Chapter 18- A Heart of Darkness

 

~Every time I think I’ve seen the worst of the Kaiser Cult, they somehow manage to pull out something new and surprise me. Creating mindless Kaiser Beasts for the sole purpose of destruction, sacrificing innocent people in order to call their god so they could kill MORE innocent people… just the thought makes me burn with rage… The Ceremony of Blood that has to be performed before the culling can begin has been completed, and unless we stop the Kaisers now, there’s no way we can protect the people of Greyrock City. My former friends are no help now, and the battle that decides life or death begins… now.

-Ash Ketchum

 

(Location- Kaiser Temple ‘Salvatis’)

 

“HAAAAA!!!!” Ash Ketchum and Blue Kaiser charged towards one another…

 

SMASH!

 

Both of them growled, not stopping their attacks. The Chosen One and the Kaiser Knight struck at each other again and again with powerful blows. They seemed equal and neither one of them was winning, nor showing signs of losing.

 

“HA!” Blue Kaiser swung his fist and smacked Ash across the face twice and kicked him hard in the stomach, making him stumble back a few steps

 

“GRR!” Ash recovered quickly. He spun, kicking Blue Kaiser across the face and then jumping up, striking upward against his chin with his knee

 

Blue Kaiser jumped back, “You fight well, for a heathen”

 

“You Kaisers give me a lot of practice” said Ash as he aimed the QuickSilver to him

 

BOOM!

 

“UNGH!” Blue Kaiser covered his face with his arms in the ‘x’ position as he slid back

 

Ash took his opportunity “SILVER BULLET!” he shouted and shot forwards. This time however, he didn’t hit Blue Kaiser. He stopped right past him and stuck out his leg, tripping the Kaiser over, making him fall on his back. While he was down, Ash took this opportunity, “HAIYA!!!!” he slammed Blue Kaiser with all his strength

 

“URK!” Blue Kaiser exclaimed. The punch was so strong, the ground underneath him cracked a bit. Blue Kaiser growled as he got up, defeating this boy was tougher than he first thought. However, he could easily win if he turned things up a notch… which were his intentions exactly… “Tell me boy, do you have any requests?”

 

“Requests for what?” asked Ash, but Blue Kaiser darted forwards, faster than he could react, and elbowed him in the face, and kicked him hard in the stomach. As Ash stumbled back, Blue Kaiser crouched on the ground and swung his leg at Ash’s ankles, causing him to trip. Before his face hit the ground, Blue Kaiser’s other foot swung upwards, kicking him hard and sending him flipping into the air. As Ash was landing, Blue Kaiser roundhouse kicked him and sent him flying.

 

“What we should carve on your tombstone” Blue Kaiser smirked evilly

 

“A-agh…!” Ash got up slowly, clutching his stomach and side of his neck that were hit the hardest. That last round of attacks was strong enough to kill a regular man, and seriously hurt him, “Why you…” he growled, “You’ll pay for that!” he charged

 

WHACK!

 

“When you last fought Red Kaiser, tell me, just how easy was he going on you?” asked Blue Kaiser. He had moved around Ash quicker than the eye and karate-chopped him on the shoulder, making him fall “He is far stronger and more skilled than I am, yet you are so weak. Just how many friends were fighting for you?”

 

“None” Ash growled, “There’s no such thing…” he darted forwards, “AS FRIENDS!”

 

Blue Kaiser smiled when he caught Ash’s wrist. “That is the first intelligent thing I have ever heard a heathen say.” He began crushing Ash’s wrist with a powerful grip. As Ash grimaced in pain, he struck with his other hand, which Blue Kaiser caught

 

WHAM!

 

“AGH!” Ash exclaimed and almost fell back, but Blue Kaiser was still holding onto his wrists. Ash growled, he felt some bleeding on his forehead. That head butt did a lot of damage, and Blue Kaiser held his head back and was going to head butt him again, but Ash ran up with his legs and kicked him in the chin, knocking his head back. He swung his leg again and kicked him on the side of the head, finally causing him to let go. “Ow…” Ash groaned as he held onto his shin. It was like kicking a rock!

 

“Heh…” Blue Kaiser grinned, “Was that your full strength? It was barely a tickle”

 

“Oh yeah? Then why’d you let go?” Ash shouted

 

“I just though I’d humour you a bit, but enough is enough” said Blue Kaiser as his hand shot up and grabbed Ash by the throat, surprising him. Ash struggled to break free, but the grip was too strong, “HA!” Blue Kaiser struck Ash in the face. He did it again several more times, before he tossed him on the floor. He then stepped on Ash’s head, “Now to crush you, insect” he said as he began to press his foot down

 

“WAH!” Ash exclaimed, but Blue Kaiser didn’t stop, “AAAAAAAH!!!”

