I floated in and out of consciousness, trying to remember. Trying to remember anything. I could see vague pictures of people and Pokémon, but I couldn't name them.
"Who..." I thought dimly. "Who..."
I was doing something. Fighting?
Something red flickered through my mind. a woman hidden in the shadows, her vibrant red hair and eyes standing out like blood. She slowly walked towards me, holding something. Something long and jagged. I backed away, my feet slashing through black water. I saw her move to strike, then,
"ZENO!"
I sat bolt upright, awake and remembering. "Alex!"
"Cassandra," I whispered, clenching a fist. "Shadow."
Adrenaline pumping through me, I stood and looked around. I was in a small room, three of the walls made of see-through glass while he fourth was was solid metal with an equally solid door. The floor and ceiling were also glass, allowing me to see out.
I stepped closer to the glass and blinked. I was in the ocean, beneath it. I could see dozens of glass and metal orbs connected to each other by pipes as well, including the one I was in.
"Oh," I heard myself say as I remembered.
I remembered seeing this city a while back when I lost Hau while surfing. But it had only been partially built then.
I checked the inside of my tattered trench coat. My pokeballs were still there.
I smirked. I opened one and Arcanine came out.
He licked my face and I laughed. "Not now buddy. We have a job to do."
I pointed to the metal door. "Flamethrower."
Within seconds, the door had melted away completely. I stepped through, entering a metal hallway with portholes, Arcanine at my side. At the end of the hallway, a door opened, and three Radiance grunts walked in, chatting.
They noticed me, and I smiled at their surprised faces. "You know, it's like you didn't expect me to escape."
They charged and so did I. I jumped, kicked off the wall, and dove over their heads. I rolled to my feet, turned, and knocked two of their heads together. As the third runt turned, Arcanine ran and slammed him into the wall, but not before he pressed a button on a small device. Alarms sounded as the lighting turned red.
I cracked my knuckles. "Alright Arcanine, lets show hem why I was Team Rocket's top man."
...
We ran through a long hallway with doors on all sides. They began to open on all sides, grunts spilling out.
"Clear our path ahead," I said, twirling around, two pokeballs in my hand. "Come on out, Kabutops and Decidueye!"
They flashed out, saw the situation, and I yelled, "Waterfall and Leaf Blade!"
Kabutops surged forwards on a wave of water and smashed into several grunts. Decidueye expertly weaved between the rest of them, slicing at their legs. I returned both of them and turned to see the hallway clear, Arcanine waiting for me at the next door.
We went through and found ourselves in a large dome. It was completely bare except for the blue-haired scientist at the other end.
"Welcome Zeno," she said, smiling. "To Ark City. You've managed to make it so far, but I'm afraid I'll have to stop you right here."
I held up a hand to stop Arcanine from charging. "Can't you see Kamake, whatever Cassandra and the Shadow are planning, it's insane. It's illogical."
Kamake gave a small smile. "Maybe, but she is my boss. I follow her orders till the end."
"Then you're not as smart as you make yourself out to be," I said, pointing a finger at her. "You're just another one of her mindless grunts following a vague idea."
Her blue eyes regarded me coldly. "Then let me prove to you just how smart I am."
She enlarged a pokeball. "Alas, I can't kill you, but I am allowed to bruise."
I withdrew a pokeball from my trench coat. "I've gotten stronger since we last battled Kamake. Once I've finished with the Shadow, I'm bringing you straight to Nanu."
Kamake smirked. "Even your father knew better than to let me live Zeno."
Startled, I took a step back, which gave time for Kamake to let out her Weavile. "Ice Punch!"
I threw my pokeball. "Accelerock!"
Lycanroc flew out of the pokeball and collided with Weavile.
"Crunch!" I shouted.
Lycanroc clamped his jaws on Weavile and smashed her to the ground.
"Night Slash!" Kamake commanded.
Weavile slashed her claws, a dark wind knocking Lycanroc off of her.
"Rock Slide," I yelled. "Then get behind her!"
"Take the attack!" Kamake ordered.
Weavile took the attack, barely flinching.
As Lycanroc neared her, Kamake shouted. "Revenge!"
An aura of red surrounded Weavile as she turned around and slashed her claws. Lycanroc was sent tumbling backwards and fainted. I returned him and Arcanine nudged my arm.
"No," I said to him. "You're one of my strongest partners. I have to save you for when we take on Cassandra."
I turned back to face Kamake, enlarging my Master Ball. "But maybe it's time to show you my secret weapon Kamake!"
I tossed it into the air, releasing Mahina. Weavile took a step back, knowing all too well what Mahina was.
Kamake looked alarmed for a second but recomposed herself immediately. "A Type: Null. Huh, I think I recognize her."
Mahina crouched low, growling.
"Her name is Mahina," I snarled, knowing Kamake was the one who experimented on her. "Now Let's make them regret hurting you! Iron Head!"
Mahina sprang forwards, her helmet glowing.
"Icy Wind!" Kamake yelled.
Weavile blew a wind of frozen air and I yelled, "Air Slash!"
Mahina skidded to a halt and whirled her body 360 degrees, a sharp wind slicing through the ice.
"Night Slash!"
Weavile came falling down from above, claws glowing darkly.
"Aerial Ace!" I shouted. "Then follow up with Crush Claw!"
