex. "Just rearranged my team. Put in some of my most powerful Pokémon. Also left room for Reshiram, just in case."
With that, the group headed up the staircase that stood at the end of the hall, ending up in yet another hallway.
"Quite the repetitive building, wouldn't you say, sir?" inquired the narrator.
"I guess," said Jack. "Real fancy, though."
Just then, another figure clad entirely in black appeared before the group. This time, nobody reacted.
"A battle between you and our lord N..." the man said. "It will reveal whether our lord is truly an ideal hero. And-"
"Yeah, yeah, save it, Chili," interrupted Jack. "Or are you Cress?"
"I don't know what you're-" began the man as Misty lunged forward and ripped off the man's toupee and mask in one swift movement, revealing a familiar face with fiery red hair.
"...talking about," finished Chili lamely. "How did you know?"
"Let's just say we chopped the information out of Cilan," replied Jack.
Chili sighed. "Let's go, Elgyem," he said. With that, the Gym Leader vanished.
"What do you want to bet we run into Cress on the next floor?" Jack asked.
"I'd say it's pretty good odds, sir," answered the narrator as they continued down the hall. Nothing more of interest happened during this walk. Not long after their run-in with Chili, the group found themselves at yet another staircase.
"You know," Jack stated as they climbed the stairs, "For all the effort they went to to make this castle rise out of the ground, you'd think they'd bother to install elevators." The rest of the group grunted in agreement. As they reached the top of the stairs, they could see yet another man dressed in black clothing.
"This-"
"Cress, save it, we know who you are," interrupted Jack.
"Arceus damn it," sighed Cress as he ripped off his toupee and mask, revealing his blue dreadlocks. "Anyway, as I was saying," he continued, pointing to his right to a door, "This room is the world that was provided to our lord N. When I go into the room, I feel nothing. But you, you guys have spent more time with N than I have. Maybe you will feel something. Elgyem, use Teleport."
And with that, Cress vanished.
Roy shrugged. "Should we go in?" he asked.
"Fine," sighed Jack. "But let's make it quick, OK? I want to get to N and battle him already."
With that, the group entered the room.
Jack blinked. The room they were in appeared to be little more than a toy room. The floor was littered with plastic train tracks, and a large skateboard ramp stood in one corner. Against one wall was a tall basketball hoop, in which a toy train was stuck. A basketball sat on the floor, with the word "Harmonia" scrawled on it in permanent marker.
"Are those... claw marks on that skateboard ramp?" asked Bianca, obviously rather freaked out.
"Shall we leave now?" asked Roy.
"Whatever," Jack answered. With that, the group left the room and continued down the hall.
"So," said Jack, "Anyone feel anything in there?"
"I dunno," said Roy. "It was odd, knowing that N spent his childhood in that room. I can't really describe how I felt in there."
"I was freaked out a little bit," Bianca stated. "There were claw marks on that skateboard ramp. N's a werewolf!"
"Or," said Roy, "He had Pokémon in that room with him."
"...oh," said Bianca. "Oh, that makes more sense, doesn't it?"
~~~~~~~~
Two event-free minutes later, the group arrived at another staircase, ascended it with yet more lack of event, and found themselves in another hallway. However, this time, they had barely taken ten steps before Jack noticed a large doorway to their right, blocked by none other than-
"Ghetsis!" snarled Jack.
"Welcome, holder of the Light Stone," replied Ghetsis. "The castle that appeared as if it were enveloping the Pokémon League is a symbol. It means Unova will change."
"Not if I can help it," Jack snapped.
"The king of this castle is the strongest Trainer in the world," continued Ghetsis, apparently ignoring Jack. "He is accompanied by the legendary Pokémon. He has defeated the Champion. Added to all that, his heart burns with the desire to improve the world. If that's not what makes a hero, what more do you need?"
"Where do I begin?" Roy said.
"And now that the stage is set, we can seize people's minds and hearts. We can bring into being the world that I- no, that Team Plasma desires, more easily than you can imagine! We and only we will use Pokémon, and we shall rule the powerless populace! I've been waiting so long for this! I've kept my silence so no one could piece together what I planned. Now, those painful days are at an end!" cackled Ghetsis, his voice sounding increasingly insane. He then stepped off to the right, leaving no further obstacle between the group and the door.
