Thud, thud, thud—rapid footsteps echoed through the third-floor passageway, audible even up on the fourth. With the arrival of the green-haired man, Team Plasma members filed in behind him.
"As expected—so it was you. I wondered who could breach the Ruins' mechanisms and reach this deepest chamber. When I thought it through, only you fit."
"A pleasure, traveler of Sinjoh. I am Ghetsis—Ghetsis of Team Plasma—one who strives to liberate Pokémon… and, of course, the one who has come here so our king may ascend the throne."
"The Ancient Crown! It truly exists—and it is inhabited by the soul of a king!"
"Be it the First King or the twin founders of the nation—they are all ancestors of House Harmonia!"
"Those not of Harmonia blood have no right to touch that crown—that power that rules over heaven and earth!"
"Only the true king can obtain it… To be honest, I once thought the crown was mere legend."
"And now you appear here. Regrettably, you have defiled the Sea King's remains. Would you and the Elite Ten'nō young lady kindly step back—for now?"
Ghetsis mused that he had even forged a golden coronation crown for N. It was an ordinary ceremonial piece with no power—just modeled after the "Ancient Crown" described in old texts.
"Oh? Tagging along in our wake, were you?" Caitlin's gaze went frosty.
Ghetsis smiled a shadowed smile.
"Lady Caitlin, the newly appointed Elite Four—your residence in Undella Town is common knowledge.
"But if you think psychic power can meddle with everything, you are gravely mistaken.
"Meeting you here is no surprise. That you defeated the weather-commanding 'Four Gods'—that shocks me! And yet… splendid. Very well done!
"By defeating the Four, you have won the Crown's recognition. That means the royal succession rite has begun! The obstacle blocking Lord N's accession is no more."
Hikaru and Caitlin both looked at N standing behind Ghetsis. Hikaru could clearly feel it—N was being coerced.
So that's how it is.
The familiar Sages were absent; those with N were the remaining few…
"You've turned Professor N into a puppet and a historian, and now even stripped him of freedom of action."
"To enter the Abyssal Ruins—one must be a direct descendant, and also possess a king's qualifications—"
"Precisely," Ghetsis smiled, having heard Hikaru's murmur. "Only Lord N can take that seat.
"And now—step aside."
Hikaru frowned. "What if I refuse?"
"I bled to clear the trials. I've no reason to walk away now. The Crown has allowed us to challenge the Ruins. If anything, you have lost your qualification."
"You should be the one to withdraw, Mr. Ghetsis."
Rebuffed, Ghetsis chuckled instead of angering.
Caitlin's eyes lit icy blue. "I'll just toss them out with Telekinesis in one go."
Ghetsis put on a pitying face.
"Of course, we have countermeasures prepared for psychics. You two are formidable psychics; we are but pitiable ordinary humans—thus, we require unusual means.
"Your Poké Balls should be locked by now."
A rod slipped from beneath Ghetsis's robe. "This scepter emits specialized interference waves that hinder Poké Ball functions."
As he prattled, Hikaru thought: figures.
Isn't this the custom jamming cane from Black 2/White 2? Why is it here already—and upgraded from 'cane' to 'scepter'? A Colress prototype?
It fits. During the early Plasma era, Ghetsis was basically a civil engineer—never showed much tech prowess. He hired researchers, yes, but rarely did lab work himself.
Colress showing up later patched Team Plasma's absurd tech level.
Otherwise Ghetsis would be a polymath: ancient languages, civil engineering, architecture, the arts…
If he were also a tech genius, that'd exceed even a villain boss's limits.
Ten-skill decathlon—and you chose "villain"?
With that much talent, you could be a world leader—why start a cult?
Every other boss would be jealous.
Hikaru touched the crystal at his chest. The two machine-breaking crystals were still dark—no help there.
"Let us contest the Ancient Crown here and now!"
Ghetsis raised his scepter. Plasma grunts had already sent out their Pokémon, so they no longer needed Poké Balls.
Naturally, Ghetsis had no intention of "honorable" 1v1s.
