-30: Kris vs. Nightslice?! How could things have come to this? And more importantly, how will it work out?!…Second of the 4 part season finale!

Pokemon and all related trademarks belong to Nintendo. The story, its original contents and ideas, and any original characters belong to the author and cannot be used or reprinted without the author’s permission.

The Chimera Saga and the Legendary Dragons belong to Theo ‘Blitz’ Leung and are used with permission.

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Hearts Alike

By Gregory Stephen nightdragon0@hotmail.com

Swordia

Why? I asked myself. Why did he have to be so stubborn?!

But there was no turning back now. The challenge had been made. Mixed emotions filled my soul, all of which were drowned away as the battle begun.

(Heart of Sword: Yoake Mae, Rurouni Kenshin. With translations in brackets.)

Hitori de wa, tooi ashita wo

Yoake no mama de, koesou de

Butsukatteikya kokeru omoi yo

Konya mo mata, sure chigai

(When I'm alone, tomorrow feels far away.

And I must go over still into the darkness of dawn)

(If I try to play it straight, it will no doubt fail,

And tonight it won't go well between us again)

The first clashes of our claws were equally matched, one for the other. Almost like wielding a pair of swords as we danced about. Our claws locked against each other, and we stared into each other’s faces. Of course, snarling; it was our job not to show an opponent any signs of weakness.

I shoved forward, causing Nightslice to retreat slightly. It was all the space I needed to angle my body and send a two footed kick into his face.

Sanzan sugite doryoku no ato mo

Naku naru kekka, only no tsuna watari

Yaru dake son suru yona, mainichi wa

Sha ni kamaeteta hou koso, raku ni naru

(You can't see all of my hard efforts, because it's only result

Is that it makes no sense. It really is a "tightrope")

(More effort, more damage--this is my daily life.

Taking a cynical attitude may give me some comfort...)

Turning his fall into a backwards roll, he quickly got to his feet and lashed out with his blades. I somersaulted over the attack, and met his spinning maneuver at my moment of landing.

Our claws locked again as we shoved against each other. Nightslice wouldn’t make the same mistake again. We were literally head to head, glaring into each other’s eyes as Nightslice abruptly twisted his body, sending me spinning to the ground.

Atsukute, tsurai jibun wo kakushite, mijikai toki wo ikiteru

(Hiding myself, heated and irritated; living only a short time.)

I pulled myself up, using the wall for support, just as he sprang upon me. We were now fighting horizontally to the double doors.

Knocked onto my back, I guarded against his claws with my own, and shoved him away with my feet. Nightslice staggered backwards, only to come charging forward again.

An attack I met with both equal force, and the same maneuver.

Hitori de wa, tooi ashita wo

Yoake no mama de, koesou de

Hottokeba, hashiru omoi yo

Yume mo mata, sure chigai

(When I'm alone, tomorrow feels far away.

And I must go over still into the darkness of dawn.)

(If I let my emotions free,

My dreams will once again not go well.)

The world became a wild blur of leaps, dodges, guards and slashing blades. I didn’t know if I was using any specific attacks. All I did know was those few moments were the most intense battle I’d ever faced.

Finally, we pulled apart and prepared for a final strike. I was panting wildly, exhausted and dizzy from the intensity.

Holding my claw out like a sword, I charged. Nightslice got exactly the same idea.

That was when the door opened and Scantrix stepped through. He caught onto the situation the moment he saw us.

“STOP!!!” He screamed, throwing himself between the two of us.

However, the force of motion allowed neither of us to do that. Even the Skarmory’s steel-like feathers didn’t protect him from the blades of two Scyther.

Scantrix’s roared in pain. It shocked Nightslice and me to such a degree that we just stood there and let his body hit the floor.

“Please stop…” He begged weakly. “The two of you…shouldn’t be fighting…”

“Scantrix…why?” I asked, kneeling down. The two wounds on his chest were bleeding badly. And they didn’t look good at all.

“The virus…it doesn’t affect normal Pokemon at all. Only…the Chimeras.”

“What?! But then…”

“Alugard…no, I lied to you.” He said softly. “I lied because Alugard wanted me to. It was the only way…he could get you…to go against Nightslice…”

“Scantrix…”

“Damned Alugard!” Nightslice cursed. “He must’ve known Hazuki was infected. And he knew that I would stop at nothing to get a cure for it. But how?”

“Information he stole from the previous base.” Scantrix answered. “He’s been a step ahead of all of us all this while.”

“Then I…I…” I couldn’t manage to finish my sentence.