"Go! Onward!" exclaimed Ghetsis. "Discover whether you have what it takes to be a hero!"
"Anything to get away from you," Jack retorted as he stepped into the large room before him. Down the middle of the floor was laid a red carpet. On a throne at the other end of the room sat none other than N.
"What I desire," N said as he rose from his throne, "Is a world for Pokémon, and Pokémon alone. I will separate Pokémon from people, so Pokémon can regain their original power."
"You're serious," Jack stated, shaking his head.
"As a ham," replied N. "It's time to settle this once and for all! My determination is absolute! I will prove the value of my beliefs even if it means my Pokémon friends get hurt! Since you've come this far, I believe you are equally determined. If this is the case, then prove it to me! Show me the depth of your determination!"
Jack took a Poké Ball off his belt and enlarged it, but N ignored him.
"You came all this way to battle me…" N sighed, in a dejected tone of voice. "But Reshiram isn't responding. You haven't yet been recognized as the hero, have you? Disappointing. I actually kind of liked you a little. Through our many battles, I got the feeling that you might be a Trainer who truly cares for Pokémon!"
"He IS!" Misty exclaimed. Her outburst echoed around the throne room.
"But I was kidding myself," N sighed, shaking his head. "The idea of Trainers getting to know each other through battles... It's ridculous! You have two options. Challenge me to a fight you can't win, or leave this place and watch the birth of a new world where Pokémon are free of people! Zekrom, come to me!"
At that moment, a large, black Pokémon crashed into the room, leaving a gaping hole in the back wall, and reducing N's throne to kindling. Zekrom landed on the floor immediately before Jack, and roared loudly. Then, the bands on its tail began to glow a bright blue, and electricity crackled all around Zekrom.
"Nice touch," murmured Roy.
For a moment, Jack looked up at the imposing figure of Zekrom, a mixture of fear and determination on his face. Then, his backpack gave a violent jerk.
"Jack..." murmured Bianca as the spherical white rock floated up and out of the pack.
"The Light Stone..." murmured N. "I mean... Reshiram..."
The stone floated up into the air, and for a moment rotated in place, before it began to change shape. At first, it just seemed to grow in size, like a Voltorb evolving into Electrode. Then, the stone unfurled itself, revealing a large dragonlike figure, extremely similar in body shape to Zekrom. It opened its eyes, which were a brilliant blue, and then opened its mouth, giving a loud roar. A great orange flame appeared in its conical tail, and flames swirled all around it. Once the brilliant flames had passed, Reshiram landed on the ground, and looked directly at Jack.
N looked thrilled. "So," he said. "You really are a hero, Jack. Reshiram is said to only appear before those it considers to be heroes. And I'll tell you exactly what Reshiram is saying to you, Jack. It's saying, 'I want to battle with you. Try to make me your friend and ally,'. It plans to test you to see if you are really pursuing the truth. I, also, am curious to see how powerful you are. Now, catch Reshiram and make it your ally!"
N then took the odd Rubik's Cube-like object off of his belt and pressed a button on it. Immediately, an epic tune began to play.
Jack threw the now-sweaty Poké Ball he had been clutching for the last five minutes. "Victini, go!" he shouted.
In a flash of light, Jack's Victini appeared, and looked up at the massive legendary before it, showing no signs of fear.
Reshiram made the first move. Roaring loudly, it formed a sphere of fire above its head, then sent it crashing down upon Victini.
"That's Reshiram's Fusion Flare..." N sighed, apparently dazzled by the sight of the attack.
"Victini!" yelled Jack. To his relief, the Victory Pokémon flew into the air, and barely seemed injured. Jack breathed a sigh of relief. "Use Quick Attack!" he called.
"Tiniiiiiiii!" squealed Victini as it zoomed through the air and slammed into Reshiram. The legendary stumbled a bit, but seemed largely unaffected by the attack. It then unleashed a strange purple flame from its mouth.
"Dodge that DragonBreath and use Confusion!" Jack ordered.
