Showdown at Lake Eerie

The fledling stretched its wings and let out a sound not unlike a crow, it shook its head so that its huge amount of head plumes rustled. It was feeling good, well rested, ready for anything. Now all it needed was the power of the eclipse to restore it.

Above the lake, the earth moved in the position to block the moonlight.

*

Even and the others walked out of the building, in a trance.

'Find the Dark One' They had been commanded.

They walked, in single file, to the shore of the lake.

They then walked in.

They held their breaths, and walked in over their heads.

They finally got to the other side, where they met up with the others, the two humans, Red and Blue, the other pokemon, and an egg.

The egg contained the final piece.

The pure, uncorrupted innocence of an unborn pokemon.

The second-most powerful pokemon in the world.

The pokemon who would have saved the world, had it not been for the fact that it would be sacrificed.

Sacrificed to pure darkness.

Even, Ko, Boneyard, Otaku, Ditan, Blue, Red, and countless others, all surrounded the egg.

The humans lifted it, and they carried it.

The pokemon protected the egg, as well as the humans.

They carried the egg to a cave.

They entered, protecting the egg as they went.

They came to the altar.

The set the egg upon it.

Then, the voice came to them once again, with more instructions.

'Destroy yourselves, so as to leave no evidence.' It said.

They left the cave, and headed back to the lake.

*

Ivory hissed and drew herself up, ready to fight. She started with a scratch across her father's nose. He retaliated with a simple pay day, after his master ordered him to. Ivory gasped. She was weakening, fast. She had to keep
fighting. No longer was she fighting for revenge. She was fighting for freedom, and... her life.

Ivory's father said nothing, just kept hitting her with pay day and fury swipes. Ivory was seriously hurt now. The human's eyes glinted and he rushed around, picking up the coins whilst shouting attacks.


Ivory could barely stand up now. The trainer grinned, calling out another Persian. Ivory's mother. The R on the human's shirt was all too obvious to Ivory. He commanded them both to use fury swipes.

Ivory fainted.

"Oh no, Ivory!" Shoo ran up and stood beside her. He looked up at the two Persians, and then back to Ivory.

He nudged her shoulder to see if she would stir. "C�mon. We gotta get out of here."

Ivory shook violently, but she was awake. she managed to get up on her feet. She gave one last scratch across both of the Persian's noses. Then she stuck er tongue out at them. Then, struggling to her feet, she jumped up to the
human, and attacked.

Not wanting his face scratched any more(How Rockets hate that!), he recalled the Persians and ran off, holding his face. Ivory collapsed, unable to move any more.

*

After shoving the tangela through the hole in the wall (even though it promptly fell asleep outside) Surefire turned to see Saffire hit. In a rage, she dashed for the rocket holding the gun, letting loose an ember attack!

The Sandshrew hit the wall and it split open, causing a crack to widen, it then began to assault the bars of Spirit's cage, it was a sturdy wee fellow indeed!

The dart whizzed out from the gun, becoming instantly vaporized as it passed through the fire. Unfortunately, Saffire was in the way and caught the brunt of the blow, as he crumbled to the floor. The smell of burning fur
filled the air.

"Quickly, we can't let them get away!" The woman shouted, although she had been somewhat scorched by the proceedings. She pointed the gun at the Sandshrew who had managed to open a sizeable crack in the bars. The
Kadabra squeezed out, staggering a little.

Surefire crumpled to sleep as another dart caught her, but Spirit was faster then expected, he scooped up the fire fox under one arm and the sandshrew under another and teleported away.

With three of the sacrifices gone, the ceremony could not take place properly.

"Oh bugger!" Butch cursed. "Cassidy, you go try and catch some and I'll start the ceremony, we have to do this now!" He kicked Saffire's sleeping form away. "Damned fox, not even bloody fire type, if it was it would be
some damned use. Oh well."

And he dragged across to the middle of the room a table.

Cassidy dashed out the room through the hole in the wall and almost tripped over the sleeping Tangela. "I found one already!" She replied, throwing it back and into Butch's arms.

"Well,. that'll be the first then," he said, as he covered the table in a cloth. A black cloth embroidered with silver.

Laying the Tangela on the table. Butch drew out a silver dagger. Its blade had been forged in the fires of Mount Celeste, which gave it extreme power. In one quick slice, he brought the blade down and into the sleeping grass
Pokemon. Its blood trickled out, staining the cloth. And he began to chant�

*

The moon turned red. (This happens during eclipses apparently).

Beneath the ground, the chick felt itself grow, as the power of the darkness dripped down into it, it threw back its head and screamed (like a loon!).

*

The powerful pokemon stirred within it's egg.

It could feel the darkness closing in, and it didn't like what it felt.

It knew that it was time, time for the final battle. The battle that had been building since the creation of the universe.

The battle, between life, and death.

The group walked towards the lake, all with absolutely no control over their bodies.

Even's mind stirred.

He had been completely unconscious for about an hour.

He saw, in his mind's eye, what was happening around him, and he knew that he must stop it.

He reached out with his mind, unable as he was to use his body.

He reached the minds of the others, and willed their awareness back.

He helped them form a link of minds, and then focused all their power.

They all used their will, their force of mind, and attempted to break the control on just one body.

Finally, Even regained control over his body, and began saving the others, just as they were about to plunge into the lake.

He used his power to break the hold on their bodies.

