Legend of the Exile
Chapter 24: Six Wraiths
Down, down from the cliffs of Lavender, the duo plunged into the sea. Though weary and battered, Sparktail tried to contain himself and not panic. The surface. He needed to get to the surface. Up and out from the heavy, numbing water. He couldn't forget Slick's swimming lessons now.
His head broke the surface of the sea, debris splashing down into the water around him. The sea stung his raw cheeks as he treaded water with paws and tail. Overhead, storm-clouds were forming, darkening. "Lute?" called the Raichu, unaware of the great shadow under him. "Where are you?"
Something pulsed from the sea's depths, prickling at his fur. Then Sparktail's heartbeat spiked as Kyogre rose up from beneath him, sweeping the mouse up onto his back. Yelping, the Raichu glanced back to see Lute clinging to the ancient leviathan's tail.
"Foolish of you both, leaping into danger wiithout caution," said Kyogre harshly, rising and falling on the waves as the shivering Raichu clung to his back, the longhorn Absol just as speechless. "Would you let your desires drown so quickly, in this tempest?"
Water dribbling out from his soaked fur, the Raichu looked down at his paws, avoiding the Leviathan's eyes. To think he'd been standing on the radio tower's deck, barely a minute ago. Icy droplets continued to fall around Kyogre as they cruised along the Kanto coast.
Climbing up onto Kyogre's back, Lute shook his head and glared at Sparktail. "What were you thinking?" he demanded. "Taking on Regigigas like that was suicidal. The three of us barely took down his underlings! What could possess you to attack him alone?"
The Raichu was taken aback. Kyria had needed to escape! It was supposed to be a diversion, not a disaster. But the words wouldn't come; he couldn't seem to speak. And thinking about it, it occured to him that he could have handled the situation much better. "He--he was an enemy," stammered Sparktail finally. "I'm sorry."
"You're both reckless," scolded Kyogre, his voice like a reverberating whisper, secretive and yet clear. "Many a skilled warrior can leap from step to step without forethought; but they honed their instincts to serve them. The two of you are driven by emotional impulse. Without caution, you will both stumble and topple."
Lute looked insulted; Sparktail flinched and closed his eyes. This wasn't what he wanted to hear--but Kyogre was right.
In the distance came the rolling peals of thunder as lightning flashed across the sky, the steady pitter of rain across the rocky cliffs. "You seek to free the King of Time," noted Kyogre, eyes tilting back to Sparktail. Apprehensively, Sparktail looked down at Elias's pendant--the Adamant Orb. "Yes, Elias served Dialga for many years. Do you intend to follow in his footsteps?"
"There's not a chance in hell of Sparktail succeeding," growled Lute. Sparktail flinched. "We've got those... ghosts roaming out there still. The moment we get anywhere near anywhere important, we'll get snatched away." Hexwraiths. The mental image of a Dusknoir grabbing Thalia returned, and Sparktail involuntarily shuddered.
"Yes... the Hexwraiths." The Leviathan's voice grew darker, harsher; his fins parted the choppy waves with more and more force. "The only path to Dialga is through the Hexwraiths.They serve him in madness, as they have for eons. Do you fear them now, after all you've faced?"
A memory came. Sparktail thought back to his childhood, to the days when Elias was mistaken for a criminal; he remembered the Dusknoir that came to capture Elias, along with Sparktail's friends River and Saffron. He still remembered seeing them vanish into the portal, kincking and screaming, after all these years.
Then, as they passed a jagged, rocky cape, Lute's eyes widened. Sparktail blinked; he, too, recognized the formation. Could it be? Were they already on their way to Fuschia, to the Hexwraiths' lair? "Destroy the Hexwraiths, and fear them no longer," urged the Leviathan, no longer a whisper, but an ominous rumble. "Prove your strength: prove your power: Overcome."
His head broke the surface of the sea, debris splashing down into the water around him. The sea stung his raw cheeks as he treaded water with paws and tail. Overhead, storm-clouds were forming, darkening. "Lute?" called the Raichu, unaware of the great shadow under him. "Where are you?"
Something pulsed from the sea's depths, prickling at his fur. Then Sparktail's heartbeat spiked as Kyogre rose up from beneath him, sweeping the mouse up onto his back. Yelping, the Raichu glanced back to see Lute clinging to the ancient leviathan's tail.
"Foolish of you both, leaping into danger wiithout caution," said Kyogre harshly, rising and falling on the waves as the shivering Raichu clung to his back, the longhorn Absol just as speechless. "Would you let your desires drown so quickly, in this tempest?"
Water dribbling out from his soaked fur, the Raichu looked down at his paws, avoiding the Leviathan's eyes. To think he'd been standing on the radio tower's deck, barely a minute ago. Icy droplets continued to fall around Kyogre as they cruised along the Kanto coast.
Climbing up onto Kyogre's back, Lute shook his head and glared at Sparktail. "What were you thinking?" he demanded. "Taking on Regigigas like that was suicidal. The three of us barely took down his underlings! What could possess you to attack him alone?"
The Raichu was taken aback. Kyria had needed to escape! It was supposed to be a diversion, not a disaster. But the words wouldn't come; he couldn't seem to speak. And thinking about it, it occured to him that he could have handled the situation much better. "He--he was an enemy," stammered Sparktail finally. "I'm sorry."
"You're both reckless," scolded Kyogre, his voice like a reverberating whisper, secretive and yet clear. "Many a skilled warrior can leap from step to step without forethought; but they honed their instincts to serve them. The two of you are driven by emotional impulse. Without caution, you will both stumble and topple."
Lute looked insulted; Sparktail flinched and closed his eyes. This wasn't what he wanted to hear--but Kyogre was right.
In the distance came the rolling peals of thunder as lightning flashed across the sky, the steady pitter of rain across the rocky cliffs. "You seek to free the King of Time," noted Kyogre, eyes tilting back to Sparktail. Apprehensively, Sparktail looked down at Elias's pendant--the Adamant Orb. "Yes, Elias served Dialga for many years. Do you intend to follow in his footsteps?"
