Chapter 3- Cerulean Showdown

~Despite the knowledge, the warnings and the preparations we took in securing Cerulean City, the Kaisers have succeeded in their plan. They knew we were gonna try to stop them, they knew exactly what we would do, and we played right into their hands. Now we’re trapped outside, unable to do anything, while they’re free to do whatever they want. These Kaisers are different from anything we’ve faced before. They’re stronger, faster and smarter than the ones in the past… it’s almost as if we are facing an entirely new enemy. As for Gold Kaiser and Silver Kaiser, the Lords of the Kaiser Cult, all we know about them is they each rule about 1/3 of the Cult… but other than that, we know nothing about them. Whether we’ll be able to pull Cerulean City out of their grip in time is all a question of fate…

-Ash Ketchum

(Location- Outside Cerulean City) [♪Final Fantasy X- Confrontation♪]

“PEOPLE OF CERULEAN CITY! IN THE NAME OF THE KAISER CULT, I CLAIM THIS CITY!!! FROM THIS DAY FORWARDS, YOU BELONG TO ME!!! BOW DOWN TO ME, FOR I AM YOUR MASTER!!! I AM SKY RENDER!!!!!!” Silver Kaiser’s voice echoed throughout the sky

“Hmph…” Ash growled, “Those Kaisers… as if overrunning the City’s not enough. Now one of them is trying to impersonate Sky Render… who are they trying to fool!?”

“The entire world” said Gary, “Though we may know Sky Render better than that, the rest of the world doesn’t. To them, he’s a criminal!”

“So they’re using the name Sky Render as a shield!” Ash gasped. Most people don’t even know what Sky Render really looked like, some even question his existence. To many, Sky Render was something of a bogeyman. But in this case, none of that mattered, all they need to hear is the name, and all the blame would go to him!

(Meanwhile…)

“We interrupt your regular broadcast to bring you an urgent bulletin!” said the newscaster, “At exactly noon today, Cerulean City has fallen under attack by a terrorist army! The individual responsible for it all claims to be non other than the infamous Sky Render!” he paused, “There have been numerous tries to contact the people within Cerulean, but due to a strange barrier that has been raised, we are incapable! Still, no demands have been made…” he stopped, “AH! This just in! We have finally received contact from the city, which we will present to you, live!”

*People of earth, all you savages, foolishly living your short and pointless lives, unaware of what is really happening around you… I am Sky Render* Silver Kaiser’s voice spoke. *We are not mere terrorists, but a greater power, superior beings, if you will. As we have the entire population of Cerulean under hostage, do not attempt any sort of rescue, as any such action shall result in their immediate execution* Silver Kaiser chuckled.

“WHAT DID HE SAY?!” Exclaimed Professor Oak, who was watching this

“OH NO!” Delia Ketchum gasped

All over the world, people were listening to this broadcast, and every one of them was shocked and appalled. They all felt hate altogether for the one responsible for these barbaric threats… Sky Render…

*Do not waste our time with negotiations, because we will not be making any demands. We already have what we want… or in fact, the hostages have it, their blood…* said Silver Kaiser, *In one hour, we will begin a special ceremony with the sacrifice of one hostage. If that life does not prove sufficient for our current affair, then it shall be two hostages in the next hour, and three in the next. This will keep going until the entire population is wiped out… unless one of the offerings proves successful before the population runs out, we can then proceed with a mass execution. The sermon will begin shortly. That is all.*

“Ah…” the newscaster gasped, too shocked to say anything else.

*Oh, and one more thing* Silver Kaiser continued, *Do not get comfortable, because even after we are finished with Cerulean we will target one city after the next, and for all you know, it could be yours…*

“We’ve… lost connection” said the newscaster, slowly getting up, “People of Kanto… not just Kanto… but all over the world…” he sighed, “Though we can’t do anything for the citizens of Cerulean… we must not lose hope. All we can do is lower our heads and pray… pray for their safety… and pray for a miracle…”

***

(Meanwhile)

“God… DAMMIT! OPEN UP!” Ash shouted, punching the barrier again and again, “WHY WON’T THIS STUPID THING BREAK!”

“ASH!” shouted Gary, “What are you doing?!”

“I’m trying to get in! What does it look like?!” Ash shouted

“If you keep hitting that barrier, they’ll see us!” said Gary

“Yeah?! SO WHAT!? That’s exactly what I want!” Ash continued hammering at the wall, shouting “COME ON OUT AND FIGHT, YOU STUPID KAISERS!”

