Love in the Time of Turmoil

Chapter 21: A Verismo

We've reached the final chapter of Turmoil. I hope it stuns you. Please enjoy Chapter 21.

Chapter 21

A Verismo

"Did we do it?"

Gloria's echo was hollow to Ash's ears. His eyes stared blankly at the smoking wreckage, doused in the darkness. The once brightly lit tubes had gone dead, not a single ounce of energy, Dynamax or otherwise, running through them. His fingers pressed into Pikachu's fur, realizing his partner had calmed.

"I can't tell." That was Marnie's voice. A screen lit up the room, the only other illumination being that of the moon filtering in through the holes in the ceiling. At her voice, Leon stood, releasing Bede and Gloria from his hold. The girl was quick to stand, running over to where her fellow trainers were. Raboot and Clobbopus joined her, though none were quick to share in any victory celebrations yet. "There's no service in here..."

"Let's check outside," Hop suggested. Before anyone could stop them, the three teens dashed for the exit. Bede was speechless, shaking as he looked over his downed Pokémon.

Ash reached up and slapped his own face before striding over, hauling Bede up by his jacket and beginning to drag him out of the facility. Leon continued staring.

"What have they done...?" he was whispering. Ash didn't have the answer, nor did he want to know it. It would inevitably come, in any case.

Ash continued dragging the strangely compliant Bede, while Decidueye and Charizard grabbed his partners. It didn't take long for them to emerge outside to utter darkness. Only Marnie's phone could be seen, slightly up the level of ruins. Leaving the stunned boy behind, Ash clambered up to join them.

"Why's it so dark out here, anyway?" Hop asked. He was squinting, though none moreso than Gloria, who was looking far east, towards Spikemuth.

"I don't see the clouds..." she noted. A smile started to stretch itself across her face, while the pit in Ash's stomach began to sink. "I think we did it! I think Spikemuth is safe!"

"I have to call Piers, then!"

"Can you even get through? I doubt the phone lines are still working there," Hop pointed out. Marnie shrugged, and attempted to dial, only to receive a busy signal. It didn't stop her from trying, or Ash from reaching the three and pulling them close to him. He looked over the horizon.

It was pitch-black. Silent.

The only movement in the ruins was that of Leon and his Charizard walking out from below. Ash knew something had gone very wrong.

Soon as he thought this, the ruins suddenly flooded with light.

Gloria and her friends winced, covering their eyes from the sudden bright lights. Screeching tires came roaring through the ruins, down ramps and slopes until Ash could see the armored vehicles emblazoned with the crest that was Macro Cosmos. Sirens were attached to each, and in seconds, the entire area was surrounded, flooded with police and the officials that Leon had said were coming.

Each of them had a Pokémon with them, an array of Boltund and Steel types that ringed the party that had gathered there. All their attention was focused on them.

"What...what's going on?" Gloria asked, her words tremulous. She saw fit to return Clobbopus, but Ash could feel her and the others shaking. It was an unknown variable, but one that became far more obvious when the last transport opened with a hiss, and a familiar woman walked out, taking long steps to the damaged facility. She didn't even pay Leon any mind, not until she'd examined its interior.