Team Plasma had strewn a net across Undella Bay. Even if the Ruins kicked these two out after weakening them, they'd fall right into Plasma's encirclement.
To seize the King's Heart—this is necessary!
Hikaru snorted. "Profaning your own ancestor's resting place—how pious of you, Mr. Ghetsis."
Ghetsis swept his arm. "This is to inherit our forebears' power and build a better world! Outsiders cannot fathom our greatness. To unify a world wracked by strife—this is necessary!"
"And here, we have a 'Darkness Domain' that seals psychic power. We anticipated psychic attacks and brought a Dark-type legion!"
"Psychics—this is where you exit!"
Ghetsis's pupils widened, verging on manic. Slowly, a sigil—like a Seal of Orichalcos—seemed to surface on his brow.
Hikaru recognized it.
In the animation, the altar sigil of the Abyssal Ruins—those who have been bathed in the Reveal Glass's light, if they stand upon the altar, lose spiritual balance and succumb to ambitions of destruction and domination.
In that state, one can stir the Three Cloud Gods' power—but one's own spirit collapses. Ghetsis still looked lucid… likely because he hadn't been shone by the Glass nor stepped on the altar—yet.
Meanwhile, Dark-type Pokémon swarmed to Ghetsis's side!
Malice surged. Caitlin frowned and thrust out her hand; a gale of psychic force rose—only to vanish the instant it touched the formation before Ghetsis's host!
"Amplifiers."
Ghetsis chuckled. "We're magnifying and cross-feeding Dark energy. We're also carrying Dark-type trinkets—like the Dark Claw!"
(A TCG tool—an ominous black claw; perhaps Sneasel's… or Houndoom's, or Absol's.)
He slammed the scepter to the floor.
A hum—an unseen field interlocked with the Dark-type auras spewing from the Plasma line, piling on a tar-thick pressure that dragged at Hikaru and Caitlin like a bog.
"Now!"
A cold gleam flashed in Ghetsis's eyes.
A treacherous black shadow lunged from a blind angle at Caitlin!
Perfect timing—right as the "Darkness Domain" throttled her psychic output.
This newly minted Elite Four is famed for destructive psychic power—said to level a city. If you can seal her psychic power, all the better. If you can't…
Then make her rampage!
A powerful psychic, if her mind snaps mid-attack, becomes the scariest ticking bomb!
Out of the dark, Bisharp's blades were a heartbeat from Caitlin—when a golden greatshield unfolded like a phantom, catching the strike dead-on. Sparks fountained—attack stopped cold!
"Yoh!"
The single eye of Aegislash swiveled, fixing on the ambusher. In Bisharp's widening gaze, a Sacred Sword drilled straight through its chest!
Don't panic.
Sacred Sword hits hard, ignores stat changes—but Pokémon don't just die. Bisharp is 4× weak to Fighting, yes—but it's Steel-type!
Steel bodies don't crumble that easily. Still—that one hit knocked it out.
"Guh—so the 'king,' then! Hiding behind the red stele! Is that how a king greets—by skulking?"
Ghetsis truly hadn't spotted Aegislash there. His pupils pin-pricked.
"To sense and command under suppression—your perception is remarkable."
Hikaru thought: naturally. The Perception I've honed is basically at 100%—perfect for catching sneak-attackers.
And while Dark energy gnawed at his psychic power, an invisible aura stopped it cold.
Hallowed Presence and the Time-Space Explorer vocation let him ignore such odd energies entirely.
"Maybe it's cultural. Where I'm from, kings greet exactly like this."
Aside from him… Caitlin wasn't well.
She groaned; her face went bloodless.
The Dark field's suppression plus the sudden strike shook her—her psychic power started getting choked off. She felt weak, staggered; her mighty mind became the source of pain, vision warping and blurring.
"Darkness also erodes my mental control…"
This was the downside of insufficient mental defenses—huge power without a matching inner tier. Caitlin thought: if only I'd brought the Calryrex plushie.
Just then, Hikaru reached out—just like before—and clasped the ojō-sama's hand.
"Leave it to me."
