Pokémon: the Vanguard Descends
Chapter 18 The Court Of The Ghostly King
Aichi’s current team
Level 38 Ahmes (Gallade) psychic/fighting
Moves:
Close combat
Solar blade
Swords dance
Future Sight
Level 36 Wingal (Lycanroc (dusk)) rock
Moves:
Crush Claw
Bite
Stone edge
Play rough
Level 34 Llew (Golisopod) water/bug
Moves:
Sucker punch
Blizzard
Close combat
First impression
Level 35 Gancelot (Lucario) fighting/steel
Moves:
Close combat
Stone edge
Aura sphere
Quick attack
Level 0 ??? (Egg) ???
Moves:
???
Aichi closed his eyes as they flew, finally opening them when they made it to Kagero town. The town looked a little better from last time though it was still clear it was under repairs. Him and Mark got off Charizard and started walking around looking for Kurosawa. The eventually came upon a young man with green hair and grey eyes.
“Hey, Kurosawa.”, Mark greeted, as Aichi raised his eyebrow.
“He’s Kurosawa?!”, Aichi questioned as the rather sparkly young man walked up to him.
“You haven’t forgotten me already have you?”, Kurosawa questioned.
“You look completely different without your hood.”, Aichi replied.
“I get that a lot. So, what brings you back here?”, Kurosawa chuckled.
“Is the rumor about ‘the Aegislash of promised victory’ true?”, Aichi asked, Kurosawa flinched when Aichi mentioned it.
“It’s true though I avoid telling people where it is. It’s the most dangerous ghost here. We’re just lucky it didn’t wreck havoc like the others.”, Kurosawa explained.
“Aichi here wants to catch it.”, Mark said.
“Are you crazy you’ll be killed?!”, Kurosawa gasped in shock.
“I think he can handle it besides he beat Team Asteroid’s Kakusa boss.”, Mark replied.
“R-really?! You really beat that monster? Maybe you can win.”, Kurosawa replied.
“I wouldn’t say…”, Aichi trailed off when Mark smiled at him putting his finger up in a shush position.
“It’s to the north part past the Frostlass. There’s a secret routine there hid behind a big rock.”, Kurosawa whispered to him.
“Alright.”, Aichi replied nodding.
“I see you later Aichi.”, Mark said, leaving on Charizard.
Aichi waved to Mark before setting off. He threw out all his Pokémon and put his egg container in his bagg knowing very well how dangerous this place could be.
“Lycanroc. Lycanroc. (Not this place again.)”, Wingal said, jumping onto Aichi’s shoulder.
“Golisopod. (This place is spooky.)”, Llew said looking around as fog rolled in.
Ahmes used its psychic powers to dispel the fog around them. Ahmes and Gancelot walked side by side Aichi and Llew stuck to the back in case of a sneak attack.
“Frostlass? Frostlass? (You want to stay with us, cutie?)”, a Frostlass asked before instantly being bombarded with sharp rocks, a storm of ice, and psychic energy.
Aichi sweat dropped, never even making a command.
“Sorry.”, Aichi apologized as he walked on.
They eventually made it to the massive rock Kurosawa spoke of. Ahmes used a swords dance before cutting the rock clean in half.
“This way…”, Aichi heard an unfamiliar voice looking around for the source.
The walked threw going into a forest with an unnaturally straight path like it was intentional. They jumped in shock as an eerie purple castle seemingly materialized when they got near. There seemed to be armored knights standing guard armed with Doublades and Honedges. The knights had an eerie purple glow not to mention the eyes and colored cloth parts of the blade Pokémon glowed eerily as well. Aichi’s Pokémon tensed definitely sensing something off here.
“Is this where ‘the Aegislash of promised victory’ resides?”, Aichi asked, nervously already able to guess the answer.
“Yes, it is. I suspect you have come this way to catch it. Follow me, the only way our master will accept a battle is if you are able to pass his test.”, one of the knights said as they opened the door.
Aichi and his Pokémon had their guards up as they followed the knight in. The knights boots clanked as they led them through the very ghostly castle. As you would expect from a castle the interior was rather Victorian-like. The wall had very old looking paintings and murals. There were two crests in the middle of the two stairs, a symbol of a sword and shield, each with wolf heads at the top. One of the knights strangely seemed to be dusting the place which you think would be uncomfortable in full plate armor, but they didn’t seem to be bothered at all.
“Lycanroc. (This place is sus af.)”, Wingal whispered to him.
“Lucario. Lucario. (You can say that again.)”, Gancelot whispered.
“Don’t listen to them. Keep coming.”, Aichi looked around hearing the voice again beckoning him.
“I know...though they haven’t done anything yet.”, Aichi whispered, nervously.