Then, they gathered together, preparing for the final battle.

{Everyone!} Even said telepathically, to all that would listen, {The time for battle is close at hand! We must prepare for the fight! If we are not prepared, we shall perish!}

The little Otachi, named Otaku, came up to Even, and, speaking in a voice very unlike his own, normal chitter, said, "Even, I don't know how I can help, but whatever I can do, I'll be glad to do it. Who is
with me?!"

Ko and Boneyard stepped forward, "If it weren't for you," Ko said, "I would never have found Boneyard. I shall gladly accept your command."

"As shall I." Boneyard said.

Next, the two humans, Blue and Red, stepped forward, "You are only a Pokemon," Blue said, "but I owe you my life. And I would follow you to my doom, if need be."

"I knew not the power you had, when I first saw you." Red said, "But I now know, that you must be one of the most powerful there is. I will gladly help you."

Now, Ditan stepped forward, "I have never been accepted, in any society. But, you have made me your ally. And for that, I shall be glad to serve with you."

The others all agreed, in turn, and soon, Otaku spoke once again, "Then it is agreed. Even will be our commander!"

They all cheered.

*

Across the village a large golden shape materialised, its wings crackling with power. Static electricity crackled across the fur of any animal in the open, something decidedly disturbing to the proud persians about to fight.

The great Electric bird was ready, having been called from the heavens by the oncoming eclipse.

*

Ivory opened her eyes about halfway. Oddly enough, they were violet this time. She could barely move. In fact, she couldn't move at all, without pain.

Across the village a large golden shape materialised, its wings crackling with power. Static electricity crackled across the fur of any animal in the open, something decidedly disturbing to the proud persians about to fight.

The great Electric bird hovered above her.

Ivory's half closed eyes opened fully when she saw the Zapdos. She spoke but three words.

"It is time." With that, somehow, she got up and walked off, her eyes ablaze once more. She shook her head, and as she did, ripples of colour reached down from her eyes, turning her fur yellow and red. She walked off, calmly.

Ivory's now red eyes gleamed. She started running, running towards the lake, crashing into a few humans here and there. She could sense it. The final showdown was getting closer, and Ivory was going to fight with all of the old
and new strength that she had.

*

Across the top of Mt Celeste, a bright shape appeared, sparks leaping from its feathers.

And from the north, where the air was cold, a great blue shape appeared. It hovered across the waters, lights flickering across its body like the fabled aurora borealis.

*

The moon grew darker as the eclipse began.

The dark chick sensed this and stirred, becoming alert. Shadows crackled across his wings in ripples of darkness, pure darkness.

*

Even watched as the great birds gathered over the lake, and when the waves came, he shielded everyone with a psychic Barrier.

{Oh, great Birds of Power!} He said, {The Dark One, Darkius, will soon awaken! If Darkius is not defeated, all shall be lost! Powerful ones! I implore you! Fight by our side!}

*

Butch wiped the blade clean on the black cloth, still chanting and drew out the cage that held Slick. The water Pokemon was awake, but groggy and made a desperate attempt to flee before he grabbed it and pushed it against the table, killing it as quickly as he had the Tangela.

*

And darkius grew stronger.

*

Blueberry was now wide awake.

"We've got to do something!" She said, sounding desperate. "Or nasty- bad things will take over the world. You'll help me Mr Slywuud won't you please? We have to find Goldy. She's important!"

"Goldy? The Golduck? Now? Why, what is happening?" Slywuud asked curiously. Was it possible something major WAS going on, and he'd actually missed it? Or, more probably, the stupid berry-for-brains was all confused. Well, best not to think such thoughts. Slywuud concentrated itself off of it. "What is so urgent?"

"Many bad things happen!" Blueberry exclaimed, "great big nasty-bad bird-thing come out from under the ground and bring doom and not good stuff with it. Only Goldy know how to stop it, but she disappear, go off somewhere in woods and not come back and I'm frightened, I'm frightened Twiggy, please, I know you good person, make sure you help me!"

Slywuud looked down gravely. "Mmm..." It kept himself from laughing. The creature might well be scared of a swooping Pidgey. But this was a prime case to prove loyalty. Sly looked up. "Right. Then let's go. We can leave the others here sleeping, they'll be of no use in the morning if they don't rest." he hopped over to the door and opening, gesturing towards the steps leading out of its tree home.

*

Shori, who was resting against a tree, heard Blueberry and comes over the her. "Whats the matter?" He asked. "If there is, I'll help"

Blueberry was in an agitated state, and when the newcomer offered to help she turned on him.

"Big trouble's coming," she said, "nasty big badthings coming from the sky and nothing will ever be the same again. We've gotta find Goldy, Goldy can help us."

Suddenly a flash appeared in the night sky and Goldy and a brightly coloured Caterpie appeared beside them.

Goldy staggered and almost fell over, Blueberry rushed to her side. "Are you okay Mrs Goldy? What's happening?"

"I feel faint," she replied, and glanced at Slywuud and the Dratini, "I am Goldy, and who might you folks be?" She staggered and leaned heavily on a tree.

"I'm Shori, and I want to help" He answers, the slinks to Goldy. " You ok, miss?" He has never been this close to a golduck, but this one seems nice.

"I just got injured," Goldy replied, "but Even helped me, and then ran off, I don't suppose you've seen him, have you? Big, purple, flowing black mane?"

