Love in the Time of Teamwork

Chapter 19: A Conviction

Sorry for the long chapter ahead folks, but let's look at it this way: it's my ginormous birthday present to you! Why? Because it's my birthday! And also, don't forget that even spheres of water can create explosions...so forgive me my artistic license here. That said, Chapter 19!

Chapter 19

A Conviction

"I don't understand," Clemont cried out. His eyes, along with everyone else's, were glued to the sky. Rayquaza was slithering through it, bright yellow tendrils trailing behind it and providing an eerie, ambient glow to the city. "What is Rayquaza doing here?"

"This one is drawn to destruction and rancor," Edwin responded. The blond inventor turned back to his current opponent and noticed that Edwin looked to be shaking. "Three years ago...it passed through the rift. When that happened, it became lost, wandering the world as it sought out conflict. Whether it tries to end it for peace, or war, not even Zinnia could figure out. So, we perpetuated the rumor that it was drawn to the meteorites."

"Then...you knew it would come here!" Clemont yelled at the older boy. Edwin tipped his head back, eyes staring unblinking at the ominous sight above. Clemont wasn't sure how to handle that, so he followed his eyes and watched as between Rayquaza's jutting jaw, a black orb formed. Soundless screams leapt from Clemont's mouth as the black orb became a beam that fired in a line across the town. Another explosion rocked the city, although they were able to keep their balance this time. "Why would you call something that destructive?"

"We had to!" Edwin yelled at him furiously, bringing his eyes down. "Rayquaza is the link, the reason we could pass through. In order to fully open the dimensions wide enough to get to its pocket, we needed it here."

"That's the reason you hurt these people..." Brock growled from behind Clemont. "What's your aim in this? Why are you doing all of this? If you don't answer our questions, then every one of us could turn up dead."

"Rayquaza definitely doesn't look happy," May pointed out solemnly. The Sky High Pokémon appeared to answer that claim with yet another Hyper Beam that exploded across the city. If this were to keep up, Clemont knew that no one was safe. Their only chances of survival, if Edwin's words could be trusted, would be to either shut the link that appeared to have formed between dimensions...or to defeat the Draconids and stop the assault on the city, thus ending Rayquaza's need to be there. Edwin started laughing.

"Ugh...nothing ever goes right!" the Draconid cried out. "The only thing we were really successful at this whole week was not standing out in the tournament. Other than that, everything goes from bad to worse! Oh, well, I guess I'll just have to make do. Rayquaza arrived earlier than expected, but I still have things to do."

"Not if we have anything to say about it. Luxray, use Swift!" Luxray bounded forward, and subsequently leapt into the air before his tail glowed yellow. Like a catapult, Luxray flicked his tail forward and shining stars flew from it. Edwin didn't make a single command yet, nor did his Flygon. Maybe he had seen through Clemont's strategy. "Keep it up!"

"Tyranitar, Hone Claws," Aston called out. The mayor sounded anything but old, regardless of his looks. In fact, more than ever, he seemed firm in his resolve to protect his town. The shiny Tyranitar brought his claws together, and clinked them against each other, like he was sharpening them. As he did so, a small red aura surrounded Tyranitar, like it was growing more powerful. Clemont couldn't confess to knowing what Aston was about to do, but Luxray was doing his job by making a practical storm of stars with Swift that was obscuring the Armor Pokémon from view. "Now, Rock Slide."

"Tar!" Tyranitar roared, raising its arms to the darkened sky. Around its body emerged glowing rings of white, opaque in appearance, though Clemont knew just what would come soaring through them. Sure enough, rocks the size of Luxray's body went pelting through the haze of golden stars, right for Flygon.