“You didn’t see it, did you?” His voice was weaker now. “How you were slowly being corrupted? Bent to Alugard’s desires? Even I was not spared from this until…until I realized I saw in you…what I myself had become…”

“Nightslice!” A black haired girl came running over, accompanied by several Pokemon: an Aerodactyl, a Jolteon, an Ivysaur and a Blastoise. Apparently, they’d come through the lab. “What’s going on?”

“Nala…” Scantrix whispered. “It’s good to see you…for one last time…”

“How do you know my name?” The girl ran over and knelt down as well. It then clicked that it was the former Rocket girl, the same one I’d met on the boat, and later saved at the Blackthorn City base.

“I know a lot of things about you…my Nala. I understand now why you always hated me. I really was a terrible father.”

“Father?!” Nala gasped. “Wait, you are…my…”

“Fate had cruel, but effective ways of playing out Nala.” Scantrix managed a weak grin. “I’m going to hell as it is, but Kris…at least don’t let our child suffer that fate.”

“Our child?” I stared.

“Back then, when we first met. Yes…it was me who…raped you.” His face cringed as he said that. “I don’t expect you to forgive me…but I beg you, please save our child. Right here, on B1…Room 27. Something I found out just now.”

I cradled his head with the flat side of my claws.

“I love you.” I whispered. “Please don’t leave me Scantrix!”

“Wein…that’s my…real name.” His voice was very soft now. It was like he was clinging on to life by his will alone. “Like Kris is yours. You truly have a pure soul. Don’t let anyone change that Kris. Before I go, here’s a last bit from my wings of tricks.”

The Skarmory reached his head beneath his wing and pulled out a small canister filled with a green liquid.

“The antidote.” He explained. “Your friend just needs to swallow that.”

“Father…” Nala whispered, taking the canister. “Thank you. We’ll be able to save Hazuki with this.”

“Kris, tell Nala my tale once this is done. Both the good…and the bad, and let me be judged accordingly.” His eyes closed. “The rest…is silence.”

His head fell back, and I felt his last breath. For a long while, I hugged his lifeless body. When I finally looked up, I saw Nala wiping the tears out of her eyes as well.

The others were standing further back, but now, Nightslice approached.

“Kris…I’m sorry.” He said. “But are you going to the B1 level, like he said?”

Carefully, I laid Wein’s body down and stood up.

“Yes.” I nodded.

“Nala? You think you can take the antidote to Hazuki?”

“I’ll manage.” Nala replied.

“Riot and Luminair will accompany you. Azure and Ahsura will go with Kris.” Nightslice decided. “As for me…Alugard’s mine!”

“I know he was going to some main control room, but that’s it.” I told him.

“It’ll be enough.” Nightslice growled. “I’ll find him.”

With a firm look of resolution on his face, Nightslice sprinted down the corridor.

“We should get going too.” Nala said.

I was about to answer when a computerized announcement interrupted me.

“2 minutes till launch.”

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Nala

“Launch?” Kris gasped. “Oh no! The virus! Wein must’ve temporarily stopped the detonation sequence!”

“Detonation?!” I asked, surprised. “We were standing here talking and we could’ve been blown up?!”

“No, the lab is set to go up in flames, destroying the virus with it.” She quickly explained. “We rigged their computer systems to overload the generator, but your dad paused the program to synthesize the antidote!”

“Leave this part to me.” I declared. “Chimeras have to solve Chimera problems.”

“Are you sure? But that’s a great risk on your part. Do you even know how to work the computer?”

“Kris, go. I can take care of myself!”

“All right.” She sighed. “Haha, you remind me a lot of myself. We’re going to have a long talk when this is over Nala. You just need to hit ‘resume’ for the program. Be careful.”

“You too.” I replied.

She took off with Azure and Ahsura behind her. I looked over my father’s body one last time before stuffing the antidote into my pocket and shoving my way through the double doors.

“Just which computer is it?” Riot asked.

“Let me see.” I ran up to the nearest one.

The screen was flashing with the ‘resume?’ message in the window. Naturally, I clicked on ‘Yes’.

“Program activated.” I read the message on the screen. “Power generator overload in 60 seconds. Sealing lab to contain explosion. Wait a second! Sealing?!”

At that moment, a second set of steel doors slammed close over the entrance to the lab. Same thing happened for the series of windows we’d entered through.

[Oh man!] Luminair cried. [It can’t get any worse than this!]

“90 seconds till launch.”

“It just got worse!” I cried.