Slywuud shook it's "head" and said quietly, "No..."

"I might have, but I don't remember" He confessed. But how was she injured, he couldn't help wondering. "Excuse me, I don't want to annoy you but how did you get hurt. You don't need to tell me if you don't want to"

*I don't suppose someone can explain to me what this horrible creature is?* Piper asked, telepathically. *I'm a little lost here. After all, I'm just a little Caterpie.*

"I was shot by humans," Goldy stated. "Look, the humans are planning to raise a great powerful bird of Darkness, called Darkius, and unleash him on the world. To do this, they've been capturing poor innocent Pokemon of
various types and intend to sacrifice them during the solar eclipse." She glanced upwards. "Which gives us perhaps ten, twenty minutes! Now, we can just assume they have all the sacrifices they need and are being unchallenged as of yet, so we must do something to stop it."

She glanced at Piper and the Dratini, hoping they understood.

*Oooo my!* Piper stammered, shuddering at the thought. *I don't know what a little Caterpie like me can do, but I will help!*

"I understand" Shori replied. "We�ve got to go now" He said bravely. "Where are they going to be?" His emerald jewel glowed.

"Even ran off chasing the people who kidnapped Spirit, he's a Kadabra and was the psychic type they needed. Look, if they don't get the sacrifices, the bird will still rise, but it won't be nearly as powerful, and therefore
we can probably beat it."

"...what? Darkius. Then we have no choice, we must go now!" Slywuud said, speaking up. "Oh sorry, my name is Slywuud, but no time for pleasentries...Golduck, what is the way?"

Shori looked at his jewel. "huh?" Looked at the bird. "NO! When it glows it means trouble might be coming!"

"Yes, we must know!" Shori agreed with Slywuud. "I must help"

Suddenly the air sparked again and Spirit, Surefire and a Sandshrew tumbled to the ground.

"Ouch, that smarted!" Sprit cursed. "I'm getting too old for this kind of thing!" He glanced around. "Where's young Even?"

*

Tachiuy and Achikochi were still snoozing, Tachiguy awoke and saw that Sly n Blueberry where nowhere to be seen...."Whats up with that?" he thought.

"Achikochi...hey, miss?" he said tapping the Nidoran, which stirred.

"Not a..wah...ok." she mumbled dozing again.

"Oh maan!" said Tachiguy sweatdropping. "Please, there may be trouble, wake up! Cmon!"

The nidoran came awake slowly and looked at Tachiguy. "Morning." she yawned smiling, it was nice to see a friendly face when she awoke.

"The twig and Blueberry are gone, and the others seem dead asleep...we need to get out and find them. That twig is no good I tell ya."

"Well, he did drug the food." said Achikochi, then smiled at Tachiguy�s confusion. "What, you think I spent that long in a lab without learning a little about chemicals? That one, or a variant was used on me many times. I�m
used to it so that�s why I�m awake." she said stretching, a few sparks popping out of the wire. "Well Otachi, lets go," she said moving swiftly out the door and Tachiguy followed without question. They saw the group at the lake and both headed down. "Hallooo!" cried Tachiguy, seeing everyone was safe, or at least there.

*

The Jolteon protested strongly to being removed from its protected pen. It struggled furiously and darted away. Butch threw himself on it (he'd put on rubber gloves specially!) and dragged it back to the table, where it
continued to struggle, and bite. Pinning it down with one hand, his other hand went to the dagger a short distance away...

*

"Spirit, can you lead us to the place of sacrifice?" Goldy asked.

"I can try," he replied, "I can teleport some of you." He glanced at those assembled, "they need sacrifices, so I can't take fire or ground types, but anyone else want to offer?"

Tachiguy looked uncertain. "Maybe, but um, I�m sorta weak, and can�t do much and like.." he looked around, "I�m sure there are better choices, so if no-one else better will then I can."

Usokki looked wary, but nodded. "I'm not ground-type...and I'm certainly not on fire. I will help."

"Very well, stand by my foot," Spirit looked at Tachiguy.

*Ooo, I'm just a small Caterpie, I'm not sure if I'll be of any use of all.* Piper's eyes watered. *I don't know any attacks except teleport and tackle.*

*No matter how small we are*, Spirit said to her telepathically, *we are all important. If you wish to join us, I shall be glad of your company. Teleport could be most useful!*

*Oh then I'd like to help!* Piper exclaimed. *I'll try my best to defeat the evil thing. I'm glad my teleport will come in handy. My friend Abra gave it to me when it....* Piper shook her head, obviously not continuing her story.
*No time for Piper's stories! I must help others!*

"Ok, ill come...if you will Achikochi?"

"I�m in." said the Nidoran, "I would like to help."

The two pokemon walked over to Spirit.

*Come along then* Spirit sent to her, reaching down one hand for the Caterpie to crawl onto. *My name is Spirit,* he informed her. *And I would love to hear your tales alter, for I was once an Abra too.*

"So, let's go," He glanced at Goldy. "You're water type, so best to stay away, besides, you should look after these two," he nodded at the sleeping fox and the Sandshrew, who was hugging himself and muttering "shrew shrew".

"I wanna help," Blueberry said, "but I shouldn't, should I? So I stay here an keep watch too!"

Collecting them all together, Spirit teleported back to the house.

