I am so sorry it took me so long to deliver this final chapter to you. Between school, work, and outside exams, my head feels extremely foggy. My plate’s really loaded this year, so please be a little patient with me. While Poke’mon and it’s characters are not copyrighted to me, the storyline and made-up characters in this story are. STEALING IS MEAN!! Last time, Misty finally met face to face with the true menace behind all of this: Ryougen! Who is Ryougen and how will this new character challenge the fate of Misty and Ash? Find out in the final Hanshen today.

Hanshen of Hearts:

                        Shirube Chronicles


 

                   
Final Hanshen: New Year’s Ticker: Eternity Hearts!

 

      
“You will never see Ash again!” Ryougen let out a grin to Misty, May, and Pikachu. Misty got on her guard, her eyes flickering aggressively. The thought of this evil using Ash’s body sickened her to her stomach. Beside one of the fountains, she could see Minako lying unconsciously. “What’s going on here? I thought she was the one running the show.” May thought to herself as she noticed Minako as well. “Okay, Ryougen—or whoever you are—give Ash’s heart and body back to me now!” Misty demanded fearlessly. “Pikachu-Pika!” Pikachu shouted. Ryougen folded his arms, still grinning. That darkness that twisted Ash’s eyes flickered dangerously. “I couldn’t even if I wanted to. You see, only a Hanshen of Hearts can guide hearts back to their respective owner. I’m afraid I’m a very untalented person because all I can do tear hearts apart.” “Don’t be a wise-guy!” Misty shouted through clenched teeth. “It won’t matter…Misty, I think? Soon, the New Year will come and I will be able to return to this world for good. Ash’s time is wearing thin.”
       “Enough!” Misty darted forward, still holding her blade at an angle. Towamune began to glow lightly as small bubbles spiraled around it wildly. “Daifunsui Bubbles!” “Ha-ha!” DOWOOM! Ryougen held out his hand; Misty’s blade collided with a golden barrier, causing no damage at all. “Wha?” Misty took a couple of shocked steps backwards. “This body of a child,” Ryougen’s hand dropped and so did his barrier, “Does not limit my abilities.” The triumphant look on his face sickened Misty even more now. And what made it worse was how calm and cool he spoke—as if this was some kind of game to him. “There’s no way you can stop the on-coming events of the New Years. And I won’t let you take this opportunity to live again away from me—not after I’ve waited a century for it.” “We won’t leave without Ash!” “Pika-Pika!” May and Pikachu shot. Ryougen scratched his cheek. He still had time, so it wouldn’t hurt to have some fun. “Interesting…fine then; why don’t you show me why you’re so intent on stopping me. Either way, the story will end the same,” His eyes trailed over to Minako, who was still laid out, “I’ve taken care of one Hanshen of Hearts, and I can take care of another one—especially one who has barely come to terms with her purpose.” He said. It would be Misty’s utmost pleasure to take him out if it meant getting Ash’s heart back. She held Towamune at a lower angle as she always did before executing its magical properties.
       “Uh…” “Huh?” Everyone’s attention turned to the fountain. Ryougen raised an eyebrow as he glanced behind him. Minako shook a little as she forced herself up; first to her knees, then to her feet. She teetered a bit, trying to fight the sleepy feeling that had been laced upon her. “…I didn’t expect you to be up so quick. But then, you were always full of surprises, Minako.” Ryougen said with that irritatingly calm demeanor. “Don’t be so familiar with me.” Minako shot, “You set me up!” She brushed the dirt off her Kimono and took a step forward. She glared at Ryougen disdainfully as much as she could. “You knew that I would try to find Tsukako. You knew that and used my calling him as a ride back to this world! Taking his place is something I cannot forgive!” “Excuse me for not wasting tears on you. After all, you have become the object of my revenge along with your insolent boy-toy.” Ryougen’s calm voice went cold and a little angry now. “Arrogant filth!” Minako waved one arm fiercely; a shot of moon-blue energy fired from the air swiftly. Once again, Ryougen raised his barrier and the beam bounced off into the evening sky. “Don’t try to hide it—you are very weak right now. Reaching within the depths of your heart to find Tsukako was not an easy task. A simple mistake, right?” “Don’t patronize me, Ryougen.” Minako growled dangerously. “I’m not—this is all your fault to begin with.” Ryougen’s face finally went serious. His arms fell to his sides and his fists clenched. “It’s your fault that everyone in Shirube was forced to be a ronin heart. All of us—even me—were cursed to wander this barren world of loneliness. So don’t try to act as if you had no part in this.” He said to her. Minako stepped forward, her elegant black hair flowing a little as if a light breeze was blowing. “Ryougen, I can’t believe you have gull to—”