Mahina lowered herself and nimbly dodged Weavile. Her claws slashed at the Ice type and gripped Weavile's arm. Mahina slammed her to the ground, knocking her out.
Mahina backed up closer to me but kept an eye on Kamake.
Kamake returned her Pokémon and regarded Mahina with a fascinated look. "Interesting. Interesting indeed. This is more promise than she ever showed in the experiments. Maybe I should include bonds between trainers and Pokémon in my calculations next time."
"There won't be a next time," I snapped and Mahina growled in agreement.
Kamake smiled and tilted her head slightly, her calculation eyes staring straight into my soul. "Maybe. Maybe not."
She withdrew another pokeball and let out her Absol. "Now let me show you what a true bond looks like."
She drew her pen from her breast pocket and pressed down on the small orb, ribbons of energy connecting her and Absol. "A bond beyond the knowledge of science!"
Absol began to glow and I yelled, "Iron Head! Now!"
"Let the power of impending disasters flow through our veins as our hearts combine into one! Surpassing evolution! Absol! Mega Evolve!"
Energy exploded outward from Absol, sending Mahina flying backwards. Mega Absol stood there, almost angelically, as Kamake smirked.
"Now then," she said. "It's time to put Null in its place. Slash!"
Absol lunged and raked her claws along Mahina's body.
Mahina roared in pain and I shouted, "X-Scissor!"
Mahina slashed her claws against Absol in a x formation and knocked her back.
"Double Team!" Kamake ordered and Absol made dozens of copies of herself. "Psycho Cut!"
Slashes of pink energy collided against Mahina and she was driven back as step.
"Come on Mahina," I yelled. "You can do this! I know you can! Aerial Ace!"
Mahina dug her claws into the metal ground and sped forwards in a blur. Claws raked through the air and copycat Absols disappeared in a flurry of light.
"Detect!" Kamake commanded.
Mahina's claws bounced off the real Absol and the rest of the copies filtered away.
"Razor Wind!"
Absol lifted her head and whipped up a raging rush of air that slashed Mahina upwards.
"Use Razor Wind as well!" I yelled.
As Mahina came back down, she twirled her body, sending streams of wind slashing into Absol. As she landed, she sent an Air Slash, knocking Absol back a couple feet.
Kamake looked agitated and put a black Z-crystal into a modified Z-ring. Energy blasted from the Z-ring and wrapped Absol in a dark aura.
"PAROXYSM OF DARKNESS!"
Absol's claws dug into the metal as she unleashed a wide beam of dark energy straight at Mahina. The wave of darkness swept into her and slammed her into the far side of the room. Waves of darkness continued to pump from Absol, bombarding her.
"MAHINA!" I yelled and Arcanine prepared to intervene by crouching.
Suddenly, Mahina began to stand. Kamake looked shocked and shot another blast of energy from her Z-ring into Absol, renewing her relentless attack.
"COME ON MAHINA!" I yelled over the roar of the darkness. "YOU ARE STRONGER THAN HER! YOU CAN OVERCOME THIS DARKNESS!"
Mahina stood and took a slow step forwards, the darkness trying to drive her back. a crack appeared in her helmet and I felt something inside of me awaken. A connection. No, a bond. A bond between not trainer and Pokémon, but between family.
"MAHINA!" I roared, calling on the power of that bond. "DARKNESS HAS BEEN YOUR LIFE! DARKNESS HAS BEEN BOTH OF OUR LIVES!"
A larger crack formed, and I shouted with every fiber of my being. "NOW BREAK FREE FROM THE CHAINS THAT HELD YOU DOWN YOUR WHOLE LIFE! BREAK! FREE!"
Mahina roared and her helmet exploded into tiny fragments and a beam of energy sliced through the darkness and sent Absol crashing into the glass wall behind Kamake.
Kamake stared wide-eyed at Mahina and breathed, "Impossible."
Mahina stood tall, her moonlit white fur shining, and she gave a pure roar, undampened by the helmet laying in pieces. She ran to me and nuzzled her head against my chest.
I hugged her neck. "Good job girl. You did it. You broke through the darkness of your past."
She hummed in delight and turned to look at Kamake who was looking at us curiously.
"You know something," she said. "I think it is time to return to old habits."
She looked up at the ocean trapped behind the glass dome. "It's been fun Zeno, but I must take my leave."
"However," she said, returning Absol and pulling out a small device. "I can do you one favor. So, you may proceed."
She indicated to the door behind her and I walked towards it with Arcanine and Mahina, the three of us on our guard.
I put my hand on the metal door's handle and looked back at Kamake. "What's this favor you're doing me?"
She smiled and pressed a button on the device. An explosion could be heard from far behind us and I raised an eyebrow at her.
"What about you?" I asked.
She smirked. "We'll see each other again one day. I guarantee it. Now, run."
I opened the door and ran into a rather large rock tunnel with my partners at my side as Ark City blew up behind us.
BLAM! Finally got this chapter up. Oh, we're getting closer and closer to the main event. What will happen is anyone's guess. But one thing is for certain. And that is-
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The Shadow placed his hand on the merged form of Lunala and Necrozma' head. "It's time."
Necrozma began to glow at his touch and the Shadow laughed maliciously, his red eyes lit up with greed and power. "It's time for my ascension!"
TOODLES!