*Oooo! Piper's scared!* Piper shivered. Glancing at Spirit, she asked *Now tell Piper what she should do or else she'll run!*

"Know how you feel caterpie..." said the Otachi as he huddled down...

They all appeared outside a little house in the woods.

"Now," Spirit said, "this is where the captives are being kept, we must go in, but we must not go int unprepared. If you get in trouble, come to me or Piper and we will teleport you away. Do not risk your own necks. And, Good
luck!"

And he charged into the hole in the wall.

Slywuud didn't say a thing, but stayed in the background still thinking...this was an unexpected turn ot events...best to take care of Darkius very quickly, or ally equally quickly..

*Oooo, Piper's scared!* Piper squealed. *But Piper has to save the other pokémon!* She teleported inside the building.

"Ooookaaaay!" said Tachiguy trying desperately to be brave, "I�m in lets go!" he charged to, and Achikochi followed.

"Mmm..." Slywuud murmured. Time for a quick rescue...it ran into the house with the others, then slipped into shadows while they weren't watching. It dug under the ground and broke the legs off the altar, sending it crashing away with the Pokemon on top. Sly snapped the binds, still hidden, and burrowed again. This time under Butch, it pushed the shoe up, careful of the shining steel of the dagger.

*

Butch looked up, having just plunged the blade into the body of Shrimpy. Blood coated his shirt and leather gloves. In the corner lay the still form of the ice fox. The Eeveelution screamed as it died, its blood-wrenching
scream echoing off the walls.

"Three down," he said, "and look who's here, the psychic fellow himself. If you would be so kind as to lay down on the slab."

"Kadabra!" Spirit shouted, waving his spoon, and Butch found himself unable to move. With the exertion, Spirit tumbled backwards with weariness. He had time for just one last thing...

Suddenly, behind the man, the silver fox awoke, his blue eyes glistening with pain and anger...

And something came up beneath Butch's feet, sending him tumbling backwards. Saffire pounced on him. "We must safe the bird!" He shrieked, diving at the Farfetch'd's cage, and knocking it over. He seemed almost delirious in his fevered excitement.

"It is too late," Butch said, "the bird has awoken and it is powerful. You feeble beasts cannot stop it!"

Piper sweat nervously as she waddled toward the fox. She sensed anger, but she didn't know why. *What's wrong?* she asked the fox, ever so innocently.

"They�re wrong!" The silver fox replied, "the humans are trying to destroy us. Trying to destroy everything. They killed that Upaa, that Tangela, that poor Jolteon, and why? For power, that's why!"

"Right." said Tachiguy, seeing the powerful disable attack take place on Butch he charged and leapt, swiping the man�s hand with his small but sharp claws, it moved the fixed fingers and the knife fell onto the floor, Tachiguy
smacked the hilt with his tail, knocking it under a bench.

Achikochi screamed in rage at the hated human, and ran forward, plunging her horn into the man�s calf muscle and releasing venom.

*Those humans need a lesson!* Piper said defiantly. *Piper will teach it to them!*

She teleported next to Butch and used her tackle on him.

*

Above the lake the three birds gathered - ice, electric and fire, their feathers sparking, glittering or flaming. They waited.

And suddenly the waters parted (watch out everyone on the shore!) and huge waves swept from one side of the lake to the other, sending tidal waves crashing onto the shores (and right towards Even's group, with any luck!).

Zapdos sparked, electricity from its wings arching along the water.

*

And from the turbulent waters rose a great dark form, its cruel hooked beak and glowing red eyes glinting in the darkness.

And above it the moon shone blood-red.

The Birds of Power moved back, crying in their anger. They were here not to welcome, but to prevent, and they had been called by the eclipse.

Darkius flapped his wings and suddenly all psychic barriers crumbled, as darkness took over. Suddenly all the stars seemed to vanish.

Zapdos dived in and sent a massive thunderbolt at the dark bird, it sparked across the water.

*

Butch staggered backwards, screaming in pain, unable to save himself. "Darkius, help me!" He shouted.

*

The great bird heard his pleas, but ignored them, for he had not completed the ritual, and he was not bound to this human.

*

Cassidy approached the lake shore in time to see the huge electrifying waves coming towards her. She screamed and ran away from them, her mission forgotten.

It was too late.

*

Tachiguy growled. "this guy ain�t killing anything now..." he said as he saw Butch start to sweat from the venom. He immediately set about helping free the remaining captives

The bird flew out of the shattered glass.

"Wuss up, wuzz up? Wot ya doin'? Why we ere?"

It did not seem very bright, but it was, after all, a Farfetch'd.

Suddenly the house shook (delayed stress, hehe?) and Butch, screaming rolled around on the floor as the poison took hold of his nervous system.

Saffire glanced at them wildly, "where's Surefire?" He asked, sounding urgent.

"I dont know." said Tachiguy comforting Achikochi, who looked sad and sorta angry to. "We hafta get outa here...is it done? Have we won? Is Spirit OK?"

*

Blue, Red, Ko, Boneyard, Otaku, Ditan, and Even all appeared at the opposite shore.

Boneyard was first to strike, throwing his bone in a Bonemerang attack.

Then, to back him up, Ko used a Psychic attack.

And they were all bowled over by the tidal wave (and possibly electrocuted too).

Darkius soared upwards, his feathers crackling with static from the attack of the Zapdos, but he was far from out of the action! He was young, he was strong.