“Well, don’t just stand there!” Riot yelled, ramming the door with her side. “You chaps waiting for an engraved invitation?!”

Luminair and I joined he assault on the sealed door. Unfortunately, not even the Pokemon’s attacks could budge it.

There was a clanging sound as one of the floor panels was abruptly thrown off.

[Hey guys!] Kyle’s head poked out of the opening. [You need a way out?]

“Kyle! Am I glad to see you!” I exclaimed happily, running over.

[Then hurry!] Kyle lowered his head as we jumped down onto his back.

Hazuki was there to help me regain my balance as I landed. We were in a partially water-filled, underground tunnel.

“Water systems.” Hazuki smiled weakly.

Luminair leapt down beside us and Riot managed to find enough space to flap her wings, despite the cramped conditions of the tunnel.

“Move people!” Riot ordered.

“Kyle, go!” Hazuki agreed.

[Don’t have to tell me twice!] Kyle replied as he started swimming. And swimming really fast.

We were fortunate enough to leave the explosion far behind. However, I still cupped my hands over my ears to drown out the noise.

[That was too close!] Kyle panted.

[At least it’s the end of that virus.] Luminair commented.

“Yeah, that reminds me.” I pulled out the antidote. “Hazuki, this is for you. It probably won’t taste good, but it’s the doctor’s orders.”

It startled me how quickly the blue haired girl gulped it down.

“Whew.” She gasped. “I think I feel better already.”

“Give it a while.” I said, patting her on the shoulder.

As I did so, the pendant slipped out from under my shirt.

“Wait, this pendant?!” Hazuki took it in her hand.

“You recognize it?” I asked, curious.

“Definitely.” She nodded. “Because I was the one who lost it. Where’d you get it from?”

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Serac

The M4A1 violently vibrated in my hands as I put a number of holes in the last guard behind us. Satisfied that we wouldn’t be attacked from behind for a while, I ran forward to see how Dracia was managing.

To put it simply, she was kicking ass. She had either not been scratched a bit or had decided not to show any signs of pain from her wounds, and I had a strong preference for the latter.

The pile of unconscious Marowak, dazed Kangaskhan and the numerous dead or dying human soldiers around were enough to proof the extent of the Dragonite’s rage.

Dracia’s current battle was a wrestling match with a gigantic Tyranitar. Despite her frenzied rage, the Tyranitar still looked like it was winning. Dracia changed her battle plan and leaned backwards, throwing her opponent’s huge mass head over heels.

Roaring, it pulled itself up and let off a bright white Hyper Beam.

Dracia gracefully somersaulted over it and brought her entire weight down on the back of its head. The combination of her motion and her mass easily brought her opponent down. I heard the dull crack as the opponent’s skull was crushed under the excessive force used.

“Hey, take it easy.” I said, running up beside her.

Dracia was panting and covered with perspiration, but refused to answer me. While waiting for her to recover, I scanned the area and my eyes fell upon a sign further down the corridor.

“Weapons storeroom.” I read, walking over to the door beside it. It was locked, but there was a panel with three buttons on it. “Just three buttons? Jeez, these people are either very stupid, extremely overconfident.”

I tried pushing a combination of the three buttons. A buzzer suddenly sounded, startling me.

“F*** you! We need more lumber, asshole!” A squeaky voice blared from the speaker on the door.

“Huh?” I gawked. “Wrong number then.”

I tried another combination. This time, some music played.

“Transformers! Robots in Disguise! Autobots wage their Battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons. Transformers…”

“What the…?!”

(Serac sweatdrops.)

Dracia walked over and smashed the control panel with her fist. That had both the effect of stopping the music and opening the door.

“Thanks.”

Dracia gave a slight nod as I stepped through. It was pretty small, hardly larger than a broom closet. Most of the guns were either broken or didn’t look in very good condition. However, one caught my attention.

“Wow…” It took a lot of strength to lift the Nikita Rocket Launcher over my shoulder. “What a beauty!”

I walked out and showed it to Dracia.

“Careful, that thing has auto-firing.” She warned.

“How do you know?” I asked.

“Because your finger just moved the switch marked ‘auto-fire’.”

“Huh? Oh sh…aarrggh!” I was thrown to the ground by the force of the rocket firing.

That had the effect of creating a huge hole in the opposite wall.

“Oops!” I muttered. “Yargh!”

I’d barely gotten to my feet when the Nikita fired again.

“Help! How do you stop this thing?!” I cried, struggling to keep my balance.

Dracia dropped to the floor and covered her head as another rocket went off. With a rather pissed look, she pointed in the direction away from herself.

