Gateton Port Forgeworks - 1903 hours local time - Day 165 of Ash Ketchum's journey
The pounding of steel onto steel would deafen most, but after a century of work, the former-and-current Royal Guard was used to it, staring at the forearm armor he was forging. The peons of Cipher tended to die quickly these days. This may even be his last order.
The banging on the rebuilt door reminded him quickly, however, that no matter their shortcomings, Cipher was still in charge. For now.
"We're closed; I have an order from the Supreme Leader." he said loudly and disinterestedly. The knockers ignored that and bashed the door down, revealing themselves to be Red Peons, the elite guard for Cipher. And usually only escorting one man these days.
And in he came, wearing the screwed up jumpsuit he'd been using since the first incident, the psychic leader of Cipher, Nascour Jakira. Looking annoyed.
"Well, well." the smithy said, stopping his power hammer and looking at the leader of Cipher. "I never expected you to come here. So, what's up, Nascour? Not happy with my forgings?"
Nascour's red eyes glowered at the master of steel. "You have been busy." the man opined.
"Of course I've been busy-"
"Not with metal working." the psychic snapped, interrupting him. "I know you've been leading the insurgency."
The annoyance faded from the Rotan man's face, replaced by a smug grin. "Only took you a few decades to figure out." the metal master goaded. "What, were you so blind to my loathing of you that it took you until now to figure out?"
Nascour gestured to the peons. "Bring him. We will find out where that accursed bitch and her new master are through him." he commanded, both peons walking towards the old man.
"Come now, Nascour." he said, moving towards the pile of charcoal, grabbing the old, well-maintained entrenching tool. "Do you want to know why you lose so many of your Peons?"
"You don't intimidate us, old-" the Peon never finished as the smith swung his trusty weapon like an axe, nearly decapitating the peon before the old soldier shoved the body onto the other red peon, knocking him down before the peon swiftly found the shovel descending on his neck.
The guard stood up, the sound of metal clanging against metal getting his attention before turning to block a rough piece of steel, a blank he would turn into a survival tool in the hands of Nascour.
"You will pay for this." Nascour promised, his eyes glowing, using his psionic powers to make up for his lack of muscle mass. "You can't resist us forever, old man!"
"Tell that to my prince." the guard retorted before headbutting the psychic, making him lose focus before the smith punched Nascour in the face, sending him sprawling back into the wall. "You lost the moment you failed to kill him, you stupid fool! And your defeat sped up the moment he landed here! Ferrum can't help you now and the URN is coming for revenge! Are you ready to meet your insane god?"
Nascour shook off the disorientation before dropping the metal blank, reaching for the Pokeballs on his belt.
"Sorry. I don't work that way." the guard answered before stomping on the floor, a Natu appearing on his head before he teleported away. And the floor collapsed under him, the shop falling apart to bury the old leader of Cipher, the still-burning forge spilling out to set fire to everything, burning coals landing on the psychic bastard..
But while Nascour was not on the same level as Sabrina, he was still powerful enough to survive, blowing the debris off of him.
NS Heart of Indigo - 18 hours from Orre - 1735 hours local time
With the minefield cleared at last, a nearly three-week journey that should've lasted a week at most was on the edge of completion, thanks in no small part to the Ranseian forces ripping a new hole through the Orrean Navy blockade.
"About damn time." Agatha spat, unhappy about the idea of having to face XD-001. That Shadow Ho-Oh nearly killed her at Ecruteak as well as that damned bird.
"Nothing for it, Agatha." Lance said as the ship continued to steam ahead, the still unfamiliar sounds of turbine engines going past their ears, Ranseian fighter-bombers covering their approach to Orre. "I can't believe they EXIST."
"To be honest, I didn't remember they existed either." the old woman commented. "But then again, those days were a blur. At least Ash will be safe."
Lance looked at his senior Elite. "You sound like you give a damn beyond him being your grand-godson." he said confusedly, prompting the old woman to give him a look.
"Never ask questions you don't want the answers to," she replied.