       Everyone’s attention turned behind Misty and the others. It was weird, but Misty could someone—no, a group of people—were drawing closer to them. Ryougen’s calm grin returned and he closed his eyes as if he had anticipated the events beforehand. “And so it seems that the rest of our guests have arrived.” “Other guests?” May blinked, fearing more enemies on the way. However, when the elevator came up from under the ground and the door swung open, her tense body fell at ease. “Hope we’re not too late.” Brock said as he stepped out of the elevator first. Musou, Max, and Slowking came out behind him. “May, you’re okay!” Max darted up to his sister, embracing her. “Brock, what are you guys doing here—and I thought you said you couldn’t come here, Slowking!” Misty wheeled around, her temple beating anime style. Slowking sweated anime style and scratched the back of his head. “I never really said I couldn’t. Anyway, I wasn’t planning on coming at first.” “Slowking told us that he could feel there was someone else pulling the strings behind Ash’s kidnapping.” Brock told Misty, “So we came to help out.” Slowking’s expression turned serious and he took a step towards the person using Ash’s body. “So, you must be the Tsukako-imposter.” He clenched his teeth aggressively. Ryougen shrugged his shoulders, “I never claimed to be Tsukako—that’s just what everyone assumed.” He spoke innocently. Slowking’s eyes narrowed. Even though the person before him never mentioned his name, he could sense a dark familiarity with him. Behind the veil of Ash’s body, he knew this man. “…I thought I’d bump into you behind all this eventually.” Slowking closed his eyes and folded his arms. “What’s it been, a century or two? I’m touched you remember who I am. Now, all the players are present—the game can finally begin.” Ryougen pointed towards Musou, “The kingdom knight, Musou,” His finger drifted, “both Hanshen of Hearts, and the biggest player of all—the man responsible for forging the Towamune.” “What?!” Minako’s eyes trembled as they shot towards Slowking’s unwavering expression. “The…man who forged Towamune? But that means…” Everyone eyed silent Slowking with a look of question. Slowking’s eyes didn’t move at all; as a matter of fact, his whole body seemed to be suspended in silent time for a brief moment.
       “…Yes, I am Tsukako.” “Dah!” Everyone gasped. Minako’s eyes were moved to confused tears. She had put so much effort into searching, and he stood right beneath her nose. Her voice caught in her throat as Slowking—or rather, Tsukako—turned to her with a soft smile. “It’s been a good long while since we’ve recognized each other, Minako. And even now, my heart still feels the same for you as it did a hundred years ago. It was lonely to wander as a Poke’mon and not be able to reach you, Mina-chan. I thank Misty for calling out to Towamune—without it, I could never reach this world.” He said lightly. “…Tsukako-kun…” Minako gave a smile that actually pushed the darkness from her eyes. “No wonder you knew so much about Towamune.” Misty turned to Tsukako, “It was your sword to begin with.”
       “Ahem! Don’t be too happy to see her, Tsukako. Need I remind you that it was her fault that all this happened; her fault why all of them are as they are now!?” Ryougen pointed into the sky at the twinkling hearts above them, “I know you remember as well as I do. That dark day when Princess Minako went crazy after losing you—” “You can stop trying to lie your way out of this—I know the truth.” Tsukako stepped forward. The scars of the curse Ryougen had laid upon him did not cloud his memory in the slightest. “You manipulated Mina-chan’s anger. Both you and her father!” “What?” Minako blinked. “Minako’s father was the one behind this whole plan in the first place, simply because he didn’t approve of her marrying into my family. We were humble sword smiths, and yet we challenged the king’s power. He despised us so much that he put you up to cursing me, so that my bloodline could die out and be lost forever. But he didn’t count on the eternity sword—Towamune—or the fact that a new Hanshen of Hearts would arise.” Tsukako spoke the end fiercely. Ryougen stared silently for a while at the purple Poke’mon. His arms folded again, but that calm look never left his face. “…well, we all have dirty little secrets we like to hide. But it doesn’t matter—Ash’s fate—and soon, the world’s—is sealed. Every heart will be forced to wander the darkness by my hands!” He said. Tsukako held his hand out to the side; in a flash of purple light, a blade of telekinetic energy formed. “I will not let you plunge these hearts into the darkness, Ryougen!”
