The Fall of an Enemy, and The Return of a Friend

{BGM: Forest}

It was sunrise, and within his tent, Haruko woke up and rubbed his eyes. "Ergh.. That felt good." He said as he sat up and stepped out of his sleeping bag. He stretched and felt his bones cracking. He got his shoes on and stepped out of the tent where he sniffed the fresh air. To his left, he saw the others getting out of their tents. "Morning ya'll." Haruko said as he walked over. "Hey, morning." Heza said. "So we ready to go face Richter?" Haruko asked. "Yeah, I've been wanting to go bust his face in." Neo said. Haruko laughed. "Not even five minutes awake, and you're all ready to go fight." Haruko said. "Uh.. do we have a plan of action, because his Shadow Lugia is uber powerful." Kazuma said. "We have one option. You thinking what im thinkin' Haruko?" Neo asked. Haruko smiled and nodded. "Yeah, Our bois from the Alola Region. Solgaleo and Lunala. "You two caught Legendary Pokemon!?" Heza asked as she was shocked. "Yep. We never used them because they usually don't care much for fighting. We have a friend over in Alola who is taking care of them." Neo said as Haruko pulled out his phone. "I'll go give him a call." Haruko said as he dialed some numbers and spoke. "Hey, Small favor to ask. Could you trade us Solgaleo and Lunala?... Uh huh...Yep. I know, i know, the fee. Cash on demand, alright alright. 1000 pokedollars. Alright. Ok thanks." Haruko said as he took out a device out of his bag and entered a few numbers into it. Shortly after, the device lit up and a beam of light went into the sky. seconds later, the beam disappears and two pokeballs are on the device now. Haruko tossed a ball over to Neo. and then he threw his own. "Solgaleo, come on out!" Haruko said as the ball opened and a burst of solar energy came out of it and thereafter, Solgaleo appeared. Neo threw his ball and once it opened, a burst of dark energy came out and Lunala Appeared.

{BGM: Solgaleo and Lunala}

"Good to see you again, buddy." Haruko said as Solgaleo rammed it's head into Haruko, knocking him into a tree, wagging it's tail in the process. "Love you too." Haruko said as he pulled himself out of the tree and fell down, with the birds chirping around his head.. Lunala rested it's head on Neo and screed. "Hey there." Neo said as he was petting Lunala's head. "Amazing. I heard of them in legend but never thought i'd ever meet them in person." Heza said. "Sorry to have pulled you away from what you were doing guys, but we need your help in taking down a Shadow Lugia. You guys feel ready for this?" Haruko asked. Solgaleo roared and sat down while Lunala went Scree. "I'll take that as a yes." Silas said as he was checking his chatter account. Haruko and Neo made the pokemon return to their pokeballs. "Oh, You are all awake." Reijiro said as he walked over from getting berries and such. "Hey there you are. Ready to go bust Richter's face in?" Neo asked. "I'd rather we avoid fighting and try to talk with him." Reijiro said. "Yeaaahhhno. He wants me dead. Blood for Blood at this point" Neo said. "Where's his lab located? Silas asked. "I believe it's to the north." Haruko said. "Let's get a move on then." Heza said. "I'll have Salamence mega evolve. He can carry all of us there." Haruko said as Neo then spoke. "Or we can have Solgaleo and Lunala open a portal there." Neo said. "Oh right! I totally forgot that, man! Solgaleo, Do your thing, big guy." Haruko said as he pointed. With one loud roar, he opened a portal. Haruko got ontop of Solgaleo and rode it through the portal. The others then followed him.