A warm, steady will flowed through the touch—soothing her emotions and helping stabilize the internal maelstrom.
Caitlin felt the support, her chaos finding an anchor; the pain eased a notch.
She panted, a sheen of sweat at her sculpted brow. Yet the Elite's pride burned in her eyes.
"I'm not done… yet."
Teeth gritted, she refused to bow out—working to rein in and level her psychic power.
She glanced at her team—Gothitelle's power was damped; Psychic moves still worked but did nothing to the mob of Dark-types.
And Shadow Ball, as off-type coverage, was likewise poor into Dark…
Sableye, though—Ghost/Dark—was untouched by the Dark field and actually swam like a fish in it.
Caitlin's mind began to clear—calmed by that shared heart-line—slipping into a hollow tranquility. Unconsciously, she squeezed his hand tighter.
Hikaru scanned the field, eyes sharpening; he gave a mental order:
"Fury Cutter!"
Aegislash shifted into its Blade Forme, crackling with lightning and gold, and unleashed a huge, afterlag-less, hyper-fast cut!
"Fake Out!"
More than one Dark-type piled in. A drumline of slaps—in a formal match, it'd be a nightmare, flinching any foe to death. Hikaru counted no fewer than twenty Liepard just in view.
Only Pokémon with Inner Focus ignore Fake Out's flinch.
But!
Hikaru:
"Aegislash is Ghost-type, and bears ancient benedictions—Fake Out won't work!"
Even aside from Ghost immunity, Fake Out doesn't always land in real battles.
Fighting-specialist Trainers put in brutal mind-hardening with their Pokémon—tempering fearlessness. That trained mental steel can reduce or even ignore Fake Out's effect.
After all, Fake Out traces back to a sumō feint called "neko-damashi"—clapping in the opponent's face to startle and disrupt. It isn't the shock of an actual force move!
It's a feint.
Power surged around Aegislash—and a radiance flared about its body!
Long ago, Aegislash had tried learning a certain energy while "chatting" with Unown. It is a kind of Psychic energy—yet can alter one's type. Its name—
Hidden Power!
Flames roared around Aegislash—Hidden Power (Fire). The last time a Pokémon brandished Hidden Power (Fire) like this was Registeel near the Sinjoh ruins!
Hidden Power came in many types and, in earlier generations, was a vital coverage move for many species.
"Take this!"
Its greatshield became a blazing aegis; silk sashes slapped its blade.
Perhaps the ancient city's blessing had altered its Hidden Power—but whatever the miracle, now was the time to paint the sun!
I've had enough of your pomp—your sun is setting!
"Don't be afraid! Steel/Ghost is still weak to Dark!"
One of the Sages at Ghetsis's side roused the troops, ordering a mass Beat Up—yes, Beat Up!
Among the Dark army were countless Pawniard—Bisharp's pre-evo. Individually weak, but in numbers. Each Bisharp marshaled a squad of Pawniard!
Beat Up is a Dark move that calls all allies to strike. The more allies, the more hits!
A chorus of Dark-types roared forward—scores of them swelling the field, pushing Beat Up's power to absurd levels!
[Energy low—need capsules.]
Deoxys spoke into Hikaru's mind. The amped Dark field was uncomfortable even for a Warrior of Light; when the sky is swathed in black, light can be veiled.
That's the Psychic-mono drawback. But thanks to the bout with Darkrai, Deoxys merely felt suppressed when energy ran low. If it could refuel—
"Try this—Mystic Energy!"
Hikaru recalled Deoxys and slotted the Mystic Energy he'd obtained in Celestic Town.
Mystic Energy: the Pokémon becomes immune to all non-damage effects!
Whummm—an eerie force rippled. The chest crystal still blinked, but the pressure was gone!
"Here—energy capsules."
Hikaru popped two more into Deoxys. Re-empowered, the Warrior of Light returned to the fray—
—just as the Shadow Triad "respawned" into view!
"That one! The Pokémon hidden in the Master Ball!"
"Never seen its like!"
"Its energy can't sustain long outside the Ball—drain it! Typing says it's primarily Psychic!"