 

“Suffer…” Blue Kaiser said as he lifted his foot, giving Ash a moment of rest. He raised his foot, he was gonna crush him, “AND DIE!”

 

“NO!”

 

CRASH!!!!!

 

Ash opened his eyes in surprise, “Huh?” he blinked, “I’m alive? WA!” he looked up and saw him. The black outfit, the pale skin, and dark scythe, “Goth!”

 

Goth didn’t respond. He held his scythe up in a fighting stance. Before Blue Kaiser had crushed Ash, Goth appeared at the last second and sent him flying.

 

Blue Kaiser groaned and got up. As he picked it up, he turned his head and saw Goth’s face, “YOU…” He immediately grabbed his rapier and charged “RAAAAH!!!!!”

 

CLASH!

 

“Wa!” Ash jumped. He couldn’t even see what happened…

 

Goth and Blue Kaiser jumped back. Blue Kaiser was snarling like a wild animal. The two attacked each other again and again. Goth was swinging his scythe, and Blue Kaiser was striking with his rapier. Their weapons deflected one another’s, they seemed equally skilled.

 

WHAM!

 

Blue Kaiser’s punch sent Goth spinning and hitting the floor while his scythe flew out of his hands. Blue Kaiser jumped and dove down, ready to skewer Goth. Goth looked up, “SHADOW STALKER!” the first thing he said was the attack. Immediately he sunk into the ground as a shadow.

 

“WHAT?!” Blue Kaiser exclaimed as his sword hit nothing but ground.

 

Goth emerged behind him, grabbing his scythe, “MORTAL REAPER!!!!”

 

Ash stared at the fight going on. “That did it…” he sighed as the scythe passed through Blue Kaiser “HUH?!” he exclaimed. Blue Kaiser elbowed Goth in the stomach, causing him to fly back. He pulled the sword out of the ground and stood up like normal! “No way! I definitely saw the scythe pass through him! What happened?!”

 

“GRR…” Goth wiped some blood off his bleeding lips, “I tried to banish your soul to the void, but as I suspected, you have long since given it up to the Cult.”

 

“There is nothing the likes of YOU can do to against me” said Blue Kaiser as he grabbed Goth by the front of the shirt and swung him, slamming him to the ground. “The darkness has no power here, as we are in holy grounds…” Goth slashed up at him, but Blue Kaiser moved out of the way. It cut through the front of his uniform, but other than that, there was no real damage. Blue Kaiser punched Goth in the face hard, and while the Super Fiend was dazed, Blue Kaiser aimed his blade to his stomach and was ready to thrust…

 

“NO!” Ash shouted

 

BAM!

 

“AH!” Blue Kaiser exclaimed when Ash punched him in the face and caused him to stumble back.

 

“You okay Goth?” Asked Ash as he turned to the super fiend

 

“(Pant) yeah…” Goth was sweating heavily, Blue Kaiser sure did a number on him, “Had to wait for him to rough me up before you could help me?”

 

“Can’t hide nothing from you, can’t I?” Ash smirked. He hadn’t forgotten the Marble City incident, but this Kaiser was more reason for concern than that old news. “He’s too strong for either of us. Ally up. What do you say?” he extended his hand

 

“Fine.” Goth reached out and shook his hand before turning to Blue Kaiser

 

“So two against one is it? Fine with me…” Blue Kaiser reached and grabbed the pokéball, “KAISER BEAST ARKTOISE! I CHOOSE YOU!”

 

“AAARRRRRKTOOOOIIIISE!!!!” The Kaiser Beast roared

 

“WA!” Ash exclaimed at the sight of the terrifying Arktoise

 

“Grr…” Goth growled at the sight of this monster made by the Cult. Taking regular pokémon and putting hem through all sorts of horrible experiments, forcibly evolving them further and altering their brains to erase emotions and make them more aggressive… he only had one word to describe it, “An abomination…!”

 

“TOISE!” Arktoise fired a blast of water. If it weren’t for Goth’s quick reflexes, the water pressure would have crushed him

 

“YOW!” Goth exclaimed, “You don’t have to tell me twice!” he lifted his scythe, “If my mortal reaper didn’t work on Blue Kaiser, then I doubt it’ll have any effect on the turtle over there. Speaking of which, where is Blue Kaiser?”