Victini swooped in midair, evading the DragonBreath attack, and fired off a V-shaped blast of psychic power from its ears. Reshiram howled upon being hit with the attack, but responded almost immediately with another DragonBreath. Victini couldn't avoid this one, and fell to the floor, unconscious.
"Victini, return," Jack said, holding Victini's Poké Ball in one hand and throwing another ball with the other hand. "Rayquaza, destroy!"
In a flash of light and a swirl of stars, Jack's Shiny Rayquaza materialized, and stared down its fellow legendary.
"Rayquaza, Aqua Tail now!" Jack ordered. Immediately, water began swirling around Rayquaza's tail, and it swung said tail in Reshiram's direction. Reshiram responded with another Fusion Flare attack, which collided with the Aqua Tail. A large quantity of steam rose from where the attacks met, telling Jack that the water from Aqua Tail had evaporated.
"That's science for you," N smiled.
"Hyper Beam!" Jack ordered. Rayquaza gave a shrieking roar, and fired a red beam of pure destructive energy from its mouth. Reshiram responded by mimicing this action exactly. The two Hyper Beams met in midair, creating a colossal explosion that rocked the entire castle. When the smoke cleared, Rayquaza lay on the floor, unconscious, but Reshiram still looked good to go, albeit apparently struggling to stay upright now.
"Get back!" Jack called, holding out the Poké Ball while throwing the Master Ball. "Tornadus, go!"
"Jack, no!" groaned Roy. But it was too late; Tornadus appeared in a flash of purple light.
"Tornadus, please," Jack called in desperation. "You have to listen to me this time, there's too much at stake!"
"Tor?!" Tornadus exclaimed at the word "please". It wasn't often that Jack was polite, and Tornadus knew it. Even Roy, the narrator, and Misty were giving Jack surprised looks.
"This has only happened once before," the narrator explained. "And it was what caused his Koffing to evolve."
"Na..." murmured Tornadus as it looked into Jack's eyes. Jack met its gaze unwaveringly. After a few moments, Tornadus turned to face Reshiram, as if silently asking it something. Reshiram nodded.
Tornadus looked over its shoulder, and smiled and winked at Jack. Jack grinned back, and Tornadus turned back around to face Reshiram.
"All right, Tornadus!" Jack exclaimed. "Use Sludge Wave!"
"Torna!" roared Tornadus as its eyes glowed purple. Then, a large tidal wave of filthy black sludge rose up behind it, and crashed down onto Reshiram, knocking it to the floor. As it struggled to get up, Jack dug an empty Poké Ball out of his backpack.
"Poké Ball, go!" Jack yelled, throwing aforementioned sphere. The ball struck Reshiram and converted it into transparent red energy. Once all the energy was sucked into the Poké Ball, it snapped shut and fell to the floor, where it wobbled once...
Twice...
The ball exploded. Fragments of Poké Ball flew in every direction, forcing Zekrom to duck as one flew right where its left eye had been moments ago. Reshiram emerged from the ruined remnants of the ball, and landed back on the floor. Undeterred, Jack threw another Poké Ball. This one made the telltale whirring noise as it flew at Reshiram. Once Reshiram was turned into red energy and sucked into the ball, it shook violently in midair, then fell to the floor, where it wobbled once...
...
...
...And clicked shut. Jack had caught Reshiram.
The music stopped. Jack broke out into a wide grin as Tornadus scooped up the Poké Ball and handed it to its trainer.
"You did it, sir!" the narrator exclaimed as Jack withdrew Tornadus. N, too, was smiling.
"So, Reshiram, who is said to lend its power to the hero who searches for truth, has recognized your power and now agrees to stand by your side… I must congratulate you on this, Jack. But hold on," he continued. "Your Pokémon are hurt. There is no triumph to be gained in battling a weakened opponent." With that, N took his odd Rubik's Cube device and pressed another button, and a ray of blue light shone onto Jack's belt. Jack felt the Poké Balls on his belt quiver ever so slightly before N shut the device off and clipped it back onto his own belt.
"Uh, what the hell?" Jack asked.
"I just healed your Pokémon," replied N. "You're welcome.
"Oh."
"And now," N continued, "I will create the future I desire! I shall sweep you before me! Let's go!"
--------------
End of Chapter 37.
