Pokemon: Orbion and the Runes of Chaos [#Wattys2016]

Fourteen: The Unsung

Beyond the walls of the fortress, the fight raged on. Acts of heroism were witnessed on both sides as Pokémon fought Pokémon in the largest battles seen in the past millennium.

Just after Ash and company entered the fortress, its gate began to open once more. The momentary respite caused by its closing ended as the assault of hundreds of flying types resumed. Despite the massive amount of energy he had already expended throughout the battle, Ash's Tyranitar continued to fight on alongside the other rock and ground types. Several of his comrades had already fallen to the barrage of attacks launched from above. The remainder continued to return fire while simultaneously trying to keep their rocky fortifications intact.

A Flygon dived downwards, thinking to take advantage of a small gap in the rain of boulders hurled by the rock types and enter the fortress.

With a grunt, Tyranitar launched himself straight upwards and literally smacked the creature out of the skies. The mighty blow reversed the Flygon's direction and sent it plummeting into the moat-like chasm that now served as the first line of defense.

Tyranitar went to one knee as he landed. Almost immediately, a Noivern used Screech on him. Tyranitar gritted his teeth at the incredibly painful noise. He tried to use Hyper Beam, but the bat-like Pokémon changed attacks, instead striking him with Boomburst. The small blast generated by the attack knocked Tyranitar off balance. Before he knew it, he had collapsed sideways.

Hugh, one of the trainers who had accompanied the vanguard, noticed Tyranitar's far and rushed over to kneel beside him. "I know you're exhausted, but we have to hold out a little longer. The others are counting on us to hold this position until Cynthia can send reinforcements through. Without us, the enemy will swarm into the fortress and kill Jason and the others in a heartbeat."

This last piece of disturbing news seemed to infuse Tyranitar with a fresh reserve of stamina. He gathered his muscular limbs beneath himself and rose to his feet. Hugh rose beside him, ready to lend support. Tyranitar brushed him off and turned his gaze upwards to the enemies still swarming above.

Lugia blocked a cunning two-pronged attack by Kyurem involving the use of both his Ice Blade and Ice Fang at the same time before rapidly whirling into a counterattack. She spun horizontally, whipping her own deadly blade towards Kyurem at blurring speeds. The other dragon easily caught the sword with his own and used Blizzard, forcing the still-airborne Lugia backwards down the hall. He doggedly pressed his advantage, stabbing at her chest with the ultra-sharp blade on his arm.

The pair engaged once more, battling through the close confines of the corridor. Each fresh flurry of blows and parries forced Lugia farther back down the hall as Kyurem, with his incredibly power and natural advantage, gained ground. By Lugia's estimate, they would reach the entrance to the outside world in a matter of minutes.

Reluctant to allow herself to be backed into such a risky location, Lugia soared straight up into the murky heights of the hall. Some of the steam generated by their battle had drifted upwards into the towering passageway, filling the already dark space with an additional haze. Lugia shot directly into the swirling dimness, vanishing from Kyurem's site almost instantly. He opened his maw and released a powerful blast of Ice Breath after the fleeing water dragon, but she was already lost in the heights.

Kyurem widened his stance in preparation for Lugia's next move.

He was not prepared enough.

It was as though a rift to the ocean floor had opened in the sky above, unleashing the full fury of the sea in a single colossal torrent. Kyurem felt his ears pop. He realized with shock that the titanic weight of the water rushing down at him was so great that it was actually condensing the air in the enclosed space beneath, causing the pressure to momentarily spike. He only had time to erect a hasty dome of ice before the full force of the falling sea struck him. Even through his impermeable defense, the noise was deafening. All along the hallway, the crystal floors cracked under the force of ten meters of water striking them in a single blow. Even Kyurem's mighty dome creaked ominously, the edge of it actually splintering into the ground.