Pokémon Fool's Gold | Orre & Galar Fanfiction

Chapter 66: Father Vs. Son, Act 2

Ardos rushed, panting, down the seemingly endless steps. The only indicator of his progress was the fading daylight. He distantly heard Brynlee's amplified voice.

'...Prepare... battle at any...'

So they expected an attack. If only he hadn't needed to rely on Alfie or even Rosen... well, it didn't matter now. With his leadership, no-one was any match for Cipher. He squinted. It wasn't just dark below. Light seeped around a silhouette.

'Out of my way!'

'Good afternoon, Father.'

'Lumir! Out of my way!'

Lumir didn't budge. Ardos was forced to skid to a breathless halt.

'Move, you stupid boy! And do not call me Father! Call me Master Ardos!'

'I'm afraid I can't let you go any further.'

'My orders override Lyndon's! I am the Grand Master! Move! Your own time will be wasted if I fail!'

'Oh, no. My mission will be complete. You are truly clueless, aren't you, Father?'

'Enough of this nonsense!'

'We'll destroy your beloved Cipher... but, better yet, I'll destroy you. For me. For mom. For Skord.'

'You... grrr! I won't... I will never forgive you!'

Lumir reached for his Typhlosion's Poké Ball. It only just burst out to protect its Trainer from his father's charging Shadow Trevenant in time. There was no room for two Pokémon. They had to fight a single battle. Flamethrower reduced Trevenant's leaves to ash. It summoned Shadow Sky. Blasts of vicious purple rained down to batter Typhlosion and Lumir. Flames blazed around Typhlosion's neck as it breathed another sweltering Flamethrower. Trevenant fainted. Ardos sent out Mudsdale. Typhlosion fired Hyper Beam. The blast shook the tunnel. Dust crumbled. Mudsdale trampled Typhlosion to the ground, barely stopping short of unflinching Lumir, with Shadow End. He sent out Breloom. Its scattered Spore sent Mudsdale to sleep. Lumir was used to it. Ardos, who hadn't battled in 17 years, was not. He was dazed. Breloom's Seed Bomb battered Mudsdale. Shaking off the powdery Spore, Ardos roared its name to wake it up. Its great hooves slammed Breloom. A bone cracked. More dust rained down. Breloom still fired another Seed Bomb. Mudsdale fainted. Ardos waited to return it until its tumbling body knocked Breloom out. Lumir sent out Glaceon. Ardos sent out Gothitelle. Glaceon hurled Shadow Ball. Gothitelle whipped up Shadow Storm, whisking Glaceon off its feet. Lumir caught it before it flew over his head. He almost toppled. Glaceon was furious. Its angry Shadow Ball was a critical hit, but Gothitelle didn't faint. It confused Glaceon with Shadow Panic instead. Glaceon hurt itself. Gothitelle knocked it out.

'You are but a puny disappointment, Lumir... as I expected.'

He sent out his beloved Omastar. He'd established strong bonds with all of his Pokémon, even the Salamence he recently caught as a Shelgon... but he and Omastar had been together since Leden bought him a Helix Fossil for his fifth birthday. It survived Shadow Storm to use Shell Smash, sacrificing defence to boost its speed and attacking power. Hydro Pump blasted Gothitelle into Ardos. They flew back. The Shadow Pokémon only moved when Ardos returned it. He furiously scrambled to his feet.

'Destroy it, Infernape!'

'Infernape? So none of your remaining Pokémon resist my Omastar? We just might be too fast, I'm afraid.'

Hydro Pump drenched Infernape. It teetered and fainted. A boulder crashed above. Its descent echoed through the tunnel. Ardos glanced back. Druddigon leapt from his next Ultra Ball.