The figure turned around as the dust settled, her dress flapping in the wake created by the hundreds of tons of rock that crashed down behind her. The Mach Pokemon by her side tossed a look her way. He, too, knew what her decision had meant. There was no turning back.

A beam of purplish white raged towards them out of nowhere. Garchomp stepped in front of his trainer, folding his bladed wings ahead of him. The beam smashed into his wings and cleaved in two, parting to either side. The pain was intense, but Garchomp didn't flinch. Instead, once the beam subsided, he roared in fury and let loose a raging stream of purplish blue flames towards the attacker, who fell almost instantly.

Cynthia took several slow steps forward to stand next to her Garchomp. As she stops, a Roserade and Lucario appear seemingly out of thin air, though it was simply their speed assisting them. Both look exhausted but unharmed. She nods to both of them, then shields her eyes as a massive explosion detonates in the middle of the clearing.

Assessing the situation wasn't hard. Her forces, now without their key battlers, were getting pushed back by a bombardment of attacks from the army of minions in spacesuit-like armor and their hordes of pokemon, just barely holding them at bay. At the front of the pack she recognized Flint's and Bertha's dust-coated faces, Aaron's telltale green hair. Though she acted calm, her fists clenched in anger.

"Come on," she said, her voice steely. "Let's turn this around."

-Mount. Coronet, Amber's POV, Midnight-

I laid back against the large white spikes, trying to find some sense of calm. The Tyrantrum, however big and mean he may have looked, seemed to sense my unease. He slowed ever so slightly, limiting the swaying of his large body. Next to him, Aurorus trekked along, Terry and Angel slumped tiredly against her neck. Between the two prehistoric pokemon, Diantha and Callen walked along the ground, their sight reassured by the glowing of Luxray's tail. Diantha's Gardevoir floated along next to her trainer. She was closer than perhaps necessary; probably anxious about the surely upcoming battle that would take place once we reached the peak.

A few steps behind the trio in between the fossil pokemon, Nicky catches my eye. He looks worn out, and now that a moment of calm has arisen, I notice several cuts along his arms and torso.

He took several hits for me, I suddenly realize. It only makes sense; the way we had gotten through that cavern unscathed should've been impossible. In fact it was, but Nicky had pushed through the pain to get us to safety.

Despite my weariness, I tap Tyrantrum's back. He stops, allowing me to slide to the ground. The fall jars me a little, but otherwise doesn't hurt. I thank the Despot Pokemon as I walk back towards Nicky, ignoring the questioning stares from Terry and Diantha. I fall into step with the Gallade, pulling my pack off my shoulders.

"What're you doing?" Nicky asks. "You should rest while you have the chance."

"You're hurt," I retort. "And don't even think about telling me to leave you like this," I add as the Gallade opens his mouth. He catches my tone and wisely closes it once again. I take a quick look towards the front of the cave, my hand scavenging through my pack as I do so. It seems to have no end, but then again, so did the one we had passed through to the cavern. The entirety of that had apparently been an illusion. I wasn't too worried about a similar trick here, though. No doubt Terry and Diantha, not to mention their partners, were thoroughly checking the area with their powers.

As I pull a hyper potion out of my pack, Diantha seems to start.

"We're close," Terry says, nodding at her. "And I don't like what I'm sensing up ahead. It seems… Cruel."

"Agreed," Diantha says. Our group stops, and I take the chance to quickly spray Nicky's wounds. His face twists slightly, but otherwise he makes no reaction as his wounds start to heal. As I'm working, Diantha speaks up once again. "Terry?"

"Yes?" He's in the process of jumping down from Aurorus's back, followed closely by his Gardevoir. Diantha eyes her for a moment.

"Can I talk to you for a moment? Alone?"

The teen raises a brow, but shrugs. "Sure, I guess." Diantha walks off in response, and after a moment Terry follows, stopping a few dozen feet down the path. They whisper, and while I can't hear what they're saying, the animation from them both suggests a heated topic.

The bottle puffs out one last feeble spray, but the job is done. Nicky takes a deep breath, then nods to me. We join Callen, who has laid down on the stone, his head supported against Luxray's side. The Gleam Eyes Pokemon stares silently ahead, no doubt keeping an eye out for danger. Both fossil pokemon to either side of us are doing the same, although they occasionally glance back towards their trainer.