Chapter 37: The Castle Of Castleness
--------------
Though extremely nervous at the battle that was coming, Jack could not help but marvel at the splendor that was Team Plasma's castle. At the end of the hallway stood a staircase. Wordlessly, Jack led his friends up said staircase, only to find another hallway, just as long and ornately decorated as the previous one.
"Jack," said Roy, "Are you nervous?"
"Of course not," lied Jack. "Why would you think that?"
"Because Yucky just said you were extremely nervous, and that you just lied to me."
"Stop calling me that!" the narrator exclaimed.
"Yeah, well- OOF!" Jack grunted as he walked right into a figure clad entirely in black.
"Oh, not this again," groaned Roy. Then he blinked and looked around. "Wait, where's the rest of you guys?" For before the group stood one third of the Shadow Triad.
"Come with me," said the man. He wheeled around and led the group forward, then stopped as they approached a door. Jack couldn't help but notice a few streaks of green hair poking out from the man's light blonde hair.
"What's up with the green hair?" Jack asked suspiciously. In response, the man wheeled around to face the group.
"I have no green hair. Your nervousness is making you see things," he replied. "In this castle, you can heal your Pokémon. Fear not."
"Hold on," said Roy. Jack has a point. I saw those strands of green hair. What's that about?"
"I tell you, I don't know what you're talking about," the man stated with a hint of impatience (and in the super ultra sexy narrator's opinion, a tinge of nervousness). As Toxicroak burst free of its Poké Ball, the narrator swiftly stepped off to the side, allowing Toxicroak to execute a Cross Chop on the Shadow Triad member. The man fell to the floor, and his black mask and blonde hairpiece flew across the hall.
"Cilan?!" exclaimed Jack, Roy, and the narrator simultaneously. Laying next to the Striaton Gym Leader was a small green Pokémon. It was human in shape, but with a massive head. It was unconscious; Toxicroak evidently knocked it out with the Cross Chop.
"Elgyem, the Cerebral Pokémon," said Roy's Pokédex. "Elgyem possesses potent psychic powers, and can Teleport with ease. It is also able to turn invisible."
"So, you, Chili, and Cress, you're the Shadow Triad?" Jack demanded.
"Fine," sighed Cilan. "Our positions as Striaton Gym Leaders were all too perfect a cover. Nobody would ever suspect a trio of flamboyant Gym Leaders that doubled as waiters."
"He's got a point," admitted the narrator.
"So it's not just Lillipup and a Pan-thing you have?" asked Roy.
"Of course not," snapped Cilan. "Each of us have an Elgyem, that's how we can warp all over and turn invisible. And each of us also has a Galvantula, that's how we sealed up the entrance to Chargestone Cave.
"Why?" asked Jack. "Why work for scum like Team Plasma?"
"A long time ago," replied Cilan, "Ghetsis saved our lives. Ever since then, we've sworn our loyalty to him. We don't completely agree with the whole releasing Pokémon deal, but fulfilling our duties as the Shadow Triad is the least we can do to repay him.
Roy opened his mouth to say something else, but at that point, Elgyem regained consciousness. Cilan made an odd hand gesture to it that seemed to be some sort of code, because immediately afterwards, both Pokémon and Gym Leader/waiter/criminal vanished. Looking down the hall, Jack could see that Cilan's mask and wig had also vanished.
"Wow," murmured Bianca as the group continued down the hall. "I never suspected the Striaton Gym Leaders... Hey, Jack, aren't you gonna heal your Pokémon?"
"Already on it," replied Jack as he rapidly pressed buttons on his Pokédex. "Just rearranged my team. Put in some of my most powerful Pokémon. Also left room for Reshiram, just in case."
With that, the group headed up the staircase that stood at the end of the hall, ending up in yet another hallway.
"Quite the repetitive building, wouldn't you say, sir?" inquired the narrator.
"I guess," said Jack. "Real fancy, though."
Just then, another figure clad entirely in black appeared before the group. This time, nobody reacted.
"A battle between you and our lord N..." the man said. "It will reveal whether our lord is truly an ideal hero. And-"
"Yeah, yeah, save it, Chili," interrupted Jack. "Or are you Cress?"
