Four Paws and A Tale

Chapter 49

*Thud, Thud, Thud*

The heavy footfalls echoed through the empty forest, they had been travelling for a while now and were approaching the battlefield. Pixie looked to her companions, they were grim faced but nodded reassuringly.

Except for Glair who was laughing like a maniac, enjoying the moment and with no worry about the danger they rapidly approached. Pixie gulped, and they burst from the trees.

Adrie's Tyrantrum roared as it charged the battlefield. Its passengers jumped onto a high cliff as the Dinosaur ran past it.

A small black Pokémon grew up out of the shadows and walked towards the team.

"The Tears?" Marv asked the group.

"Adrie has them." Pixie replied.

Marv nodded and gestured for the human girl to follow him, Adrie released a Honchkrow, Absol and Alolan Ninetales from their Poke-balls and turned, ready to follow the Marshadow.

Marshadow looked from Glair, to Tertle, to Pixie.

"The Shadow Crystal and Evolution gem lie at the far end of the valley, Zeraora brought them to spread it's evil and strengthen his troops. The girl and I will stop the Crystal but you three must save Jacob, I fear you are now the only one's who can."

The trio nodded.

Marv ran off and Adrie gave chase riding Absol, her other two Pokémon followed close behind. Glair Pixie and Tertle ran towards the peak upon which Shadows and Lightning clashed relentlessly.

As she ran Pixie thought, please Jacob, wait a little longer, I'll save you soon.

As the three ran towards the vicious battle of Champ and Jacob they could see explosions in the distance as Adrie and Marv fought to liberate the Shadow Crystal and the Evolution Gem.

The Trio arrived at the peak of a mountain, where a Zeraora and an Eevee fought, it was a ferocious battle and both sides were badly wounded.

Zeraora fired a Thunderbolt at the Glaceon which opposed him, a Gligar jumped in the way, being ground-type, the electric attack merely dissipated into nothingness. Glair's Poison Sting found its target and hit Zeraora, he roared and used a Discharge attack.

Tertle protected them by using Wide Guard, Pixie ran in with Flare Blitz and Zeraora stumbled back, he was hit by Jacob's Swift and then by Tertle's Smack Down.

Champ absorbed the hit and rolled backwards, he smacked Glair with Brick Break and she was thrown from the cliff.

"No!" Tertle bellowed and charged, Zeraora met the Carracosta's Dynamic Punch with his Plasma Fist. An explosion and Tertle also fell from the mountain-top.

Jacob dove in using Last Resort, Zeraora dodged with Double Team and countered with Close Combat. Jacob was thrown backwards, he fell in a muddied puddle and didn't move.

Pixie faced her exhausted foe. The anger in his eyes mirrored the hatred in her own.

He roared, his fists sparked furiously, and he charged. Pixie stood her ground, closed her eyes. Tertle, Glair, Jacob... Everything that had happened since the moment they met, she remembered it all. Pixie opened her eyes again and shouted the name of her final attack;

"Return!"

A burst of white energy shot forward and hit Zeraora in the chest, he collapsed in the mud and rain.

The Champion had fallen.