“ASH! YOU IDIOT!” Gary grabbed Ash and pulled him back

“LET GO!” Ash shouted, trying to shake Gary off, “You can’t tell me what to do! I have to get inside! You better let me go now!”

“No! I won’t! Not until you snap out of it!” Gary growled

“Why do you keep ordering me around?!” Ash shouted, “LET GO OF ME NOW!”

POW!

“AGH!” Gary fell when Ash punched him. He started growling, “That does it…” he got up and charged at Ash, “YOU’VE CROSSED THE LINE ASH KETCHUM!”

“I’LL GET IN THERE EVEN IF I HAVE TO FIGHT YOU!” Ash shouted and charged at Gary. Ash tackled him down, but Gary punched him in the face. They rolled over the ground, yelling and hitting each other

“Pika…” Pikachu growled as the two of them fought, “PIKACHUUUU!!!!!!!”

BZZZZ!!!!!

“AHHH!” The two of them shouted, and stopped fighting.

“What was that for?!” Ash shouted

“Pika-Pika! Pikachu!” Pikachu said angrily, “Pikachu Pika! Pi Kachu!”

“Hmm…” Ash and Gary looked down and sighed. Pikachu was telling them that they were only making things worse by fighting each other. “But Pikachu…” said Ash, “If I don’t get in… I don’t want to think of what they’ll do to the people, and Misty…”

“They won’t do anything so suddenly, but they will if you get in there in plain sight.” Said Gary, “Stop acting like you’re the only one who cares about the people”

“Oh, like you’re the one to talk! You keep bossing me around!” said Ash

“You’ve been acting weird ever since we got to Cerulean City” said Gary

“No, I’ve been acting this way ever since I found out you can use the level three abilities!” Ash shot back

“Oh, so this is what it’s about?” Said Gary angrily, “You’re upset because you’re the only Chosen One left who can’t use your abilities”

“How do you think I feel? Being humiliated like that! You came out of nowhere and make me look bad! Making me feel like a weakling!” Ash argued back

“I’m sorry you feel that way, but you shouldn’t be getting angry at me” Gary said coldly, “I didn’t mean to humiliate you, make you feel weak, or anything else like that, but I’m not sorry for being better than you!”

“And what is that supposed to mean!?” Ash shouted

“What it means is that if you should be mad at anyone, it should be yourself” Gary crossed his arms, “I trained day in, day out non-stop, almost to the point of death to surpass my limits and get this strong, while you spent all that time relaxing. I didn’t gain my abilities just to compete with you, I’m not doing it for myself, but the world that needs people like me! I discovered that, while you seem to have forgotten.”

“HMM…” Ash growled, but then sighed, “You’re right… I’m sorry” Ash closed his eyes and looked down, “I got so caught up in being stronger than everyone that I forgot what being a Chosen One is all about…” he looked at Gary, “Would you forgive me?”

“Hmm…” Gary crossed his arms, and then smiled, “Yeah, sure.”

“And Pikachu? You too?” Ash asked, kneeling down to Pikachu’s level

“Pika!” Pikachu nodded happily

“All right!” Ash cheered, standing up, “I don’t know how, but we’ll somehow find a way to get past that barrier, and save the people inside!”

“Not alone you aren’t!” Said a voice

“Huh? WA!” Ash and Gary turned around and gasped at who they saw…

***

(Location- Cerulean City Gym) (♪Final Fantasy X- Hopeless Desire♪)

Cerulean Gym was deathly silent. The whole place had been ransacked, and there was no one left inside, except for one person…

“Hmm… are they gone yet?” Misty asked, as she opened up a secret trapdoor hidden on the floor and climbed out, carrying Togepi. As she looked around, she gasped at the state the gym was in. It was as if the entire building has been ransacked. “The Kaisers…” Misty said bitterly. They had come here, and ruined the gym! She sighed closed the trapdoor and started walking. Her thoughts flew to her sisters, how they had hidden her before they came, and taken them away… “I wonder what happened to them…” she spoke sadly, when all of the sudden, she snapped back to attention, “Someone’s coming!” she exclaimed quietly, quickly hiding in a broom closet.

“Ugh… those jerks, always making ME to the dirty work” an ARM Cultist muttered as he walked through the halls, “I messed up this place as much as THEY did, and none of us knew Lord Silver was intending to stay here for now, but why do I have to be the only one to clean this place up?” he grumbled as he opened the door…

BAM!

“GAK!” The ARM Cultist yelped, and fell unconscious

“HMPH! Maybe that’ll teach you to enter a lady’s room without knocking!” Misty said, putting away her hammer. She quickly closed the door and ran outside, leaving the Cultist lying there, out cold.