After a couple more minutes, Terry and Diantha's footsteps bring them back to us. Terry seems grave.

"Is something wrong?" Angel asks, her bell-like voice sounding in the back of my head.

"No," He says unconvincingly. "Nothing that can't be handled later." Diantha shoots a look at him, but otherwise doesn't respond.

"Tyrantrum, Aurorus, return," she says, pointing a couple of Luxury Balls towards her pokemon. As the red flashes fade, she continues. "We'll be quieter without their stomping. We can assess the situation and figure out what to do from there."

We nod as one, then start off once again towards the peak. It doens't take long for the air to start smelling fresher, the ground and rocks beginning to dampen. Not only that, but several sets of footprints are ever present in the wettest spots. As we round a slight bend, light appears at the end of the tunnel.

-Terry's POV-

The cave opened onto a large plain, with a gathering of stones in the middle. Strewn about around the edges of the old columns were dozens of large rocks, sticking out of the ground like the handles of knives in a knife block. Our group crept silently across the stone, doing our best not to make any noise, but we needn't have bothered; a dozen-odd voices were ringing out from the center of the field, making plenty of sound to mask our movements. We took refuge behind a single pillar, which offered plenty of space.

Despite everything, the ruins took my breath away. I'd always been a sucker for history, and the crumbling pillars, cracked stones and fading mosaic tiles held a beauty reserved only for the oldest, grandest locations. The scene would've looked like something that had simply been lost in time, if it weren't for the people making a mess of things.

Steel scaffoldings barred several of the dusty pillars, some of which held thick, black wiring. Several people in the usual Team Galactic garb trotted about, checking data and tapping away at their laptops or tablets.

Diantha pointed past me, and I gazed after her finger. Two figures stood huddled together around a large, central console. One I didn't recognize, although from his armor-like attire, I guessed it was Team Galactic leader Cyrus, the one Junior and Amber had met. Which meant…

The man turned and looked directly at me. Even from as far away as he was, I could see his cold, cruel grin. "Indeed."

Before I can react, a stone the size of a basketball comes flying out of nowhere. It hits me square in the stomach, pushing me to the ground. The air goes out of my lungs as I land painfully, and I can only watch in horror as pokemon attacks start flying in from all sides. Nicky pulls Amber and Callen to the ground, the latter of which has pulled his pistol from his belt and is squeezing shot after shot into the night. Diantha yells something at me even as her partner says something at Angel. The two act as one, forming a large, transparent green dome around us.

Attacks continue to rain down on it as Diantha shoves her hands into her pockets. Before she can retrieve her pokeballs, though, a large, dark shape smashes into the forcefield. It shatters like glass in a hailstorm, and Diantha is blindsided hard. She falls to her side, unconscious. Both of the Gardevoir lash out viciously at the blur, but it flicks the attacks aside as if swatting a fly. With a whoosh, two large wings lash out at the pair. They fall to the ground, fainted. Nicky and Luxray, rather than trying to fight, force their human companions between them and growl angrily.

In seconds, a stand-off has commenced. Amber yells desperately at me, but I'm so disoriented that I can't understand what she's saying. And then my father's face blots out everything else, looming inches from my own.

"I was wondering when you'd show up," he smiles evilly. He raises an iron-clad boot over my face, and the world goes black.

-Several Minutes Later-

I wake suddenly, my head pounding like an angry drum, nose like an overinflated balloon. My stomach feels as though It's been set on fire, and I have to force myself not to vomit. I shake my head, clearing my thoughts as best I can, and open my eyes.

I'm chained to one of the old pillars, my hands and arms pinned firmly to my sides. The chain itself seems to be covered in a leather-like material, colored a deep, pure black. Even if I could concentrate well enough to mess with the chain, I wouldn't be able to. Indeed, the material was Houndoom skin. The thought horrified me, even as the chains seemed to recoil against my touch. I hate dark types.

My head is unbound, and I look around as best I can. Amber and Callen are chained up on the far side of the clearing, closest to the exit. They are awake, too, and appear unharmed. Nicky and Luxray were gone, likely returned to their pokeballs and confiscated. Next to me, however, was Diantha. She was conscious as well, but her breath was labored. Blood flowed down a gash on the back of her head, no doubt there to keep her from using her telekinesis.

