A golden coffin Pokémon appeared, shaking its four black arms while cackling maliciously. Under Asura's command, Cofagrigus attacked Aegislash!
Ghetsis deceived the masses with words, while the other Sages used force to liberate Pokémon. Asura believed force was necessary. The youth before him was formidable – if he didn't seal his actions first, Team Plasma's researchers would face grave danger.
This youth and Lord N had ideological differences. Such a confrontation was reminiscent of Unova's founding legend. If he truly was the "other hero," things would become complicated.
Thus, obtaining a way to enter dreams was crucial – manipulating dreams to make people want to abandon Pokémon, imprinting Team Plasma's ideals and the beauty of their new world deep into their minds!
"Shadow Ball!"
Cofagrigus launched the attack. Based on analysis, Aegislash was Ghost + Steel type – a conclusion from Colress's Beheeyem!
Ghost moves were thus optimal.
"That giant shield isn't just for show. If that move just now was defensive, it likely can't be used twice in a row."
Protect twice in a row had low success rates. Though not impossible, Asura had tactics prepared. Cofagrigus had four arms!
"Dark Pulse!"
Shadow Ball and Dark Pulse struck Aegislash in succession. It raised its shield again – King's Shield blocked the attacks. At that moment, Riolu leaped from Aegislash's back!
Dark Pulse!
This time, Riolu didn't Mimic. It used the cosmic version of Dark Pulse learned from Deoxys, enhanced by the Star Badge and Stellar Aura.
In an instant, black cosmic darkness enveloped everything. Riolu radiated a terrifying aura, overwhelming Cofagrigus's Dark Pulse and pushing back with even greater force!
"!!!"
Asura didn't expect this and quickly commanded Protect, but Cofagrigus had used up its arms on the previous two moves.
This blow landed a critical hit!
"Ugh… Cofagrigus… was I mistaken? That Riolu radiated such an evil aura… For a moment I saw endless dark cosmos… Can an aura's malice influence minds?"
"Is this truly a Pokémon of a hero?"
"Come forth, Sigilyph!"
He released another Pokémon: Sigilyph, the Totem Guardian of ancient cities.
Sigilyph, with its turquoise eye and trident-like ear structures, spread its wings marked with blue and red stripes, embodying its guardian heritage.
"Psychic!"
Sigilyph's attack smashed Riolu away. But Aegislash swiftly floated over to shield its partner.
"Without your Pokémon's protection, now is the chance—"
"Like hell!" Hikaru roared, lifting a massive concrete slab and hurling it at Asura!
Using brute force learned from the Regi Trio, he wielded it with ease. Asura's soul nearly left his body. He dodged only because Cofagrigus shielded him at the last moment.
"What strength! He's like a superhuman!"
Hikaru ignored him, purifying Professor Juniper and the others with Psychic Cleanse, and threw down his Radio Jammer!
The disruptive signals were blocked, a soft yellow barrier forming around them.
Juniper regained clarity and immediately released her two fully evolved starters:
Emboar and Samurott!
"Fire Pledge! Water Pledge!"
The combined Pledge move created a rainbow field, boosting their effects. The researchers had six Pokémon total, clashing fiercely with the two starters:
×2 Krookodile, Liepard, Drapion, Zangoose!
Meanwhile, Musharna looked pained, trapped in a nightmare. Humans' greed and ambition distorted its powers, turning dreams into nightmares.
It released black dream mist. Fennel and Saeko recovered and released their own Pokémon.
"Are these people really researchers?" Fennel gasped. Saeko recognized familiar faces among the enemies.
"For Pokémon liberation, Team Plasma's research is correct! We sacrificed so much to find this way!" one researcher shouted.
"Join us, abandon your research!"
"They're insane," Saeko muttered, adjusting her glasses.
Fennel pulled out a device from her coat: Miracle Shooter!
She and Saeko equipped it like duel disks, using Revives to reenergize their Pokémon.
Meanwhile, Hikaru's Poké Balls opened automatically – Lilligant and Torterra entered the fray!
