Giovanni sent out Eternatus, the Pokemon growing in power as it began to Dynamax. A heavy cloud poured over the powerplant, a nightmare of a creature towering over us.
"This is the power of Dynamax! All who stand against Team Rainbow Rocket will meet the same fate: destruction!" A helicopter appeared behind with several Team Rainbow Rocket grunts waiting. Giovanni stepped on, tipping his hat. "And soon this world will be mine. Fwahahaha!"
My eyes were fixated on our doom. Eternatus began charging another much stronger Dynamax Cannon. We didn't stand a chance against it, and I was unable to move, exhaustion and fear overtaking me. All I could do was hold Zorua close, staring down the end.
Tears streamed down my face, my heart racing.
Goodra stood up, holding on with his last breath.
Standing in front of us, he blocked the oncoming strike.
I screamed out, waking from the nightmare, my heart racing caped in sweat. Holding my face, my breathing began to slow down; luckily, I hadn't woken Zorua or Sprigatito-one good thing. I was unable to go back to sleep, like most nights. Unable to take it, I slid out of bed, put my belt on, and stepped outside for some fresh air.
****
Outside the city, I leaned against a tree, now having fully calmed down. It didn't help over everything that was playing on my mind. Team Flare, the Paradox Pokemon and the Ultimate Weapon. Why is this era so full of hatred and evil?
Closing my eyes, I tried to get some rest, only to hear a loud, firey blast coming not far from here. Curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to take a look. Passing through the tree lines, I spotted Kieran training with his Incinerator.
"Incineroar, again, flare blitz!" Kieran ordered. Incineroar blasted into a mountain, bursting through. He was about to attack again when he caught wind of me watching. Glancing, he turned back, continuing to train. "Go away."
"Bit late to be training, isn't it?"
"Maybe for you, if I want to defeat Team Flare, I need to train as much as I can."
Sitting on the bench, I gave a half-shrug, watching. "Trust me, being out this late in the wild is nothing unusual. Mimi and I would spend days away from our village, taking on the harshness of the winter storms on our hunt for a new Pokemon."
Kieran continued to ignore me before grumbling, recalling Incineroar. "If you say so."
"Nemona mentioned visiting your home town on her school trip. Kitakamai right? I heard it all went down."
"Shut up. You weren't there; you have no idea. Nemona thinks the world of you, but I only see a weakling too afraid to stand up and fight. If Nemona thinks you're strong, maybe I overestimated her."
"You're wrong. Think of me however you like, but don't go dragging Nemona through the mud because of my mistakes." I echo, leaning forward. "What's the point in being strong anyway? What does anyone get out of it?"
"The hell does that mean?" He snarled before pausing and turning away. "What a waste of time... If you've got so much time to goof off, why don't you train your Pokémon? You think maybe this is why you always lose."
"You lost hard to Nemona, didn't you?" I question curious. "She saved Kitakami, not you. I get it; I was like you once. I was so hyper-focused on being the best that it almost cost me everything."
Kieran raised his Pokeball, furious. "I've had enough. I'm proving here, and now I'm stronger. I don't want any excuses; I'll save Kalos from Team Flare; it can only be me."
"Kieran," I whisper, not even realising I was reaching for my Pokeball; it was just second nature. I so desperately wanted to. I want to fight, but then I'm constantly reminded of what happens if I do.
Taking a deep breath, I gave it some thought. "I ca-."
A sudden explosion blasted behind me, sending me flying and rolling over. I crashed into the ground, my clothes on fire. Struggling to stand, I managed to put the flames out. Blood trickled down my face as I looked up, and my eyes widened at who it was. "It can't be... How are you here? You were supposed to be arrested, Zephyr!"
Zephyr stood idly with arms crossed; a maniac look reached him as he couldn't stop laughing. "That look, oh how I saviour it. That's what all of this is about, that look, it makes up for everything you ruined."
I couldn't stand up, my body screaming in pain. Kieran, however, stepped up, glaring at Zephyr, staring him down. "Who are you?"
"Get out of my way, you pathetic-looking rat; my ambition only belongs to Y/N as I crush him. You tore apart Team Phoenix like it was nothing. Lay waste to my empire! Everything I did was for Clara! I will ruin you." Zephyr screamed. "Burn him to cinders, Blacephalon!"
My eyes were fixated on an Ultra Beast, one I had read a report on. How did Zephyr have his hands on such a Pokemon?! Blacephalon took its head off, juggling it around, preparing to land a devasting blow. He wasn't messing around; he was trying to kill me.
Before it could strike, Kieran countered with Dragonite. Zephyr grunted, cracking his fingers. "Puny child, fine if that's how you wish to play. I'll use this as a warm-up; consider this the first taste of Blacephalon's power. Thy lord's gift, I will not let him down."
Kieran stood beside Dragonite, scoffing. "Whatever you're planning, it's about to come to an end."
With a mighty roar, Dragonite soared onto the battlefield, wings beating with power and determination. Across from him, Blacephalon crackled with fiery energy, its eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Blacephalon, let's start this off with a bang! Use Fire Blast!" Zephyr commanded with a wicked smirk.
In a blinding flash of light, Blacephalon unleashed a torrent of searing flames, engulfing Dragonite in an inferno of heat. But Kieran's Dragonite stood firm, weathering the assault with steely resolve.
"Like that's going to stop us, now it's our turn! Dragonite hit back with Dragon Rush!" Kieran countered, his voice ringing out with determination.