{BGM: Hideout}

About 5 minutes later, they appear outside the lab. "Pardon me a moment.. I need to say something to Val." Haruko said as he then stepped over to where Valiona's grave was and kneeled for a second. "Hey... Took me a while but i finally understand what it is you want. You want both Neo and I to move on. Well rest easy. We moved on. You can take your rest now." Haruko said as Neo then walked over. He looked down and sighed for a moment. He then looked at Haruko. "Come on, We got a job to do." Neo said as Haruko nodded. "Right." He replied with. They then went towards the door to the massive lab and entered it. There, they saw Richter. "Oh.. It's you lot. Good, I was about to go find you." Richter said as he turned towards the group. "We don't have to fight! Valiona doesnt want this.. She would be heartbroken if she saw this." Haruko said. Neo then pointed at Richter. "He's right, Look inside yourself! You wouldnt want this either!" Neo said in anger. "You...think you know whats inside my heart!? You don't know anything! How can you possibly know!?" Richter said as tears fell. "I'm an only child now, I have no parents, i have no sister... I'm all alone now. You took my sister from me. My hatred for you knows no limit!" Richter said. "You.. you are not the evil man we saw you to be. You are a grieving friend. I'm with you on that. Valiona's death impacted us both, But... It's pointless to hold onto the rage. You have to let it go. Please.. We don't want to fight you." Haruko said. Richter sighed. "What a sorry lot. We're going to fight. I have anger to take out, but we wont be fighting here. Come with me." Richter said as he went to an elevator and got in, waiting for the others. The group looked at eachother and shrugged. They then went into the elevator and went down below ground.

"This is where we shall battle. Are you ready?" Richter asked as he walked over to the center of the room. "We're not going to give up on you." Neo said as he looked determined in his eyes. Richter pointed his pokeball at Neo. "Neo, I challenge you!" Richter said. "You're on!" Neo said as Richter smirked. Richter raised his hand and a shadowy portal appeared. From the portal, came a pokeball. Richter threw the ball and out came shadow Lugia.

{BGM: Shadow Lugia}

"Lunala, Let's take care of this!" Neo said as he threw his pokeball and out came Lunala. "Neo, just say the word, and we'll provide support." Haruko said. Neo looked back and nodded. He then looked at the pokemon. "Lunala, Moongeist Beam, Let's go!" Neo said as Lunala screed and shined bright. It then flew up and shot a huge laser from itself, Striking Lugia. "Shadow Blast!" Richter ordered. Lugia shot a blast from it's mouth which struck Lunala. The two pokemon then flew around, clashing again and again. "Richter, i understand your pain. But you're going down the road of vengeance. If you keep going, you may not be able to come back. Look inside yourself!" Neo shouted. Richter looked down and he then glared at Neo. "Shut your mouth. Just looking at you is making me regret not killing you when you were Arisa's puppet." Richter said as Lugia flew up and roared. It then made a massive orb of darkness appear from it's mouth. "One touch of that, and you'll be reduced to nothing more than ash, Neo. Suffer!" Richter added in as the orb was now descending. Lunala shot another moongeist beam at it and it was slowly blocking it. But the orb was too powerful. "Solgaleo, come on out! We gotta give Neo back-up!" Haruko said as he threw his pokeball and Solgaleo came out. "Sunsteel Strike!" Haruko ordered as Solgaleo shined bright in solar energy and rammed into the ball head on. The ball was deflected back at Lugia, doing some damage to it. "Let Lunala rest a bit. I'll tag in." Haruko said as Neo nodded. "Alright. Lunala, rest up." Neo added in as he returned Lunala to it's pokeball. "You're next then, Haruko? I would really rather not fight you. But any ally of Neo, deserves to be destroyed!" Richter said. Haruko then looked down and away as he was regretting on what he had to do. "Lugia, Shadow Blast!" Richter ordered as Lugia shot a dark blast of wind from it's mouth. "Solgaleo, Tank the hit! Then use Crunch!" Haruko said as Solgaleo took the blast head on and then leaped up to Lugia, biting it's neck.

{BGM: Tension Rising}

Solgaleo then landed and roared. Lugia then shot dark missiles from it's wings. The missiles were not aimed at Solgaleo, instead it was aimed towards Neo. Haruko slammed Neo out of the way and took the attacks head on. The missiles impaled Haruko and he coughed up blood. "Haruko, why?" Neo asked as he was in shock. "I suppose Valiona's recklessness rubbed off on me." Haruko said as he fell onto his knees and winced in pain. He then looked back at Richter who had a look of regret on his face. Haruko then fell down and passed out from the pain. The missiles then faded away, leaving holes in Haruko. "Heza, treat to his wounds, now!" Neo said as Heza quickly ran over to Haruko. "On it!" She said as she lifted off Haruko's jacket and shirt and saw the holes. She gasped at the brutality. "Sheesh what is it with you guys. First Valiona throwing her life away, and you almost throwing your's away. Reckless idiots." She said as she managed to plug up the holes with gauze pads, and then wrapped up Haruko's torso in an ace bandage to stop the bleeding. "I stopped the bleeding, but he needs to get to a hospital." Heza said as Richter then threw a pokeball over towards Heza and Haruko, and out came a Gardevoir. "Heal Pulse on Haruko." Richter said as Gardevoir listened and then made it's hand glow white. It then touched Haruko's chest and the holes that were on him were closing. "That attack was aimed at Neo, not you. You're the last person i would want to kill." Richter said in a somber tone, a sign that his old self resurfaced for a moment. Heza and Neo, as well as the others were confused at what was going on. "Now then... That's done with. Let's continue." Richter said as Gardevoir was still healing Haruko.