All three of the Triad's partners were Bisharp—including the one that got one-shot earlier. It still felt instinctive fear, but years of being used coldly as a tool left it unable to defy its Trainer.
And if it could fell this Psychic Pokémon here… a blistering lust for battle flared in that Bisharp's heart.
Most Bisharp are the "win at all costs" sort—ruthlessly carving foes with every blade.
The "honorable warrior" Bisharp used by Grimsley is the exception.
[One-on-three again. No different from before. Make it quick!]
"Gothitelle—Play Nice."
At Caitlin's call, the three Bisharp suddenly lost their aggression—like their will to fight had been siphoned. An instant later, they realized their Attack had dropped one stage.
"Sableye—Disable."
Caitlin rarely gives verbal orders unless she's in high spirits… or extremely drained. It felt good to call one out now and then; her lips quirked. Sableye answered her heart.
The fastest Bisharp froze mid-lunge!
In that opening—
White-hot tendrils punched through its chest, snapping the steel breast-blade in two!
Deoxys used Fire Punch!
It learned the move in Heatran's volcano—perfect coverage for moments like this. As a coverage slot, it was ideal here!
In Attack Forme, Deoxys's four tendrils could all ignite—achieving a "quad-hit" effect!
Four hits—but only three enemy Pokémon… so we'll pick one lucky Trainer at random!
"Damn! Use Protect!"
One Triad member barked—but his Bisharp suddenly went for Sucker Punch instead. He gaped. "What are you doing?! I ordered—"
His eyes snapped to the little goblin in the shadows.
"Hee-hee-hee!" Sableye wagged its fingers, swaying left and right.
Again!
The second Bisharp fell, no surprise. Attack-Forme Deoxys combined towering offenses and commanding speed. Even as a newly born lifeform, it wielded power far beyond a normal Pokémon.
That's the oppression of "freely swapping Formes"!
The third Bisharp also couldn't withstand it—cleaved at the waist, chest blade shattering with a bang.
"Hee-hee-hee!" Sableye capered and cackled, ducking behind a stele just before a knife from the Triad could tag it.
"Grr—don't get cocky! Our mission is to drain you. We're not done!"
Without hesitation, they popped a second wave of Balls—three more Bisharp hit the field!
Hikaru now noticed—they could still use Poké Balls.
Come to think of it, Ghetsis's "interference waves" were always weird. In BW2's finale, he claimed you couldn't capture Kyurem due to the waves—but the protagonist could still send out and fight normally. So what did they really jam… just capture?
And now, they'd clearly modified their own Balls. Not surprising—villain teams often mod Balls; Team Rocket famously overhauled them.
As for Team Galactic and Team Plasma—their electromagnetic shenanigans are the buggiest of all. "Double-standard EM waves" are par for them.
"The Shadow Triad's BW2 lineup, right? Two Bisharp each with Inner Focus and Defiant, plus Absol, Accelgor, Banette."
"So the plan is to drain Deoxys with high-level human-wave attrition."
"But that tech won't help you anymore. Time to see future tech!"
Hikaru had already dissected future tech—and had faced EM lockdowns in that future world. He had solutions.
[Item: EM Shield — Future Tech!]
Description: Re-engineered with insights from crafting Great Balls. This EM shield blocks hostile waves and screens out large-scale EM interference!
The dice-like gizmo snapped open—and Ghetsis's scepter died on the spot. One after another, devices crashed.
But the cult boss's brow sigil—the red, eerie Orichalcos-like ring—only grew clearer.
Hikaru judged he needed to steal the scepter—best via a Hypno Wand feint.
Just as he moved to launch the swap—
[Unworthy descendants devoured by their own ambition—pitiful. For the King's Heart, you sow strife; for vile desire, you make your scion a puppet.]
[The Four Gods' power is being forced higher. They will soon frenzy. You've triggered the Reveal Glass out of greed. Fine—if you want that power, then have it.]
[Unable to control your heart—you march to ruin. That is your end.]
The Ancient Crown's voice dripped with mockery—and made no move to stop it. N heard it as well.
