Chapter 327: Beginning of the End (8) [Bonus]
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Lilycove City – Cove Lily Motel]
Miles away, at the Cove Lily Motel, Phoebe, the Ghost Type Specialist of the Hoenn Elite Four, floated through the lobby with an almost ethereal grace, her presence chilling the already deserted air…
*RMBL*
A mischievous chuckle escaped her lips as a distant tremor, a blast of concussive force, rattled the very foundations of the motel. She mused, her voice light and playful, contrasting sharply with the grim reality unfolding outside, "Oh, Sidney must be done with his fun, then."
*Swf*
From a swirling vortex of shadow that bloomed spontaneously beside her, her Gengar materialized, its grin wide and predatory, a silent testament to the Phantom Force it had just employed. Phoebe was genuinely curious how Sidney's battle ended…
But a sharp, cutting voice interjected, "Don't get distracted, darling."
Courtney, Team Magma's Admin, emerged from the shadows of a grand staircase, her eyes narrowed, bristling with an icy fury as she uttered, "You're about to learn that even Elite Four members can be… surprised."
*Pop*
With a curt gesture and tossing her Poke Ball, her Ninetales, a vision of molten gold and nine flowing tails, leaped forward, a torrent of ember-hot fur and sharp claws aimed directly at Phoebe.
Phoebe merely hummed, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she scolded her, "Now, now, let's not be hasty."
*Shiii*
Her Gengar, quicker than the eye could follow, extended a glowing, spectral hand. A wave of Psychic energy erupted, coiling around Ninetales, binding it in an invisible, crushing grip as it was slammed down to the ground.
*BAM*
The fox Pokémon struggled, its fiery spirit battling against the unseen force. As Ninetales strained, its movements halting, Phoebe tilted her head, a thoughtful expression replacing her playful smirk.
She pondered aloud, her voice carrying a strange, almost innocent curiosity, "You know… I really do wonder why someone as… You would align with Team Magma. It's quite clear you're going to lose, isn't it? The data simply doesn't support your side, dear."
Courtney's jaw tightened, a muscle twitching in her cheek. The Elite Four member's dismissive tone grated on her already frayed nerves.
She snarled as she ordered, "You underestimate our resolve!"
*Sssss*
With a burst of raw will, Ninetales's eyes flared. A surge of crimson energy enveloped its form, and with a guttural growl, it activated Flame Charge.
*CRACK*
The Psychic hold, momentarily weakened by the sheer force of the attack, shattered. Ninetales, now wreathed in fiery speed, lunged again, a blazing projectile aimed directly at Phoebe, a direct attack on the trainer herself.
Yet, Phoebe remained unperturbed. A faint smile touched her lips as her Gengar, with a theatrical flourish, phased in front of her, absorbing the impact.
Its mischievous grin seemed to widen as it launched a perfectly timed Shadow Ball. The dark orb collided with the incoming Ninetales, meeting the Flame Charge in an explosion of shadow and fire.
*BOOOM*
*CRACK*
*RATTLE*
The sudden, piercing sound of rattling, distinct from the battle's roar, cut through the air, startling both trainers. It came from a sturdy, locked door near the motel's abandoned reception desk.
Phoebe's eyes widened, her playful demeanor momentarily forgotten. A flicker of serious concern crossed her face.
She murmured, the cheerful lilt in her voice replaced by a subtle, dangerous edge in her tone, "Oh, dear. Someone's still here, aren't they? How very careless of Team Magma."
Courtney, ever the pragmatist, saw an opportunity as she said confidently, "Aha! Hostages!"
With a cold, calculating grin, she summoned a specialized concoction from her belt – a vile mix of acid and Berry Juice, designed by her own genius to melt through almost anything. She poured it onto the reinforced door…
*HISSSS*
… and with an agonizing hiss, the metal began to dissolve, revealing a terrified trio huddled inside the small, cramped room: a programmer, their fingers still hovering over a laptop; a graphic designer, clutching a tablet like a shield; and a game designer, whose face was pale with fear.