 

“YA!!!!” Blue Kaiser shouted as he darted from the side with his rapier

 

“AGH!” Goth screamed. He tried to sidestep it, therefore getting stabbed in the arm.

 

“GOTH!” Ash exclaimed as Blue Kaiser jumped back, “Are you okay!?”

 

“Yeah” Goth stood up straight, completely forgetting the wound in his right arm, “A tiny wound like that’ll never compare to the real injuries this cult has dealt to me”

 

“Huh?” Ash wondered, but was distracted when a blast of water hit him “WA!”

 

“ARKTOIIIISE!!” Arktoise shouted as he stomped around the room. Many Kaiser Cultists came, standing in front of Arktoise. In front of them all stood Blue Kaiser

 

“That’s a lot of enemies” said Goth

 

“Why don’t we divide them. 50/50?” asked Ash

 

“Just what I was thinking” said Goth, “I’ll also take Blue Kaiser, you fight the beast”

 

“No, I got a score to settle with him! The guy STABBED me like a hundred times!” said Ash “I fight Blue Kaiser, YOU take on the Kaiser beast!”

 

“Cry-baby, whining about a mere hundred stabs… I’ve had worse than that. I have some long awaited scores to settle, therefore I insist that I fight him”

 

“He freaking killed me! I insist that I fight him!” Ash was getting annoyed.

 

Blue Kaiser stared at the two bickering…

 

“ROCK! PAPER! SCISSORS!” Ash and Goth both shouted

 

“Yes! I win!” Goth smirked, while Ash scowled…

 

“This is getting ridiculous” Blue Kaiser growled, and raised his sword, and the cultists began charging. “ATTACK!!!” over a hundred cultists charged towards the two…

 

“TAKE THIS!” Ash tossed nitro ball after nitro ball at them, taking out large groups at a time. There were still a lot left, and Ash literally flew into battle with amazing speed and strength, knocking one after another unconscious and dodging their hits.

 

“RHAAA” Goth whirled his scythe through the air, cutting down anyone who came close. Whenever they attacked, he sank into the darkness as a shadow and reappeared elsewhere, cutting them with his scythe!

 

“HIYA!” Ash knocked another to the ground. Looking around him, there were still a lot more. “Fine with me…” he said, “I could go on forever! AGH!” he exclaimed as something hit him on the back of the head. It was a bullet! He looked up; he could see snipers aiming down at him! Sure, he could dodge bullets and armour could take them… but sniper rifle ammo might be another story, and there were so many snipers it may be impossible to dodge! He got was lucky that his hat protected him, but what about Goth? He had no armour of any sort! “Goth! Watch out for the…”

 

Without a word, Goth darted through the balconies and swinging his scythe, cutting the rifles and slashing at the cultists, knocking them down from the high ledges

 

“Okay… I’d say you’re fine” said Ash as he continued fighting. The people around him were all armed with a vast array of weapons, from the most basic clubs and spears to the most advanced laser guns and plasma weapons, but it didn’t make a difference, they were no match for him! They fell, one after the other, and when Goth was done with the snipers, he jumped down and joined once more. In no time whatsoever the battle was over, and the Kaiser Cultists were defeated, either because they were too injured to go on or being banished to the void. Whether they would ever return was Goth’s decision, and it was seeming unlikely….

 

“That’s all of them” said Goth, “Only ones left are…”

 

Goth’s speaking was interrupted by a clapping sound. They looked up and saw Blue Kaiser standing on Arktoise’s head. “That was very amusing. 362 armed Cultists, yet you defeated them all in 151.43 seconds.” Blue Kaiser smirked, “Had it been me fighting, it would have taken half that amount of time. I have analysed your fighting styles. The Chosen One may be enduring when it comes to physical attacks, but he lacks in attack and has very little defence on his left side and back. YOU…” he pointed at Goth, “You may be quick and have strong attacks, but your main attack has no affect on me, and you have a very weak defence and will fall easily to a strong blast, such as one from my Kaiser Beast here” he tapped Arktoise and jumped down, “End of the line for you both. I will be your final opponent”

 

“Get ready!” Said Ash as they both took fighting stances. Blue Kaiser and Arktoise also got ready. Ash was going to fight the Kaiser Beast, and Goth was going to deal with Blue Kaiser, “NOW!”

***

(Location- Greyrock Trails)

 

“Hurry-hurry-hurry!” Ebi called as the jeep sped forwards

 

“Ebi! Could you tell me again why we bought this thing?!” Asked Tracey as Brock drove, “Don’t you think Ash’d be mad if he found out you spent HIS money?”