"I don't know what you're-" began the man as Misty lunged forward and ripped off the man's toupee and mask in one swift movement, revealing a familiar face with fiery red hair.
"...talking about," finished Chili lamely. "How did you know?"
"Let's just say we chopped the information out of Cilan," replied Jack.
Chili sighed. "Let's go, Elgyem," he said. With that, the Gym Leader vanished.
"What do you want to bet we run into Cress on the next floor?" Jack asked.
"I'd say it's pretty good odds, sir," answered the narrator as they continued down the hall. Nothing more of interest happened during this walk. Not long after their run-in with Chili, the group found themselves at yet another staircase.
"You know," Jack stated as they climbed the stairs, "For all the effort they went to to make this castle rise out of the ground, you'd think they'd bother to install elevators." The rest of the group grunted in agreement. As they reached the top of the stairs, they could see yet another man dressed in black clothing.
"This-"
"Cress, save it, we know who you are," interrupted Jack.
"Arceus damn it," sighed Cress as he ripped off his toupee and mask, revealing his blue dreadlocks. "Anyway, as I was saying," he continued, pointing to his right to a door, "This room is the world that was provided to our lord N. When I go into the room, I feel nothing. But you, you guys have spent more time with N than I have. Maybe you will feel something. Elgyem, use Teleport."
And with that, Cress vanished.
Roy shrugged. "Should we go in?" he asked.
"Fine," sighed Jack. "But let's make it quick, OK? I want to get to N and battle him already."
With that, the group entered the room.
Jack blinked. The room they were in appeared to be little more than a toy room. The floor was littered with plastic train tracks, and a large skateboard ramp stood in one corner. Against one wall was a tall basketball hoop, in which a toy train was stuck. A basketball sat on the floor, with the word "Harmonia" scrawled on it in permanent marker.
"Are those... claw marks on that skateboard ramp?" asked Bianca, obviously rather freaked out.
"Shall we leave now?" asked Roy.
"Whatever," Jack answered. With that, the group left the room and continued down the hall.
"So," said Jack, "Anyone feel anything in there?"
"I dunno," said Roy. "It was odd, knowing that N spent his childhood in that room. I can't really describe how I felt in there."
"I was freaked out a little bit," Bianca stated. "There were claw marks on that skateboard ramp. N's a werewolf!"
"Or," said Roy, "He had Pokémon in that room with him."
"...oh," said Bianca. "Oh, that makes more sense, doesn't it?"
~~~~~~~~
Two event-free minutes later, the group arrived at another staircase, ascended it with yet more lack of event, and found themselves in another hallway. However, this time, they had barely taken ten steps before Jack noticed a large doorway to their right, blocked by none other than-
"Ghetsis!" snarled Jack.
"Welcome, holder of the Light Stone," replied Ghetsis. "The castle that appeared as if it were enveloping the Pokémon League is a symbol. It means Unova will change."
"Not if I can help it," Jack snapped.
"The king of this castle is the strongest Trainer in the world," continued Ghetsis, apparently ignoring Jack. "He is accompanied by the legendary Pokémon. He has defeated the Champion. Added to all that, his heart burns with the desire to improve the world. If that's not what makes a hero, what more do you need?"
"Where do I begin?" Roy said.
"And now that the stage is set, we can seize people's minds and hearts. We can bring into being the world that I- no, that Team Plasma desires, more easily than you can imagine! We and only we will use Pokémon, and we shall rule the powerless populace! I've been waiting so long for this! I've kept my silence so no one could piece together what I planned. Now, those painful days are at an end!" cackled Ghetsis, his voice sounding increasingly insane. He then stepped off to the right, leaving no further obstacle between the group and the door.
"Go! Onward!" exclaimed Ghetsis. "Discover whether you have what it takes to be a hero!"
"Anything to get away from you," Jack retorted as he stepped into the large room before him. Down the middle of the floor was laid a red carpet. On a throne at the other end of the room sat none other than N.
"What I desire," N said as he rose from his throne, "Is a world for Pokémon, and Pokémon alone. I will separate Pokémon from people, so Pokémon can regain their original power."
"You're serious," Jack stated, shaking his head.