       Tsukako’s feet darted forward; he swung his sword fiercely. Ryougen danced to the right, jumped to the left, then ducked before his palm erupted with a blast of yellow energy. “Kuuu!” Tsukako slid across the ground backwards. “Kyaaa!!” Everyone else except for Misty and Minako rushed forward. “You fools!” Ryougan held out his hand. Just like Tsukako, a blade of pure energy was willed to it. But instead, his sword was one of dark energy. “Here goes!” WHOOOM! Ryougen swung his sword and a blast of dark wind issued forth. Just like Tsukako, the others were sent sliding back on the floor. “Ha,” Musuo drew his sword. Upon swinging the blade, two crescent beams of energy cut through the air. Ryougen held his blade up and the attack merely vanished upon impact. “Ha!” “Ack!” Musou fell to his back after being hit with Ryougen’s own beam of energy. “Forretress, let’s do this!” Brock called Foretress from its poke’ball and the two rushed forward in a fly-tackle. “Beautifly, use String Shot!” May called. “Too weak!” Ryougen swung his sword to create a rush of wind, sending Brock and Foretress backwards. He quickly rounded on Beautifly’s attack with another sword beam. The attack split the silky thread in half and struck Beautifly down to the ground. “Oh, Beautifly!” May comforted her Poke’mon. “Heh-heh,” Ryougen grinned.
       “Don’t be so cocky!” “Huh?!” CLANG! Misty flew out of nowhere, clashing Towamune with Ryougen’s sword. The two faced off, trying to knock the other off their feet. Waves of power and energy surged from the two—this was their battle, now. “I’m not gonna’ let you take-over Ash’s body!” “Really? Show me!” The two jumped back from each other for a second, then darted to each other at lightning speed continuously. Their swords flashed brightly each time they clashed from being stricken so swiftly. When the two met again, they went up in a dodge and swing frenzy. Misty sweated as she jumped and weaved away from Ryougen’s sword while swinging her own. “I can feel it—Towamune and the power of my heart are helping me fight with Ryougen!”  She thought to herself. “Wow,” Minako marveled slightly, “her want to save Ash makes her a real fighter.” Misty and Ryougen both swung one fierce time, landing in another power struggle. “It’s pointless, you fighting like this.” Ryougen said through his grin, “For if you look at the clock, Ash only has forty-five minutes left!” “Wha?” Unwavering in power, Misty took a glance at the magical clock near the fountain. The hands of light pointed 11:15! She had no idea so much time had elapsed! If she didn’t hurry, Ash would be done for. “I won’t let Ash fall to a monster like you!” With a burst of energy, Misty forced Ryougen sliding away from her. Ryougen skidded to a halt, then came at her again. The two were forced to dance away from the other’s swinging blade. When Misty found she was open enough, she held her sword to the side for a split second. “Daifunsui Bubbles!” “Demon Slash!”
       BAKOOM! A fierce shockwave pulsated across the entire area wildly from the clashing of the two swords. Wasting no time, Misty leapt above Ryougen and swung downwards. There was a clinging sound from Ryougen’s block. His feet trembled only slightly under the pressure. “Kyaaa!” “Whaa!” Misty’s feet were swept in mid-air and she hit the ground. “The end!” Ryougen’s sword pummeled downwards; Misty rolled away barely to have the ground stricken instead of her. Gripping her sword, she brought it up as hard as she could. Ryougen’s black blade came to his defense and the two went into another power struggle. “Heh-heh…I have to admit that you gave me quite a bit of fun. But abandon all hope of winning—Ash will never leave the darkness. And this body already has my name on it!” “Ah…” Misty’s arms trembled. Now that Ryougen was over her, he could push his full weight into the sword. Slowly, her hands inched back towards her face, attempting to split the drops of sweat on her face. “I can’t push him back…am I…losing?” Her thoughts rang, “He’s a lot stronger…I don’t think I can—No! I have to win! I can’t—I won’t—lose to him! I have to WIN!” “HAH!” “Dah!” A shocked look spread on Ryougen’s face as he staggered backwards. Misty rose to her feet again. Towamune’s blade was glowing with a light-blue aura. “Ha!” CLERRRRR! Ryougan’s blade wobbled; he sweated while staggering backwards. “Wha…what’s this?” He asked in disbelief. Misty closed the gap between them and swung again. Ryougen slid backwards, trying to steady his sword. “Where’s this power coming from?” He thought. Ryougen dared to swing forward; Misty’s blade parried and used a ferocious wind to send him flying backwards. “Acku!” Ryougen landed on his bottom. His sword vanished in a burst of dark shards like glass. He slowly rose to his feet, his eyes hidden beneath Ash’s hat.
       “Why?” He voiced softly. Misty’s sword stop glowing as she was puzzled by his sudden change of attitude. “Why do you fight so hard?” He asked. “That’s simple,” Misty answered immediately, “Because Ash means everything to me.” Ryougen’s eyes remained hidden beneath the brim of the hat. “I don’t get you, Misty. Hanshen of Hearts is a fate that never has a happy ending. Minako is proof of that.” Minako flinched, but he continued on, “Every love ends in heartbreak, regardless how long it may last. So, I’ve learned how to overcome the heartbreak and step into power.” Ryougen’s fists clenched threateningly. Everyone could feel it; his dark feelings—inspired by his own heartbreak and revenge—seemed to seep from him all around the area. “Hatred, malice; these are the feelings that spawn true healing. And from there, a step into power occurs. Misty, allow me to demonstrate! PARADISE CRASH!!”