He grabbed his head for a moment, none of them not noticing the faint flicker of a purple glow in his eyes. They didn’t notice as some of the Doublades and Honedges seemed to stare at them while the knights did their duties. The knight opened a door leading them into the middle of the castle where there was an Aegislash stabbed into a stone. The stopped before looking at it as the knight gestured to him.
“Our master will accept your challenge if you are able to pull him from the stone.”, the knight told him as they looked at the Aegislash nervously.
Aichi had a really bad feeling. He wondered if it was intuition, but something told him pulling out this Aegislash was a bad idea. Then, suddenly he paused as he really looked it over. The blade Pokémon had a shimmering golden handle and guard. On the sides on the handle was an ebony cloth that ended with a purple design. The cloth was almost like arms. Above it’s guard was a single eye which was currently closed. Its arms held a golden shield with circle designs. Despite being jammed in a rock the blade was a pristine gold lined with silver. Aichi didn’t know why he felt so captivated was just a Aegislash. It’s not like he hasn’t seen one before so why did he feel like…
“I have to pull it out…”, he thought in a trancelike state.
He couldn’t see it, but a purple glow entered his eyes. His Pokémon looked at him nervously as his hand edged over to the blade. Suddenly, Ahmes moves his hand away.
“Gallade! Gallade! (Snap out of it, Aichi!)”, Ahmes warned as Aichi blinked, shaking his head snapped out of it.
He then noticed the eerie purple glow barely noticeable from Aegislash’s closed eyes.
“You must pull me out, Sendou Aichi. You know you need my power.”, an unfamiliar voice said in Aichi’s head.
“That voice, it was you! Get out of my head!”, Aichi thought.
Aichi shook his head resisting the temptation.
“Gallade? Gallade? Gallade ? (Just what are you people up to?)”, Ahmes asked, raising its blade.
“Up to? We’re not up to anything, such schemes are reserved for witches and warlocks.”, the knight stated, surprisingly calm.
“Golisopod? Golisopod! Golisopod! (Really? Because you guys seem super shady!)”, Llew yelled.
Wingal turned its head to the Aegislash as it heard the faint sound of cloth moving. The we’re suddenly surrounded by knights that seemed to appear almost instantly as if waiting for this moment. His Pokémon all got into fighting stances.
“Lycanroc! (Aichi, look out!)”, Wingal warned, shooting sharp rocks.
They turned to see Aegislash blocking the rocks with its shield. Aichi jumped gasping as it slipped over him; they tried to attack at it, but it was too fast. Aichi froze when it placed itself in Aichi’s hand and wrapped its cloth-like arms around his. His eyes glowed purple not unlike the knights. Aegislash’s purple eyes and cloth glowed. It’s shield rested over his arm that held it.
“Lucario? Lucario? (Aichi, are you alright?)”, Gancelot asked, full of concern as Aichi’s went slack like a puppet that had its strings cut.
The tension increased as Aichi raised his head.
“Everythings fine.”, Aichi replied, simply seemingly alright.
“Gallade. Gallade. Gallade. (You're not fooling anyone Aegislash.)”, Ahmes said turning to him.
“Looks like you’ve got me however it's too late. You know it’s been awhile since anyone has been able to hear my call a few hundred years I presume. It seems your trainer is worthy of being my host.”, Aegislash said, through Aichi smiling.
“Lycanroc? Lycanroc? (How does this keep happening?)”, Wingal questioned.
“Golisopod! Golisopod! (This is exactly why I hate ghosts!)”, Llew said.
Somewhere…
It was an endless void full of black…
“This is all your fault!”, 003v said.
Aichi had just become conscious looking up to his doppelgänger.
“What happened?!”, Aichi asked.
“We’re being possessed by Aegislash.”, 003v told him.
“How does this keep happening to me…”, Aichi trailed off, in disbelief.
“Because you're an idiot! You keep getting yourself into this situation!”, 003v replied.
“Most of the times I’ve been controlled were you!”, Aichi pointed out.
“And I should take control since it’s obvious you don’t know what you're doing!”, 003v retorted, pointing at Aichi.
“How do you know what you're doing?! You’ve been going around brainwashed people and causing havoc!”, Aichi retorted, exasperatedly.
In reality…
Inside Aichi’s bag the egg shaked more and cracks formed on the egg. Aichi’s Pokémon sweated nervously not knowing what to do before something suddenly a blue light emerged from his back shooting up. They all turned around surprised.
Floating inside the blue light was a small reptile Pokémon. It had red eyes and teeth that stuck out of its mouth. On its head it had a fin-like thing that almost resembled a helmet. It was an Axew and for some bizarre reason it was blue. It’s eyes were glowing looking down at Aegislash as they sweated nervously.
