Chapter 58 – Evacuation

Mandi began struggling and screaming. She fired a Shadow Chill at Phelim and Forrest. Forrest pushed them both to the ground, dodging the attack – barely – but causing the attack to hit the ground and freeze over the crystalline ground. Phelim and Forrest slid away from the group, unable to find a grip on the surface. “Arrrggghhh!” Forrest screamed.

With Aries and Kali holding Mandi, Tanner and Autumn, thinking in unison, ran after their friends. As he ran, Autumn removed his leather jacket.

Just as Phelim and Forrest were about to slide over the edge, Tanner threw himself forward and grabbed an ankle cuff of Phelim's trousers. Autumn threw his jacket in front of him, holding onto one end, as Forrest got a grip on the other end.

For a few seconds they hung there. Autumn was holding his own by pressing against a rock jutting up from the edge of the crevasse, while Tanner was on his stomach, his head and arms hanging over the edge. Forrest desperately held onto the leather jacket, while Phelim hung upside down.

I'm really glad I've got a belt on, Phelim thought. Falling to my death without any trousers on would be a really embarrassing way to go.

“Phelim!” Forrest called.

“Yeah?”

“If you die, can I have your bedroom?”

“What?” Phelim stared up at Forrest, then shrugged. “Sure.”

“Gro....” Autumn rolled his eyes.

“Hey, speak for yourself!” Forrest snapped at his rescuer. “I'm not the one wearing a leather jacket!”

“Grovyle, vyle, vyle, gro.”

“What do you mean, I need to lose weight!”

“Vyyyyyyle, grovyle.”

“I am not heavy!”

The leather jacket began tearing.

“Gro?”

“Still not heavy!”

“Enough!” Tanner shouted. “Autumn, just pull him up.”

Autumn sighed and began pulling on the jacket, managing to lift Forrest up over the edge. The two of them then grabbed Tanner's legs and pulled, helping him pull Phelim back up onto the ground.

“Thanks for that,” Phelim winced, straightening his back.

“Anytime.” Tanner looked back at Aries and Kali.

Just after she had attacked Phelim and Forrest, a black aura began enveloping the Charmander. “She's regressing to her shadow self,” Aries muttered. “Sorry about this.” He pressed an autoinjector against her scales, and a few seconds later she fell unconscious. “Revalanin,” he told Kali. “Instantly drains all hit points. The opposite of a Full Restore, I suppose.” He pressed the Friend Ball against Mandi, and she glowed white, dematerialising as she moved into the Pokéball.

“Here,” Aries handed the Friend Ball to Kali. “We'll treat her as soon as we can, but she'll hold out longer in there.”

They stood up and looked up at the sky. It was indeed a mind-blowing sight. Nasier was glaring at the creature in the air above him, which dwarfed the Garchomp. “Kali, may I present Lugia, the Guardian of the Sea,” Phelim grinned.

Kali whacked him on the back of the head. “Ow! What was that for?”

“I know who he is,” Kali snapped. “Now we should get out of here. I'm not one for retreating, but we'll only get in the way here.”

“I'm staying.”

Kali paused, glancing at Phelim. “What?” She'd thought that her brother would jump at the chance to get to safety.

“I want to see how this turns out,” Phelim admitted.

Tanner cleared his throat. “I'm staying as well. But my three Pokémon should get treatment.”

Kali threw her arms in the air. “A good possibility of getting killed, and you want to stay? You're idiots, both of you.” She pointed at Aries. “Fine. You're coming with me to Saffron Pokémon Centre, to get our Pokémon treated.”

“Injuries like these are too extensive for a Pokémon Centre,” Aries told her. “We'll need a hospital.”

“Then we'll go to Saffron Hospital.”

“We can't.”

“Why not?”

“It's been partially destroyed.”

“What?” Kali paused and looked at Forrest. “Were you responsible?”

Forrest looked stunned. “What makes you think it was me?”

“I know you.”

Forrest scowled. “No, it wasn't me. It was Nasier.”

Kali eyed the Grovyle for a moment, then shrugged. “Fine. Where's the nearest hospital then?”

“The only other one in Kanto that treats Pokémon is in Viridian.”

“But that's on the other side of Kanto! What do you suggest we do, doctor? Walk?”

I'll get you there.

They turned, and saw Teranis getting to his feet. I'll get you there, he repeated.

Aries paused. “Thank you.” He glanced at his Pokémon, who stood behind him. They were unsteady on their feet, but they stood.

Aries was proud of them.

Ready?

Kali nodded.

Teranis closed his eyes and focused. At the same time, Aries, Typhoon, Volkov, Xius, Kali, Mandi, Jack, Stevie, Yellowstone, Autumn, Firecracker, Reesala, and Teranis himself began glowing white. A few seconds later, all thirteen of them dematerialised.

Phelim, Tanner, and Forrest looked up at the two Pokémon above them.

“One a legendary, the other a Shadow.” Tanner mused. “I honestly don't know how this will turn out.”

Phelim suddenly realised something and pulled a piece of tattered paper from his pocket. He began reading it.

“From the sky came three beings – one of rock, one of steel, and one of fire. They resembled their normal selves, but their power was amplified ten-fold. They battled together, each just as powerful as the other, none of them able to gain the advantage. For several days they battled, striking terror into the villagers below. And at the end of twelve days the Guardian of the Sea rose up to calm the three warriors but, unable to calm their hearts even with his Song, sent the three beings into their own world, where they can fight their war without harming others. The Guardian of the Sea established the Link to their world in the land known to humankind as Kanto, so that if tried to return he would be nearby to send them back.”

Suddenly, it all made sense.

From the sky came three beings – the Tri-Ancients.

one of rock – the Aerodactyl,

one of steel – the Skarmory,

and one of fire – the Charizard.

They resembled their normal selves, but their power was amplified ten-fold. Now Nasier has that energy in him.

They battled together, each just as powerful as the other, none of them able to gain the advantage. For several days they battled, striking terror into the villagers below. Balanced power, which Naiser now has. It makes it sound unstoppable.

And at the end of twelve days the Guardian of the Sea rose up to calm the three warriors but, unable to calm their hearts even with his Song, sent the three beings into their own world, where they can fight their war without harming others. Lugia sent them into the lining of the crystalline cave, where the world would be safe.

The Guardian of the Sea established the Link to their world in the land known to humankind as Kanto, so that if tried to return he would be nearby to send them back. But he was too late. He arrived after Nasier had absorbed their powers, so now he views Nasier as he viewed the Tri-Ancients. Something that has to be put away for the safety of others.

Phelim let go of the paper, and let it drift away on the wind. He knew that he was witnessing an important event, and he didn't want to miss it.

And if Lugia lost... then they were really in trouble. Because if a legendary couldn't stop Nasier, then who could?