"There's not a chance in hell of Sparktail succeeding," growled Lute. Sparktail flinched. "We've got those... ghosts roaming out there still. The moment we get anywhere near anywhere important, we'll get snatched away." Hexwraiths. The mental image of a Dusknoir grabbing Thalia returned, and Sparktail involuntarily shuddered.
"Yes... the Hexwraiths." The Leviathan's voice grew darker, harsher; his fins parted the choppy waves with more and more force. "The only path to Dialga is through the Hexwraiths.They serve him in madness, as they have for eons. Do you fear them now, after all you've faced?"
A memory came. Sparktail thought back to his childhood, to the days when Elias was mistaken for a criminal; he remembered the Dusknoir that came to capture Elias, along with Sparktail's friends River and Saffron. He still remembered seeing them vanish into the portal, kincking and screaming, after all these years.
Then, as they passed a jagged, rocky cape, Lute's eyes widened. Sparktail blinked; he, too, recognized the formation. Could it be? Were they already on their way to Fuschia, to the Hexwraiths' lair? "Destroy the Hexwraiths, and fear them no longer," urged the Leviathan, no longer a whisper, but an ominous rumble. "Prove your strength: prove your power: Overcome."
Trudging up the sandy beach, Lute and Sparktail entered the fallen city of Fuschia, staring down from a rubble-crowned hill. Rows of houses were torched and crushed in the attack Darkrai had led two months ago; the streets were littered with the bodies of humans and Pokemon, starved out by the Black Prince's siege.
At the end of the main road stood Pal Park's gate, a lonely, sunken building with cracked, filthy walls. "That's the crest of the Shadow Hexwraiths," breathed Lute as they approached, gesturing towards a hexagonal insignia crudely drawn above the entrance--a grim warning to all who dared pass through its entrance. "Looks like this is the right place."
Suddenly, they heard a rolling, foaming growl from Kyogre below. Sparktail and Lute whirled around to see a horde of Gastrodons approaching the wrecked beach, the leader carrying a Toxicroak upon its back. "Giratina's navy!" breathed the Raichu, his blood chilling. He could barely make out the Toxicroak's pale scars; was that the same one from the battle in Sinnoh's marshes?
"He's come after me," growled Lute, baring his teeth as the Toxicroak leapt down from the Gastrodon's back and came lumbering up the hill. There was a strange, manic gleam in the Absol's eyes. "You... you go on. Do what we came here to do. But this one is mine!"
Blinking, Sparktail stared as the Absol lowed his horn and charged at the Toxicroak. Then, the Raichu dove for cover as balls of thick mud flew from the Gastrodons, splattering across the ground around him. Snarling, Kyogre sank its teeth into a Gastrodon and tore its soft body apart as the others rammed into him. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Sparktail turned and dashed off down the road, into the gatehouse.
At the end of the main road stood Pal Park's gate, a lonely, sunken building with cracked, filthy walls. "That's the crest of the Shadow Hexwraiths," breathed Lute as they approached, gesturing towards a hexagonal insignia crudely drawn above the entrance--a grim warning to all who dared pass through its entrance. "Looks like this is the right place."
Suddenly, they heard a rolling, foaming growl from Kyogre below. Sparktail and Lute whirled around to see a horde of Gastrodons approaching the wrecked beach, the leader carrying a Toxicroak upon its back. "Giratina's navy!" breathed the Raichu, his blood chilling. He could barely make out the Toxicroak's pale scars; was that the same one from the battle in Sinnoh's marshes?
"He's come after me," growled Lute, baring his teeth as the Toxicroak leapt down from the Gastrodon's back and came lumbering up the hill. There was a strange, manic gleam in the Absol's eyes. "You... you go on. Do what we came here to do. But this one is mine!"
Blinking, Sparktail stared as the Absol lowed his horn and charged at the Toxicroak. Then, the Raichu dove for cover as balls of thick mud flew from the Gastrodons, splattering across the ground around him. Snarling, Kyogre sank its teeth into a Gastrodon and tore its soft body apart as the others rammed into him. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Sparktail turned and dashed off down the road, into the gatehouse.
He sprinted forward through the gates of Pal Park, clutching his sword in his teeth. As his paws sprinted over the cracked and tarnished floor tiles, Sparktail looked up into the great hole in the wall above him, the glass viewing panels stained dark and cracked.
He sprinted forth into Pal Park, his heart pounding as he looked around. As the Raichu reached the center of the open field, he could feel the eyes of the evil wraiths around him, the ones who had spirited off hundreds of innocents to this place, their killing grounds. The melancholy lament in the Aura sent eerie chills down his spine.
Crimson, glowing eyes flickered in and out of existence around Sparktail, who had his sword ready. Large, ethereal hands appeared and disappeared, reaching towards Sparktail and quickly drawing back, growing more solid each time. Sparktail slowly pivoted around with his sword still at his side, his eyes flickering to each of the Dusknoirs.
Electricity crackled and coursed through his veins, his entire body beginning to glow. And then, when it had reached the peak of its power, the Raichu swung his sword around in a wide arc, unleashing the electricity in a massive discharge wave around him.
All six of the Dusknoirs stumbled back from Sparktail, now completely revealed to Sparktail's sight, their bodies crackling with Sparktail's lightning. Sparktail lunged at one of the Dusknoirs, bringing his sword directly through the Dusknoir's crimson eye. The Dusknoir roared in fury, and threw a flurry of shadow punches at Sparktail. Sparktail ducked low to the ground and rolled aside as all of the Dusknoirs' fists smashed into the ground, one after another. He leapt over shadow balls and sidestepped punches, slashing and firing lightning bolts at the Dusknoirs at every chance he got.
The wraith stumbled back, now completely visible to Sparktail. It flailed its arms, the electricity sending waves of agony through the Dusknoir. Sparktail smiled grimly and lunged at the Dusknoir, sword outstretched. His sword plunged into the Dusknoir's belly, and there as a sound like shattering glass. The Dusknoir gave one last shudder, and the crimson eye went dark.