Lilligant's Leaf Blade sent two Krookodile flying, while Torterra's Bulldoze knocked out Zangoose instantly!
"Damn you! How many Pokémon have you hurt to make them this strong?!" a researcher screamed in rage.
Hikaru threw a rock at him. The man nearly fainted in fright.
"Pokémon grow strong with pride, not fear. True harm is stripping away their choices. You're the pitiable ones."
"Let me free your closed hearts!"
His blue crystal pendant radiated warm light. Team Plasma's researchers felt bliss – then agony, as ideals and reality tore at their minds, leaving them unable to command their Pokémon.
Hikaru raised his hand to use Mind Shatter—but was interrupted by Asura's Pokémon!
"I don't know what you're doing, but it feels dangerous."
"You blocked our Dream Signals… Are you a scientist too?" Asura panted. Sigilyph struck with Psybeam, forcing Hikaru back.
Aegislash and Riolu continued their battles. Riolu's Dark Pulse blasted Sigilyph from the ceiling, while Aegislash charged its shield—
Flash Cannon!
Hikaru mentally warned Aegislash not to use contact moves on Cofagrigus due to its Mummy Ability, which would overwrite its Battle Switch Ability, nullifying King's Shield.
Both Cofagrigus and Sigilyph, guardians of tombs, showed no fear toward a king's power.
"The ceiling's going to collapse!" Fennel shouted, Miracle Shooter ready.
Seeing his Pokémon falter, Asura opened his cloak, revealing multiple Poké Balls.
Team Plasma members, without PC storage, carried far more than six Pokémon. Ten Poké Balls in total!
"Come forth, liberated Pokémon!"
Venipede, Throh, Swadloon, Seismitoad, Scrafty, Garbodor, Accelgor, Ferrothorn, Mandibuzz, Zweilous!
The flood of Pokémon charged. Some sensed Aegislash's kingly aura and hesitated, but those scarred by humans attacked with fury.
Aegislash could not go all out against them. Asura sneered:
"As a king, unable to harm his own people – pitiful! Even with power, you cannot move their hearts!"
"Giveh… (You're right. Then let this king bear everything!)"
Golden light burst from Aegislash, transforming it into its Royal Form!
Larger, radiating kingly might. It slammed its shield down—
Royal Guard!
This ability nullified impact and reduced all damage by 50%. However, if broken, it would take 50% increased damage instead.
[Come, attack me if you wish! If my voice cannot reach you, where will your rage go?]
Aegislash's words echoed in their hearts. It abandoned Battle Switch for pure defense, no longer fearing Cofagrigus's Mummy.
Hikaru understood its resolve.
If the king bears all, the hero shall fight!
Riolu leaped, Stellar Aura blazing—
Aura Sphere!
It shot straight at Asura!
At that moment, two other Poké Balls burst open – Sawsbuck and Haxorus!
Their hearts burned with vengeance against Team Plasma. They unleashed everything:
Wild Charge + Dragon Claw!
Energy Ball + Crunch!
Double-Edge + Giga Impact!
The battlefield descended into chaos. Suddenly, a cold gleam flashed—
Night Slash!
Bisharp emerged from the shadows, slashing Hikaru before grabbing Musharna!
"That bastard!"
Even with buffs and brute strength, Bisharp's attack hurt. Bisharp was notorious for dirty tactics. Its evolution, Kingambit, even had "Kowtow Cleave."
Nightmare illusions twisted reality as Bisharp fled with Musharna.
But at that moment, Hikaru's blue crystal pendant shone brilliantly. From the collapsing ceiling, a ninja-like figure appeared – Darkness, one of the Triad!
He blew a retreat whistle.
Asura nodded. Their Pokémon were being overwhelmed, and the other researchers were collapsing.
"Time to go."
"Partner, take Musharna back!"
Hikaru tossed a Master Ball into the air. All eyes widened.
"A Master Ball!?"
Asura recognized the legendary Ball capable of capturing anything. Who would it summon?!
Master Ball opened, releasing blinding light.
Deoxys appeared, immediately using—
Superpower!