“Lucario. Lucario. Lucario. Lucario. Lucario. Lucario. Lucario. Lucario. Lucario. (You know I don’t know a lot about Axews, but I don’t think they're supposed to be able to do that.)”, Gancelot asked.
Before Gancelot could get an answer the Axew shot itself at Aegislash. Aegislash blocked it with it’s shield. There was a loud crash sound and Aegislash cursed as it was sent spinning away. It’s blade stabbed into a nearby wall. Aichi blinked confused, suddenly waking up from his possession. He looked down feeling something cuddled up in his arms; it was the Axew. It’s eyes were no longer glowing or had a aura and it’s scales returned back to its natural green color.
“Axew! (Mommy!)”, the Axew said, cuddling itself in Aichi’s arms.
“W-What happened?”, Aichi asked.
“Lycanroc. Lycanroc. (Don’t ask us we don’t know either.)”, Wingal replied.
“Golisopod! Golisopod! (It's you baby, Aichi! It hatched!)”, Llew replied, pointing at Axew.
“Gallade. Gallade. Gallade. Gallade. (And it somehow saved you from Aegislash.)”, Ahmes added.
“So...your telling me this baby saved my soul?”, Aichi questioned.
“Golisopod! Golisopod! (It's a real soul saver!)”, Llew replied.
“Soul saver…”, Aichi mumbled as the Axew licked him.
“Axew. Axew. (I like that name, mommy.)”, the Axew said.
“If you do then your Soul Saver I guess.”, Aichi replied, still stunned.
Aegislash freed itself from the rock easily, still completely stunned at what just happened.
“How! I am the legendary king reborn as one of the strongest Pokémon...I have lived and trained for thousands of years...And a hatchling! Just sent me flying!”, Aegislash said, angrily surprisingly talking normally.
“Axew! Axew! (What you are is a big meanie!)”, Soul Saver replied.
“Gallade. Gallade. Gallade.Gallade. Gallade. Gallade. (You know for a baby it knows a surprising amount of words.)”, Ahmes said.
“Lycanroc. Lycanroc. Lycanroc. Lycanroc. (I think it gets all that weirdness from its mama.)”, Wingal replied, sweat dropping.
“My knights get those Pokémon! And leave they boy for me!”, Aegislash ordered.
The knights all brought out their Doublades and Honedges as Aichi’s Pokémon got in fighting stances.
“Ahmes use future sight! Wingal use stone edge! Llew use sucker punch! Gancelot use stone edge! Aim for the Pokémon!”, Aichi commanded.
Llew rushed in to the knights coming at them delivering vicious sucker punches to the blade Pokémon they wielded. Wingal and Gancelot shot sharp rocks keeping the knights away from Llew and distracting them. Aegislash was actually quite a bit impressed they were holding back its knights.
“Now, Ahmes use swords dance!”, Aichi ordered.
After the ghost blades were knocked out the knights followed suit and the purple glowing their eyes disappeared. Aegislash launched itself towards Aichi as its knights dwindled. Aichi braced himself and Soul Saver’s eyes glowed again, its scales becoming blue. Soul Saver roared at Aegislash who continued forward.
“Not this time hatching! Sacred sword!”, Aegislash yelled.
Soul Saver and Ahmes tried to slow it with psychic energy, but it resisted. They gasped as Aichi turned his back covering Soul Saver as Aegislash stopped its swing.
“I won’t let you hurt them! If you're going to attack someone, attack me!”, Aichi yelled, Aegislash was stunned at this action.
It reminded Aegislash of...Aegislash shook itself forgetting the memory.
“I can’t forget my mission, this is all for my country, Galar! I must save it!”, Aegislash said to itself.
“Galar?”, Aichi questioned.
“I am the once and future king of Galar, Alfred Pendragon.”, Aegislash or Alfred revealed.
They gasped in shock, but were still wary.
“Why are you doing this, Alfred?”, Aichi asked.
“So, I can live again and save my country like I failed two all those years ago. I have amassed this army for this purpose. My kingdom fell to my traitorous son Mordred. We both ended up killing each other and I was reborn as a Honedge.”, Alfred explained.
“Your intentions may be good, but you’ve been going about it all wrong! These knights are not really your knights, they're just victims of your Doublades and Honedges possession! You think your people would be proud of what you're doing!”, Aichi replied, determinedly.
The commanding presence from before returned to Aichi leaving the Pokémon stunned.
“What do you know your just a kid!? You couldn’t understand what it’s like to lose everything! If I have no attachment to my knights them losing them won’t hurt again!”, Alfred replied, angrily.
Aichi stood up narrowing his eyes not backing down.