“Oh! Sorry! Sorry!” I gasped, turning around so I faced away from the Dragonite.

I felt the ground shake and glanced up to see a huge monster walking around the bend. It was humanoid in form, only several times bigger and taller, wearing a trench coat. Its face was horribly disfigured.

“STARS…” It moaned.

I screamed and fell backwards, just as the Nikita fired again.

BOOM! The creature was reduced bits and chunks of charred flesh. The weapon gave a negative beep, indicating that its ammunition had been depleted.

“What the hell was that thing?!” I gasped.

“He was probably in the wrong fic.” Dracia replied. “Anyway, here.”

She tossed me a box of rockets from the storeroom.

“I’ll try not to pull another stunt like that.” I laughed as I loaded the weapon.

The sounds of gunfire caught our attention.

“There.” Dracia pointed her head to the source of the noise.

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Firestorm

“Damn! We’re pinned!” I yelled, still taking over behind the corners.

[Thanks for stating the obvious!] Jade yelled.

“You’re welcome!”

That robot with the Gattling Gun was still firing, making me wonder how much ammo they had to waste.

“Take that!” Serac’s voice sounded.

It was followed by a deafening blast, which promptly stopped the gunfire. I peered out the see its weapon had been destroyed. Having approached by a corridor at the robot’s side, Serac and Dracia stepped into view, waving to us in triumph. A Nikita launcher was on the floor beside them.

“Damn!” Dylin growled. “Fall back now!”

The robot hesitated for a moment, as if contemplating his order. Then, it dropped down onto its back.

(Everyone sweatdrops.)

“It’s so hard to build good help these days.” Dylin sighed, slapping his head.

“Jade! Ehrgeiz! Now!” I cried. “Mega Quake!”

Utilizing the earth-based Sacred technique, I slammed my fist onto the ground, creating a tremor which sent Dylin stumbling and the robot bouncing into the air. Ehrgeiz took the cue and gave it a Thunderblot while it was in mid-air.

The robot hit the floor hard, sending small bits and pieces of it flying off. Its circulatory groaned in protest as it struggled to get into a kneeling position. And that was just in time to see Jade and me with the finale.

“X-strike!”

Jade’s flames wrapped themselves around my claws while I was in mid-charge. With the added speed of my Quick Attack, the impact’s power and the flames combined to generate a small explosion, taking off the robot’s head and most of its upper body.

“Useless machine!” Dylin muttered, climbing to his feet. “This isn’t over yet!”

The sub-commander fired several shots at us, causing us to dive for cover, before making a break for the nearest door.

However, something else stopped him before he got there.

“UUUaaaarrrgggghhhhhhhhh!”

A blue sphere of energy smacked him dead on, sending him flying all the way across the corridor. Jade, Ehrgeiz and I dropped to the ground as Dylin’s body hit the wall with an ear-splitting crunch. It didn’t take much for us to realize he was dead.

“Look there!” Serac pointed.

Standing on the opposite side was a strange Pokemon. It reassembled a purple humanoid with feline like features. It still had its three fingered hands raised, and I realized it was the one who’d just killed the SF sub-commander.

<Be wary, this was not the true threat. > Her telepathic voice told us. Somehow, it didn’t surprise me that it was a psychic-type Pokemon.

“Who are you?” I demanded, still wary of the figure.

<I am not your enemy. > She replied. <I am Syndrea. I believe I would be known as Mewtwo. But let me ask you this Firestorm; can you feel its power? >

“What’s power?” I asked, confused.

<That, you will know for yourself. Follow me, if your instincts tell you to. > In a flash of blue light, she was gone.

[What was that about?] Jade wondered.

“I don’t really know…however, I do feel something.” I said, closing my eyes. “My psychic powers aren’t really developed yet. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like feeling something cold and dark.”

“And what about…her?” Serac jerked a thumb towards the position Syndrea had stood on.

“She left something like a psychic trail, and I say we follow.” I told the others. “I have a feeling she’s leading us right to where we want to be.”

[Incomming!] Ehrgeiz warned, spotting a Feraligatr charging round the corner.

Immediately, I faced our new opponent, yellow energy flashing around my body as I charged up my lightning based Sacred Technique.

“Integration!”

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Kris

“Jeez, this place is a hell hole!” I shouted.

Fires were everywhere and it wasn’t hard to see why the basement level was practically abandoned. Azure lowered his twin cannons and did his best to clear the fires out of our path. Ahsura wasn’t taking the heat much better than myself, but he contributed his Razor Leafs to clearing smaller pieces of debris. I lead the way, counting the room numbers on the doors.