“I’ve got to find a way out of here!” Misty said to herself as she ran, outside the Gym, and gasped at what she saw. The streets were cracked and full of wreckage from battle. The waterways have been blocked by fallen rubble. The whole city was a mess, and completely deserted, except for… “Ah!” Misty gasped, and dove into an alleyway as several Kaiser Cultists patrolling the streets passed her. “That was close…” Misty sighed, “What could have happened? Why didn’t Ash prevent all this? He’d never allow this to happen… unless…” she closed her eyes and shook her head, “No! I can’t start thinking like that!” she started running, avoiding the Kaiser Cultists roaming the streets, “Ash is alive, and I’ve got to find him!”

(Meanwhile)

“Like… I’m so scared!” said Daisy, “What are they going to do to us?”

“I can’t believe something like this can happen!” said Violet

“I don’t wanna die yet! I don’t even have a boyfriend!” said Lilly

“Hey you three! Quiet down! No talking!” A large SHIELD Cultist pointed his halberd at them, making them reel back in fear.

The people in Cerulean were gathered in a large, empty warehouse. Everyone was sitting still, completely silent, because there were numerous guards watching them.

“We totally should have believed Misty when she told us about the Kaisers… otherwise this might not have happened…!” said Daisy “I… can’t take this! How can I call myself a Gym Leader when I surrender without a fight…!”

“Calm down Daisy, just keep calm…” whispered Violet

“That’s right… let’s not do anything stupid…” whispered Lilly

“HEY YOU STUPID KAISERS!!!” Daisy snapped and stood up

“UGH…” Violet and Lilly groaned, and covered their faces

“YEAH! I’M TALKING TO YOU!” Shouted Daisy, “WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA STUFFING US ALL DOWN HERE?! YOU’D BETTER LET US GO! RIGHT NOW…”

SMACK!

“AH!” Daisy screamed when the SHIELD Kaiser hit her, she fell to the ground

“DAISY!” Violet and Lilly both exclaimed

“GRRR…” Daisy growled and sprung up, biting the SHIELD Kaiser’s finger

“GRR!” The Cultist exclaimed, “Filthy savage! LET GO!” he hit her head, knocking her out. Many guns pointed at her, while the green cultist raised his halberd to her throat

“It looks like I’ll have to make an example…” the SHIELD Kaiser growled, raising his halberd up high “Just to shut you up… I’LL REMOVE YOUR HEAD!!!”

THUD!

“AAAAH!!!!” The SHIELD Cultist screamed when he was sent flying

“I wouldn’t point fingers if I were you Kaiser, since you’re the guys that never shut up!” said the person that kicked the Cultist

“AH!” All the Cultists gasped, staring at him, “It’s you!”

“The one and only!” Aquamarine grinned and struck a pose, “I had a feeling that playing the scared hostage would pay off!”

“RAAAAAA!!!!!” several ARM Cultists charged at him from behind…

CLASH!

“AAAAGH!!!!” They screamed as they were sent flying in different directions

“Heh” Aquamarine smirked, “My punches and kicks have the strength of a wrecking ball. They won’t be getting up…” he spun around and roundhouse kicked another one

“SOUND THE ALARM!” one of them yelled, and several Cultists ran towards it…

“JAVELIN RAIN!” before those cultists could get any further, Aquamarine kicked off the ground and jumped high into the air, unleashing a rain of projectiles. One javelin per cultist, each one hit with deadly precision. “Not a bad aim, eh?” Aquamarine clapped, turning around and seeing a SHIELD Kaiser running towards him, “WHOOP!” Aquamarine jumped into the air and kicked the large Cultist’s forehead, denting the metal helmet and making him fall back... “HA!” before the SHIELD fell, Aquamarine snagged him in the net, “RHAAAAA!!!!!”

CRASH!

“AGH!!!” some cultists screamed when Aquamarine swung the giant SHIELD at them, sending them flying. The ocean warrior spun around and let go, tossing the large Cultist right at a SENSES Cultist in the distance

“AH!” The SENSES Cultist ducked, and the harpoon struck into the wall

“Darn, missed!” Aquamarine snapped his fingers, annoyed, “I suppose I’ll just have to beat you the old fashioned way… with my fists!” he clenched his fist tight

“STOP RIGHT THERE OR I’LL SHOOT THE HOSTAGES!” the SENSES Kaiser aimed down at the hostages, “Don’t take another step!”

