Love in the Time of Temerity

Chapter 23: A Champion

I've really been looking forward to sharing this chapter. It, along with one other a couple from now, are my favorite chapters of this book and probably trilogy. They're also some of the longer ones, with this one being just under 10k pre-notes. Hope you enjoy Chapter 23!

Chapter 23

A Champion

Tremors rocked Hammerlocke Stadium, every single one threatening to pitch Ash to the floor. Clemont was less lucky, stumbling straight into the familiar door that led downward. The rest of them skidded to a stop, just as another quaked through the building they were in.

"Pi!" Pikachu called, his cheeks sparking. He dropped down, joining Dedenne, Yamper and Morpeko as the thrumming of the electricity deep within the confines of the power plant had its effect on them. Ash also could feel Greninja's gaze pooling elsewhere, towards the red glow on the pitch of the stadium. Ash patted him on the back.

"Don't worry. We'll take care of it," he assured the frog, who nodded in kind.

"Clemont, hurry up!" Bonnie shouted, her impatience over her brother's attempt to open the door with Oleana's card obvious. He swiped it, only for nothing to happen whatsoever.

"Either Rose is preventing access, or that message he sent out short-circuited everything," Clemont said. He stepped back from the door, rolling his sleeves up, and the powerhouses there got the message. Alastair stepped forward.

"I'll do it." The telltale flash called Aegislash to his hand, the sword glowing blue with a powerful Sacred Sword. Ash turned away, noticing that Serena was standing right there. Alastair slashed down, and he ran to her, holding her close as the sword cut into the door. It was followed almost immediately by Greninja and Drizzile striking the damaged door and sending it well off its base, revealing the opening to an elevator leading below. A sudden roar sounded from the stadium.

"Is that Eternatus, or...?" Marnie started to ask, her sleeve rising to cover her mouth.

"Sounded like a different Pokémon to me," Bede responded in kind. Mawile looked up at him, and he shook his head. "When I was testing in the Wild Area, at the Motostoke Incident, it was a way to see how to trigger Power Spots. Any stray Pokémon could be caught in it. That one sounded like a Shiinotic."

"That breaks out of the stadium and Hammerlocke could be in danger from a different direction," Seamus said, his teeth grit and his jaw clenched. "You two up for a rumble?"

"M-me?" Bede asked, surprised. Marnie was the first to nod, Morpeko hopping on her shoulder. Ash found himself letting go of Serena, walking over to the elevator shaft and peering into its depths.

"You're good in a fight. If there's any time for that, it's now," Seamus said, thumping him on the back. Bede smiled a bit at the compliment. Marnie rolled her eyes.

"Save the compliments for later," she called, the first to lead Seamus and Bede deeper into the stadium. "Right now, we gotta keep protectin' Hammerlocke, especially until Gloria and Hop get here."

"You really think they can do anything?"

"No reason to think not. Let's do this. Ash, get in some good licks on Rose for us!"

"I will!" Ash said, drawing back from the elevator to watch the three of them run into the stadium proper. They weren't the only ones taking their leave of the corridor, with Y and Cedric starting to head out in the opposite direction, to where they had last left the Gym Leaders. Peering out the corridor, it seemed like a massive sandstorm was sweeping the city, rebuffing the attacks of those Dynamaxed Pokémon on the outskirts. "Serena, I need you to-"