Sparktail stared as he retrieved his sword, shocked by how easily the Dusknoir had fallen. But now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen a Dusknoir since he was young. That had been the Dusknoir of Treasure Town, the one who served Primal Dialga, who had abducted Team Storm and Elias... no, no there was no time to think about this. There were still more Dusknoirs to fight.
Sparktail heard the bellow of another Dusknoir behind him. He whipped around and stabbed at the second Dusknoir who lunged at him, his sword extended. But before he could penetrate the Dusknoir's cloak, it brought its arm smashing down, narrowly missing the Raichu who darted around and slashed at the Dusknoir's back.
Enraged, the Dusknoir whipped around and struck Sparktail with a psychic attack, knocking him a few feet back. Breathing hard, Sparktail sidestepped the Dusknoir as it lunged at him. He leapt up as the Dusknoir smashed both fists back at him, and struck the phantom's helmet with his tail.
Turning around as he landed in front of his foe, Sparktail ducked a flurry of quick punches from the two massive arms, darting back from each blow. Leaping high into the air, Sparktail wedged his sword into the glowing yellow crack on his foe's belly which resembled a mouth. The gold-outline eyes shot open, glaring at Sparktail as he pried open the makeshift jaws.
Cold steam billowed out from the belly's cavity as the mouth fell open, sending the Raichu coughing and reeling back, swirling white stinging his eyes and nose and mouth. When the vapor had dissapated, he saw within the belly-mouth a glowing sphere of dark red mist, a pair of glowing scarlet eye-slits, like a serpent curled up into a ball.
Stunned, Sparktail stared at the soul orb, a crackling ball of electricity automatically forming in his left paw. This must be the Dusknoir's soul! No wonder he had killed the first Dusknoir so easily--it was the weak point!
Without thinking, a thunderbolt launched from his paw and blasted the spirit orb, shattering it to pieces. At once, the Dusknoir's corpse fell back like the one before it, now nothing but a hollow shell of a body. Then, as Sparktail sank to the ground, both of the Hexwraiths' bodies faded into gray mist.
He sprinted forth into Pal Park, his heart pounding as he looked around. As the Raichu reached the center of the open field, he could feel the eyes of the evil wraiths around him, the ones who had spirited off hundreds of innocents to this place, their killing grounds. The melancholy lament in the Aura sent eerie chills down his spine.
Crimson, glowing eyes flickered in and out of existence around Sparktail, who had his sword ready. Large, ethereal hands appeared and disappeared, reaching towards Sparktail and quickly drawing back, growing more solid each time. Sparktail slowly pivoted around with his sword still at his side, his eyes flickering to each of the Dusknoirs.
Electricity crackled and coursed through his veins, his entire body beginning to glow. And then, when it had reached the peak of its power, the Raichu swung his sword around in a wide arc, unleashing the electricity in a massive discharge wave around him.
All six of the Dusknoirs stumbled back from Sparktail, now completely revealed to Sparktail's sight, their bodies crackling with Sparktail's lightning. Sparktail lunged at one of the Dusknoirs, bringing his sword directly through the Dusknoir's crimson eye. The Dusknoir roared in fury, and threw a flurry of shadow punches at Sparktail. Sparktail ducked low to the ground and rolled aside as all of the Dusknoirs' fists smashed into the ground, one after another. He leapt over shadow balls and sidestepped punches, slashing and firing lightning bolts at the Dusknoirs at every chance he got.
The wraith stumbled back, now completely visible to Sparktail. It flailed its arms, the electricity sending waves of agony through the Dusknoir. Sparktail smiled grimly and lunged at the Dusknoir, sword outstretched. His sword plunged into the Dusknoir's belly, and there as a sound like shattering glass. The Dusknoir gave one last shudder, and the crimson eye went dark.
Sparktail stared as he retrieved his sword, shocked by how easily the Dusknoir had fallen. But now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen a Dusknoir since he was young. That had been the Dusknoir of Treasure Town, the one who served Primal Dialga, who had abducted Team Storm and Elias... no, no there was no time to think about this. There were still more Dusknoirs to fight.
Sparktail heard the bellow of another Dusknoir behind him. He whipped around and stabbed at the second Dusknoir who lunged at him, his sword extended. But before he could penetrate the Dusknoir's cloak, it brought its arm smashing down, narrowly missing the Raichu who darted around and slashed at the Dusknoir's back.
Enraged, the Dusknoir whipped around and struck Sparktail with a psychic attack, knocking him a few feet back. Breathing hard, Sparktail sidestepped the Dusknoir as it lunged at him. He leapt up as the Dusknoir smashed both fists back at him, and struck the phantom's helmet with his tail.
Turning around as he landed in front of his foe, Sparktail ducked a flurry of quick punches from the two massive arms, darting back from each blow. Leaping high into the air, Sparktail wedged his sword into the glowing yellow crack on his foe's belly which resembled a mouth. The gold-outline eyes shot open, glaring at Sparktail as he pried open the makeshift jaws.
Cold steam billowed out from the belly's cavity as the mouth fell open, sending the Raichu coughing and reeling back, swirling white stinging his eyes and nose and mouth. When the vapor had dissapated, he saw within the belly-mouth a glowing sphere of dark red mist, a pair of glowing scarlet eye-slits, like a serpent curled up into a ball.
Stunned, Sparktail stared at the soul orb, a crackling ball of electricity automatically forming in his left paw. This must be the Dusknoir's soul! No wonder he had killed the first Dusknoir so easily--it was the weak point!
Without thinking, a thunderbolt launched from his paw and blasted the spirit orb, shattering it to pieces. At once, the Dusknoir's corpse fell back like the one before it, now nothing but a hollow shell of a body. Then, as Sparktail sank to the ground, both of the Hexwraiths' bodies faded into gray mist.
Sparktail sprinted down the forest path, the trees around him looming high above his head ominously as if to ensnare him in their withered and dying branches. He could feel it. There was another Dusknoir here somewhere, its evil influence leaving this forest dry and barren. Sparktail's eyes scanned the trees carefully, searching for the telltale red eye of the Dusknoir.