Aquamarine simply blinked, looking calmly at him. “Okay” he replied, and then gave the metal rope a hard pull…

-CRACK-

“Huh? AAAARGH!” the SENSES Cultist screamed when Aquamarine pulled the harpoon back, ripping a huge chunk out of the cement wall, slamming it against him!

“What? I didn’t take a step…” Aquamarine smirked, and then pulled out the coral mace as more sword-wielding ARM cultists came running at him from behind.

SMASH!

“Is that all of them?” Aquamarine looked around. There was still one more…

“HAAAA!!!!!” The last ARM Kaiser charged straight him with two giant swords…

CLASH!

“AUGH!!” the ARM Cultist was sent spinning through the air, and hit the ground

“Don’t even try it” said Aquamarine

“AGH…” the ARM cultist struggled to move “THE ALARM… I HAVE TO SOUND IT…”

“Sorry Kaiser, but that won’t work!” Aquamarine said casually, leaning right next, to the ARM Cultist, “I believe you’ll need hands to do that”

“Huh? AAAAAH!!!” the Cultist looked down and he screamed. His arms were gone!

“Looking for these?” Aquamarine held two robotic arms, one in each hand

“AH…” The ARM Kaiser trembled, “HOW…?! WHEN DID YOU…!?”

“I’m just that good” Aquamarine smirked, gripping the arms tight…

WHACK! BAM! POW! SMACK!

“GAAAH!” the ARM Cultist screamed and fell over unconscious

“HA-HA-HA!!!! An armless ARM Kaiser getting beaten up with his own arms! That’s a good one!” Aquamarine laughed, clapping at the joke with arms he was holding, and then turned to Daisy “Hey, are you okay?”

“Y… yes, I think so…” said Daisy, slowly getting up, “But… who are you?”

“Not important.” Said Aquamarine, “Daisy, you and your sisters tell the rest of the hostages not to be afraid, but stay here where it’s safe. In the meantime, take these” he tossed the arms to the side, and grabbed two pokéballs, “I CHOOSE YOU!”

“TENTACRUUUEL!”

“GROAAAAR!!!”

“WHOA…” Daisy and her sisters gasped at the huge pokémon

“These are Kraken and Ogopogo. They are both Level 100 pokémon and they’re capable of protecting you” Aquamarine smirked, looking at his Tentacruel and Gyarados. “If more Kaisers come down, command them, they shall fight for you.” he turned around and ran, “In the meantime, I’ll be cleaning up outside…”

“Wait!” Daisy called, “Can you please tell us who you are?”

“Who am I?” Aquamarine stopped, and turned around, giving her a thumbs-up, “Let’s just say, I’m the local, homebred hero…” he started running, “See ya!”

“That guy… he’s incredible…!” Daisy said in awe, “And he looked vaguely familiar… I wonder, could that have just been… no…! It can’t be…! Little Aquamarine?”

***

(Location- Outside Cerulean) [♪Final Fantasy X- Underground Activities♪]

Ash and Gary stood in front of the barrier surrounding the City. With them were Brock, Tracey, Richie, and AJ, who also came when they heard Cerulean was in danger, but didn’t expect to find Ash and Gary.

“Hmm…” Richie examined the barrier closely, “The barrier is made by the combined mind power of several Kaiser Beasts, and I doubt any regular attack could scratch it”

“We kinda figured that part after the first half hour Ash spent punching it” said Gary

“This wall may be tough, but I’ll bet it’d shatter like glass against UniStrike!” said AJ

“It would, and that’s the problem.” said Ash. “Regular attacks won’t break it, and a UniStrike will go right through it, destroying the city we’re trying save!”

Oh yeah… forgot about that. My bad” AJ sweatdropped

“Of course, if we can’t smash our way in, we could try cutting one…” said Tracey

“All right!” Gary suddenly exclaimed, everyone stared at him, “If we can’t break it with strength, we’ll cut it with tools!” he grabbed a pokéball, “ALAKAZAM! GO!”

“ALAKAZAM!” the psychic pokémon emerged from the ball

“Alakazam may not have the mind power to match four Kaiser Beasts altogether, but he’s equipped with just the stuff we need cut through their psychic wall!” said Gary, “Alakazam! Cut a hole into the barrier!”

“Ala…” Alakazam raised the two spoons, “KA!” He swung once, “ZAM!”

RRRIIIP!!!!

“Wa!” Ash gasped, as Alakazam’s spoons tore into the barrier, cutting a hole!

“Looks like my theory was right!” said Gary, “Not only can the spoons focus energy into psychic attacks, but they can cancel out the energy as well!”