They had seemingly ignored the evacuation orders, perhaps too engrossed in a deadline or seeking a last-minute creative burst. Courtney purred, her voice dripping with menace, "Well, well, well, looks like we have some… leverage. I wonder how the Elite Four would react if their precious citizens tasted the very same mix that melted this rather stubborn door?"
She held up the vial, its contents bubbling ominously. Phoebe's cheerful expression evaporated entirely. Her eyes, usually sparkling with playful light, darkened, growing cold and piercing.
*THUMP*
The air around her seemed to drop several degrees. She muttered, her voice now devoid of any mirth, "I see… Then… playtime is over."
*Woooosh*
Before Courtney could even fully register the chilling shift in Phoebe's tone, something extraordinary happened. From the deep, undulating shadows that clung to Phoebe's form, a torrent of spectral energy erupted. Four distinct figures, swirling with phantasmal light, materialized in an instant.
Her entire team – Dusknoir, its single eye glowing with otherworldly power; Mismagius, a banshee-like specter wreathed in purple flame; Sableye, its gem-like eyes glinting with hungry mischief; and Dragapult, a sleek, arrow-like dragon, its Dreepy companions suspended in mid-air alongside it – burst forth, surrounding Phoebe in a menacing semicircle.
Courtney gasped, her eyes widening in genuine shock as she thought, stunned, 'Her entire team… living in her shadow?'
The sheer audacity, the raw power implied, was staggering. She scrambled, her hand darting to her belt, desperate to call forth reinforcements.
But she was too slow.
*SHIII*
Dusknoir, with a silent, menacing step, raised its massive hand. A wave of Disable washed over Courtney, freezing her in place, her hand locked on an empty Poké Ball slot. As she stood there, paralyzed by the psychic shock, Mismagius, Sableye, and Dragapult moved with terrifying speed and precision.
*WOOOSH*
They focused their combined fury on the lone Ninetales, still reeling from the Shadow Ball. Mismagius unleashed a torrent of Magical Leaf, each leaf glowing with arcane energy; Sableye's Shadow Claw tore through the air; and Dragapult, with a silent whip of its tail, barraged it with a volley of Dragon Arrows…
*SHINNG*
*PEW*
*BOOOM*
… The onslaught was overwhelming, merciless. Ninetales, valiant but outmatched, let out a pained whimper before collapsing, unconscious. As the battle ended, Gengar, with a wicked grin, casually extended its Psychic hold towards Courtney's belt, "Gen! Gengar! (To add icing to her defeat…!)"
*CLICK*
*SNAP*
With a series of sickening clicks and snaps, the intricate mechanisms on her Poké Balls, designed to release her Pokémon in a flash, were warped, melded, and broken. No more reinforcements would come for Courtney.
With the three terrified citizens now safe, their eyes wide with relief and shock, Phoebe's cheerful expression returned, though with a new, authoritative glint. She floated closer to the still-frozen Courtney, her tone light but firm, like a scolding teacher.
She chided, her voice almost bubbly, "Really, dear, you simply shouldn't have threatened lives in front of an Elite Four member. It's terribly rude, and frankly, quite inefficient. Gengar, you know what to do."
*SNAP*
With a snap of her fingers, Gengar sprang forward, its eyes glowing. Hypnosis. Courtney's eyes glazed over, her defiant stare replaced by vacant surrender. As she slumped, Phoebe then had Dusknoir use Phantom Force, warping ropes from elsewhere to bind Courtney securely.
With a final, decisive gesture, Phoebe waved Dusknoir and her team to carefully escort the programmer, graphic designer, and game designer out of the motel, far away from the ongoing chaos, ensuring their safety with its spectral powers.
Phoebe stood amidst the wreckage of the Cove Lily Motel, a slight breeze rustling her hair. She looked out towards the churning, distant horizon, where the true heart of the cataclysm raged.
*RMBL*
A colossal shadow, an unmistakable shape of immense power, soared through the smoke-choked sky, a beacon against the storm. It was Azure's Rayquaza, its ancient cry echoing across the ruined landscape, locked in a brutal aerial ballet with the awakened Groudon.