 

“Nah!” said Ebi as he sat on the roof, setting his sniper rifle to it, “All the weapons I made for him, they’re not for free! The labour I had to go through to make them, the cuts and hours without rest and the money I spent buying parts… it costs a fortune! I was just giving him everything he needed in advance! Consider it a late payment, because I took the money he owes me and used it to buy this thing!”

 

“Then why aren’t you driving?” asked Brock, “You’ve got a licence, don’t you?”

 

“Of course I do!” Ebi called down. The laser rifle was set up. “But when we run into the Kaisers you’ll need someone to hold them off! Especially when the Kaiser Beasts come! Those monsters are bigger and stronger than ever and can eat us up!”

 

“Then how can we survive an attack from them?” asked Tracey

 

“We’re not strong enough to hold one off! Especially if they are stronger than before!” said Brock, “Anyone got a clue?”

 

“Kaiser Beasts are very complex and made by Kaisers to be the ultimate fighting machines! But don’t forget matter what the Kaisers say, no matter how much they deny it, they’re still just humans, and all humans are prone to making mistakes!” said Ebi, “Finding flaws and weak points in their designs will be our only hope!”

 

“Those barbarians that killed Ash…” Brock growled, “I won’t let them get away!”

 

“We’ll show those Kaisers just how much we’ve trained!” said Tracey “Step on it!”

 

“Strategy is the only thing we have left… and odds are we won’t win. The only attack strong enough to beat Kaiser Beasts is the UniStrike, and the only ones capable of commanding it are gone!” Said Ebi… thinking of Ash and Gary

 

As the jeep sped off, they didn’t know it, but there was someone else in this car who could command the UniStrike like Ash or Gary. She sat in the back, not speaking to anyone. Misty had a sad look on her face. What Gary had said really got to her, and it was her fault Ash was gone. If only they could turn back time… and she could take back what she said… he would be alive, and they’d be happy. But no… she killed him… “Ash…” she said quietly and buried her face in her arms as the jeep sped on…

 

***

(Location- Kaiser Temple ‘Salvatis’)

 

“AAAARK!!!!” Arktoise roared and fired the powerful blasts of water

 

“CAPTURE!” Ash shouted as he threw the element capture balls and caught the water attacks. He looked at his supply of Element Capture balls, most of them were water attack ones. He’d have to discharge them, “TAKE THIS!” he shouted as he loaded one into the QuickSilver’s shooter and fired. A huge burst of water shot out and hit Arktoise, but having no effect, “Water-type… damn…” Ash snapped his finger, “WA!”

 

“HA!” Blue Kaiser thrust with his rapier, and Goth avoided it. Goth said nothing as he swung his scythe at Blue Kaiser, but the Kaiser Knight simply dodged. They dodged and parried each other’s weapons, but they couldn’t touch each other with them.

 

SMACK!

 

Blue Kaiser kicked Goth and knocked him back. He thrust with his rapier and stabbed Goth in the stomach. It was hard to tell if Goth was bleeding because of his black clothes, but there was a large wet spot on the shirt, meaning he was.

 

“I’m quite surprised you still have blood in that corpse you call a body!” said Blue Kaiser as he stabbed Goth again in the leg, but Goth continued fighting.

 

“TAKE THIS!” Ash shouted

 

BOOM!

 

“Damn! Nothing!” he cursed. Water attack balls had no effect. Nitro had no effect! If he had his pokémon, maybe a UniStrike could penetrate the shell, but he didn’t have his pokémon, “No…” he spoke, “I don’t need no pokémon for this! I’ll find a way to beat you, Kaiser Beast!” he shouted

 

Goth hit the ground hard. He got up and his face was heavily battered. His lips were bleeding. “(Damn… he’s too strong. I can’t win)” he thought as he licked his lips and tasted the blood. Suddenly, he got an idea!

 

Ash had run out of electric attack balls, and he had no way to hurt Arktoise. He couldn’t try fighting it up close because it would just crush him. “Damn! How do I win this one? I’m not strong enough!”

 

“Ash!” Goth called him, “You’re a Chosen One, aren’t you?”

 

“Of course I am! You’ve seen it yourself!” Ash responded

 

“Then use the Power of One to get stronger! While you’re at it, turn me into Chaos Reaper!” said Goth, “You know how to do that, right?”

 

“Actually… I don’t” Ash looked down

 

“What!? What kind of Chosen One are you!?” he shouted as Blue Kaiser attacked him again, “JUST FIGURE IT OUT QUICK!”