“That’s awesome!” everyone exclaimed

“Great job Gary!” said Ash, “All right! No more waiting! Come on guys! LET’S GO!” he cheered as he ran forwards and dove through the gap

“Don’t just stand around and gape, guys! Get in!” said Gary, jumping through

“Right behind you!” said Brock, followed Tracey, Richie and then AJ

As the six of them entered the captured City, the gap closed behind them and once again, Cerulean was without entry or escape, and the real danger that was awaiting them was beyond anything they could imagine…

***

(Location- Cerulean City)

“So that’s what’s going on!” said Misty, who hiding in an alley, trying not to be seen. At the top of 4 buildings, one at each corner of the city was a Kaiser Beast, “They’re the ones who made the barrier, and keeping any help from getting in!” She grabbed a pokéball and quickly ran, into the building “I’ll have to stop them myself!”

“Pierrotiste…” The clown Kaiser Beast stood there, its eyes closed and focusing hard, too hard in fact, because he failed to notice Misty was standing right behind him.

“Time for a nap, Mr. Kaiser Freak!” Misty smirked…

-CLICK-

“That’s far enough” said a voice behind Misty

“Huh?” Misty turned her head, and gasped. There was a TAMER Kaiser standing right behind her, holding a pistol!

“I don’t know how you got here, but you are NOT going to be ruining our plan and breaking the barrier!” Said the TAMER, squeezing the trigger…

“WA!” Misty screamed, and fell back…

BLAM!

“PIERRRR!!!!” The Kaiser Beast screamed, when the TAMER shot him right in the back! His concentration was broken, and the barrier over Cerulean City started flashing, as if struggling to keep intact “PIERRO…” The Kaiser Beast growled, and turned around

“eep…” the TAMER sweatdropped

SLAP!

“GAAAAH!!!!” the Tamer screamed, and was sent flying off the building

“TISTE!” Pierrotiste spat, and turned back around, raising his two hands and focusing hard, synchronizing with the other three. The struggling barrier became stable once more.

“Uh…” Misty sweatdropped, the Kaiser Beast hadn’t even noticed her. “Oh! I understand now!” she exclaimed. All the energy of the beast was being put into synchronizing with the other three. If any of them stopped, even for a moment, the connection breaks, and the barrier won't hold until they could link up again. “Heh-heh-heh…” she chuckle evilly, grabbing the hammer… “TAKE THIS!”

SMACK!

“AH!!!” Misty screamed, as she was thrown off her feet and hit the ground, almost falling off the building. She looked up and gasped when she saw who hit her.

[♪Baten Kaitos: Divine White Bell♪]

“Now, now… young lady, you weren’t about to do what I thought you were doing?” asked Silver Kaiser, gripping the hammer hard, and cracking it

“W… who are you?!” Misty stood up, “Are you the one responsible for all this?!”

“Why yes, I am…” said Silver Kaiser, “Oh, pardon me for not introducing myself properly to a lady…” he gave a courteous little bow, “I am known as Lord Silver to my subjects, but to you… Silver Kaiser…” he stood back up, “Now what would a fair young maiden such as yourself, doing in a place like this?”

“HMM!” Misty jumped back, her hand reached to grab a pokéball…

WHOOSH

“HUH!?” Misty exclaimed, when all of the sudden, Silver Kaiser was standing right behind her! He grabbed her wrist, keeping her from calling any pokémon!

“A lady should not fight. It is not proper” said Silver Kaiser, “A duel is a thing of gentlemen, a noble custom practiced since time immemorial…”

“LET GO!” Misty tried to struggle, to free herself, but Silver Kaiser was too strong.

SMACK!

“AH!” Misty gasped, when Silver Kaiser gave her a swift blow to the back of the neck, knocking her out.

“Refinement and dignity is something else a lady should practice, both of which you SEVERELY lack” said Silver Kaiser, holding Misty in his arms, and jumping down from the building, landing neatly on the ground.

“Lord Silver!” Exclaimed Inquisitor D-7, running towards him, “My Lord! I have been looking for you! It is almost time for the first sacrifice and…” he stopped, looking at what Silver Kaiser was carrying, “Lord Silver… what is that you have there?”

“Are you blind, or just that stupid? This is a GIRL” said Silver Kaiser, “I caught this fair young maiden trying to stop the barrier. She’s a feisty one and very lively…” he smiled, “She is a lucky one indeed, to have the honour of being the first offering of this city… one this lively may yet be a worthy sacrifice” his expression then changed to a serious one, “Begin preparations for the Ceremony of Blood!”