A genuine, excited smirk spread across Phoebe's face—the ultimate challenge.
The legendary trainer, Azure Sky, not only fights alongside champions and Elite Four members but pushes the very boundaries of what is possible. She felt a thrill, a delicious anticipation.
She whispered, her eyes shining with renewed mischief, "Oh, Azure, I do hope you manage to challenge the Elite Four sometime soon. I think a taste of your 'fun' would be quite… entertaining."
The Hoenn crisis was far from over, but as the battles raged, new legends were already being forged, and Phoebe, for one, couldn't wait to witness, and perhaps even participate, in the next chapter.
/////
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Lilycove City – Lilycove Department Store]
The battleground for the final skirmish against the Magma administration was the Lilycove Department Store. Ironically, this symbol of Hoenn's commerce and modernity now stood silent, its multi-floored interior echoing with the sounds of destruction.
*Fwp*
Drake, the rugged, imposing Dragon Master of the Elite Four, surveyed the scene from the second-floor balcony. He was a man carved from granite, weathered by millennia of sea spray and the untamed power of Dragon-type Pokémon.
*Fwp*
He sat astride his mighty Salamence, whose roar could challenge the very thunder rumbling from the distant Groudon. Below him, in the shattered cosmetics section, Tabitha, sweating and frantic, desperately faced the insurmountable wall that was Drake's power.
Drake boomed, his voice resonating through the vast, echoing space, "You, boy… You waste the air. Your bosses are finished. Stand down."
Tabitha, red-faced and plump, scrambled backward, gripping a heavy Poké Ball. He roared defiantly as he hurled out his Pokémon, "Never! Magma will see the true future! And you dragon worshipers won't stop us! Go Torkoal!"
*Pop*
Torkoal materialized, prepared for battle. But Drake sighed, a sound of profound boredom against his opponent, muttering, "Sigh… what a bore. Let's do this, I guess…"
*Pop*
He lifted a hand, and his massive, scaled Haxorus stepped forward from its Poké Ball, glaring down at Tabitha. It's great tusks catch the slivers of light filtering through the broken skylight.
Drake commanded, his voice casual, "Haxorus. Make it quick."
*RMBL*
Tabitha roared, sending out his loyal Torkoal, demanding a defensive stance. The fire tortoise braced itself, but its defensive capability was no match for the sheer, focused kinetic force approaching it.
Haxorus didn't hesitate…
*BOOOM*
… With a burst of speed that defied its size, it closed the distance. The Dragon Type didn't rely on flashy energy attacks; it relied on absolute physical mastery.
*SHINNG*
Haxorus dipped low, executing a flawless Dragon Claw. The strike was precise, delivered with the momentum of a runaway freight train, splitting Torkoal's shell-guarding stance and sending it skidding, smoking, and instantly defeated into a display rack.
*Thud*
Tabitha stared, mouth agape, his single strongest Pokémon humbled in one terrifying strike. Drake muttered, adjusting his stance on Salamence's back, "Is that all, boy? If it is… then it's pathetic showing."
The insult snapped Tabitha. Defeat was one thing; humiliation was another. The Admin's face hardened into a mask of desperate mania as he roared, "You won't dismiss me like trash! I am Tabitha! I am one of the Three Fires! Numbers, Haxorus! Let's see you handle the numbers!"
*Pop*
He began wildly throwing every Poké Ball he possessed. In a rapid succession of crimson flashes, the air filled with the panicked forms of his remaining team: a furious Swellow, a volatile Magmar, the rocky bulk of Golem and Aggron, and finally, the fiery majesty of Arcanine.
Five versus one.
Drake merely scoffed. Despite Tabitha's number of Pokémon, he spoke dismissively, "A desperate gambit. Haxorus, remind these weaklings what true overwhelming power feels like. Cleanse this filth."
*RMBL*
Haxorus roared, a sound of terrifying anticipation as it stomped its foot, "HAXX!! (5 on 1? You should've brought more!!)"