And immediately, Lance's mind went to the gutter. "If you'll excuse me…" he trailed off, needing a massive, immediate dosage of extreme mental cleansing.
If Sabrina wasn't on that Ranseian ship, he'd have her get it out of his head!
Sabrina blanched at the thoughts she got from Lance's mind.
"You ok?" Neesha asked, having gotten over her fear of Sabrina over the months they spent in Ferrum stirring up trouble.
"A random thought from my boss," she muttered as Kyoji came in, his Gible looking at the two before deciding to take to the air briefly and lunge for Sabrina's head.
CHOMP!
Sabrina didn't even fight it. Gibles were just too friendly to push away. "Hello, land shark." she said, rubbing the yellow Gible's side.
"Gib~" went the land shark, warbling happily.
Kyoji chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, I have good news." he finally said. "The General has been nice enough to send me in the first wave to help Ash. There's a transport waiting on the aft deck."
"And by 'me', you mean all of us." Neesha retorted.
Kyoji shrugged. "It was a given." he admitted. "Besides, even if he said I was going alone, what would stop you from coming with?"
Gible warbled in agreement.
"Well, we might as well see how Dad is doing. And if I have a new mother-in-law in waiting." the psychic said as she walked off, heading for the stern landing pad.
"…Is it a bad sign that I'm getting used to her calling someone three years younger than us her dad?" Neesha asked, to a chuckle in response from the Ranseian.
"I don't know." he answered. "I happen to LIKE weird, so I am the worst person to ask."
Parrot Express, enroute to Mt Battle - 1832 hours local time
The second to last bastion of power for Cipher in Orre was Mt Battle. Once home to a training facility for trainers to brave the deserts, now merely a base of operations for Cipher.
And Robin was… pleased. For once, the seemingly uphill war had reached the top, where the end of Cipher was truly in sight. There was just one problem.
What in the name of hell were they going to do next?
For almost a century, the various resistance moments have been trying and failing to oust Cipher, who just kept killing them whenever they got to be more of a threat. Ash changed things from 'rolling a rock up a hill' to 'victory in sight'. But a classic problem popped into her mind. What would they do after they won?
None of them were politicians, just rebels. They couldn't rebuild the region.
Maybe Ash had a solution.
Her Eeveeluitons slept below deck, following Ash's advice to let them out. She felt… regret for not doing this outside of secure places now.
Something was happening to her.
A web covered Lucario, mildly shocking him for a few seconds before dissipating. "Car." 'That was irritating.' the Aura Pokemon said as the Electroweb faded, Pikachu looking smug. He had been working on that for a while now.
Thunderbolt was good and all, Electoball was accurate, but Electroweb… well, he'd been working on THAT since they went to Alola the first time. Then cue all the nonsense and of course the time travel BULLSHIT… Pikachu was just happy he finally got another electric attack to add to his arsenal.
"Nice, Pikachu. That should come in handy later." Ash complimented before the ship slammed into the ground, the Natus resting as they made their own little nests.
Robin then came down, a Natu giving her a look before she walked towards Ash. "We'll have to go the rest of the way on foot." she said, putting a strand of hair behind her ear. "The final push. Once Mt Battle is cleared, all that remains is Citadark Island. And then… you'll leave, won't you?"
Ash nodded sadly. "That's the general plan." he admitted. "It's… hard to explain."
"Wanderlust." came the voice of the blacksmith, who teleported in with a Natu a few hours ago, explaining he 'gave the finger' to Nascour. "A curse of all Rotan kings. They wander, not knowing how to stop until forced to by obligations of family and kingdom. And even then, they never sit upon the throne for long. You'll get used to it once you and Robin settle down."
Ash felt all color leave his face at that last one.
"Settle down?" Robin asked, confused.
"You'll understand once we get to Rota." the old man said before they heard the sounds of engines. "Odd. That's a sound I haven't heard in decades."
Pikachu rushed to Ash's shoulder, Lucario nodding as Ash went for the stairs, heading for the top deck, seeing what could old be called a plane with rotating engines hovering above the old wreck.
