Pokèmon Legacy (Pokèmon Watty Awards 2013)

Chapter 28 - The Golden Finale

“You took your time defeating him.” Madara muttered.

“You can hardly speak. I saw Shadow Lugia destroyed.” Nightshroad replied bluntly, causing Madara to clench his fist angrily.

“Do not forget who is more powerful here, Nightshroad. I could crush you if I wanted to.” Madara angrily retorted.

This seemed to end the conversation. Both men turned their attention to me and Toby, showing no emotion at all. Seeing Nightshroad again made me wide-eyed in shock.

“What have you done with Aaron?!” I shouted, dreading the answer.

“Look for yourself.” Nightshroad replied, pointing his finger to the slumped figure of Aaron Harding, complete with a dark sword in his back. I stood frozen as I took this all in. That Nightshroad had killed Aaron…

“Sam…” Toby muttered, noticing my reaction.

“That’s right.” Nightshroad laughed. “We killed your friend. I thought you said you would protect them? Or was that just an empty promise?”

Tears fell down my face. Aaron had died fighting my problem. Everyone was fighting for something I dragged them into. If I couldn’t even protect Aaron, how could I protect Toby? Or Steven? Or Sarah…? I couldn’t bear the thought of losing them…

“Give up.” Nightshroad interrupted my thoughts. “Give up now, and I shall spare your friends.”

“He’s lying, Sam.” Izuna muttered from within my mind. “Both Nightshroad and Madara share the same goal. They both wish to destroy Kanto and all its inhabitants.”

I did not reply. I simply stared at the ground, with an empty head. What could I do? I had failed. Ever since the Graduation Exam, Aaron had protected me. He had caught me when I was sent flying by the impact of mine and Kyle’s fight in the Semi-Finals, and then tried to save the Pokémon Academy by battling Saturn, who was posed as Nightshroad. Aaron had later saved my life again when I was sent hurtling off the Team Galactic Mountain Base by Nightshroad’s powers, and then swore to protect me with all his powers. But now…I had let him die…He had risked his life to save mine so many times, but I couldn’t even do the same for him…

“Sam…” Izuna muttered sadly. “What happened to Aaron was not your fault. It’s mine.”

I lifted my head up, shocked by Izuna’s comment.

“You may think this is your problem, when it’s actually mine…If I had not been so weak, and killed Madara all those years ago, then this would have never happened. Your friend would still be alive.” Izuna paused for a few moments, recollecting his thoughts. “But you cannot give up…Aaron died protecting the people he cared about, and fought to see Madara and Nightshroad gone forever. He has entrusted you with this goal. I have, as well. I believe you can defeat Madara for good. You can do what even I could not…”

Izuna was right…Aaron had died trying to protect everyone. I couldn’t give up now. Not while I was so close to winning. The time to mourn Aaron’s death would come later, but now…I had to avenge him.

Nightshroad noticed my changed expression, and immediately became enraged. “Why don’t you just quit?! Why have you got to be such a damn pain to everyone?!”

“I’ll end this right now.” Madara muttered calmly. He lifted up his hands, and soon the ground began – just like when Shadow Lugia had been preparing its powerful attack.

Purple energy from the ground was slowly absorbed into Madara’s hands, and after a significant amount was floating around his hands, he slammed his hands down on the solid earth.