"HELP!" yelled a voice. His blood going cold, the Raichu glanced around, then climbed up onto a tree's low-hanging branch to see a Dusknoir with outstretched arms, chasing a Breloom who had a sharpened stick on his back. Phantom fists smashed into tree bark as the mushroom Pokemon vanished into a tangle of roots, battering the tree trunk relentlessly.
Drawing his sword, the Raichu watched as the Breloom darted out from the tree, the Hexwraith whirling around in hot pursuit. He couldn't lose this chance! As the Breloom and the Dusknoir passed under his branch, Sparktail dropped down from the branch with a cry, landing on the phantom's back as the Breloom fled into woods.
"Gwooooh!" roared the Dusknoir as the Raichu clung to the wraith's neck and shoulder, massive grey hands grasping at its throat as Sparktail struggled to slash at his torso, tail lashing at the ghost's back. Furious fists smashed down at the ground as the Hexwraith tried to shake Sparktail off. Shadows flew from the Dusknoir's fingers as they whirled around together, finally smashing the Raichu back into a tree, sending Sparktail reeling to the ground.
Breathing hard, the Raichu sat up slowly, his head ringing as he stared up at the muderous ghost. Shadows gathered around the snickering Dusknoir in a swirling mist as it advanced, its massive shadow towering high over him. "Meat," it hissed, its voice carrying the silky dangerous hiss of a Seviper, and Sparktail fought every instinct that screamed for him to flee. "More meat..."
All thoughts and senses in disarray, Sparktail wrapped his tail around the hilt of his sword, swung it around in a circle, and flung the blade straight into the Dusknoir's belly. The Hexwraith screeched and stumbled back like a collapsing pillar of smoke as the blade sank into its chest, piercing its soul-orb; then, it shook, and melted away into dark smoke, the blade falling to the ground.
Shuddering, Sparktail picked up his sword, scanning the woods for fruit-bearing trees, his body aching. Sheathing his blade, the Raichu stumbled over to an Oran bush and plucked a blue fruit with a shaking paw; there was no sign of the Breloom. He felt faint and sick as he peeled the berry and ate from its flesh, though the cool juices soothed the pain slightly. Had Lugia known just how far Sparktail's mission would take him?
"HELP!" yelled a voice. His blood going cold, the Raichu glanced around, then climbed up onto a tree's low-hanging branch to see a Dusknoir with outstretched arms, chasing a Breloom who had a sharpened stick on his back. Phantom fists smashed into tree bark as the mushroom Pokemon vanished into a tangle of roots, battering the tree trunk relentlessly.
Drawing his sword, the Raichu watched as the Breloom darted out from the tree, the Hexwraith whirling around in hot pursuit. He couldn't lose this chance! As the Breloom and the Dusknoir passed under his branch, Sparktail dropped down from the branch with a cry, landing on the phantom's back as the Breloom fled into woods.
"Gwooooh!" roared the Dusknoir as the Raichu clung to the wraith's neck and shoulder, massive grey hands grasping at its throat as Sparktail struggled to slash at his torso, tail lashing at the ghost's back. Furious fists smashed down at the ground as the Hexwraith tried to shake Sparktail off. Shadows flew from the Dusknoir's fingers as they whirled around together, finally smashing the Raichu back into a tree, sending Sparktail reeling to the ground.
Breathing hard, the Raichu sat up slowly, his head ringing as he stared up at the muderous ghost. Shadows gathered around the snickering Dusknoir in a swirling mist as it advanced, its massive shadow towering high over him. "Meat," it hissed, its voice carrying the silky dangerous hiss of a Seviper, and Sparktail fought every instinct that screamed for him to flee. "More meat..."
All thoughts and senses in disarray, Sparktail wrapped his tail around the hilt of his sword, swung it around in a circle, and flung the blade straight into the Dusknoir's belly. The Hexwraith screeched and stumbled back like a collapsing pillar of smoke as the blade sank into its chest, piercing its soul-orb; then, it shook, and melted away into dark smoke, the blade falling to the ground.
Shuddering, Sparktail picked up his sword, scanning the woods for fruit-bearing trees, his body aching. Sheathing his blade, the Raichu stumbled over to an Oran bush and plucked a blue fruit with a shaking paw; there was no sign of the Breloom. He felt faint and sick as he peeled the berry and ate from its flesh, though the cool juices soothed the pain slightly. Had Lugia known just how far Sparktail's mission would take him?
Fully rested, the Raichu approached the edge of the lake. In the center of the vast blue waters floated a lone red eye that sent chills down his spine, ever-so-lazily hovering around in a circle before the Raichu's eyes. He swallowed. A battle on the water would leave him at the mercy of the churning tide, his footing shaken to pieces and sending him tumbling down.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he forced himself to think of Thalia, reminding himself that he was doing this for her sake. Eying a piece of driftwood nearby, Sparktail grabbed the large, flat piece of wood and pulled it into the lake. The Raichu climbed up and onto the raft, and paddled with his tail towards the invisible Dusknoir.
He drew his sword. The Dusknoir turned around to see Sparktail paddling towards it, lightning bursting forth from his paw. The lightning struck the Dusknoir, turning it visible. The Dusknoir glared at Sparktail and smashed his fist into the raft. Sparktail leapt off of the driftwood just before the Dusknoir struck it, grabbing hold of the Dusknoir. Clutching the phantom's collar tightly, Sparktail felt the Dusknoir strike his side, trying to knock him off. The Raichu shook his head, the Dusknoir flailing madly above the water.
Sparktail hacked and slashed with his sword at the Dusknoir's bellly, and finally swung over and onto its back. His tail wrapped around the Dusknoir's collar, Sparktail tightened his tail's grip, trying to strangle the Dusknoir. The Dusknoir grasped for his throat, the two massive palms tugging at Sparktail's tail, his body leaning back.
Clutching tightly to the Dusknoir's back, Sparktail reached over the Dusknoir's shoulder, and stabbed into the crack on the belly. The Dusknoir fell back into the lake, his movments feeble and weak. Sparktail climbed up and onto the Dusknoir's chest, pulled open its belly, and stabbed its soul.