The rear hatch opened, with a form in a skintight jumpsuit with green hair-wait a minute, he knew this one.
"Sabrina?" he asked, somewhat drowned out by the sounds of the hovering aircraft's engines as the unexpected gym leader landed on the deck, slowly turning to face Ash.
Robin pulled out her revolver, cocking it before Ash put his hand on it, lowering the weapon as Sabrina grinned.
"Got another one, did we?" she asked, Ash glaring at her for that, getting little more than a chuckle. "Relax. I can tell you're uncomfortable with the idea, I'm just teasing."
"ASH!" cried another familiar voice, as a rope came down, someone in what looked like more compactified armor then Pernon used coming down it before a form then jumped from the craft, homing in on his head.
CHOMP!
"Gible!" 'Ash!' cried the yellow Gible, warbling on Ash's head.
Robin just stared at the yellow Gible. "What in the name of Yveltal is that?" she demanded, looking at the Ranseian Gible.
The man finally got down, taking off his helmet, revealing himself to be none other then the black haired and red-eyed Ranseian specops soldier he met and… well, he was less tactful, but he helped Ash along getting over his issues, so yes, his friend, Kyoji Akamura.
"You have been BUSY, Ash." the Ranseian said with a smile. "You have no idea how much of a pain it was to keep Ferrum from sending a few army divisions into Orre. I had to start a civil war to keep them occupied!"
Ash blinked a few times in confusion. "A civil-" he started before Kyoji raised his hand.
"A long story for another time." the man said before looking at Robin, once up and once down. "Well, at least something remains constant with you. That's what, five? And almost as exotic as Iris."
"If I could avoid it, I would." Ash answered. He WAS getting tired of the whole 'make a girl fall for him without even trying' thing and was thankful the girls he met in Alola were WAY too young to consider him anything but a big brother analogue. "And if you're keeping count… seven. Technically."
Robin, naturally, didn't get it. "What are you two talking about?" she asked as two further people, both girls, slid down the ropes, one looking familiar and nailing the landing while the other looked only vaguely familiar and...
THUD!
Landed on her face.
The unfortunate faceplanter groaned as the weird plane flew off, getting to her feet. 'Oh, it's that lady from New Island…' he thought. What was she doing here?
The one that nailed it, of course...The girl from the Cipher base. The one with the dyejob.
Ash only got a glimpse of Lovrina at Indigo, given Miror B was trying to kill him and all, but he remembered her. He just didn't comment on it: it wasn't his place at the time, as she had enough nuclear bombs wired up to blow Pyrite to hell.
It still wasn't his place. He'd bring it up with Kyoji later. That said…
"What are you doing here?" Ash finally asked. "And where are the others?"
Kyoji Akamura dreaded this moment.
He'd faced Mewtwo and told him off repeatedly, survived courting the most powerful psychic on the planet and started a civil war in the only nation on the planet where it wasn't cops on every corner, but soldiers.
But what he feared more was Ash's reaction to not protecting the girls of his not-quite-official royal harem that Ash wanted to friendzone for a large number of very stupid reasons.
At least to him: to Ash, they made sense.
"Uh… about that…" he started as Neesha got up, rubbing her face as Ash awaited an answer. "I was kinda recalled."
"What?!" the heir to Rota's throne demanded.
"I didn't have a choice, ok?! It was either that or a specops team would come and 'retire' me!" he retorted. "Janine kept them safe; they're on board the Olympic." at this, the dour look was replaced with a grin. "Told you they'd follow you."
Of course they did. Ash expected it, but he still knew what was likely to come and didn't want them put in danger. Selfish of him, maybe, but he cared too much for their safety.
Citadark Island - 1908 hours local time
"They come for us, Cipher!" Nascour Jakara yelled to his peons, admins and guards, all assembled before him. "The wretches and unknowing slaves of Rota and Xerneas march on Orre! But we do not fear, for our God is with us! And he will smite these fools and grant us our empire once more!"