 

“Okay…” Ash thought… “WA!” Arktoise blasted him with a powerful water attack, knocking him off his feet, “Why you! TAKE THIS!” he shouted as Arktoise ran forward

 

Ark?” Arktoise wondered what happened when Ash fired an ice attack ball at the ground he stepped on, “AAAAARK!!!!!” he slipped and fell on his back. Arktoise growled as he tried to roll and get back up, but he couldn’t.

 

“Hmmm…” Ash closed his eyes and focused. He dug deep into his soul, searching for the strength, searching for the power… he could feel it! Suddenly, the image of his former friends and pokémon came into his mind, and the power slipped away. “No…” Ash spoke. “This is more important! This is my purpose!” he growled. Concentrating hard, he wanted nothing more than to get stronger, to fight the Kaisers, but every time he came close, the image of his friends came into his head

 

“What’s taking you so long!? AH!” Goth screamed when Blue Kaiser stabbed him.

 

“I’m trying!” Ash growled. He was sweating, and Arktoise was getting up.

 

Ark…” Arktoise growled as he stepped towards Ash on all four legs, opening his mouth, he was going to eat this human…

 

“AH!” Ash exclaimed as he saw Arktoise’s mouth closing, “WAAA!!!” He stuck out his arm with the QuickSilver and Arktoise bit it. “Ah!” Ash exclaimed. The crunch attack dented the board, and slowly the mouth was closing further, “No…!” Ash growled. If he didn’t pull his arm out now, Arktoise would bite his arm off, but if he let go, he’d lose his weapon! What to do?! Arktoise’s bite was getting harder, and in a few more seconds the QuickSilver would break, and Ash would lose his arm, “AGH!” Ash pulled his arm out as Arktoise crunched into the Quicksilver, “No… QuickSilver…” Arktoise turned his head to Ash and made a sound. If Arktoise could laugh, that’s what the sound would have been. “Why you…!” Ash growled as Arktoise opened his mouth and got ready to crunch Ash to pieces, “NOOOO!”

 

FLASH!

 

A bright flash of light illuminated the whole room for a split second. Blue Kaiser and Goth stopped fighting and gasped at what they saw.

 

“GRRR…” Ash growled. There was a glow surrounding his body, a golden one, and he held Arktoise’s mouth open with his hands, preventing it from eating him, “You broke it! HA!” He threw Arktoise’s head up, causing the Kaiser Beast to stand on two legs and stumbling in attempt to keep itself from falling on its back, “Goth” he turned to the Super Fiend, “Here…” he held his hand out to Goth.

 

“What…?” Goth stared at himself. He could feel power entering his body… a familiar power. A golden glow surrounded him, and Goth smiled, “Blue Kaiser… prepare yourself… HAA!!!” the golden glow changed into a black one and disappeared. Goth stood there, but not Goth anymore. Over his black outfit, he had a rib cage for body armour, bones protecting his arms and legs, wolf skulls for shoulder pads on his black cape, and his skin was deathly pale, along with his fingernails turning into claws. Hanging from his belt was a blood-soaked black whip. He grinned, revealing his vampire fangs as he held up his supercharged scythe, and opened his blood-red eyes. He was no longer Goth; he was Chaos Reaper! “…FOR A REAL FIGHT!”

 

SMASH!!!!

 

“AH!” Blue Kaiser screamed as Chaos Reaper’s punch sent him flying, “What is this?”

 

“The end of your life!” Chaos Reaper held up his claws and slashed at him.

 

“TROIIISE!!!” Arktoise stomped down on Ash, but Ash raised his two hands into the air and held Arktoise’s foot over his head. Arktoise growled as he tried to crush this human, but Ash didn’t let him. Ash pushed the foot up, causing Arktoise to fall on its back. Ash jumped and ran up the Kaiser Beast, slamming it where the stomach was located under the shell, and making a large crack in it.

 

“Heh…” Ash smirked. He could fight now!

 

“GRRR!” Blue Kaiser and Chaos Reaper growled as they struggled under each other’s awesome might, locking themselves in a mercy fight. The transformation increased Goth’s strength greatly, so he was now equal to Blue Kaiser.

 

“GRRRRAAAAAHHH!!” Ash shouted, sweating as over his head, he lifted Arktoise! “HA!!” with all his strength, he threw the Kaiser Beast!

 

THUD!!!!