Sparktail let out a sigh of relief as the Dusknoir's eye went dark, its arms and head limp. He sheathed his sword, swam towards his raft, and climbed up and onto the piece of driftwood. Breathing heavily, Sparktail lay down on the raft, knowing that there were four Dusknoirs dead, and only two more to go.
How was Pal Park structured again? Rush had explained it once. There were five zones: Field, Forest, Mountain, Lake, and Ocean. As far as he could tell, there was a Dusknoir in each zone, except that there had been two from the field. The one who had chased the Breloom had been from the forest. Then there was the one he had just killed, the one from the lake.
The sound of rushing water broke into his thoughts. Sparktail's eyes shot open, and he leapt up to see a roaring waterfall ahead of him, plunging sharply down only a few feet away from the raft which was floating steadily towards it. Sparktail gritted his teeth and began to desperately paddle the raft away from the waterfall, but to no avail.
Finally, he leapt off of the raft, trying unsucessfully to escape the waterfall's grasp. Then both Sparktail and the raft tumbled over the precipice, and down into the water below.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he forced himself to think of Thalia, reminding himself that he was doing this for her sake. Eying a piece of driftwood nearby, Sparktail grabbed the large, flat piece of wood and pulled it into the lake. The Raichu climbed up and onto the raft, and paddled with his tail towards the invisible Dusknoir.
He drew his sword. The Dusknoir turned around to see Sparktail paddling towards it, lightning bursting forth from his paw. The lightning struck the Dusknoir, turning it visible. The Dusknoir glared at Sparktail and smashed his fist into the raft. Sparktail leapt off of the driftwood just before the Dusknoir struck it, grabbing hold of the Dusknoir. Clutching the phantom's collar tightly, Sparktail felt the Dusknoir strike his side, trying to knock him off. The Raichu shook his head, the Dusknoir flailing madly above the water.
Sparktail hacked and slashed with his sword at the Dusknoir's bellly, and finally swung over and onto its back. His tail wrapped around the Dusknoir's collar, Sparktail tightened his tail's grip, trying to strangle the Dusknoir. The Dusknoir grasped for his throat, the two massive palms tugging at Sparktail's tail, his body leaning back.
Clutching tightly to the Dusknoir's back, Sparktail reached over the Dusknoir's shoulder, and stabbed into the crack on the belly. The Dusknoir fell back into the lake, his movments feeble and weak. Sparktail climbed up and onto the Dusknoir's chest, pulled open its belly, and stabbed its soul.
Sparktail let out a sigh of relief as the Dusknoir's eye went dark, its arms and head limp. He sheathed his sword, swam towards his raft, and climbed up and onto the piece of driftwood. Breathing heavily, Sparktail lay down on the raft, knowing that there were four Dusknoirs dead, and only two more to go.
How was Pal Park structured again? Rush had explained it once. There were five zones: Field, Forest, Mountain, Lake, and Ocean. As far as he could tell, there was a Dusknoir in each zone, except that there had been two from the field. The one who had chased the Breloom had been from the forest. Then there was the one he had just killed, the one from the lake.
The sound of rushing water broke into his thoughts. Sparktail's eyes shot open, and he leapt up to see a roaring waterfall ahead of him, plunging sharply down only a few feet away from the raft which was floating steadily towards it. Sparktail gritted his teeth and began to desperately paddle the raft away from the waterfall, but to no avail.
Finally, he leapt off of the raft, trying unsucessfully to escape the waterfall's grasp. Then both Sparktail and the raft tumbled over the precipice, and down into the water below.
Sparktail plunged into the water with a tremendous splash, the rough, salty waves crashing over and under the Raichu turbulently. He looked around fervently, coughing up dark green seawater, all four of his paws treading water. He blinked the droplets of seawater from his eyes, staring up into the sun's rays which shone down upon him. Sparktail took a deep breath as he spat out the last of the seawater, expanding his lungs with fresh air. An almost foolish grin spread across his face, and he burst into laughter, relieved to find himself alive.
His joy was short-lived. The sea vibrated with anger, rippling through his fur. His smile fading, Sparktail suddenly remembered that Kyogre and Lute were still battling the Gastrodons--buying him time. No time to relax; he had to finish the task. He turned and awkwardly paddled back toward the beach; Kyogre's intervention had not exempted Sparktail from dredging up Slick's swimming lessons, after all.
Dragging himself up and onto the beach, Sparktail flopped down in the sand, exhausted. The Raichu pulled his sword out of its waterproof sheath, realizing that the blade was most definitely soaked now. He lay it down in the sand beside him, the sunlight's warmth slowly playing upon the remaining droplets of water in his fur.
After a few minutes, Sparktail got to his feet. Picking up the slightly damp sword at his side, he turned around to face the field. Almost immediately, Sparktail leapt back from the Dusknoir who had been sneaking up on him while he rested. He slashed at the Dusknoir, his sword tearing at the thick fabric of the Dusknoir's coak. Sparktail ducked as the Dusknoir threw a shadow punch at him, rolling under and behind the Dusknoir.
The Dusknoir whirled around and slashed at Sparktail with shadow claws, Sparktail quickly raising his sword to deflect the ghastly sharp tips of the shadow claw. He swung the sword around, hacking at the Dusknoir's arm. The Dusknoir raisd both arms and fired a dark pulse at Sparktail, who leapt over the dark pulse and fired a thunderbolt at the Dusknoir's head.
Now the Dusknoir swung at Sparktail with its arms furiously, smashing into the cliffside and the ground, Sparktail leaping up onto ledges and sending thunderbolts raining down upon the Dusknoir. Furiously, the Dusknoir smashed its fists into the ledge just below Sparktail. Both ledges cracked and crumbled, and Sparktail tumbled down to the ground. He darted under the Dusknoir and slashed it in the side as it was around.
The Dusknoir roared and raised both arms, charging up a shadow blast at Sparktail. Sparktail saw his chance to strike, and lunged at the Dusknoir's now exposed belly. The sword, glowing white with energy, broke through the Dusknoir's cloak and impaled the Dusknoir's spirit-sphere dead-on.
