Pokemon - Evil Reborn

Chapter 29 - Steel Clouds

"Are you hurt?" N asked, walking along the smashed up corridors of his castle.

"No, I'm fine..." Skyra replied, in a stunned wonderment. N stopped next to him, examining him from head to toe. He saw the broken sword in Skyra's hand, and looked to the wall where the other antiques were. Liv waved nervously as the man made calculations.

"Good. I'm glad. How many others are there?" He asked.

"Others?" Skyra straightened up.

"Others like him." N pointed to Blayde, who was unconscious on the ground.

"Oh... Two more. They went down those stairs – my friends went after them."

"Don't worry, they'll be safe." N said, straightening his hat. He began to walk away, and Skyra spoke carefully, slowly walking towards Blayde.

"How do you know who's bad? How did you know who to protect?"

"I know good people when I see them." N looked back as he walked onwards. His eyes rested on the sword in Skyra's grasp, as it trembled in his grip. "Is his life worth taking?"

"What?" Skyra froze. He had planned to end Blayde, even if the sword was blunt.

"You have history with that man. But I urge you to wait. I don't know exactly what's going on here, but I'd like it if there was no death in this place."

Skyra sighed and dropped the sword to the floor, where it clanged and lay still.

At that moment, Amber appeared from around the corner, flying centimetres above the floor. Her speed was incredible, as debris was blasted aside by her wings. The Dragonite tore upwards through the first gap into the air, and soared far away into the distance without so much as a parting glance.

"That was Holly's..." Liv said.

"Let's go." N said to Reshiram, who had been patiently watching until now. He broke into a run, going for the stairs, the giant creature following.

"We'll stay here." Skyra looked down at Blayde. "I'm not letting this son of a bitch get away."

The narrow pathway up to the pedestal housing the Soul Emerald held steady as Tobi walked along it. Xene was sprawled out to the side, one leg hanging over the dark chasm. Tobi jabbed his shoulder with his foot as he walked past, and Xene winced, shifting slightly further along the surface. "When the emerald is mine, I'll kill you first." Tobi smirked, continuing past him. Neira was stood a little further back, watching over the scene, as Tobi finally made it to the altar. His red eyes lit up with his lust for power, and he reached out for the final lifeless grey gem.

"Hey!" Holly yelled. She was on the staircase, clinging to the banister, breathing heavily. She had chased them down.

"They flock to death so eagerly." Tobi laughed, aiming his sword. It had been a miracle they hadn't heard Amber take off, but now her presence was known. She had sent her Pokemon to fetch reinforcements, but by the time she returned, it could already be too late.

A red beam shot out of the Ryuusei Blade, tearing across the room at a frightening place. Seemingly invisible hands grabbed Holly and threw her backwards, seconds before impact. The resulting explosion almost completely destroyed the staircase, as pieces of it fell away into the abyss below. But Holly was safe. N had made it just in time, throwing her aside.

"Oh, look who it is." Tobi shook his head. "More friends? Just how many people are willing to die in this futile fight?"

"I have no place in your fight." N stepped down, now on the same level as everyone else.