The mindless rabble cheered, knowing this was true. Yveltal was with them.
He had been with them all along. And now he would destroy the URN and the Orrean Empire would return in force. First, the Nihon military force. Then Ferrum would pay, the godless idiots. After that…
The Shadow would cover the world once more.
RMS Olympic - On approach to Gateon Port - ETA 5 hours - 0832 hours local time
Anabel and all of her Pokemon flinched at being even NEAR Orre. This was a land of death, Yveltal's province. And he was a bane of psychics.
"I know how you feel, child." Anabel looked behind her, seeing the old crone of the Kanto Elite Four walking the deck. "Yveltal makes me uncomfortable, as well. The only ghost not disturbed by Yveltal is Giratina and he is Yveltal's sire. All others, including trainers in tune with the spirit world, are… unnerved to say the least."
Anabel nodded. "He left his mark by staying here so long," she mused.
"No." Agatha all but snapped. "No legendary can do that save Arceus. That means one of two things, girl. One, we were wrong about that sort of thing or…"
Anabel's eyes widened. "He's in Orre?" she asked.
"We are going to be in for a bad time." the crone said. "No one can kill a god. And we don't have enough firepower to put even Shadow Lugia in the ground."
Dratini laid in Iris' lap, sleeping. Or rather, Gible was on her lap sleeping and Dratini was sleeping on top of Gible.
At least she earned Dratini's respect.
'You've earned his tolerance, younger me.' Astral Iris retorted, as she knew her corporeal self's thoughts. 'You saved his life. That means he has your attention.'
"And after that?" she asked her 'ghost'.
'Prove you can exceed his expectations. Ask him for an inch at a time.' the ghost said. 'Other then that, you are on your own.'
"Like I haven't been already." she muttered before Axew perked up at her side, nudging her with his tusks.
"What is it, Ax-" Iris started before in came a smiling Sylveon. "Eon!" said the fairy-type, as if recognizing him. He did.
"Hello there~" purred a voice that still gave her chills as the blonde hair of Serena Gabena Yeonne came through the doorway, along with her head, peeking in. "So, hanging out by the pool, are we?"
'Make any excuse, return your Pokemon and GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!' Astral Iris said, the living version almost doing as she suggested before thinking about it.
Other than being… suggestive… did she even TRY anything? Did they have reason to fear her?
"Oh, good." Serena said, walking along the edge of the pool towards Iris. "You got it."
Iris was confused. "Got what?" she asked.
"My being assertive and flirty being just that." she said. "Flirting. Come on, you honestly didn't think I'd do anything without permission?"
"You're also not Serena." Iris retorted.
"Well, I'm Jade at the moment." 'Jade' answered. "Serena was just… overwhelmed at the time by her love for Ash, so I was kinda… dominant. Don't worry, I just wanted to talk before Serena got to talking to you, too."
Iris and her ghost were now confused before they saw Serena's eyes turn from red to blue. Was she imagining things?
"Sorry. I wanted to talk to the others and… Was Jade too forceful?" she asked, seemingly a different person.
"No. Just…" Iris trailed off.
Serena got the point. "Oh. Well… I wanted to talk about Ash." she said. Oh, boy. This was going to end badly.
Iris schooled her face to appear absolutely calm. "What about him? Other than him being the nicest man I've met and-"
"You are in love with him because of it." Serena cut off. "You know he's… hurting, right?"
Astral Iris was confused. 'Well… he's been through hell. Dying a lot, the world ending…' she said before trailing off. '…I don't like where this is going.'
NO ONE likes where this is going. The end result is a BAD place.
Serena, however, continued, avoiding saying the end result of the bad place. "He's going to need us. All of us." she said. "You love him, I love him, Misty, Anabel, I'm pretty sure Janine's smitten with him but is bound by her code not to do anything unless Ash asks her to. And then there's this May and Dawn I keep hearing about from Misty and I know how that's going to end."