His joy was short-lived. The sea vibrated with anger, rippling through his fur. His smile fading, Sparktail suddenly remembered that Kyogre and Lute were still battling the Gastrodons--buying him time. No time to relax; he had to finish the task. He turned and awkwardly paddled back toward the beach; Kyogre's intervention had not exempted Sparktail from dredging up Slick's swimming lessons, after all.
Dragging himself up and onto the beach, Sparktail flopped down in the sand, exhausted. The Raichu pulled his sword out of its waterproof sheath, realizing that the blade was most definitely soaked now. He lay it down in the sand beside him, the sunlight's warmth slowly playing upon the remaining droplets of water in his fur.
After a few minutes, Sparktail got to his feet. Picking up the slightly damp sword at his side, he turned around to face the field. Almost immediately, Sparktail leapt back from the Dusknoir who had been sneaking up on him while he rested. He slashed at the Dusknoir, his sword tearing at the thick fabric of the Dusknoir's coak. Sparktail ducked as the Dusknoir threw a shadow punch at him, rolling under and behind the Dusknoir.
The Dusknoir whirled around and slashed at Sparktail with shadow claws, Sparktail quickly raising his sword to deflect the ghastly sharp tips of the shadow claw. He swung the sword around, hacking at the Dusknoir's arm. The Dusknoir raisd both arms and fired a dark pulse at Sparktail, who leapt over the dark pulse and fired a thunderbolt at the Dusknoir's head.
Now the Dusknoir swung at Sparktail with its arms furiously, smashing into the cliffside and the ground, Sparktail leaping up onto ledges and sending thunderbolts raining down upon the Dusknoir. Furiously, the Dusknoir smashed its fists into the ledge just below Sparktail. Both ledges cracked and crumbled, and Sparktail tumbled down to the ground. He darted under the Dusknoir and slashed it in the side as it was around.
The Dusknoir roared and raised both arms, charging up a shadow blast at Sparktail. Sparktail saw his chance to strike, and lunged at the Dusknoir's now exposed belly. The sword, glowing white with energy, broke through the Dusknoir's cloak and impaled the Dusknoir's spirit-sphere dead-on.
As he sat on the lakeshore, breathing hard, Sparktail bit into a Sitrus and let the tangy juices run over his tongue, closing his eyes in bliss as he chewed and swallowed. On one hand, he couldn't believe he'd ever fought so hard today--but on the other hand, he'd already taken down five of the six Dusknoirs. Thinking back, Sparktail wondered how he could've taken down five Hexwraiths already--but all he could remember was a blur of fighting, slashing, and furious sparks.
He drew his sword and leaned forward to wash it clean in the lake waters--but it was clean already. No time to worry about that, though. He stepped back and glanced towards the path that led up towards the rocky hilltop overlooking Pal Park, the heart of the dark storm brewing. Feeling thrilled, Sparktail raced up the steps to meet his final opponent.
He drew his sword and leaned forward to wash it clean in the lake waters--but it was clean already. No time to worry about that, though. He stepped back and glanced towards the path that led up towards the rocky hilltop overlooking Pal Park, the heart of the dark storm brewing. Feeling thrilled, Sparktail raced up the steps to meet his final opponent.
The sun began its descent into the crimson horizon as Sparktail arrived at the top of the hill, every sense bristling. Up ahead on the hilltop loomed the final Dusknoir, surveying the vast breadth of Pal Park, standing out against the pale gray sky like pitch-black tar on a bed of bones, his cloak rippling in the cold wind. Gathering up his courage, the Raichu slowly drew his sword, and padded up through the sparse grass to confront the final Hexwraith.
Suddenly, the Dusknoir spoke, stopping Sparktail dead in his tracks. "Once upon a time, there lived a Pokemon named Elias," said the phantom, gazing off into the bloody sunset without so much as a glance back to the Raichu. "He fought the tides of destiny, yea; he thought himself greater than the gods of the heavens. And for his crimes, he paid the price."
Dark billowing winds began to howl, pressing at the Raichu's fur as he gripped his sword tight. "Hoh hoh hoh! His blood has served me well, and his death has pleased my master greatly," cackled the wraith, lifting his hands to the dark sky. "Eons I have served the dark king of despair, the monster Darkrai. And poor Elias, sweet Elias, he fell as all enemies of the Exile before him. Such noble trust--and yet such great folly..."
Thunder split the skies as Sparktail drew his sword and pointed at the Dusknoir, heart pounding and breathing hard. Elias. Elias, his friend. Elias, carrying Dialga on his shoulders. Elias, laying still on the Conclave's beaches, his ribs crushed until not even Kyria could heal them. A dark mist filled the air as he stared furiously up at the phantom, his tail lashing at the ground.
"Ahh, yesss, I had nearly forgotten that I had guests, hissed the Dusknoir, suddenly whirling around to face the silently fuming Raichu with a single bloody eye. "Hoh hah! Thou must be Sparktail, yes, Sparktail, I know thee well.. Spark-Tail, son of Torque... Sparktail who is Lightning, yess.... Aurton Slick Silversky's pet rodent!"
His fur bristling, the Raichu bared his teeth up at the Dusknoir, though the cold wintry air chilled him to the bone. "If you know so much about me--then you know that Elias was like a--a brother to me," said the Raichu, his eyes hard as sparks ran up and down the length of the sword at the Dusknoir's neck. "And you killed him!"
From the shadows came a flourish of the Dusknoir's hand, clutching a tightly woven leaf-blade in one hand--Elias' leafblade. "Flesh to flesh, blood to blood, bone to bone," hissed the Dusknoir, his voice more chilling than death. "The master of my master shall be pleased with thy corpse!"
Pressing down his fear, Sparktail raised his sword and sprang at the Dusknoir with a cry. Cackling, Dusknoir vanished and reappeared behind the Raichu, who dropped and rolled aside as the Hexwraith hacked at his back. The Raichu leapt back as a great shadow fist crashed at him, whirling around to land a scratch along the Dusknoir's armor-cloak. Springing aside to dodge a shadow ball, he sprang at his foe with another slash.