       Ryougen threw up his arms. His darkened emotions ran wild throughout Minako’s vast pillar sanctuary. They seemed to take on a physical form as the entire room began to rumble violently. Sparks and flares of energy surged throughout Ryougan, causing Ash’s body to light up. Stray bits of energy crashed into the ground, tearing up the marble floor as if it were no problem. Pillars came crashing down; the water of the fountains spat and spewed everywhere—the paradise-look of the room was literally crashing down! “YAAAA!!!” Everyone let out a panicked scream. BAKOOOM!! Steam spouted from the ground as it cracked up, revealing below the oblivion of the endless evening space. “No! I can’t let you harm them!” Minako exclaimed. She put up her hands and they started to glow at her chanting noises. In reaction, the whizzing stars in the sky slowed to a calmer halt as they became encased in a light barrier. “She’s protecting them?” Misty blinked at first. Even amidst the chaos, Minako still cared about every single lost heart in the realm. Still tripping over the breaking ground, the kids braced themselves. Ash’s body began to change. The shape grew to be gigantic with equally large arms and fists. The creature that started to form floated up into the air. Its body from the waist-down turned into a wisp of smoke and two long horns grew on top of its head. The light faded from it to reveal its black and blue-colored body. A scarf was draped over it the bottom half of its face, only allowing its green-glowing eyes to be a seen facial feature. The rumbling slow down to a dramatic halt; everything that was floating in the air had dropped back down. Now, the room looked like nothing but a bunch of floating or rooted platforms. The beauty was cracked. The only thing that remained perfectly the same was the magical clock with Ash’s ticking time. Misty glanced at the clock curiously. “Twenty-five minutes?! Can…can I make it?”  She asked herself. “Pikaaa!” Pikachu growled at the monster, though it did absolutely nothing. “Fall,” Ryougen’s massive fist swung down in the air; at the same time, the platform below misty shattered to pieces. “Aiiiiiii!!” “MISTY!!” Brock, May, and Max shouted urgently. Tsukako’s voice caught and Minako’s did the same.