[Nice to see you again Kris.] Ahsura said as we ran. [You may be a little different on the outside, but you’re still the same within.]

That pretty much shocked me into stopping and turning back to face them. The two first Pokemon I’d ever had. It really pricked my conscience that I’d forgotten all this while.

“You’ve grown a lot, both of you.” I replied. “I just wish I could say the same about myself.”

[We’re still here for you. Whatever you may have done, it’s just great you came back.] Azure added in.

[Yeah.] Ahsura nodded.

“Thanks guys…” I was truly touched.

An explosion from a nearby door drew us back to our perilous reality, getting the three of us running again.

[Which room again?] Azure asked.

“27!” I panted. “Here!”

I kicked the door inwards, only to be greeted by a waves of blinding flames in my path.

[This doesn’t look good!] Ahsura exclaimed.

Although I had to admit that he was right, I had to at least try. Try to find my child.

“Azure!”

[Gottcha.] The Blastoise nodded, unleashing his Hydro Pump upon the flames.

“Just wait out here for me, and try to keep the water coming!” I instructed.

Both Pokemon nodded and watched be intently. Every instinct in my Scyther body was screaming ‘get away from the flames’, but what pushed me on was my human side. A part of myself I’d lost touch with for so long.

With a roar, I plunged into the flames.

I very nearly regretted it, but I shielded my eyes with a claw and glanced around. Azure’s spray of water was consistent and cooling, but also made it harder to see, with added difficulty from the smoke and steam from the fire.

I choose to rely on my beast instincts and let out a series of calls. They were more like growls meant to alert any other Scyther in the area. At first there was nothing. I was about to give up when I got a faint response. I caught a flicker of movement towards the back of the room.

It took every ounce of my courage to defy my instincts and leap through the flames. There, I finally saw the hatchling. A baby Scyther, barely even up to my knee. He was huddled up in a corner of the room, behind a cage and some fallen metal slabs.

I don’t know if it’s some parental instinct to know your children, but whatever it was, I knew that…he was my child.

“Here! Come on!” I called, running closer.

The hatchling was terrified, and instead backed away, further into the corner where I couldn’t reach him.

“Come on!” I pleaded, sticking my claw as far in as I could. “Please!”

In those few tense seconds as I silently pleaded, cursed and simply prayed. Finally, he began to move towards me.

“Yes, that’s right.” I put on the best smile I could. “Just a little more…”

He was almost within reach. Then…fate intervened.

The explosion was so close it temporarily deafened me. I screamed in anguish, whether for myself or my child I didn’t know.

I was lying on the ground, partially conscious, too stunned to move…to save myself. I was sure it was the end for me.

But then I heard voices.

[What the?! Kris!] It was Ahsura. [Bro, we gotta get in there!]

[Trying, but my water supplies are almost out!]

[Whatever it is, we have to get her out of there!]

I couldn’t catch much after that, but I was briefly aware of myself being lifted up and carried around, through the flames. I could hear screams and coughing, but my mind refused to work.

[Gark! Can’t hold…on!]

[Just a little more Ahsura. Just…as long as she’s…all right…]

When I finally came to, I found myself back at the top of the stairway we’d come down. And I felt like I’d walked through the burning pits of hell and back. However, that was when I noticed the two figures sprawled on the floor on either side of me.

“Ahsura! Azure! NO!”

Both the Ivysaur and the Blastoise were badly burnt, practically charred in some places, and bleeding all over. God knows what they just went through to get me out of there.

“Please, wake up!” I begged, shaking each one was lightly as I could.

[At least…we got to…see you…one last time, Kris.] Ahsura moaned weakly.

[We always said…we’d look after you. Just…like old times…] Azure followed up.

“Don’t try to talk.” I cried, although I knew what was coming.

[Don’t…worry about…us…] Ahsura looked up towards me and managed a weak grin.

[As long…as…you…remember…] Azure closed his eyes.

Ahsura immediately joined him.

I was left staring there, in a complete state of numbness. My Scyther body roared with all its might. The roar of anguish seemed to reenergize my body. I’d failed myself; I’d failed Wein/Scantrix; I’d failed my child; I’d failed Ahsura and Azure.

I slammed the ground over and over again until I managed to get a hold of myself. I had to stop this…I had to start believing in myself again.

With my new spur of energy, I bade my fallen comrades a silent farewell, before breaking into a sprint.

Nightslice…brother…I won’t fail you too…