But to his dismay, his sword glanced off Elias' blade instead of cutting it to pieces. "Do you think thy friend never ancticipated a fight against a steel blade?" bellowed the Dusknoir as he parried each of Sparktail's blows, his cloak whipping in the wind as the Raichu frantically blocked the leaf-blade's slashes, a thrust deflected, blades crashing against each other again and again, the Hexwraith forcing Sparktail back. "Your time has come, boy!"
A bloodcurdling shock ran up Sparktail's arm as a shadow-ball struck his right shoulder, his blade clattering to the ground and his left paw clasped to his right bicep. Gasping, he dove aside as Elias' sword wove a web of green slashes at him, snatching up his sword with his tail and hurriedly backing away as razor-sharp leaf edges painfully nicked at his fur and sank into his flesh from all directions.
Raw and hissing, the Raichu struck the Dusknoir's belly in the eyes with a thunderbolt, dropping and rolling aside as the roaring Hexwraith stabbed down at him again and again, his tail wrapped around his sword's hilt as he frantically struck in and out of the phantom's range. The wind howled in Sparktail's rodent ears as he grasped his sword with both paws, right paw just under the handguard and left paw at the pommel. Springing forward with a spinning lunge, the Raichu let out a furious cry and swung out wide, blue sparks flying from his cheeks as sword met leafblade.
Swiftly dropping to the ground, he rolled aside to dodge a downward slash, springing up to hack at the Hexwraith's cloak repeatedly, his blade clashing against Elias' sword. The Raichu yelped as a shadow ball crashed into his shoulder with a cold shock, striking rapidly at the wraith with an electrified blade, slamming his tail straight up into the Dusknoir's helm. As he felt his sword snag the phantom's cloak, a brutal fist suddenly collided with the side of his head and sent him shrieking, tumbling back onto the rain-splattered hillside, his blade falling to the ground.
Gasping, splattered with mud, rain falling into his eyes as cold gray skies churned overhead, the Raichu got to his paws and lifted his head to stare up into the ominous crimson eye of the Dusknoir bearing down upon him. Every muscle in his body went rigid, his terrified heart pounding in his chest as he gazed up into the eye of cold-blooded death, transfixed. Time seemed to slow as the cackling wraith lifted the leaf-blade high above the battered Raichu, the golden runes on his cloak gleaming in the raging storm.
A memory came to mind--a tender paw, a soft velvet leaf, and a kiss.
The Raichu gritted his teeth, his cheeks crackling blue. With a battle cry, he struck the Dusknoir's antenna with a blinding white thunderbolt, eliciting a garbled roar from the terrible phantom as the Raichu dove for his sword. Snatching up the blade with his tail, Sparktail rolled back as the furious Dusknoir stabbed down at him repeatedly, then thrust his sword straight up into the Hexwraith's burning eye.
Thunder and lightning split the sky overhead as the sword sank into the Dusknoir's still-crackling helm, illuminating the darkened heavens as the battered Raichu sank to his paws with heaving breaths, his pelt filthy and dishelved. "GRAHHHH!" screamed the Dusknoir, reeling back from Sparktail, Elias' blade falling to the ground as agonized hands grappled for the sword that had pierced his helm. The Hexwraith shuddered in the howling wind, red cracks beginning to spiderweb across his helm and cloak, writhing as if in purest torment.
"Fool! Insolent, foolish rat!" roared the phantom, pointing a shaking finger at the Raichu. "Dost thou think this changeth anything? Nay! For my master--he the greatest of all darkness--shall place upon thee the darkest perils, and shall repay my defeat tenfold! Hear my prophecy!"
Sparktail stared uncomprehendingly as the Dusknoir vanished into black flames, his ears filled with the final echoes of the wraith's cruel laughter as his sword collapsed to the ground. His chest heaving with gasping breaths, the Raichu groaned and crawled over to the two blades sunken in the mud, his fur washed down over his eyes in the downpour.
Too weary for thoughts, his pelt weighed down with rainwater, the Raichu took a deep breath and pulled himself into an upright position, reaching for his sword and wiping it clean on his fur before sheathing it. As he sat alone on the hill in the rain, he lifted Elias' blade as well with trembling paws and lay it across his lap, staring at the intricate weave of his friend's weapon. Then, slowly rising to his paws, he sank the blade into the ground and bowed his head, silent tears rolling down his cheeks and mingling with the cold rain.
Suddenly, the Dusknoir spoke, stopping Sparktail dead in his tracks. "Once upon a time, there lived a Pokemon named Elias," said the phantom, gazing off into the bloody sunset without so much as a glance back to the Raichu. "He fought the tides of destiny, yea; he thought himself greater than the gods of the heavens. And for his crimes, he paid the price."
Dark billowing winds began to howl, pressing at the Raichu's fur as he gripped his sword tight. "Hoh hoh hoh! His blood has served me well, and his death has pleased my master greatly," cackled the wraith, lifting his hands to the dark sky. "Eons I have served the dark king of despair, the monster Darkrai. And poor Elias, sweet Elias, he fell as all enemies of the Exile before him. Such noble trust--and yet such great folly..."
Thunder split the skies as Sparktail drew his sword and pointed at the Dusknoir, heart pounding and breathing hard. Elias. Elias, his friend. Elias, carrying Dialga on his shoulders. Elias, laying still on the Conclave's beaches, his ribs crushed until not even Kyria could heal them. A dark mist filled the air as he stared furiously up at the phantom, his tail lashing at the ground.
"Ahh, yesss, I had nearly forgotten that I had guests, hissed the Dusknoir, suddenly whirling around to face the silently fuming Raichu with a single bloody eye. "Hoh hah! Thou must be Sparktail, yes, Sparktail, I know thee well.. Spark-Tail, son of Torque... Sparktail who is Lightning, yess.... Aurton Slick Silversky's pet rodent!"
His fur bristling, the Raichu bared his teeth up at the Dusknoir, though the cold wintry air chilled him to the bone. "If you know so much about me--then you know that Elias was like a--a brother to me," said the Raichu, his eyes hard as sparks ran up and down the length of the sword at the Dusknoir's neck. "And you killed him!"