Tabitha's strategy was rudimentary: distract the massive Dragon Type with aerial assaults and flanking maneuvers while Golem and Aggron tried to lock it down. However, Tabitha heavily underestimated Drake and his Haxorus…
The battle lasted less than 90 seconds.
The battle lasted less than ninety seconds, but the sheer, brutal efficacy of Haxorus made the scene feel agonizingly drawn out for the defeated Pokémon. Swellow was the first to fall from Tabitha's roster.
*Woosh*
It swooped low, attempting a Quick Attack. Haxorus merely waited, its eyes tracking the bird perfectly. As Swellow flew into the killing zone, but…
*PEW*
... Haxorus performed a vertical Dragon Pulse, not fired as a beam, but concentrated into a devastating, close-range blast that tore through the Flying-type, sending it plummeting into the ground floor with a sickening thump, and fainted.
*THUMP*
Magmar tried to capitalize on the momentary distraction, unleashing a Flamethrower. Haxorus shrugged the fire off, demonstrating the resilience of its scales, and pivoted. The dual blades on its jaw, honed through relentless training, were now weapons of sheer destruction…
*SHINNG*
… Haxorus used a savage Guillotine, not aimed at the neck, but a sweeping, lateral slash across Magmar's chest, dropping the Fire-type Pokémon like a sack of rocks, one-shotting it.
*THUMP*
The remaining three, Golem, Aggron, and Arcanine, tried to coordinate. Golem rolled in with Rollout, Aggron charged with Metal Claw, and Arcanine bounded forward with Extreme Speed…
*THUD*
Haxorus met the two Steel/Rock types head-on. Drake had trained this Pokémon for this exact scenario: the destruction of defensiveness.
Drake roared, his voice laced with the pure thrill of watching mastery in action, "Earthquake! Full power!"
*RMBL*
Haxorus slammed its massive foot down. The ensuing shockwave didn't just rattle the department store; it cracked the foundation beneath the cement. Golem, already rolling, was tossed violently, its internal organs surely shaken loose, rendering it immediately unable to battle.
Aggron, however, remained rooted, trying to absorb the ground-trembling force. This was Haxorus's opening. Before Aggron could recover, Haxorus closed the gap, its tusks glowing faintly with Dragon energy…
*BOOM*
… It didn't strike with a move; it struck with its body mass, a devastating tackle known as Outrage. Haxorus collided with Aggron, the sound like two continents colliding. The resulting agony was too much for the Iron Armor Pokémon; Aggron buckled, its defenses utterly shattered, collapsing in a heap of mangled metal.
*THUMP*
Only Arcanine, the fastest and most agile, remained. The noble Pokémon circled, its eyes blazing with desperation.
Tabitha shrieked, his voice breaking, "Arcanine, Flare Blitz!"
He was reduced to begging, his entire team scattered around the floor like broken toys. Arcanine surged forward, encased in blistering blue flames. It was a beautiful, terrifying attack…
*THUD*
… But beauty and terror meant nothing against perfected strength. Haxorus stood its ground. As Arcanine neared, Haxorus didn't dodge; it countered with a ferocious, unrestrained Dragon Rush.
It became an engine of pure, draconic momentum, meeting the Flare Blitz head-on. The clash resulted in a massive explosion of purple and blue energy, showering debris and dust across the atrium.
*BOOOOM*
When the dust settled, Haxorus stood unharmed, panting slightly, the victor. Arcanine lay still, defeated, the flames around its body extinguished.
Drake leaned back on Salamence, a look of utter disdain etched on his face as he harshly mocked Tabitha, "Six against one. And still, you bring shame to the concept of battle. Is that truly all, boy?"
Tabitha stared at the wreckage of his team—Swellow mangled, Golem cracked, Arcanine smothered. His face turned a dangerous shade of crimson. The defeat, the humiliation, the sheer ease with which Drake had obliterated years of training, caused the final thread of his sanity to snap.