{BGM: Flight}

Neo growled in anger. "You...nearly killed Haruko.. I'll never forgive you for that!" Neo shouted in anger as he threw his pokeball and out came Lunala. "Lugia, Shadow Storm!" Richter said as Lugia made a black tornado strike Lunala. Lunala fell down and got up. "Even with a Legendary pokemon, it's not enough?" Neo asked. Richter shrugged and sighed. "Grovel in fear! Lugia, Shadow Blast!" Richter shouted out in anger as Lugia shot a dark blast at Lunala, knocking it out. "L-Lunala!" Neo cried out as he saw it collapse. "Return.." He added in as he returned Lunala to it's pokeball. Solgaleo walked over and stood in front of Neo. "Huh..?" Neo asked. "It wants you to command it, Solgaleo wants revenge, and the only one who can command it now is you, Neo." Heza said as She was protecting Haruko. "I guess the Sun is shining down on me. Alright then. Solgaleo, I'll accept your offer to help. We're gonna crush this clown." Neo said as Solgaleo roared loudly. "Are you sure you should be putting these pokemon through this kind of abuse? Lugia is too powerful for you." Richter said. "Anything to save our friends." Neo said as he growled in anger. "You remind me of the time i crushed the Elite 4 and their champion of Kanto. Heheh. They said the same thing about protecting their friends. Look where they are now. Fallen." Richter said. "No way.. Then you're the...?" Neo asked. "Yep, The Champion, but it doesnt matter to me really." Richter said as he shrugged. Neo smirked and pointed his pokeball at Richter while Solgaleo roared.

{BGM: Champion}

"You're the final step on my Journey in Kanto. I'm going to stop you, and I might as well take your champion title!" Neo said as he slipped his Z-ring on his wrist. "Well, if that's how you want to view it, then very well. Lugia, Shadow Blast!" Richter said as Lugia shot it's dark beam. Solgaleo dodged it. "Use Crunch!" Neo ordered as Solgaleo bit on Lugia's neck hard, dealing some damage. Lugia shrugged Solgaleo off and slammed it on the ground. Solgaleo took the attack and got up. It cloaked itself in solar energy and rammed itself into Lugia. Lugia shook off the attack and flew up. The air thickened as Lugia began to glow an ominous purple. "I don't like the look of that.." Neo said as he was beginning to think of how to counter it. Solgaleo looked at Neo and roared. Neo immediately comprehended what Solgaleo was saying and nodded. He took out a Solganium-Z and attached it to his Z-ring. He shined a bright glow as he did a pose. "Shine! Let our hearts sync, let our hearts beat as one! Searing Sunraze Smash!" Neo shouted as Solgaleo made a portal appear behind Shadow Lugia, and Solgaleo rammed Lugia into it, following him thereafter. Solgaleo then shrouded itself in divine fire and rammed into Lugia again and again which made Solgaleo land on a platform while an explosion happened on Lugia. The two pokemon then came out of the portal and Lugia crashed down onto the ground. "Good job there, bud!" Neo said as Solgaleo roared in joy.

{BGM: Key to Darkness}

"My Lugia... impossible!" Richter shouted in anger. "Give it up, You lost this one." Neo said as Richter smirked and laughed. "Give up? You think i'll give up!? I'll not rest...until i get revenge for Valiona!" Richter shouted in anger as Lugia got up and roared loudly. Darkness was seething out of it and Lugia slammed his tail against Richter. "Oof!" Richter cried out as he was slammed into the wall. Lugia then slammed it's tail at Neo and the others. "Neo! You ok?" Heza asked. "That shadow Lugia is outta control." Neo said as he stood up. "Lugia! What's wrong? O-Oh no.. He's overloading...! I gotta get out of here but...if I do that, who knows the destruction will happen." Richter said as he was trying to weigh out his options. Lugia then made a dark beam form and it was aimed at Neo. "G-Get down!" Richter shouted out to Neo as Neo then crouched down, avoiding the attack. "You have to stop Lugia, He somehow broke free from my control. I-I'll lend you my aid. Just hurry and put Lugia down!" Richter said as he threw a pokeball and out came his Shadow Dragonite. Haruko winced in pain and he opened his eyes. "Ergh... What did i do?" Haruko asked as he then looked around. "R-Richter!" He said as he got up. "Good, you're awake." Kazuma said. "Reckless idiot!" Heza shouted in anger.