He, however, was held by two Sages—his unmodified Balls locked.
Hearing the Crown, N felt he had to act. He saw Ryoku step half-forward, crowding him closer to Ghetsis.
So that's it. In a flash, N grasped this newly minted turncoat's hint. Before Ghetsis could react, N glanced at a Pokémon to the side—
My friend… help me!
Among the Plasma "grunts," one suddenly spun and raked a claw across Ghetsis's side!
Shadow Claw!
Ghetsis's robe split; the scepter flew—caught with a smack by that "grunt."
"You—you damned—Zoroark?! When did you sneak in?!"
As N's adoptive father, Ghetsis understood at once. Sure enough, the "grunt" said nothing and hurled the scepter back to N!
"Giallo, Ryoku! Retrieve the scepter!"
Ghetsis's eyes went visibly blood-shot—the sign of mental collapse. Sage Giallo panicked and reached for his Ball—only to be tackled to the ground by the turncoat Ryoku!
"My king! Flee with the scepter—Lord Ghetsis has gone mad!"
Ryoku pinned Giallo. Ghetsis erupted, spinning to snatch the scepter—but the psychic erosion wracked him; pain twisted to mania. With his roar, a ghost-blue aura exploded off the trio of cloud gods. Power spiked—and a vast hole tore open in the sky itself!
Undella Bay's weather flipped; the sea began to freeze. Ghetsis flung out all his Pokémon.
"Burn it all—destroy everything! Hydreigon!"
"So the evil dragon finally shows… and the rest of Ghetsis's team—"
Seeing N seize the scepter, Hikaru thought: finally, we can cut loose. But he also had to stabilize Caitlin—or else—
"Go," Caitlin suddenly let go. Her face was still pale—but tinged with shy irritation.
"What do you take me for, a fragile child? Don't underestimate me—I am Elite Four!"
Seeing the ojō-sama bristle, Hikaru nodded.
"Then, Ojō-sama—take this."
He produced a Heart Scale and set it in Caitlin's hand.
"Perhaps it'll help you remember something important."
Linked hearts, golden hair drifting, Caitlin understood. She looked to Gothitelle and used the special recall item.
Now—remember.
Perhaps forgotten… perhaps never learned until now—a special move one can grasp only now…
Invisible light shimmered; Gothitelle's eyes shone—she had "learned" it!
"Gothitelle!" Ice-blue chill gathered in Caitlin's gaze.
"Use Miracle Eye!"
Afterward, moves that normally don't affect Dark-types and foes with high evasion will now hit!
Her eyes lifted to the last of the gods.
Enamorus—why do you only watch?
She did not know the relations among the Four, nor why the last goddess is absent from myth—so she held her tongue.
Enamorus likewise said nothing—and refused the Reveal Glass's call.
She drifted in mid-air, cold eyes judging the "Strife for the King's Heart" like an arbiter awaiting the verdict.
At the same time, the frenzied Three Cloud Gods all snapped their gazes one way.
Out on the ocean, a fierce storm raged. Through it—breaking the tyrant weather, striding the ice-skinned sea, ripping open Plasma's encirclement—those who charged into the exposed battlefield were—
"Use Sacred Sword!"
Surfing waves and bergs, squaring off against the storm-calling Three—stood the legendary Swords of Justice!
"The King's Heart has appeared! The king of our founding legend truly left a legacy! I never thought we'd be fighting over this and not the Dragon Stone!" Virizion gasped.
"We tailed this bunch and found them gathering at Undella… and will you look at that—restless dead are real! Plus, Landorus and them are four?!" Terrakion boggled.
"Whatever the case, our comrades and disciples are fighting. It's time we guard Unova's land. For that, we set aside fear and pity!"
Cobalion's roar drowned wave and wind. On all three beasts, an aura flashed—stats rose sharply!
Their battle trophies!
Justified—when struck by a Dark move, Attack +1.
Hit by a multi-hit Dark move? Each hit can trigger it!
"Crush these humans! Make the Four Gods return to calm!"
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 500 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]