(Meanwhile) [♪Final Fantasy X- Underground Activities♪]

“Okay, take a look at this!” said Tracey, as everyone stood in an alleyway, and Tracey was showing the cell phone to Gary, “These cell phones designed by Ebi will allow us to keep in contact, in the meantime pinpoint the locations of everyone in the city on the minimap! You see these green dots here? They are us. The huge group of blue ones gathered there are probably the hostages, while the moving red ones scattered all over the city are the Kaisers.”

“That’s amazing!” said Gary

“That’s right. We have a map of the entire city, the locations of everyone, and keep in communication. The watches on the phones are already in full sync as well.” said Tracey, reaching into his pocket, and grabbed another one, “This is for you”

“Really?! Awesome!” Gary accepted it, “But what about you guys?”

“No prob!” said Brock, “Four eyes made enough of these for the whole group! We all got one, everyone except you and Ash!”

“That’s great. With this, no doubt we could make it through the city without starting a scene!” said Gary, looking at the phone, “Hey… where’s Ash?”

KAPOW!!!!

[♪Baten Kaitos: The True Mirror (Guitar Version)♪]

“RHAAAAAA!!!!! COME ON YOU KAISERS! I’LL TAKE ON ALL OF YOU! COME AND GET ME!!!!” Ash shouted as he ran through the street, fighting Cultists and shouting VERY loudly, “AND I’M NOT ALONE! MY FRIENDS’LL CRUSH YOU TOO!!! THEY’RE RIGHT OVER IN THAT ALLEY! YEAH! THAT’S THE ONE, RIGHT THERE!”

“UGH!” Everyone fell over in stupidity, “THAT IDIOT!”

“LOOK! THERE THEY ARE!” a voice shouted from above. Gary and the others looked up and gasped as several SENSES Kaisers dove down from above!

“AH!” They dove to the side, as the SENSES landed neatly on their feet and attacked, slashing at them with the Kaiser Claws

“WHOA! GWAH!” Tracey exclaimed, falling back and barely missing the claws, “Hey!” he shouted as the SENSES charged at him, “That… could’ve… HURT!!!”

SMACK!

“GAGK!” the SENSES exclaimed and fell, when Tracey kicked him HARD on the throat

“Yeah! See how you like it!” Tracey got up, “WHOA!” he ducked, barely getting slashed by another, “WHY YOU! HA!” he quickly punched the SENSES Kaiser across the face, but it wasn’t enough to knock him out. Quickly, he ran out of the alleyway, and they followed him. “Come on! Let’s see what you’re made of!” Tracey turned around and smirked, holding in his hands what looked like a pen…

“HAAA!” one of the SENSES dove at him, but Tracey skilfully evaded the attack, and slashed him across the face, “AGH!” he screamed and fell

“HA! YA!” Tracey darted forwards, slashing across the chest of one of them, and then turning around ducking the slash off the other SENSES, and thrusting it right into his shin. The Cultists all fell to the ground, reeling in pain, while Tracey stood up and smirked, twirling the weapon he used “As an artist, my weapon is the pen, which is easily mightier than any sword!” he held up pen, which had a small blade at the end.

“HMMM…” Gary held out his hands, and the flaming spiritual energy surrounded them… “HAAA!” he shouted, and the two swords appeared, “LET’S GO!” he shouted, whirling around and smashing Kaisers, sending them flying in different directions, “HYDRO PUMP! SHADOW BALL! PSYCHIC!” he shouted.

CRASH!!!!

“LET'S SEE YOU KAISERS STAND UP TO THE MIGHTY STONE WARRIOR OF PEWTER CITY!!!!” roared Brock, standing atop Onix’s head as he reached into his pants and pulled out the frying pan, “GEODUDE! GO!” Geodude grabbed onto his left arm, and Brock jumped down and swung him, slamming a Cultist. “WITH THE FRYING PAN OF JUSTICE IN HAND, TREMBLE IN FEAR FOR I AM BROCK!” he cheered, attacking Cultists left and right… “I BLUDGEON THE BAD!!!” he swung his frying pan…

POW!

“I KICK THEIR BUTTS!” Brock swung his strong leg…

BAM!

“I BASH THEIR HEADS…” Brock turned around and swung Geodude

WHAM!

“AND SMASH THEIR NUTS!!!” Brock swung both the pan and Geodude upwards…

CRACK!

“OOH… that did NOT sound good!” Brock cringed as that Cultist fell over (pleading desperately for death). Brock spun around and stuck a goofy pose, “YATTA!!!”