 
       The wind…the win rushing in her ear was a constant reminder of her failure. She had failed both Ash and the world. She had no right to be called Hanshen of Hearts; she didn’t know who she was anymore. For there was little she could do, falling into the evening oblivion like that. As Misty plummeted down further into the vast nothingness, she let he grip over Towamune loosen. “That’s it. The game is over…but at least I went down with a fight. I just wish…” Misty closed her eyes and began to speak from her heart, “I wish that I could’ve saved Ash…” SHIIIIIIIII!!! The Towamune suddenly began to feel warm in her hand again. The feeling was practically begging her to reach out to it. And with her falling like that, what harm could it do? Misty clasped her hand around the sword’s hilt. “Your wish; don’t you want to make it happen?”  “Uhn?” Misty blinked.

 
      “Misty…” Brock had to fight back his tears. That was two of his good friends down now. May and Max gave each other a comforting hug and Musou just closed his eyes. “Damn!” Tsukako growled through clenched teeth and fists. Minako fell to her knees. “He won’t stop,” She sobbed lightly, “He won’t stop until his broken everyone…..uh?” A tear from her face dripped into the oblivion she was now staring at. Down below, she could see a speck of twinkling light. The light seemed to be beating at a constant rhythm, kind of like—“A heartbeat?” Minako glanced up at the sky. Just as she suspected, one of the hearts was also blinking in the same rhythm. Being a guardian to every heart above her, Minako immediately recognized the heart’s owner. “That Ash’s heart!” She exclaimed to everyone’s attention. The speck of light from below became brighter the closer it traveled up. “It’s—” Max took a closer look downwards.

       The sound of rushing wind no longer meant failure to her. Within a single moment, she went from feeling like a weakling, to feeling like the strongest woman alive. Misty’s hair swayed wildly as she bolted upwards. Her outfit was now more frilly and dress-like (open at the front to reveal her shorts), resembling something of royalty. Her hands were decorated with thin, white gloves that frilled at the wrist. The four petit angelic wings on her back allowed her to fly upwards like a bullet. Even the look in her eyes had changed, for now they were filled with an enlightened look of undying hope. Misty slowed to a stop in front of her friends. “But that’s—” “She’s executed Hikari no Towa!” Minako and Tsukako exclaimed in awe. Even in his behemoth form, Ryougen folded his arms and managed to give what looked like a grin. “So, you’ve finally given yourself completely into your role. It doesn’t matter what you do now—you are doomed!” He let out a cocky laugh. Misty’s expression went serious, “No fate is too great for Ash.” Her voice—given the situation—was incredibly calm and hopeful, “You can’t defeat me, Ryougen, as I can no longer be clouded by the veil of darkness!” Misty held Towamune out before her; the blade vibrated with a white glow. This was it—the final fight. Now, it was up to her—all or nothing.