"As a ham," replied N. "It's time to settle this once and for all! My determination is absolute! I will prove the value of my beliefs even if it means my Pokémon friends get hurt! Since you've come this far, I believe you are equally determined. If this is the case, then prove it to me! Show me the depth of your determination!"
Jack took a Poké Ball off his belt and enlarged it, but N ignored him.
"You came all this way to battle me…" N sighed, in a dejected tone of voice. "But Reshiram isn't responding. You haven't yet been recognized as the hero, have you? Disappointing. I actually kind of liked you a little. Through our many battles, I got the feeling that you might be a Trainer who truly cares for Pokémon!"
"He IS!" Misty exclaimed. Her outburst echoed around the throne room.
"But I was kidding myself," N sighed, shaking his head. "The idea of Trainers getting to know each other through battles... It's ridculous! You have two options. Challenge me to a fight you can't win, or leave this place and watch the birth of a new world where Pokémon are free of people! Zekrom, come to me!"
At that moment, a large, black Pokémon crashed into the room, leaving a gaping hole in the back wall, and reducing N's throne to kindling. Zekrom landed on the floor immediately before Jack, and roared loudly. Then, the bands on its tail began to glow a bright blue, and electricity crackled all around Zekrom.
"Nice touch," murmured Roy.
For a moment, Jack looked up at the imposing figure of Zekrom, a mixture of fear and determination on his face. Then, his backpack gave a violent jerk.
"Jack..." murmured Bianca as the spherical white rock floated up and out of the pack.
"The Light Stone..." murmured N. "I mean... Reshiram..."
The stone floated up into the air, and for a moment rotated in place, before it began to change shape. At first, it just seemed to grow in size, like a Voltorb evolving into Electrode. Then, the stone unfurled itself, revealing a large dragonlike figure, extremely similar in body shape to Zekrom. It opened its eyes, which were a brilliant blue, and then opened its mouth, giving a loud roar. A great orange flame appeared in its conical tail, and flames swirled all around it. Once the brilliant flames had passed, Reshiram landed on the ground, and looked directly at Jack.
N looked thrilled. "So," he said. "You really are a hero, Jack. Reshiram is said to only appear before those it considers to be heroes. And I'll tell you exactly what Reshiram is saying to you, Jack. It's saying, 'I want to battle with you. Try to make me your friend and ally,'. It plans to test you to see if you are really pursuing the truth. I, also, am curious to see how powerful you are. Now, catch Reshiram and make it your ally!"
N then took the odd Rubik's Cube-like object off of his belt and pressed a button on it. Immediately, an epic tune began to play.
Jack threw the now-sweaty Poké Ball he had been clutching for the last five minutes. "Victini, go!" he shouted.
In a flash of light, Jack's Victini appeared, and looked up at the massive legendary before it, showing no signs of fear.
Reshiram made the first move. Roaring loudly, it formed a sphere of fire above its head, then sent it crashing down upon Victini.
"That's Reshiram's Fusion Flare..." N sighed, apparently dazzled by the sight of the attack.
"Victini!" yelled Jack. To his relief, the Victory Pokémon flew into the air, and barely seemed injured. Jack breathed a sigh of relief. "Use Quick Attack!" he called.
"Tiniiiiiiii!" squealed Victini as it zoomed through the air and slammed into Reshiram. The legendary stumbled a bit, but seemed largely unaffected by the attack. It then unleashed a strange purple flame from its mouth.
"Dodge that DragonBreath and use Confusion!" Jack ordered.
Victini swooped in midair, evading the DragonBreath attack, and fired off a V-shaped blast of psychic power from its ears. Reshiram howled upon being hit with the attack, but responded almost immediately with another DragonBreath. Victini couldn't avoid this one, and fell to the floor, unconscious.
"Victini, return," Jack said, holding Victini's Poké Ball in one hand and throwing another ball with the other hand. "Rayquaza, destroy!"
In a flash of light and a swirl of stars, Jack's Shiny Rayquaza materialized, and stared down its fellow legendary.
"Rayquaza, Aqua Tail now!" Jack ordered. Immediately, water began swirling around Rayquaza's tail, and it swung said tail in Reshiram's direction. Reshiram responded with another Fusion Flare attack, which collided with the Aqua Tail. A large quantity of steam rose from where the attacks met, telling Jack that the water from Aqua Tail had evaporated.