With a fierce cry, Dragonite charged forward like a comet, surrounded by swirling draconic energy. Blacephalon attempted to evade, but Dragonite's speed was unmatched as it slammed into its opponent with unstoppable force.
But Zephyr wasn't about to back down. "Blacephalon, show them the power of Mind Blown!"
With a wild cackle, Blacephalon detonated its own mind, unleashing a devastating explosion that rocked the battlefield. Dragonite staggered under the force of the blast, but with sheer determination, it managed to remain standing, albeit barely.
Kieran gritted his teeth, his heart pounding with adrenaline as he assessed the situation. He knew that victory was within reach, but he couldn't afford to let up for a moment.
"Dragonite, one final push! Finish this with Outrage!" Kieran shouted, his voice echoing with resolve.
With a primal roar, Dragonite became a whirlwind of fury, launching a relentless assault against Blacephalon. Blow after blow rained down upon the fiery Pokémon until, finally, Blacephalon could stand no more, collapsing to the ground in defeat.
Zephyr stumbled back, clenching his fist. "Not bad; you're lucky I hadn't harnessed Blacephalon's full power yet..."
Only just managing to stand, I held my waist, muttering. "Don't you know when enough's enough, Zephyr? Give it up."
"Give up? Give up?! No, no! How could I ever give up!? As long as there is work to be done, I will never surrender. I choose you, De-."
The ground began to shake as, out of nowhere, a Paradox Pokemon burst through the mountainside roaring. I gasped. "No way! Great Tusk is one of the past Paradoxes. Why is it here?"
Zephyr smirked. "So, that's how it is? I understand now."
Kieran was forced to battle Great Tusk, quickly overwhelmed by the ambush. Zephyr had, in turn, caused his gaze on me. I stepped back, trembling as Zephyr looked down on me. "Your girlfriend won't be here to save you time. Neither will that shiny rat. I will destroy you; bow my might."
Fumbling for a Pokemon, I held a Pokeball up, already feeling a sense of dread. I was already questioning myself. Zephyr sent out Porygon-Z. A Pokemon I had defeated before, but. Was that a fluke? Pot luck... "Co-Cookie, please, save me."
Espeon stood beside me, ready to do battle despite my doubts. "Cookie, use... Umm, use?"
As the battle began, I quickly realised that I was outmatched. Zephyr's Porygon-Z moved with precision and speed, launching a relentless barrage of attacks that left me stumbling and fumbling for a strategy.
"Espeon, use Psychic!" I called out, my voice wavering with uncertainty.
But my command was met with a mocking laugh from Zephyr. "Is that the best you can do? Porygon-Z, dodge and counter with Tri Attack!"
I watched helplessly as Espeon's Psychic attack missed its mark, leaving us wide open to Porygon-Z's devastating counterattack. With each passing moment, I could feel my confidence slipping away, replaced by a sinking sense of defeat.
Zephyr's taunts only made matters worse, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction as he gloated about his superiority. "You see, Y/N, you're no match for me. My Pokémon are far more powerful than yours could ever hope to be."
I clenched my fists in frustration, my mind racing as I struggled to come up with a plan. But no matter what I tried, it seemed like Zephyr always had the upper hand.
In the end, it was clear that victory was beyond my reach. As Espeon fell to the ground, defeated and exhausted. "Cookie... Not again, what was I thinking?"
"I've been waiting a long time for this. It's finally here." He echoed, seeing Kieran still fighting Great Tusk. "I knew you were special, Y/N. I hate to admit that, but you are. You and that Hisuian Pokemon. It seems these Paradox Pokemon aren't the only ones out of time. There is you."
"H-How do you know that?"
"I have my inside knowledge. You, too, are a walking Paradox. A Paradox trainer, no wonder Paradox Pokemon are so accustomed to you. Why bother searching far and wide for them when they'll come to you." Zephyr said with a sinister smirk. "Porygon-Z, take him out."
I couldn't react in time as I was blasted with a thunderbolt. Falling to my knees, I collapsed, blacking out as Zephyr looked down on me, kicking me in the stomach. "I'm looking forward to seeing how you tick lab rat."
****
Kieran was out of breath, finally knocking out Iron Tusk. He had to go through three party members, but he overcame the Paradox Pokemon. Smirking to himself, this turned into a laugh. "It doesn't matter who I'm facing... I don't lose."
Nemona, Carmine and Brair came running out to see the carnage that had taken place. "Kieran! Are you alright? No way, what Pokemon is that?" Briar whispered, awed by the Paradox Pokemon's presence.
Carmine checked on Kieran. "Are you hurt at all, Kiki? What happened?"
"Get off me. I'm fine." He protested. "Some loser attacked us. He was awfully obsessed with Y/N. I showed him just how powerful I was. Neither Zephyr nor this Paradox Pokemon stands a chance against me."
Nemona stared on, horrified, finding Espeon on the floor knocked out, Y/N's Pokeball belt lying next to him. Picking up Espeon's Pokeball, she looked at Kieran, stunned. "Where's Y/N?"
"Huh, he was right here... He, I was too focused on the Paradox Pokemon."
Zorua kept looking around, crying out for her partner and howling at the sky to no response. "They took him. I didn't even realise. What the hell!"
Nemona ran over to Zorua. She looked up at Nemona, teary-eyed and sobbing. Nemona picked her up, hugging the shiny Pokemon devasted as she shouted out.
"Y/N!!!"