 
       Using her new-found flight, Misty jumped into the air directly towards Ryougen. Towamune sparkled in the slightest of movements. Ryougen held out, then clenched his fist; at his will a group of spherical shadow energy gathered around and bulleted through the air fiercely. Misty landed, on another platform before her and began to weave from side to side, allowing the meteors to belt the ground instead of her. She jumped off the edge, pushing off one of the meteors with one hand to gain more flight. “Kyaaa!” The glare of Misty’s blade flashed. Ryougen grunted only slightly as he blocked the pushing Towamune with one of his strong, massive arms. He pushed against Misty, causing her to lose her mid-air equilibrium and soar backwards. “Grrr…” Misty growled as she landed onto another platform deftly and lightly—thanks to her new wings of course. Ryougen held out a clenched fist just like before. The meteors of darkness shot in a fierce straight line swiftly. “Wha!” Misty closed her eyes and presented Towamune before her. The sword reacted to her panic by forming a barrier of blue light around her body. The meteors bounced off the shield, now flying in wild directions. “Everyone, stay still!” Tsukako shouted, holding up his hands. Just like Misty, a transparent light flashed around Brock, May, Max, Minako, and Musou. His own appeared just before the stray shots belted the barriers in rumbling repetition. Misty brushed her barrier off and began to rush towards Ryougen once more. The shadow meteors beat around her has she jumped from platform to platform. “I have to get closer to him if I’m ever going to actually hurt him!” She thought to herself. Towamune’s blade gleamed as she held it out to the side. Misty’s wings flapped once; the red-head soared upwards again as fast as she could. “Ha!” “Huuu!” THUD! Ryougen’s arm rose to block deftly. Misty frowned and sent her sword at him again. In a fierce spin and swing, Ryougen clasped the sword with the palms of his hands. “What the hell?!” Misty gasped. Ryougen’s hidden face gave a grin. He pushed her back, then lowered his scarf; a wide breath of dark wind shot down after his enemy. “Aieeee!” Misty held Towamune in front of her again. The rain of darkness passed against her barrier. However, she could still feel it burning against her body like fire. As soon as she landed, Misty (despite the minor scorch marks on her person) held Towamune up to the side. “Daifunsui Bubbles!” She shouted while swinging her sword once. The bubbles produced sped at Ryougen and exploded upon contact with his body. “Ha! As if a desperate attack like that would work against me.” His loud voice echoed. He brushed his shoulder and left arm where the bubbles had crashed. Then, he raised his hand upwards. In a split second, beads of dark light began to gather into his palm. They all formed a ball and, when he grasped it, straightened out into a blade-like shape. A golden gleam came to the new large sword he had just created. Ryougen raised the sword over his head for a moment of slight concentration. “Ha!” In a breath, he swung down into the air; in reaction, spurts of sharp energetic winds began spewing everywhere and breaking up every bit of platform they touched. BAKOO! BAKO—BAKKOOO! The energy surged against Tsukako’s barrier wildly. “Uhn!” Misty pushed off into the air again, narrowly escaping being stricken by the razor-sharp winds. How was she supposed to get close to him with moves that kept pushing her back?

       “Give it up, Hanshen of Hearts!” The air around Ryougen created two more black meteor spheres and belted them like bullets. Misty, whose wings were flapping vigorously now, weaved left, then right before swinging her glowing Towamune; a crescent beam escaped the blade with a dangerous howl. Ryougen’s held up his sword to block, but nearly staggered in the air from the stress Misty’s attack put on his blade. “That’s right—keep this fight up. In the end, you will be the one who ultimately loses!” Ryougen thought. He drew back his sword, then jabbed through the air in swift, wild thrusts. As Misty ascended closer, the deadly blade clipped a small bit of her pigtail. She was forced to mid-air dance at back-breaking speed to evade a lethal prodding. “If only I could….there!”  Misty’s eyes flickered as she barely made a landing on the flat end of Ryougen’s sword. With this being the closest she may get, she had to take the chance for as much as she could. She darted up the sword—up his arm—and to his shoulder. “Kyaaaa!” SWEEEE! “ARRRRR!!!!” Ryougen shrieked from the deep wound produced on his shoulder.

       “It may not look like it, but those two are actually evenly matched.” Minako stated behind the barrier that she was helping her lover produce. “Yes,” Musou looked towards the magical clock binding the time of fate, “But she needs an edge quickly, or we’ll all run out of time.” “Is there anything at all we can do to help Misty?” May asked desperately. Minako looked up to the fight before her, and then to the stars. “….while we can’t harm Ryougen physically, we may still be able to help—” “Of course!” Tsukako pounded his fist into his palm, “Hikari no Towa links a Hanshen of Hearts to deep wishes made from hearts everywhere.” “I still have powers as the previous Hanshen of Hearts,” Minako took her serious gaze off of the stars above and to Misty’s friends. “If you wish hard enough, I can channel them to the Hikari no Towa—your wishes can make Misty stronger.” “You’d really help us like that?” May finally took her eyes off of the fight before her. And for once, Minako gave a smile—a true smile, devoid of the usual glint of darkness in her eyes. “It’s the least I can do—this is my fault after all.” There wasn’t a moment to lose with the New Year’s ticker slowly creeping its way to zero. Tsukako slammed his eyes shut; the barrier immediately fluctuated. This was start signal for Minako, who clasped her hands together and shut her eyes in concentration. “Wish quickly,” “Okay,” Brock was the first to shut his eyes, followed by May, Max, Pikachu, and Musou. They delved deep into their hearts, finding that feeling—that want for both Ash and Misty to come out safely. “I wish for my friends.”  The kids spoke through their minds with their hearts. “I wish for this Shirube—for this world—may we find refuge in this young Heroine.”  Musou thought, still with an arrogant, bad-ass expression. Minako’s body began to glow. The aura about her body vibrated with the power of the heart-filled wishes surrounding her. “I wish…” Minako started, “I wish for a girl who will finally take this title seriously, devoid of the veil of darkness.”