Moltres sent a turret of fire directly at the dark bird, who dived out of the way, sending tendrils of glowing darkness in every direction.

The smell of burning feathers filled the air.

The flame hit the water on what had once been the shore sending a volley of steam into the air and some of the
flames shot through Even's mob.

Suddenly, a strange mood seemed to permeate the air, a perpetual gloominess.

Even prepared to use his power, while Ko and Boneyard kept up their barrage.

Meanwhile, Ditan attempted to get a lock on Darkius's DNA, so as to fight it, but he couldn't get at only it, since the birds were moving around so fast.

Otaku, attempting to overcome his fear, was suddenly gripped by an overwhelming sense of depression.

Then, it struck them all, with the exception of Even, who had put up several Barriers.

Articuno now took its turn at attacking Darkius, sending an ice storm at it. Suddenly it began to snow. The temperature dropped by several, many degrees.

Goldy tried to grab the Sandshrew as the waves started rising higher. "Run Blueberry!" She shouted, making a break for higher ground. Blueberry struggled to keep up, her short little Marril legs pumping away.

"Water no hurt me!" She shouted.

"Maybe not!" Goldy panted, "but electricity will!"

She dropped the Sandshrew up on higher ground, in the branches of a tree. It should be safe there, and then turned around, to see little Blueberry struggling for shore in the every increasing waters. WIthout thinking of the risks, she dived in, stroking towards the little creature and throwing her to shore just as the thunderwave hit.

Pain, exquisite agony.

It felt like she was being torn apart from the inside out.

And everything went dark.

*

Blue and Red, finally joining in the battle, each got out a Pidgeotto they had caught earlier, and flew up to meet the Dark Bird head on.

Darkius barely took notice of them, and kept battling the others.

Blue took this chance to dive onto the Darkius' back, driving his hunting knife into the bird.

Red took out a pokeball, and slammed it down on the bird, hoping to gain some time for his friends as the bird was momentarily sucked into it, though it could never be caught.

The ball burst in an explosion of shadows. But the bird was distracted�

The momentary loss of cohesion from Darkius sent Blue plummeting towards the water below. He summoned his Pidgeotto, and came back up to meet the Dark Bird.

Otaku finally summoned his courage, and dove at the Bird of Darkness.

He bit the Bird and gouged at it's eye, before he fell back to the ground, where Ditan caught him.

Darkius screamed in rage and pain, twisting to the side, and flapping above the land. The Moltres took the chance to blast some more fire at him, singing the feathers across his back and any passengers.

Suddenly the bird of shadows seemed to evaporate into shadows.

Red watches as Blue is burned in the flames, and screams in rage. Then, as the Bird disappears, he thinks that they have triumphed.

*

Ivory's eyes blazed and she started to run. The lull had arrived. The rest of the storm was yet to come, and she needed to be there for it. Ivory hissed in answer to the call of the birds. She was ready. Now was the time.

Ivory tensed up, even as she was running. The bird's call was getting stronger. She frizzed up, and bared her claws. They did not break when she put all her weight on them. They were black now, blacker than night itself.

Shoo looked around and started after Ivory. "Wait for me!"

Ivory listened to the birds. They told her that...she wasn't Ivory now. She was Blackclaw. And she had to help.

"Where'd she go? Where'd she go?" Shoo panted as he raced towards the lake, trying to find Ivory. The sky didn't look right..

Ivory (now Blackclaw) noticed a tidal wave. She was nearing the lake. This birds were there. And not only could she see them, she could feel them, their power, their very essence. And they knew.... Darkius was not yet beaten.

She knew, KNEW this. Lives would be lost. The only thing they could do was to defeat Darkius before too many lost their lives. And she, while not the one to stop him, would do more than a little in the final battle, against
Darkius, for the world.

*

"No, Goldy?" Blueberry shrieked from the shores of the lake where she lay caught in the branches of a partly submerged tree. She watched the form of her friend spasm as the electricity passed through her and then float limply on the surface. "Goldy!" Staring at the waters which crackled with electricity, she was too frightened to make a move to help.

A snowflake drifted down, catching in her ear, but she was too distracted and upset to notice its beauty.

*

Suddenly the golden electric bird careened wildly and hit the water surface with an explosion of water that once again drowned the shore. Another blast of electricity in the Zapdos's death throes jarred through the water.

Darkius materialised, right behind Even, the force of his speed crashing right through the barrier as though it were non-existent. Even was sent tumbling into the lake (ready to be electrocuted by the badly wounded zapdos) and Darkius banked upright, dark shadows falling from his wings and raining on those below. Suddenly he pulled sharply away and hovered over the black-pawed Meowth.

"So, the time has come," he squawked and his voice struck fear into the hearts of all those that heard it.

*

The moltres, which had been weakened by Sly's darkness attack, almost struck the water (Sending up a turret of steam) and banked away at the appopriate moment, flapping heavily into the air. Meanwhile, the Zapdos, which had been floundering, struggled free and returned to the air. It too seemed badly injured. In fact the only two not badly injured were the Articuno and Darkius and the latter was turning awkwardly, being blinded in one eye.
Unfortunately, this heightened its rage.

Ivory (Or Blackclaw) saw the predicament the birds were in. There wasn't much she could do to help, unless she put all her heart and soul into it.

The previous attacks on humans and pokemon that had an advantage over her had only been practices for this battle. Ivory saw Moltres fall from a beam. It was time to jump in-literally.