"You're awake," A harsh, cold voice says. I look up to see my father staring at me. His words seem directed to both myself and Diantha. He leans almost tiredly on his cane as he continues. "I'm surprised you made it past that first ambush."

"Shut up," Diantha growls at him. "No more of your silver-tongued bullshit, Ghetsis. What are you and Cyrus up to?"

"Nothing that you'd disagree with, if you took the time to think about it," Ghetsis responds. "The Gods have ruled over this world since the beginning of Time and Space, even longer than that! It's time some new blood takes over."

I suddenly find my voice. "Go to hell," I spit at him, struggling against my chains. Ghetsis just shakes his head sadly.

"You don't understand," He says, and he sounds genuinely heartbroken. "Arceus sent you on this mission to stop me, to risk your life and lose everyone you love one by one, and for what? He doesn't care what happens as long as he's on top."

As hot as my blood is burning from seeing at my father, his words hit home. Arceus sent me on a suicide mission, after all. Why me, of all people? What did I do to deserve all the hardships that had fallen on me? And what about my friends? Hell, when I won the Battle of Unova, Arceus didn't even bother to speak to me personally! He had to send his wife, instead.

My father nods sadly at me, as if sensing my unease. "You see?" They don't care about us. They allow meaningless bloodshed to continue on without end, and what do they do? Nothing." He grips my shoulders.

"Join me, son. We'll tear down their thrones for good, and rebuild this Earth the right way. Angel will never be harmed again."

His offer sounds so good, I'm almost tempted to agree. And yet, his sympathetic look is ruined by his soulless, cold-hearted eyes.

I spit in his face. "Die in a hole," I say stubbornly.

He wipes my saliva off his face, his saddened expression gone. "Very well."

He steps back. "I suppose I should thank the two of you. You're arrival here has ensured the next phase of my plan to be complete." He snaps his fingers, and several grunts start forward. They undo Diantha's chains. She looks more angry than I'd imagined possible, but any escape attempt is quickly thwarted as she's overpowered. They drag her to the middle of the clearing, to one of two metal poles sticking out of the stone. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Amber and Callen watching on in horror.

Diantha's rechained to the stake, but unlike before, she's now been shackled by her wrists. She dangles from the pole, her toes several inches off the ground, and her ankles are quickly bound as well.

Once she's secured, several more guards come forward. Diantha gasps in shock, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks, and I moment I see why: her Gardevoir is being drug between the guards. Various cuts line her arms and legs, and she shivers uncontrollably.

She's thrown to the ground a few feet in front of her trainer, curling into a ball shakily on the stones. Diantha screams in rage. "HOW DARE YOU! GARDEVOIR!" She thrashes, causing the chains to clink harshly against their pole. "LET HER GO!"

In response, Cyrus strides up to her, raising an iron-gloved hand. He slaps her hard across the face. Diantha cries out in pain, a large black bruise immediately starting to form. "Shut up," he instructs, his voice cold and quiet.

Diantha wisely quiets down, and Cyrus turns to the Gardevoir that now lies at his feet. "You will do as I say, or I'll pick your trainer apart, one grisly part at a time."

The Gardevoir's eyes widen, but Diantha locks eyes with her. "I forbid you to help him for my sake!" Immediately, she's slapped again, and this time I can hear the sharp snap of her jaw breaking. She screams in pain, her mouth hanging open uselessly, body writhing in her chains. Her Gardevoir cries out too, throwing herself at Cyrus's feet, pleading. He kicks her in the chest and she's thrown back several feet, sent into a coughing fit.

Cyrus pulls a knife from his belt and pushes it against Diantha's neck. She quiets down, whimpering in pain. Cyrus smiles cruelly at her, but before he can harm the Champion further, the ground rumbles slightly. He turns around as Diantha's Gardevoir pulls herself to her knees. Around her, the loose pebbles and debris shake furiously, the ground vibrating around her.

"Leave… Her… Alone…" Her voice was deadly, filled with venom even as she stared at the ground, tears streaming down her face.