       SHIIIIIIII!!!! “Huh?” Misty floated down onto one of the few standing platforms left. A sudden warmth began to flow throughout her entire body and Towamune. She didn’t have to guess where it came from; she recognized the love of her friends instantly. And hopefully, their warmth would allow her to reach to Ash again. “Thanks, guys…now, I truly won’t be the only one fighting.” Towamune’s glowing aura pulsed; Misty rushed forward towards Ryuogen as fast as her wings would allow her to go. “Die!” Ryougen drove his fist towards her fiercely. Misty didn’t flinch, but rather continued to fly at full force. “Huhaaaaaaa!” SHIII-KABAAAAAA!

       “AAHAAHAAAA!” Ryougen let out a combination hiss and howl; razor sharp winds of energy pulsed from Misty’s sword and traveled up his entire left arm. Now with his massive fist hanging limp, Ryougen huffed and panted. The attack had definitely caught him off guard—she was stronger than what she first appeared to be.  He glanced back at the magical clock behind him; with only one minute left to go, Ash’s fate was sealed. “Heh-heh…you put up a good fight, Misty. But your time is up. Nothing will save your precious Ash now.” There was a flash of light before him; in wild specks of light, Ash’s body appeared in front of him. “Ash!” Misty gasped. The speck of white light—Ash’s true heart—glimmered atop his chest. “Oh no!” Minako exclaimed. “Goodbye, Hanshen of Hearts.”
       SHHHHHWOOOO!! After Ryougen’s words, a vacuuming wind began to suck in towards Ash’s heart. The rushing air whirled wildly as it picked up great speed quickly. The floors—both shattered and standing—rumbled wildly and broke apart. Ash’s heart had become a black hole! The stars above couldn’t even stay in the sky; the wind forced them down, one by one, sucking them up into the void before Ryougen. “Ahhhhh!!” Tsukako shouted. The barrier around them shattered and he lifted off into the air. “Tsukako, hold on!” “We’ve got you two!” “Take my hand!” “Don’t give up!” “Pikaaa!” Tsukako was grabbed by Minako, who was grasped by Brock, then May, Max, and Pikachu. Pikachu clung to the edge of the platform for dear life as the vacuum threatened to suck them up. Misty’s fingertips could barely keep their grip onto the platform and her wings were beginning to ache from the constant flapping. “What do I do….?” She voiced as she stared directly into the black hole. The clock counted down to thirty seconds—just thirty seconds until it was too late. “…What’s that?” Misty blinked. Staring deeper into the void, she found that she could see the heart…no, hearts, behind it. One was Ash’s, but the other appeared to be some kind of black bead. “…..”Misty let out a sigh and let go.

       “MISTY!” Everyone shouted. Bouncing from the platforms that were left, Misty poured everything she had and was into Towamune, allowing the blade to shimmer profusely. She felt weaker with each jump as she filled the sword with her power. 15 seconds counted down and she forced her wings to carry her farther into the vortex. Rocks flew at her, occasionally belting her on the arms, but she continued to fly as fast as her feint body would. (9 seconds) Misty gave a final jump before Ryougen. (5 seconds) “Ha!” Ryougen grinned. (4 seconds) “Hikari—” Misty drove her body forward. (3 seconds) “No—” She outstretched her blade to the heart of the black hole. (2 seconds) “TOWAA!” (1 second) “FOOOOOOLLLLLL!!” BRRRIIIIIIIII! KACHIIIIIIN!