She jumped as high as she could. Still not high enough. She jumped again. And again, until she had reached the height she needed.

Darkius just happened to notice her, and at that exact moment, Ivory clawed the air. But it was not a futile move. From where she had clawed, a bright red light glowed, surrounding that area. She clawed it again, with the same
results happening.

She kept doing this for a time, and soon it seemed that Darkius' good eye was being blinded, which gave an opportunity to the birds. She jumped one final time, giving a defiant screech which lowered Darkius' defence. Too bad it did everyone else's, too.

*

Slywuud watched the events, still hiding. It was time to prove its loyalty...those huge birds couldn't be controlled by its likes. Not yet. For now, a sacrifice...Sly crafted a stick perfectly proportioned to itself.

Time to go. It scampered along towards the shore, feeling itself slow down as a light frost covered it. It resisted hard, trying to avoid the sparks flying, flames firing all around, snow falling, and tentacles of silvery darkness that brought a darkness of its own kind to Sly's heart. The frost in particular weakened Slywuud, but it couldn't give up yet. It came close to shore, making sure to stay away from the broiling, frothing, steaming, freezing water. Sly positioned itself, ducking below a leaf to avoid snowflakes and moving to new leaves whenever a flame ball sent it apart.

Resisting mightily the imposing waves by switching from personality to personality whenever one fell to despair, Slywuud took aim and studied the bird. This was it...This was it! Sly aimed, and fired a tendril of darkness
from itself.

Sly was almost overtaken by the dark forces, and was sent flying through the air, ramming into some human and spinning into a tree. Badly hurt, Sly barely managed to dodge a spark of lightning while seeing the tendril miss Darkius and whip into one of the other huge birds: a flaming one. Well, that was one bird down, hopefully. Just a few more...Slywuud stood up, barely, and started using Mimic on the electric one's powers...

*

By now Shori's jewel was glowing like mad. He narrowed his eyes. " STOP HURTING MY FRIENDS" He yelled and dove into the electric water. He was moving fast, he was so worried about everybody else he did not notice shocks brushing his body. He dove to the bottom and looked up. He felt a wave of pain, but he didn't want to be slowed down. He charged up, he used his tail and Zapdos floated away. But that didn't stop him at all, he charged upward. He broke though the water. The huge spray of water, mixed with the cold air of Articuno�s snowstorm, made a huge mist. The mist blurred everthing. Shori thought fast. He didn't realize that his jewel began to form a beam. It shot out. The lighted beam cut though the mist. All could see it as it soared for Darkius. All except the Birds Of Power saw the beam. Moltres moved in front of the beam and it slammed into his back. It cried a hourse sound then it fell on Articuno.


*

Darkius howled in pain, banking sharply and almost crashing into the ground. Tendrils of darkness, almost like shadows, leapt from his feathers and seized the black cat Pokemon.

"I may be blinded, but I can still drain your life!" He shrieked

*

Shori fell back into the water, half-fainted. The water shocked him until he was near death. He managed to slink to the shore. He had to help. "Even on can make a difference.....even Shori" He told himself. He bit into a herb.
It healed him. " I'm gonna stand and fight till da end! I must save my friends, I must!" Shori yelled

*

The two birds toppled into the water and were promptly electrocuted. Floundering vainly, they both struggled for shore, the Moltres nearly dead from the water. It collapsed on the bank in a pillar of flame and exploded,
taking out part of the forest as its burning feathers rained down.

The articuno flapped upwards, water and snow cascading from its feathers and onto the burning trees. It wheeled around and flew straight towards the crippled Darkius.

*

Shoo finally came upon someone, the Marril. No Ivory, though. "Hello," he said, gasping for breath, "what's going on??" He nervously licked his front paw as he watched whatever was going on in the air above them.

Blueberry was sobbing.

"Miss Goldy is deaded," she said, pointing across the waters. "And I can't help her cos I'm too frightened and the birds are getting beaten and everything's so terrible!"

"Goldy's... dead?" Shoo shuddered. "Miss Marril.. What can I do?"

"I don't know," Blueberry whimpered. "I don't know nothing, �cept that I'm real scared."

Beside them a Moltres struggled up to the shore, then exploded in a shower of sparks. Blueberry screamed and quickly water-gunned around her to put out the flames.

*

Shori looked toward Ivory. He narrowed his eyes. He noticed his jewel glowing again. Darkius was attacking Ivory at the time. Shori gained control and shot his beam again. This time, no birds could get in the way.

The beam struck the blinded dark Pokemon fill in the side and he lurched heavily, almost crashing into the foaming waters. For a moment, Ivory was dunked under the water before the great bird managed to draw himself up.

The Articuno shot a beam of ice at the dark bird, just as the beam from the Dratini hit it, and its lurch meant the ice beam missed, shooting over its dark feathers and towards Shori himself.

Shori�s eyes widened. The Ice Beam hit him against a tree. "TINI" He yelled. It has been a long time since he has said that. He lay against a tree, half-dead. Trying to call for help he shot one beam towards the sky. He used it as a flare.

*

Even felt the electricity course through his body, sending waves of burning pain throughout him.

He knew that his time in this life was about to end, when he suddenly felt something grab a hold on him.

He could not see, as the electricity had blinded him, possibly for good, but he could smell the scent. It was Him.