 

The sound echoed throughout the room, and the ground cracked when Ash tossed the Kaiser Beast. Arktoise growled. Every time it was turned on its back, getting up was an extremely difficult task. Ash was charging towards Arktoise, but Arktoise was ready, “AAAAARRRRRKTOISE!!!!” it roared as water blasted out of the cannons

 

“Huh?!” Ash exclaimed, “AGH!” The blast of water slammed into him and sent him crashing into the wall, which cracked behind him. “Why you…” he growled

 

“BLOOD SLASH!” Chaos Reaper shouted as he slashed at Blue Kaiser with his claws.

 

“AGH!” Blue Kaiser screamed when the claws slashed him and left five long cuts “I will not be defeated!” he punched Chaos Reaper, “Grrr!” Blue Kaiser growled, when Chaos reaper stopped his punch, with his teeth! “LET GO!” Blue Kaiser pulled back

 

Chaos Reaper stepped back, spitting to the side, “Yuck” he said, “Tastes terrible.”

 

“You will pay for that!” Blue Kaiser shouted and ran forwards with his rapier, “HA!”

 

“That stung a little” said Chaos Reaper, when the rapier stabbed into him…

 

SLAM!!!

 

“AH!” Blue Kaiser took a strong punch, flying back, and pulling his sword out

 

Chaos Reaper pulled out his whip, “BLOOD WHIP!” He shouted as he lashed it, catching him by the foot and pulling him back, “BLOOD SLASH!”

 

“HIYA!!!” Ash jumped and kicked Arktoise, making it slide back

 

“AAAAARRRRK…” Arktoise growled as all the cannons aimed towards him, and opened its mouth. Ash knew what this was, the Purification Hydro Pump!

 

“I’m ready” said Ash taking familiar stances and moving his arms with the proper movements, “It may not be the UniStrike, or as strong, but it is still a technique I can do, and like the UniStrike, water will only make it stronger!” he concentrated all his energy, to an attack that would win this battle…

 

“This fight can go on for all eternity unless we end it right now.” Said Blue Kaiser

 

“Enough talk. Let’s finish this!” said Chaos Reaper, holding his scythe

 

“YAAAAAAARR!!!!” Blue Kaiser charged towards him

 

“HMMM!” Chaos Reaper got ready. He remembered what happened to him last time he did this. He was going to try something else, “LURKING DEATH!!!!!”

 

“WHAT?!” Blue Kaiser shouted as Chaos Reaper turned into a ghost and he passed right through him

 

“RRR!” Chaos Reaper snarled, materializing in his normal form, “HAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!”

 

SCHRINNNNG!!!!

 

“A-AGH…!” Blue Kaiser gasped in disbelief. His rapier fell, as did the top half of his body, and his legs were still standing.

 

“I win” said Chaos Reaper as he hung his scythe. Blue Kaiser was split in half, losing the bottom portion of his body. “You cannot fight anymore. I have won”

 

“N-NO!!!!” Blue Kaiser shouted

 

In the meantime, Ash and Arktoise were ready. Arktoise had gathered all the strength, and was going to use the Purification Hydro Pump, to crush this human once more “TOOOOOIIIIISSSSSE!!!!!!!!!” it launched the powerful attack

 

“Heh…” Ash grinned, he remembered how this attack nearly killed him, but that was before, and this is now. He wasn’t going to be beaten, “I’ve seen this move performed many times. I only did it just to irritate Aquamarine, but his move is what’s going to save me… and win this battle!” he said as he shot his hands forwards, “TERROR OF THE DEEP!!!!!”

 

Though it was much smaller than the Purification Hydro Pump, the crystal-coloured shark beam literally tore right through the water, growing in strength as it did, all the way to Arktoise and into its mouth…

 

KABOOM!!!!!!

 

Many explosions rung from inside Arktoise’s body as the attacks ended. The insides of its mechanical were blown up. Pieces of his shell fell to the ground, and smoke was coming out of the cannons. “Ark….” Arktoise groaned one final time

 

“GRRR…” Blue Kaiser growled as he used his arms to crawl, “Must… reach the spring… heal myself, become strong once more and eliminate… these heathens…” he saw a shadow covering him, “What?” The shadow was from Arktoise. It was dead on its feet, and it was going to fall… on him! “NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!”

 

CRAAAAAASH!

 

The sound echoed. The ground shook, and it would be heard from miles away. “Whew…” Ash sighed. KN-04 Blue Kaiser… was defeated. Crushed by his own Kaiser Beast. “It’s over… we’ve won. You doing all right Cha…” Dark light surrounded the super fiend’s body and disappeared. The fangs, cape and bones disappeared, along with the red in the eyes and the scythe returned back to normal. Goth stood there with his arms crossed. “Goth” said Ash as Goth slashed an opening and released the Kaiser Cultists from the void. They all fell to the ground, unconscious, “Should you be doing that?”