"That's science for you," N smiled.
"Hyper Beam!" Jack ordered. Rayquaza gave a shrieking roar, and fired a red beam of pure destructive energy from its mouth. Reshiram responded by mimicing this action exactly. The two Hyper Beams met in midair, creating a colossal explosion that rocked the entire castle. When the smoke cleared, Rayquaza lay on the floor, unconscious, but Reshiram still looked good to go, albeit apparently struggling to stay upright now.
"Get back!" Jack called, holding out the Poké Ball while throwing the Master Ball. "Tornadus, go!"
"Jack, no!" groaned Roy. But it was too late; Tornadus appeared in a flash of purple light.
"Tornadus, please," Jack called in desperation. "You have to listen to me this time, there's too much at stake!"
"Tor?!" Tornadus exclaimed at the word "please". It wasn't often that Jack was polite, and Tornadus knew it. Even Roy, the narrator, and Misty were giving Jack surprised looks.
"This has only happened once before," the narrator explained. "And it was what caused his Koffing to evolve."
"Na..." murmured Tornadus as it looked into Jack's eyes. Jack met its gaze unwaveringly. After a few moments, Tornadus turned to face Reshiram, as if silently asking it something. Reshiram nodded.
Tornadus looked over its shoulder, and smiled and winked at Jack. Jack grinned back, and Tornadus turned back around to face Reshiram.
"All right, Tornadus!" Jack exclaimed. "Use Sludge Wave!"
"Torna!" roared Tornadus as its eyes glowed purple. Then, a large tidal wave of filthy black sludge rose up behind it, and crashed down onto Reshiram, knocking it to the floor. As it struggled to get up, Jack dug an empty Poké Ball out of his backpack.
"Poké Ball, go!" Jack yelled, throwing aforementioned sphere. The ball struck Reshiram and converted it into transparent red energy. Once all the energy was sucked into the Poké Ball, it snapped shut and fell to the floor, where it wobbled once...
Twice...
The ball exploded. Fragments of Poké Ball flew in every direction, forcing Zekrom to duck as one flew right where its left eye had been moments ago. Reshiram emerged from the ruined remnants of the ball, and landed back on the floor. Undeterred, Jack threw another Poké Ball. This one made the telltale whirring noise as it flew at Reshiram. Once Reshiram was turned into red energy and sucked into the ball, it shook violently in midair, then fell to the floor, where it wobbled once...
...
...
...And clicked shut. Jack had caught Reshiram.
The music stopped. Jack broke out into a wide grin as Tornadus scooped up the Poké Ball and handed it to its trainer.
"You did it, sir!" the narrator exclaimed as Jack withdrew Tornadus. N, too, was smiling.
"So, Reshiram, who is said to lend its power to the hero who searches for truth, has recognized your power and now agrees to stand by your side… I must congratulate you on this, Jack. But hold on," he continued. "Your Pokémon are hurt. There is no triumph to be gained in battling a weakened opponent." With that, N took his odd Rubik's Cube device and pressed another button, and a ray of blue light shone onto Jack's belt. Jack felt the Poké Balls on his belt quiver ever so slightly before N shut the device off and clipped it back onto his own belt.
"Uh, what the hell?" Jack asked.
"I just healed your Pokémon," replied N. "You're welcome.
"Oh."
"And now," N continued, "I will create the future I desire! I shall sweep you before me! Let's go!"
--------------
End of Chapter 37.
*It is revealed that the Shadow Triad is made up of Cilan, Chili, and Cress.
*Cilan, Chili, and Cress are each revealed to own an Elgyem and a Galvantula.
*Jack alters his team to include Victini, Tornadus, Rayquaza, and two others.
*Jack's Light Stone turns into Reshiram.
*Tornadus begins to obey Jack.
*Jack catches Reshiram.
*Cilan, Chili, and Cress are each revealed to own an Elgyem and a Galvantula.
*Jack alters his team to include Victini, Tornadus, Rayquaza, and two others.
*Jack's Light Stone turns into Reshiram.
*Tornadus begins to obey Jack.
*Jack catches Reshiram.