Dragonite and Solgaleo were busy dealing with Lugia. Haruko stood up. "We need to combine an attack together, Just like with Hypno." Haruko said as he whistled Solgaleo to come over. Neo smiled upon seeing Haruko awake. "A group attack? Sounds like a plan." Silas said as he called out his Ninetails while Kaiden called out Swampert. Kazuma called out Houndoom and Heza called out her Lucario. "Solgaleo, Sunsteel strike to turn into a ball!" Haruko said as Solgaleo levitated up and spun into a ball. "Ninetails, use Ice beam on Solgaleo!" Silas said as Ninetails shot an ice beam to Solgaleo and he glowed blue. "Swampert, use Mud Shot!" Kaiden said as Swampert shot mud balls at Solgaleo, making him glow blue and brown. "Houndoom, use Flamethrower on it!" Kazuma said as Houndoom roared and breathed out a fire that made Solgaleo glow from blue, to brown to red. "Aura sphere!" Heza ordered as Lucario shot a few aura spheres at Solgaleo. "Dragonite, use Shadow Rave!" Richter said as the Dragonite shot dark blasts at Solgaleo and now it was shining a variety of colors. Solgaleo then rushed towards Lugia and rammed into it hard. Lugia faded away into a dark portal and went elsewhere. Richter looked down. "Why... You ruin everything... Why cant you just cut me out...?" Richter asked.

{BGM: Tears in the Rain}

"Because I know you dont want this. You're doing what any brother would do if he saw his sister get killed. I sometimes wonder if i never dated her, i wonder if things would have changed...? There's no way for me to go back and change it. But come on man, You gotta move on. Just as Haruko and I did." Neo said. Richter's eye widened in shock. "N-Neo.... Alright.... At this point, i have nothing else to lose..." Richter said. "Hey, you know how to make shadow pokemon, right? Could you purify them too?" Neo asked as he took out his pokeball. "Your shadow scolipede? Yes.. I can undo it. Arisa may have the basics of corrupting a pokemon, but i have the cure for it. Just leave it to me. In the mean time, why not go upstairs? I'll join you once i have purified your pokemon, and once i seal off Lugia once and for all until i can purify it." Richter said as the others put their pokemon away and they went upstairs. "Think it over with joining us.." Neo said as he went upstairs.

~

"....You think we got through to him?" Neo asked. "Looks like it." Kazuma said. "I just hope Shadow Lugia is taken care of, and that he is sealed away." Reijiro said as Neo nodded and looked towards the doorway to the elevator. There footsteps can be heard. "Indeed. I succeeded in weaving the seal anew, granted it's at a slightly diminished potency then when i had my old friend's assistance. It is no cause for concern though. The Path to the seal is not so easily reached, nevermind breached. And even if some should succeed, their presence wont escape my notice." Richter said as he was no longer wearing his lab coat and had a pokeball in hand. "Then that means that you're free to adventure the world now as you see fit without a pokemon of destruction. Which brings me to the next topic. Have you considered the offer?" Neo asked. "Well.. I suppose... I mean if you'll forgive me....Very well. I shall consider myself a part of the team once more." Richter said as he smiled and threw the pokeball over to Neo. "Your pokemon is purified as well." Richter said. "So what will you do now?" Haruko asked. "I'm going to go on a journey of atonement. This is where we part ways for now, my friend. Come, I have to lock this place down." Richter said as he went to the front door. The others then followed him. Now outside, the sun was shining down.