From the shadows came a flourish of the Dusknoir's hand, clutching a tightly woven leaf-blade in one hand--Elias' leafblade. "Flesh to flesh, blood to blood, bone to bone," hissed the Dusknoir, his voice more chilling than death. "The master of my master shall be pleased with thy corpse!"
Pressing down his fear, Sparktail raised his sword and sprang at the Dusknoir with a cry. Cackling, Dusknoir vanished and reappeared behind the Raichu, who dropped and rolled aside as the Hexwraith hacked at his back. The Raichu leapt back as a great shadow fist crashed at him, whirling around to land a scratch along the Dusknoir's armor-cloak. Springing aside to dodge a shadow ball, he sprang at his foe with another slash.
But to his dismay, his sword glanced off Elias' blade instead of cutting it to pieces. "Do you think thy friend never ancticipated a fight against a steel blade?" bellowed the Dusknoir as he parried each of Sparktail's blows, his cloak whipping in the wind as the Raichu frantically blocked the leaf-blade's slashes, a thrust deflected, blades crashing against each other again and again, the Hexwraith forcing Sparktail back. "Your time has come, boy!"
A bloodcurdling shock ran up Sparktail's arm as a shadow-ball struck his right shoulder, his blade clattering to the ground and his left paw clasped to his right bicep. Gasping, he dove aside as Elias' sword wove a web of green slashes at him, snatching up his sword with his tail and hurriedly backing away as razor-sharp leaf edges painfully nicked at his fur and sank into his flesh from all directions.
Raw and hissing, the Raichu struck the Dusknoir's belly in the eyes with a thunderbolt, dropping and rolling aside as the roaring Hexwraith stabbed down at him again and again, his tail wrapped around his sword's hilt as he frantically struck in and out of the phantom's range. The wind howled in Sparktail's rodent ears as he grasped his sword with both paws, right paw just under the handguard and left paw at the pommel. Springing forward with a spinning lunge, the Raichu let out a furious cry and swung out wide, blue sparks flying from his cheeks as sword met leafblade.
Swiftly dropping to the ground, he rolled aside to dodge a downward slash, springing up to hack at the Hexwraith's cloak repeatedly, his blade clashing against Elias' sword. The Raichu yelped as a shadow ball crashed into his shoulder with a cold shock, striking rapidly at the wraith with an electrified blade, slamming his tail straight up into the Dusknoir's helm. As he felt his sword snag the phantom's cloak, a brutal fist suddenly collided with the side of his head and sent him shrieking, tumbling back onto the rain-splattered hillside, his blade falling to the ground.
Gasping, splattered with mud, rain falling into his eyes as cold gray skies churned overhead, the Raichu got to his paws and lifted his head to stare up into the ominous crimson eye of the Dusknoir bearing down upon him. Every muscle in his body went rigid, his terrified heart pounding in his chest as he gazed up into the eye of cold-blooded death, transfixed. Time seemed to slow as the cackling wraith lifted the leaf-blade high above the battered Raichu, the golden runes on his cloak gleaming in the raging storm.
A memory came to mind--a tender paw, a soft velvet leaf, and a kiss.
The Raichu gritted his teeth, his cheeks crackling blue. With a battle cry, he struck the Dusknoir's antenna with a blinding white thunderbolt, eliciting a garbled roar from the terrible phantom as the Raichu dove for his sword. Snatching up the blade with his tail, Sparktail rolled back as the furious Dusknoir stabbed down at him repeatedly, then thrust his sword straight up into the Hexwraith's burning eye.
Thunder and lightning split the sky overhead as the sword sank into the Dusknoir's still-crackling helm, illuminating the darkened heavens as the battered Raichu sank to his paws with heaving breaths, his pelt filthy and dishelved. "GRAHHHH!" screamed the Dusknoir, reeling back from Sparktail, Elias' blade falling to the ground as agonized hands grappled for the sword that had pierced his helm. The Hexwraith shuddered in the howling wind, red cracks beginning to spiderweb across his helm and cloak, writhing as if in purest torment.
"Fool! Insolent, foolish rat!" roared the phantom, pointing a shaking finger at the Raichu. "Dost thou think this changeth anything? Nay! For my master--he the greatest of all darkness--shall place upon thee the darkest perils, and shall repay my defeat tenfold! Hear my prophecy!"
Sparktail stared uncomprehendingly as the Dusknoir vanished into black flames, his ears filled with the final echoes of the wraith's cruel laughter as his sword collapsed to the ground. His chest heaving with gasping breaths, the Raichu groaned and crawled over to the two blades sunken in the mud, his fur washed down over his eyes in the downpour.
Too weary for thoughts, his pelt weighed down with rainwater, the Raichu took a deep breath and pulled himself into an upright position, reaching for his sword and wiping it clean on his fur before sheathing it. As he sat alone on the hill in the rain, he lifted Elias' blade as well with trembling paws and lay it across his lap, staring at the intricate weave of his friend's weapon. Then, slowly rising to his paws, he sank the blade into the ground and bowed his head, silent tears rolling down his cheeks and mingling with the cold rain.
"Not bad--but your form was rather slow," called a voice as the rain began to subside. A paw moving back to his sword, the Raichu took a deep breath and glanced back to see Lute trotting up the muddy hillside. Between rasping but eager breaths, the Absol's eyes gleamed as he approached the weary Raichu, raindrops rolling off his sleek pelt. "And that Toxicroak will think twice before attacking me, I daresay..."
As the cool rain beat down on their backs, Sparktail turned toward the beach as a red-runed fin entered the tiny canal. "Well done--but the true battle is yet to come," declared Kyogre as the Raichu and the Absol descended the hill to rejoin the Leviathan. "Come! The barriers have fallen; and the King of Time awaits!"
As the cool rain beat down on their backs, Sparktail turned toward the beach as a red-runed fin entered the tiny canal. "Well done--but the true battle is yet to come," declared Kyogre as the Raichu and the Absol descended the hill to rejoin the Leviathan. "Come! The barriers have fallen; and the King of Time awaits!"