 

“It’s fine. They’re scattered and broken, powerless now that their leader is gone. I would’ve arrived to help you earlier, but I was busy, placing a curse on the spring and nullifying the powers of this temple” he smiled, “Darkness holds little power on holy ground… and it is very difficult to control them here”

 

“Well that explains it” Ash said as they walked. Ash thought of something else “Goth… Blue Kaiser seemed to hate you especially, far more than me. Why is that?”

 

“Do you really want to know?” Goth sighed as they walked outside and Ash nodded. “Fine.” He said, “Sky Render is wanted most by the cult because he is dangerous to them. I am wanted to the cult because of what I have done to them”

 

“And what could you have done to them that was so bad?” asked Ash

 

“The heresy of KN-01, Black Kaiser” he answered, and Ash jumped

 

“WHAT?!” Ash exclaimed

 

“You heard me” he said, “It was thousands of years ago, a completely different era…” he sighed as he remembered the past. “We were the first taught by the Kaiser Tyrant. There were five of us, all disciples” he remembered. “We have established our religion, but though we didn’t know why, many pokémon feared and hated us, and the people followed their lead. We went to war against them. In that era, technology was limited, and though we possessed impressive skills and weapons, we were far outnumbered. Many wild pokémon just stopped their daily lives and just came to fight us, without being ordered or anything. Many of us lost our lives… leaving only the five strongest disciples who would later become the Kaiser Knights… it was then when the God of the Kaisers took shape and came into this world, defeating the invaders. From that moment on, we rebuilt everything, and our clan was becoming stronger than anything the world had ever seen…”

 

“I know that part” said Ash, “What about the heresy?”

 

“With our almighty god leading us, we would soon rule the earth. Our technology had further developed, we had modern weapons unseen by anyone of the time… even robotics was being put into practice and the theory of Kaiser Beasts was being developed. But then I discovered something… our leader… our so-called god… We served beneath him, acting under his will, believing that we were waging this war for the good of this world, to unite all the ‘barbarians’ and non-believers to serve beneath the ‘Kaiser God’… but this ‘God’ wasn’t anything close. Our god… is in reality a demon… the vilest one to have ever existed” Goth growled, “In this war, countless people were needlessly dying and suffering as we acted under our god’s will to ‘save’ this world… while all this time, that accursed demon was sitting above us all, enjoying the torment and devouring their essence, and most of all laughing at us the Kaisers… his servants… or rather, his ignorant slaves.” Said Goth, closing his eyes. “The whole time we thought we fought to save this earth, we were instead bringing it closer to destruction, just so we could feed a lying demon… a deceiver. Pokémon have always hated us, yet I never understood why before this. It was the presence of the evil god… they sensed it before anyone. I began announcing my discovery to the rest of the Cult. A number of my loyal followers supported me… but it was then when we are attacked. All of us were branded as traitors, and executed down to the last man, I was the only one who escaped with my life. Though I had escaped, I looked at myself… and finally felt the true weight of all the evil acts I have committed. I fled… into hiding… into the darkness…” he sighed. “My body covered in countless wounds, even to this day those scars last, the pain still burns all over me. Those wounds I have sustained, my body couldn’t withstand it, I wouldn’t survive. But all those idols of darkness that surrounded me, they did not let me die…”

 

“Idols of Darkness?” Asked Ash

 

“Those who reside within the dark… often referred to as ‘evil spirits’. I won’t say it isn’t true, but compared to the Kaiser Cult, the darkness is truly the lesser evil.” he explained, “They held great power, but they too were threatened by the Kaiser Cult. They knew my wish to continue fighting the Kaiser Cult, and they granted it. The dark spirits entered my soul and became one with me, granting me their strength. I became their vessel, I am the Champion of Darkness” he said, placing his hand over his heart, “With their powers at my disposal, and the weapon they held sacred, now in my hands” He held up his scythe, “I could continue my fight, as I, the Champion of Darkness, led an army of demons against the Cult” Goth then sighed and look down, “Despite my newly granted powers and army, the cult had continued to grow in size and power, and already the Kaiser Knights had already replaced their flesh and blood bodies with mechanical ones far stronger than their original. Demons of Darkness could not match the Kaiser Machines, and even that army of vicious demons fell to the size and weapons of the Kaiser army. The Knights alone slaughtered a thousand demons apiece. I was virtually powerless against them, and as I retreated once more, just as I thought it was hopeless, it was then when I discovered those who held the power to stop the Cult, once and for all… the individuals with power unmatched by anything in this world, not even the powers of Darkness nor the strength of Kaiser Machines could compete with… Chosen Ones.”