'Go, Even. Fight. For the forest, for the world, for me. Darkius was summoned by my killers, now you must defeat him.' He said.

Then, he was gone.

Even, blinded as he was, reached out with his awareness, creating a mental picture of the scene.

He saw that Blue was no longer there, and that Red was attacking Darkius with a-

'What is that?' Even thought, 'It looks to be some sort of weapon, making loud booming noises.'

*

After draining some of Ivory's life force, Darkius felt much stronger and dropped her in the foaming waters. His vision was not restored, but his senses were still good. Suddenly a loud thundercrack roared out across the
waters and he felt a stinging pain in his leg.

"Yargggg!" He screamed, lowering everyone's defense and scaring anyone of weak constitution. His wings flapped and the waters began to rise in a geyser.

*

Shori became angry. He was hurt, but he was mad. I shot beams repeatedly at Darkius. Then he charged at It, He wraped around it and bit into it, determaned to make him fall. He shot one more beam and dove back in the
water, being shocked. Then he came to shore and stared at Darkius.

*

A fizzling snap of electricity left Achikochi wondering where she was exactly. She looked around trying to remember.

Spirit tried to collect them up together, the Nidoran, the Otachi, the Caterpie and Saffire.

"All of you, the greater danger has been released, now we have two choices, we can fight or we can run and hide. Since this is my home, I intend to fight, but Darkius will not be easily beaten. The Birds of Power have gathered to destroy him, but the battle may damage us as surely as it will damage them. So who's with me?"

" It can tell when danger will strike" Shori answered. "If it glows, something bad will happen" He looks up at his jewel. It was still dim. He grinned

Achikochi shook off her confusion. "I am with you all the way. These worthless humans will not ruin another world!' She kicked Butch.

"I don't know what might happen to me with this device in my body, but I can still hold my own"

*

(Team Rocket Headquarters)

"Let's go!" Saffire shouted and dived through the hole in the wall. The now disturbed him not in the slightest.

But the forest was on fire, tongues of red licked the sky around them, however, the snow made the trees soggy and was acting to extinguish the fire in most places, but still, patches of it remained. Saffire was by nature a fire-type, but he did not feel comfortable around wild fire, Surefire was another thing entirely of course! He couldn't let her face the danger alone, he ran for the lake shore.

*

Piper was nervous. She didn't seem to have any affect on Butch. Then Spirit was there, carrying her away. *Oh, Piper doesn't know what to do now!* she stammered, flustered.

Outside the trees were burning.

*Oh, Piper can't help the poor trees* she cried. *She's not a water pokémon!*

Then, looking around she asked, *Is anyone there? Where is Goldy?*

Saffire paused and turned his vulpine head.

"Hello there little one, do you want assistance? I'm seeking a Vulpix and you can come with me if you like."

Piper brightened up, her purple eyes shone. *Okay!*

*

Achikochi bristled with anger at the destruction she beheld. Fire, ice and electricity were in chaos. Darkness ebbed, trying to claim all it could. The wires on her body sparked. A line of electricity completed the circut and welded them toether. Achikochi's spines stood on end. Something familliar was going to happen.

It was happening to her all over again. It was the same as what had happened in the lab. All the exposures to heat, water and electricity she had experienced before were amplified.

The throbbing was deep inside of her. Energy was building faster. Achikochi's eyes glowed with power unknown to Nidorans. The device was responsible.

Achikochi focused on the dark bird. Her ears began to twitch.... Left right left right...... the sound was the same as before...but much louder: TCH TCH TCH TCH TCH TCH ...

Her focus was on the great Black Bird.... she could smell it's evil. TCH TCH TCH TCH TCH.. the energy swelled around her, drawn from the energies that were destroying the forest. Her wiskers twitched..... her horn pointed at the dark bird of Power..... "Darkius" She meditated in a whisper.

Tachiguy took a step back..his fur was standing on end...and seemed to be pointing towards the Nidoran, as if drawn by static electricity. The sounds of battle faded all around him, and all he heard was the tch tch tch tch tch.......

Thye nidoran whispered "Daaaaaaaaarrrrrkuuuuusssssss" and the glow spread from her eyes, to her horn, but didnt stop there, the g;low covered her body, and began to pulsate becoming ever brighter...


*

Piper turned to Saffire with urgent eyes. *Oooo, Piper senses that Surefire isn't all that well!* she exclaimed. *Although her thoughts aren't coming to me clearly. Piper doesn't know where she is!*

Saffire became worried. "Can you find her?" He asked, the urgency in his voice. Around them the snow fell harder. The electricity had all but stopped and the fires were being doused.

Piper composed herself. *I'll try to find her* she answered. *But brrrr! I'm cold! Here, close your eyes and I'll teleport us back to the headquarters!*

*

Even could feel the power growing in the air, as the Nidoran used what seemed to be a Metronome attack.

Meanwhile, Otaku jumped onto Darkius' back, and started clawing at it.

The bird payed little mind to the Otachi, and threw an attack out, at any who would stand in it's way.

Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos, all prepared an attack.

Even used his strongest Psychic attack.

Ko leaped at Darkius, using a special Fighting/Water/Psychic move, Aqua Psy-kick.

Boneyard threw his bone at Darkius, having a clear shot this time.

And Otaku summed up all his power, for his most powerful attack yet.