“Will you STOP messing around like that?!” shouted Gary as he ran, fighting

“HMM!” Richie jumped into the air, avoiding the sword attack from an ARM Kaiser. “With movements like that… you might as well be standing still! HAAA!!” he shouted, kicking downwards with his heel atop the ARM Cultist’s head. Quickly, he turned around and threw a pokéball to an incoming group of ARMS, “ZIPPO! GO!”

“CHAAAAR!” Zippo roared, and immediately attacked with his searing flames… the ARMS screamed as their swords and in some cases limbs melted

“THAT’S RIGHT SANDSLASH! SHOW THEM WHAT WE’RE MADE OF!” shouted AJ as Sandslash pounced forward and slashed with his gigantic claws, tearing into a SHIELD Kaiser. “WHOA!” AJ jumped back as a SENSES Cultist attacked with claw weapons, “Watch the nails you pansy! You almost nicked me!” he shouted, and punched him hard across the face, knocking him out “A REAL man fights with his fists!” he turned around, and saw an ARM Cultist charging at him, “TAKE THIS!”

SNAP!

“AGH!” the Cultist fell back when AJ whipped him across on the face

“HM! Not bad!” said a large SHIELD Kaiser, standing behind AJ. “But let’s see that piece of string work against ME!” he swung a large polearm…

“WHOA!” AJ jumped to the side, and cracked his whip, “You asked for it! HA!!!”

CRACK!

“AH?!” the SHIELD Cultist screamed, and dropped his axe. He clutched his right arm. The whip had struck his elbow, and it was now broken! “My arm… what… HOW!?”

“Take a closer look, Kaiser!” AJ held up the whip. At the end of it, was a metal ball attached! “A whip alone can’t do too much damage, but if you add something hard to it, even something as small as a ring can be lethal! The weigh of this ball, combined with the speed of a whip can even break your arm!” AJ whipped the SHIELD once more, cracking his forehead and knocking him out cold, “Remember that!”

“Looks like Gary wasn’t the only one who’s been learning to fight!” said Ash as he ran, punching an ARM Cultist across the face and sent him crashing into a group charging at him. He then released Squirtle and Totodile, “HYDROTHUNDER!!!!”

“SQUIRRRTLE!!!”

“TOTODIIIILE!!!!”

“PIKACHUUUU!!!!!”

BZZZZT! CRASH!!!

“All right!” Ash cheered, as the water flooded through the cultists and the electricity surged through every one of them, decimating their numbers. “RETURN!” he called back the water pokémon, and he and Pikachu continued to run.

“KEEP GOING ASH! WE’LL TAKE CARE OF THINGS HERE!” shouted Gary as he, Brock, Tracey, Richie and AJ continued fighting, as more and more Cultists kept coming…

“YOU’RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!” shouted a voice. Several new Cultists stepped into the scene, dressed in yellow uniforms… they were TAMERS! “GO!”

“RATTICRUSH!!!” the Kaiser beast of Ratticate, Ratticrush roared

“OBLITERRROOOOW!!!” screeched the Kaiser Beast of Fearow, Obliterow

“PARASEPTIC!!!” murmured the Kaiser Beast of Parasect, Paraseptic

“GRRR…” Ash stopped in the face of these Kaiser Beasts.

“You are not moving any further!” said the first TAMER

“The ceremony is just starting, and Lord Silver has already brought in the sacrifice!” said the second one, growling

“You are not getting past us!” Said the third TAMER…

“OH YEAH?!” Ash shouted and charged forwards…

SMASH!

“AUUUGH!!!!” The TAMERS and their Kaiser beasts screamed as Ash smashed right through them!

Ash kept running. The waves of Kaiser Cultists seemed to stop, meaning that either they had finished them all, or that there were even more waiting… “The Gym’s just around the corner! Pikachu!” said Ash, “Be ready for anything!”

“Pika! Pikachu!” Said Pikachu

“I don’t know why, but I just know Misty is in there! We have to keep going no matter what!” said Ash, preparing himself for a fight, as the two of them ran into view of the Gym, and stopped dead in their tracks, shocked by what they saw…

Bodies… The ground was littered with them. They were the bodies of at least several hundred Kaiser Cultists and dozens of Kaiser Beasts.

“W… what’s going on?! What happened?!” exclaimed Ash, looking around. Along with the many downed cultists, something seemed familiar… the damage to the surroundings, the way they were seemed to have been smashed by enormous blasts of energy, “Who could have done this?” Ash then shook his head, “I don’t have time for this! I got to keep going!” he started running, through the doors of the gym…

***

(Location- Cerulean Gym) [♪Chrono Trigger- Ocean Palace♪]

“Hmm…” Ash walked slowly, looking around for any sign of trouble. He was being discreet, because now that Misty was involved, he didn’t want to put her in danger.