'…She's afraid we'll fight. And you know what the worst part is?' the ghost asked, looking annoyed. 'She's RIGHT. All of our personalities would clash. May's a girly-girl, so her and us would argue, same with Dawn. Misty's less of a tomboy, but if we were all in our right minds… Yeah, the catfighting would be insane. And with Ash's mental state less than stable given everything… not something I want to think about.'
Iris didn't want to even HEAR about it. But the point remained. Ash did love them, even if he denied it.
"We need to be his reason to live beyond just some obligation to the world to take out this Cyrus man." the noble continued. "And given he can practice polygamy…"
Iris saw a hint of red in Serena's eyes at that. "Uh...can we focus on being friends first without jumping into that sort of thing?" she asked.
The red resided. "I know. It's just something to keep in mind." the Kalosian said. "I would rather have everyone in love then all of us loving Ash and hating each other. It's healthier that way."
Astral Iris began banging her head against a wall, making no noise because she was a ghost in Iris' head.
Why did the girl with the best chance of getting Ash have to make sense?!
Near Mt Battle - 0845 hours local time
Kyoji stared at the Xatu. "Ok… the pirate hat is awesome. It fits." he said, Xatu looking smug as Kyoji's Natus, clone and normal, wanted the hat.
It was stupid and it fit the psychic parrots WAY too well.
"Xatu." 'I thought the same when I found it.' the totum bird said. "Xa-Xatu." 'I haven't taken it off in a VERY long time. I probably have hat feathers.'
The Natus glanced at each other before glaring at Xatu for denying them the hat, then flinched in pain.
"Naaaaaaaaaatu…" 'It hurts… Something's coming.' the original said before they heard a massive screaming wail from above.
Ash and Robin looked up, Ash scowling at it as if it offended him. Kyoji didn't know for sure.
"Shadow Lugia." the Chosen of Arceus said, sounding VERY offended.
"Uh… You got a history with-" Kyoji started before he heard Sabrina's voice in his head. 'Shamouti. The Lugia there he had a better experience with and he considers this corrupted thing an insult to a noble creature.' she explained.
Well, with THAT context, Ash didn't just sound offended, he WAS offended. '…We're going to have a very bad day, aren't we?' he asked his girlfriend before the ground began shaking and the Natus, both those of Orre and the caught ones all began panicking.
(BGM: Godzilla: King Of The Monsters OST - Rise of Ghidorah)
'VERY bad.' Sabrina confirmed as her adoptive father, unofficial newest girlfriend and their Pokemon all went to the top deck, where Mt Battle, in the distance, was erupting. But not with lava.
A large, clawed hand gripped the volcano's rimm lifting a body out of the caldara, black and red, before another one reached out, hoisting the form out of the molten rock.
Ash apparently knew this one all too well, as he just said the name of the monster emerging from the mountain of fire.
"Yveltal."
Lance looked at the giant form of the God of Death emerging from the volcano, all but demanding blood and death.
Lorelei summed up their situation in one terrified sentence. "We are so fucking dead!"
Dread would start taking root in all of them if they didn't get rid of this thing quickly. Yveltal was not just a god of death, but fear, making all that looked at him want to hide in a corner.
"Don't panic. We can't give into fear." Bruno said, trying to avoid giving into the terror at merely seeing the eldest child of Giratina.
Cynthia looked at Bruno. "Kinda hard to do when the literal GOD OF DEATH AND FEAR is right in front of us!" she all but screamed.
Agatha hit both of them with her cane. "Enough! We don't need to kill Yveltal, only distract it." she said. "Someone else will deal with Giratina's Eldest."
Steven, struggling against the urge to curl up and wait for the end, looked at the old woman. "And who is that?" he demanded. "Arceus hasn't been seen in millenia, Giratina won't do anything-"
"Foolish boy, Ash Ketchum is our only hope in this!" Agatha snapped. "Unless all of you forgot his doing the impossible five months ago?"
Lance stared at Agatha. The impossible? …Oh.
Well, if it could work on a Jigglypuff, what was a god, right?