{BGM: Destiny's Union}

"So this is where we say goodbye." Richter said as he locked the door to the lab. "Take care, Richter." Reijiro said. Richter smiled and then walked over to Neo. Richter held his hand out for a shake. "I was wrong for blaming you for Valiona's death. When next we meet, I want us to start over." Richter said. Neo smirked and shook Richter's hand. "You're not forgiven, But that may change down the road. Take care man." Neo said. "Tch. You dork." Richter said with a smirk. "Well I best be on my way. Take care everyone!" Richter said as he waved and left. "So...what now?" Haruko asked. "Well Kaiden, and I are going to head home back to Hoenn. Our boss is going to want the details of everything for Mauville news." Silas said. "Im going to head home as well and pursue my dream of being a gym leader." Heza said. "I think im going to stick around here in Kanto for a bit, perhaps go through the gym challenge as well. By then the Pokemon League will appoint the new champion." Kazuma said. "Before we go, I want one last thing to remember you all by." Kaiden said as he took out his phone and took a picture. "I'm thinking of heading back home and seeing my folks again back. Haruko, Neo, you two want to come along? We all are from the Alola region after all." Reijiro said. "Yeah. I wanna see my parents again, I miss them." Neo said. "Then it's settled. Lets head back home to Alola.

After saying their goodbyes, the group disbanded and they went their own ways. Kaiden, Silas, Haruko, Reijiro and Neo went to Vermilion city to take the ferries to their homes. After a long trip, Haruko, Reijiro and Neo landed on Melemele Island. After a bit of a walk they arrive to a house on the outskirts of Hau'oli city. "Alright, this is my stop. I'll stop by later, Haruko." Neo said as he went into his house. Reijiro and Haruko walked a bit of a distance and arrived at Haruko's house. "Well, go on in. Im sure your parents are worried sick about you." Reijiro said. "Y-Yeah... I'll see you around." Haruko said.

{BGM: Always on my mind}

Haruko walked to his house and got on the porch. He took a deep breath and sighed. He was unsure how his parents would react. He twisted the door knob and entered. Shortly there after, he left his shoes by the door and got slippers on. In the other room, a voice can be heard. "Koto? I got the food out for dinner tonight. I'll be heading out to run errands so come down stairs will ya?" The voice asked as a blonde woman walked out of the kitchen and looked over at the door. With a gasp, tears fell as she quickly ran over. "H-Haruko..? Is that you?" she asked as Haruko smiled and winked. "Hey mom, been a long time yeah?" Haruko asked as a gruff voice can be heard. "Yeah yeah, im comin' Was busy." The voice said as a man who looked like an older version of Haruko walked downstairs. His eyes widened upon what he saw. "Suki, is that..?" He asked as he quickly walked over. "Yo Dad,." Haruko said as he was quickly pulled into a hug by them. "Finally... Finally my dream came true. You're finally home." Suki said. "Why havent you stayed in touch with us? We were worried sick." Koto said as tears fell. "Sorry.. Things got outta hand. Like I was taken prisoner by a wild Hypno." Haruko said. "We saw that on the news. Your friend ..err Silas was it? reported it. You're a hero, son. You've done a lot for the world." Koto said. "Well, I don't deserve all the credit. Neo and my friends helped with it." He said as he sighed in relief.

The Door opened and someone walked in. "Pardon me, am i intruding?" Reijiro asked. "No way... You're....!" Suki said "Cless...? That you? You've grown up...so much..." Koto said. "Huh? Cless? Who's that? Thats Reijiro." Haruko said. "Oh.. You were never told? Cless here is your older brother. Way before you were born, Your mother and I were not in the best spot...financially, and we had to put him up for adoption so he can have a better life." Koto said. "So...You're my older brother...? This whole time!? and you knew!??" Haruko asked. "Truth be told, Yes... I didnt want to be discovered by you. Ever since i saw you went on your journey, i been watching you from the sidelines, and prepared to leap in if you needed it. It was shady of me, I know but-" Reijiro said as he was hugged by Haruko. "Shut up, you talk too much." Haruko said as Koto and Suki held hands and watched Reijiro and Haruko. "It's been a long time but our boys are finally home." Koto said. "Come, come sit down on the couch, and tell us about your journey." Suki said as she walked over into the living room and sat down. Koto followed shortly after. "Wow... to think you're my big brother all this time, Reijiro. Well come on, let's go give them a story that'll wow them, yeah?" Haruko asked as he went into the living room. Reijiro sighed and smiled. He then went with them and sat down. "Well... where do i begin...?" He asked.

~~To be Continued...~~