A direct, overwhelming punch. Though Psychic moves are null against Dark types, Fighting moves are 4x effective!
"Now!" Fennel activated Miracle Shooter. An accuracy-boosting medal flew to Deoxys.
Bisharp attempted to dodge, but Deoxys's boosted Superpower struck true!
Boom!
Bisharp was sent flying, smashing through platforms. Darkness gaped.
That Deoxys's strength was insane – beyond any Psychic Pokémon he'd faced.
Deoxys gathered a glowing golden sphere—
Zap Cannon!
Darkness teleported away, and Bisharp escaped in the chaos.
Seeing Musharna reclaimed, Asura knew their mission failed. But they had learned the dream world was real.
"Lord Asura, let's go!"
Darkness teleported him away. The abandoned Pokémon watched their masters flee, realization dawning in their eyes.
[See? If they truly cared, would they abandon you so easily?]
Aegislash's words shattered them. They stopped fighting, spirits broken, some fleeing in despair.
Deoxys descended, its blue crystal lamp flickering red.
Musharna awoke in its arms, comforted by Deoxys's shining dream. Its black mist turned pink again.
[I need to grow stronger… But I'm happy I could fight.]
Deoxys returned to its Master Ball, leaving Hikaru smiling.
"Defeated…"
Professor Juniper collapsed in exhaustion. Without Hikaru's Pokémon, they would have lost.
Torterra and Lilligant stood tall. Vine Whip might be weak, but few Pokémon even learn it.
"Cofagrigus and Sigilyph are gone…" Hikaru noted. As expected, sages treat their own Pokémon differently.
"They treat others as tools, but theirs as partners."
"Thank you, Professor Fennel."
"No, thank you! Without your Pokémon, Musharna would've been lost!" Fennel blushed, eyes glittering at the Master Ball.
"What's inside?"
"Deoxys," Juniper answered, wiping sweat. "A Pokémon from cosmic heaven."
Fennel's curiosity burned brighter.
Musharna floated to Fennel, attracted by her pure dreams, and suddenly… engulfed her head!
"Wahhh! It's eating her!" Saeko screamed.
Just like Special Black's Musharna. Dreams attracted Musharna's appetite.
"She's fine. Musharna's just eating dreams," Hikaru explained.
Soon, Fennel collapsed like burnt ash. After a moment, she leapt up:
"Amazing! My thoughts have never been so clear!"
Dream Eater focused minds, terrifying to artists but beneficial to most.
"Musharna likes you. Catch it now," Juniper urged.
Hikaru gazed where Asura vanished.
"One of the Seven Sages… Asura…"
"In the games, he appeared here too."
"But they don't know about the C Device. Even with Musharna, they can't affect hearts."
"But what if Colress… He did work with Team Plasma in the anime and manga…"
"Better get that C Device ready fast. Colress could create dimensional warp devices casually… Insane."
Team Plasma fled. Fennel caught Musharna. The abandoned Pokémon gathered around Aegislash, whom Hikaru healed with Potions. Slowly, they began to trust humans again.
On the way back, a surprise awaited.
"We captured these suspicious researchers sneaking out," said the three psychics proudly.
The captured researchers sighed.
"Damn psychics… and three of them…"
Hikaru thanked them, turning to Fennel.
"They must know crucial dream data."
"True, but how will we make them talk?" she asked.
"Like this." Hikaru raised his palm.
"Ooh! Mind Shatter incoming!" Hope cheered.
"Wait, what is that—no, nooo!"
Crash!
Their darkness shattered like glass.
The dark researcher is dead. Majestic continuation!
——
Meanwhile, Asura fled, sighing as his men fell behind. That blue crystal's light lingered in his heart.
Why… does it question my actions?
Freeing Pokémon… isn't that right?
Should I report this… Of course I should… right?
Lost in thought, he disappeared into the distance. Darkness remained nearby, pondering Hikaru's pendant.
"Psychic power that touches hearts… troublesome. But I gathered plenty of intel. Next time, I'll be more cautious."
(End of Chapter)
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