The sparks flickered across Achikochi's fur and her wires and suddenly something strange happened. The waves, which were rising around the dark bird, seemed to rise up and consume it, dragging it into the water. Darkius screamed and the Nidoran female screamed in unison, falling to the floor with the pain of the powerful attack.

The water's throbbed and pulsated and the badly injured Zapdos electrofied them one last time, before collapsing into them.

Suddenly, all seemed calm.

*

"Achikochi..." said Tachiguy, slowly walking over, "Are you ok?" the quiet seemed to swell and become a tangible substance, "Achi?"

Shori looked at Darkius. He came closer. " I think it's dead" Shori said, waiting for it to be confirmed

The great bird of darkness spasmed in the waters as it was electrified, it was in a very bad state.

It flapped its wings, casting one final attack, it took all the darkest emotions in all bodies present and sudden dumped them into the pokemon's consciousness.

Articuno, still with some energy left in it, shot a beam of ice across it, freezing the water.

Suddenly Shori began to cry. One by one, is deep emotions came into his head.

Slywuud spun through the air and shot off all it's power in a huge electric burst at Articuno. Then, spent, it fell to the ground and lay there. Snow speckled it, and dark thoughts emanated like cracks through his mind, surging
forth in a huge psychic earthquake. He concentrated on his sanity, and on slowly creeping away from the frothing waters.

Piper was at the Team Rocket Headquarters where she felt an uncontrollable anger taking over her. *WHY AM I SO ANGRY?* she shouted, her purple eyes flashing. She turned to Saffire.

Tachiguy yelled at the pokemon "HEY! A LITTLE HELP?" he was standing next to the motionless Achikochi.

Ko, emotionless as she was, broke down in tears.

Boneyard, normally very serious, did the same.

Even, no longer wishing to hold back, sobbed uncontrollably.

Otaku merely stood, too overcome by shock to do much of anything. (Though any onlookers would have seen what they thought to be a warrior, uncontrolled by emotions.)

Darkius crawled up onto the shore near the place where Slywuud was standing. There was one thing it could do, one last effort to save itself and escape from here alive continuing in its devastastion of the world.

Its tentacles snaked out and grabbed the nearest living thing, which happened to be the twig Pokemon...

*

Shori looked up. His emotion came in. He slithered to Tachiguy." What do you need help with" He sniffed.

Then he turned toward Darkius. He had to help. He shot a beam at Darkius. " Stop it!" He yelled

*

Slywuud felt itself sinking in a pool of boiling water...breaking apart...breaking apart...water dribbled down upon him slowly...melting into...NO! Slywuud awoke from the nightmare with a start. It dragged it's tail from the seeping, smoking water and onto a tree limb, avoiding a flake of snow. It was all coming down to...Slywuud shook its head, and looked at the scene. Or more precisely, at the talons of the dark bird closing around it...it had only enough time to set in the fake claw, then sheer, unimaginable pain followed...

*

"Achikochi isnt...well, she�s very still and um..." his bottom lip quivered as he looked at the Nidoran.

"dead" Shori finished Tachiguy's sentence. " I don't think so" He replied. " Just in shock." He said, but his voice wasn't convincing.

"Don�t say she�s dead, you�re right, it�s shock." said Tachiguy, covering the Nidoran with his tail to guard off the cold. "But what can I do to help?" he looked around and remembered the house, it was at least warmer there..."Piper? Spirit? Could one of you two teleport me and Achikoch back to the house?" he yelled.

Spirit stepped forward. "I'll do my best," he replied, "but I'm not feeling my best." Stooping over he gingerly picked up the unconscious nidoran and held her like a baby. Putting the other hand on Tachiguy, he teleported them back to the house, where the Farfeth'd was still flying in circles muttering to itself.

Shori slither to Goldy. He look at the body. " Why" He asked. He wasn't sure, but the body looked dead.

Piper's anger left her, and she received a telepathic message from Tachiguy. *Oooo! I'm on it, Tachiguy!* She went back to where Tachiguy and the Niroran were.

*Oooo, she doesn't look so well.... here, close your eyes and we'll be there!*

*

In the special shrine, the precious egg cracked open and a small chick emerged. "Meep," it peeped. Its feathers shimmered all the colours of the rainbow.

*

Slywuud felt itself fading...a twig flew through the air. The twig had a face, strangely enough. Some might call it Slywuud...it landed in the ground, an inch from a Golduck named Goldy's face. It wasn't moving anymore. Once
it might have, but not now. The petrified thing broke in two, and a piece fell to the ground. The other piece remained. The face on the twig faded slightly, and then moved no more.

"No!!!" Blueberry shrieked, using too many exclamation marks. "Not Mr Twiggy too!" She sad beside the body of the Golduck and the remains of the twig Pokemon. And she began sobbing uncontrollably.

*

Darkius felt invigorated, not great, but a little better. He spread his wings and released the now practically useless twig, he had all the energy he needed, he tossed it aside casually and rose upwards. These puny pokemon
were starting to get on his nerves. He flew upward, the other birds were too badly injured to effect him, he was free!

And suddenly the lake cracked open again (those poor buried caverns!) and another bird burst through. Its feathers glistened with all the colours of the rainbow. It flew up to meet Darkius.

The two birds flew towards each other, one as dark as the shadows, the other as bright as day itself, and the two of them flew upwards, in tandem, to explode in a glory of colours, which showered around like fireworks. The
two were together again, somewhere.

**************

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