 

“C… Chosen Ones?!” Ash exclaimed, “There were Chosen Ones in your time as well!?”

 

“Humans who have been acknowledged by the gods have been granted with the Power of One. In that era, there were seven Chosen Ones, all of them were warriors with no equal. As the Cult begun to spread further across the earth, many countries had united and armies joined, led by the Chosen Ones to fight the Cult. The leader of the Chosen Ones… he had formed a pact with the Legendary Pokémon, so they and the rest of pokémon would also join. It was the first time in history, that humans and pokémon had fought side by side. The Cult was defeated, and in a clash that had lasted five days, the Kaiser God was destroyed by the Chosen Ones, but in turn, they also lost their lives as well…” he looked down, “Though everyone was celebrating, the dark spirits spoke to me once more, and told me how we didn’t win anything. Though we had won against the cult, they were not completely defeated, and that they would eventually return. Knowing that my duty wasn’t over yet, I had to return to the place of the dark idols, and entered a dreamless sleep. For thousands of years, I was sleeping, waiting for the Kaisers to rise once more. It was then when a small band of fighters came, and I woke once more.”

 

“Oh!” Ash exclaimed, “You mean the Super Fiends!”

 

“That’s right. You wouldn’t believe my surprise when I found out there was a Chosen One in that group… Sky Render. He told me how the world was in danger, because of the Kaisers. I decided I would accompany them… but I would not carry the name I once held and revered… Black Kaiser. My true name had long been forgotten, and because I thrived in the darkness so long, I adopted the name ‘Goth’. The world has changed so much… and travelling with Sky Render could blemish one’s records, and I became a criminal, yet I didn’t care. I have only one purpose, it is to destroy the cult and eliminate the leaders. Blue Kaiser is dead, and that takes out nearly one fifth of the leadership. It is still not enough.”

 

“That’s sad. Your only purpose is to eliminate the Kaisers?” asked Ash

 

“It’s no different from yours, is it?” asked Goth, and Ash shut up, “Either way, it’s my reason for existing. I don’t care who gets in my way and tries to fight me, I must win all the battles and continue to fight the Cult. Before you ask what will I do when the job is done, let me answer. I’ll accomplish what I wanted to do for many years. I will die” He said. Ash stared at him, but Goth spoke up, “Don’t be surprised. My life has been eternal, and I do not age. I had slept for thousands of years, only to wait for them to emerge. The dark spirits chose me to be their vessel only for the same reason I chose to allow them, so I could fight the Kaisers. When my purpose is complete, the dark spirits that dwell within me would leave me and rest once more, and I can do what should have naturally happened years ago, to rest in peace.”

 

“Well… okay” said Ash, “By the way, you probably know I left those people I used to hang out with. Those weaklings… held me back too long… I see that I need to be part of a group, a strong one that actually lets me fight. Though Sky Render already said ‘no’ once. I’m gonna say it again. I wanna join. I want to become a Super Fiend”

 

“I knew it” Goth crossed his arms, “But for you to join is Sky Render’s decision. He may have changed his mind, so you will get your answer tomorrow.” Goth left, “Go back to Greyrock City and get some sleep. Be discreet because lots of people saw you die, and it will definitely raise some unwanted questions.”

 

“Okay. Thanks” said Ash as he started walking towards Greyrock city.

 

“Ash Ketchum… his determination is incredible, and I don’t think they will refuse to let him in.” Goth couldn’t help but smile, “While he has suffered terrible blows to the heart, it is not to late to do something about it” he said as he walked off to search for the others, “Ash Ketchum, just as you have helped us countless times, we will help you…” He smirked one last time, “Whether you like it or not!”

 

Goth, the former KN-01 Black Kaiser has given up his life to fight the Kaiser Cult, and in order to do so, he had allowed himself to become a vessel of darkness. Despite this, he hasn’t lost his heart. Will he help Ash join the Super Fiends, or will Sky Render refuse once more? Will Ash ever re-unite with his old friends and pokémon, or has he surrendered his heart to hatred and care only to fight the Kaiser Cult? Find out next time in Pokémon: Shadow of the Deceiver!

 

►TO BE CONTINUED