Under the influence of the Orb he touched he went mad. Tabitha screamed, retrieving the last of his inactive Poké Balls, "You arrogant swine! You look down on me! You look down on Team Magma!"
*Wooosh*
He cast them aside, useless plastic now, and charged. He wasn't running toward Drake's Pokémon; he was running straight at Drake himself, clawing, screaming a furious, incoherent battle cry.
Drake didn't flinch. He didn't need Haxorus; he was sitting on a Dragon. A sneer curled his lip. He didn't even bother dismounting as he ordered bluntly, "A petulant child. Salamence. Dragon Tail. Dismiss this distraction."
*SLAP*
Salamence shifted, its massive tail—a weapon capable of leveling structures—flicked out with impossible speed. The blunt, concentrated force of the attack slammed into Tabitha's torso mid-charge. The impact sounded wet and sickening.
*CRACK*
Tabitha, a man utterly unprepared for the force of a Dragon-type attack, was lifted entirely off his feet and sent careening backward, smashing into the concrete wall of the department store with enough force to visibly crack the structural pillar.
He slid down the wall, blood trickling from his scalp and mouth, instantly unconscious. Drake watched the slumped form for a moment, then shrugged. He didn't care if the man was permanently injured or if he was merely knocked out. Tabitha was irrelevant, a speck of dust swept from the table.
Drake recalled the Dragon Type, then brought Salamence to the balcony edge, turning his attention away from the localized mess and toward the real conflict brewing on the horizon, "Haxorus, return. Well fought."
His gaze lifted, focusing on the distant, churning maelstrom of energy that marked the true battle against Groudon. He muttered out loud, "The Dragon Lord."
*RMBL*
The fighting was taking place miles away, near the center of the land surge, but even from Lilycove, Drake could feel the seismic rumbles and see the furious flashes of primal energy as he viewed the battle.
Steven's Metagross, Wallace's Milotic, and Glacia's Glalie were all engaged in a relentless effort to contain the raging Legendary, utilizing terrain manipulation, powerful defense, and strategic freezing maneuvers. However, the Pokémon that held Drake's full attention was not one of the Hoenn powerhouses, but the gargantuan emerald serpent weaving through the violent storm clouds.
Azure Sky's Rayquaza.
The sight of the Sky High Pokémon, commanded by a Trainer who was barely known outside of Kanto, made a slow, excited chuckle rumble in Drake's chest. Azure was the champion who had dominated Ninth and Tenth League Tournaments with a potent, disciplined team centered around a Pikachu and an Eevee—partners that were legends, even if they were out of commission in the current battle against the colossal Groudon.
But to command Rayquaza? That was a different echelon of power entirely.
Drake's mind drifted to the ancient traditions he protected, the hidden history of the Hoenn region. He recalled the caves of Meteor Falls and the secretive community of Dragon Tamers—his people—who revered Rayquaza as their Dragon Lord, a deity that answered to no man.
Drake mused, watching Rayquaza dive-bomb Groudon with a terrifying, primal roar, driving the ground Legendary back with pure atmospheric power, "How would the Dragon Elder feel? To see the Dragon Lord bow to an outsider, a brat just passing through."
Yet, the judgment wasn't scorn; it was pure, unadulterated anticipation. The sheer raw power displayed by Azure, the absolute mastery required to coax such destructive force from the Legendary Sky Pokémon, boiled Drake's blood.
He had swept aside the pitiful challenges of Team Magma with ease. But Azure, the Indigo anomaly, the tamer of the sky… that was a true challenge worthy of the Elite Four. Drake smiled, a fierce, predatory flash of white teeth.
He would wait. He would watch the conclusion of this devastating conflict. Then, he would return to the Pokémon League.
He needed to see and feel firsthand the power possessed by a Trainer who could command a Super Ancient Pokémon, a power that exceeded even the boundaries of regional championships.
The battle for Hoenn was far from over, but in the ruins of Lilycove, the Elite Four had guaranteed their eventual victory by eliminating the leadership, ensuring that the fate of the region truly lay in the hands of the Champions and the new Dragon Tamer from Kanto.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!