Cyrus frowned. "... I think not." He put his knife against Diantha's chest and slowly pulled downward, cutting her dress away and leaving a thin, red line down her stomach. She blushed heavily and tried in vain to cover her suddenly exposed breasts. Instead her arms jerk as he pulls his knife down her chest again, leaving a much deeper cut. Blood pours out of the wound.

With a scream of fury, Gardevoir launches herself at Cyrus. She's an inch away from his face, her arms crawling with electricity, when the black blur appears out of thin air and rams into her. She's thrown several feet away, crashing into a stone column. She falls to the ground, and we can only watch in terror as the column falls down after her. She must be less stunned than I thought, though, because she manages to roll out of the way. The rock lands with a horrible crack! and pins her leg. She screams in agony, fingers clawing at the stone.

"SHUT UP!" Cyrus roars, bringing another fist into Diantha's stomach. She gasps and vomits horribly, choking as she tries to regain her breath.

Gardevoir seemed to completely lose herself. Despite the column pinning her to the ground, she flailed angrily, beating her arms on the tiles. She tried to levitate the rock off her leg, but whatever the grunts had done to her seemed to have sapped her strength.

"Stop," Diantha's telepathic voice says. She's stumbling over her words even in her mind. "I don't want you to help me or Ghetsis. Stop. Please." Gardevoir seemed completely stunned at these words. She looked so upset that I almost thought she might attack Diantha, but finally she looked down at the ground once again. She fell silent, lying stock still to avoid aggravating her leg. She sniffled slightly.

"Pathetic," Cyrus growled at her. "You will do as I say, or I will tear both her and the boy to pieces."

"Actually, Cyrus," Ghetsis stepped forward. "I would like that right. Honchkrow!"

The blur appears once more, hovering next to Ghetsis, and I get my first real look at it: a large, dark blue bird with red on the inside of it's wings, and white around it's neck, almost like a beard. The feathers on it's head look almost like a hat, the kind you might see gangsters wearing. It's eyes are cold and heartless, it's talons sharpened to a deadly point. A perfect match for my father.

"Kill the champion first," Ghetsis orders.

"Krooow!" Honchkrow screams. It beats it's wings and flies straight up, looping over and falling into a dive, white energy crackling all over it's body. He's fifty feet away from Diantha's limp form. Forty.

Thirty.

Twenty.

Ten.

From somewhere behind me, a huge explosion detonates, the ground under my feet rumbling. A white beam of draconic energy blasts forth, as wide as a bus, and slams into the Big Boss pokemon. With a screech of pain and surprise, Honchkrow is sent rocketing out of view.

Another explosion, smaller this time, sounds. I'm glad it's smaller, because it seemed to come from right behind me, and I wasn't quite ready to die yet. The chains binding me are snapped, and I fall to the ground. The two human bosses are staring at me, and I flail around, trying to get around the column I was bound to. I expect to be killed almost immediately, but after a moment I realize they aren't looking at me.

They're looking at the crowd of people and pokemon standing on the rocks all around them. I recognize The entirety of Kalos' Elite Four glares daggers towards the enemy leaders. In front of them, Cynthia stands tall.

"I'm no longer here to capture," Cynthia says. She doesn't yell, doesn't even speak loudly, yet her voice carries clearly through the ruins. "My friends and I are here to kill every last one of you." She locks eyes with Cyrus, who stares silently back.

"Starting with you."

The army surges forward, and all hell breaks loose.

Author's Note

I know a lot of you think I'm dead. I promise I'm not. At first, I wanted to write this story, but I couldn't seem to get my ideas straight for how I wanted this to go. Then I finally figured it out, all hell breaks loose in my life. I won't go into details, but it's calming down now.

Some of you may think, what with my starting my senior year in High School, I won't have much time to write. That's true. I'm really cracking down this year, trying to make sure I get everything finished. But there's good news there, too. With school starting back up, my life is about to regain a lot of structure that I lost over the summer. That in mind, I'm a lot less stressed and will be able to write much more than I could when I was in that state.

I'm sorry for abandoning all of you like I did.

I will continue to put out these chapters as I finish them. I expect Book Two to be finished by chapter 25 at most. After that... We'll see. Rest assured, however, that I plan on seeing not just Unbalanced Power through to the end, but all the other stories that I've started as well.

Good luck. -Orthros