“Pika…” Pikachu growled quietly

“Yeah, I know. I can sense it too…” Ash whispered, “Trouble… there’s something here…” Ash stopped, “It’s coming from this way!” Ash broke into a run, through the hallways and towards the door leading to the main battle arena… “Ah!” Ash gasped

“God of Kaisers… divine ruler of the earth and heavens… We bring you our offerings… the spoils of our victory, won only by your guidance!” Silver Kaiser spoke. The room was cold and dark, and the air was full of evil. There were four gigantic flames burning around a circle painted on the floor, full of weird markings.

“Hmm…” Ash looked closely. In the centre of the circle, was a bound, motionless figure, “Ah!” he gasped when he saw who it was, “MISTY!” he screamed. Everyone turned around and saw him, except for Silver Kaiser, who didn’t stop the ceremony

“HOW DARE YOU!” Inquisitor D-7 roared, raising the Krucifix, “HEATHEN! TAINTING THIS SACRED MOMENT WITH YOUR…”

SMACK!

“SHUT UP! I’VE HAD JUST ABOUT ENOUGH OF YOU!!!” Ash shouted, after uppercutting the persistent and recurring cultist, sending him flying, “GET OUT OF MY WAY! PIKACHU! GET RID OF THESE KAISERS!”

“PIKA!” Pikachu nodded, he was no less furious than Ash… “PIIII… KAAA… CHUUU!!!”

BZZZZAP!!!

“AAAAAGH!!!!!” The Kaiser priests screamed as millions of volts of electricity rained down on them, wiping them all out.

“MISTY!!!” Ash shouted and ran towards the circle…

“FEAST ON THE FLESH AND BLOOD OF MORTALS! QUENCH YOUR THIRST FOR HUMAN BLOOD!” Silver Kaiser shouted as he raised his sword…

“NO!” Ash leapt into the circle, towards Silver Kaiser… “WHAT?!” Ash exclaimed when all of the sudden, something grabbed him! Ash looked down and gasped

“That’s as far as you go” said the one who grabbed him by the collar, Gold Kaiser! “HAAA!” He turned and hurled Ash through the air, “Finish the ceremony!”

“AAAH!!!” Ash screamed, and hit the wall “Ungh…” he groaned, but looked up, “NO…”

“ACCEPT THIS OFFERING AND GRANT US POWER, SO WE MAY CONTINUE TO SERVE FOREVER UNDER YOUR RULE!” Silver Kaiser swung the sword, “HAAAAAA!!!!!!”

CLASH!!!!

“AH?!” Silver Kaiser exclaimed, when all of the sudden he was thrown off his feet, his sword flying out of his hand!

“You will not go through with the Ceremony of Blood in my hometown… ESPECIALLY not if Misty’s the sacrifice!” Aquamarine shouted

“Aquamarine!!!” Ash gasped, and got back up

“You don’t want anyone else but me, isn’t that right? So why go through all this trouble?” Aquamarine growled, looking at the two Kaisers

“The answer is quite simple” said Silver Kaiser, “True, we are only interested in Chosen Ones now, that is exactly why we held up this city!” He drew his sword, “You did most of the work for us in coming here. Prepare to be sacrificed, Chosen One.”

“The plan was more successful than we thought, look how many Chosen Ones have come!” Gold Kaiser drew his sword as well “Your life forces will help us immensely.”

“GRRR…” Aquamarine growled, looking on both sides. On one side was Silver Kaiser, on the other side was Gold Kaiser. “Hmm… two against one, far from being easy…”

“OH NO IT’S NOT!” Shouted Ash, and everyone turned to him, “Aquamarine isn’t fighting this battle alone!” Ash took a fighting stance, and Pikachu stood right next to him, ready for battle, “Gold Kaiser and Silver Kaiser! You tried to destroy Cerulean City, ruined Sky Render’s name, and even tried to hurt Misty, and I won’t allow it! I am the Chosen One Ash Ketchum from the Town of Pallet, and I will also fight!”

It’s Ash and Aquamarine vs. Gold Kaiser and Silver Kaiser in the decisive battle that will determine the fate of Cerulean City! Can our hero and the Chosen One of Water compete with their overwhelming might? Will they finally free Cerulean City from the Kaiser Cult’s grasp? Find out next time on Pokémon: Eternal Legacies!

► TO BE CONTINUED