Chapter 5: Reckoning
Marie continued to watch as Lisa continued to charge towards her on Rapidash. The masked woman kept trying to make sense of the mix of emotions she was feeling. Marie found that she felt somehow happy to see Lisa back on her feet, but she couldn’t tell if it was because she was glad that she was fine, or because she had been given another chance to make Lisa suffer even more. Never before had Marie experienced such an odd mixture of anger and rage, and then of course there was the misery she had felt earlier after using Darkrai to attack Lisa. Whatever Marie was feeling, in the end se decided that she would deal with Lisa one more time before taking care of Andre.
“Go Honchkrow!” Marie called as she threw out a Pokeball. Emerging from the thrown ball was a good-sized black bird with a white breast and a head of feathers that resembled a hat. “Take down Rapidash with Night Slash!”
Honchkrow’s wings began to glow with a purple light. The black bird then flew at Rapidash and slashed its right with across Rapidash’s right legs. The fiery steed fell to the ground, knocking Lisa off. Lisa quickly got back to her feet though.
“Now hit it with Dark Pulse!” Marie commanded.
Honchkrow opened its beak and fired a barrage of black energy rings. Rapidash cried out as hit was being hit. Lisa quickly called back the flaming horse.
“It’s good to see you again dear Lisa.” Marie said with a somewhat insane smile on her face. “I’m surprised you were able to recover so quickly from Dark Void.”
“I came to talk to you Marie.” Lisa told her.
“There’s nothing more for us to say to each other.” Marie said coldly. “All that’s left for us is this battle.”
“…I see.” Lisa said with a sad expression. “Well then… if fighting you is the only way for me to get you to listen, then let’s go! Go Flareon!”
Emerging from the thrown ball was a creature that looked somewhat like a mixture of a fox and a cat. It had large black eyes and most of its fur was red. On its forehead was a tuft of long yellow fur, and the same kind of fur surrounded its neck. The creature’s tail was also covered in long yellow fur and gave one the impression of a flame.
“Dark Pulse, Honchkrow!” Marie commanded. Honchkrow fired another barrage of black rings, but Flareon managed to jump out of the way before they hit.
“Use Fire Spin!” Lisa commanded. Flareon fired a stream of flames that circled around Honchkrow and created a tornado of fire. “Now it’s got nowhere to go. Jump up and use Iron Tail!”
Flareon’s tail began to glow with a white light as it charged towards the twister of fire. The fox-like creature leapt up in the air and did a flip. The twister of fire vanished and Honchkrow was hit on the head by Flareon’s tail. The black bird was knocked out of the air cold.
“You never fail to impress me Lisa.” Marie said as she called Honchkrow back. “I’ve actually always admired your strength, even now. But this battle is far from over. Go Bisharp!”
Emerging from the thrown ball was a somewhat humanoid creature that stood five feet tall. Much of its body was covered in red armor, and on the forehead of its helmet was a long gold and silver blade. Its hands resembled white gloves with curved blades on the sides of its wrists, and protruding from the front of its torso were bladed disks that gave one the impression of a ribcage.
“Now you’re not even trying!” Lisa told Marie. “Hit Bisharp with Flame Charge Flareon!”
Flareon ran fast at Bisharp, and as it did its entire body became shrouded in flames. Before Bisharp could react, Flareon tackled it right in the chest, knocking the armored creature to the ground.
“Finish it with Flamethrower!” Lisa commanded.
Flareon fired a stream of flames at Bisharp just as it was getting up. The armored creature fell back to the ground and was out cold.
“Please listen Marie!” Lisa begged as Marie called back Bisharp. “I don’t blame you for being mad at me. I don’t blame you for wanting revenge. I ended up doing a terrible thing to you all those years ago.”
“You didn’t seem to think it was so terrible back then.” Marie retorted angrily. “You lied to me and just watched as they dragged me away to that hell!”
“But I never wanted to lead you into that trap!” Lisa insisted. “I never even believed that you stole the Blue Orb in the first place! I was shocked when they found you guilty at the trial. And later when you managed to escape the city jail and call me, saying that we should run away together… I wanted to do that! I knew that it was wrong, but I didn’t care! But… my father and Andre found out… and they both somehow convinced me that helping to bring you in would be better for you… that it was the right thing to do. And like an idiot I listened to them, not at all knowing that Andre had framed you…. Leading you into that trap was the hardest thing I ever had to do!”
“It was hard for you?” Marie scoffed with bile in her voice. “How do you think I felt on that day? On that day it felt as if my heart was shattered to pieces…. Do you have any idea what that feels like?”
“I… I have a pretty good idea.” Lisa said as if she was on the verge of tears.
“Then prepare to feel even more pain.” Marie said coldly. “Go Houndoom!”
From Marie’s thrown ball emerged a large black dog with a red snout and underside. Rather than ears it had long white curved back horns, and its tail was slim and had a point at the end like a demon’s. On its back were white bands that looked like ribs, and around its neck was another band that had a small skull on the front, giving one the impression that the dog was wearing a collar.
“Use Smog Houndoom!” Marie commanded. Houndoom breathed out a thick purple smoke that caused it to cough. “Now use Crunch!”
From the thick cloud of smog Houndoom suddenly emerged and bit down on Flareon’s right side with incredible force. Flareon began to have a hard time standing after the attack and continued to cough.
“Oh dear, it looks like your little friend got poisoned.” Marie laughed as Lisa quickly called back Flareon. “Well, that’s what happens sometimes when Houndoom uses Smog.”
“…Go Ninetales!” Lisa called as she threw out another Pokeball. Emerging from the thrown ball was a large white fox with a silky coat and nine magnificent tails. “Use Confuse Ray!”
Ninetales’s eyes began to glow with a yellow light, and in moments it fired a ball of yellow light from its forehead. The ball hit Houndoom in the face and suddenly the black dog began to stagger around.
“Now hit it with Quick Attack again and again!” Lisa commanded.
Ninetales began running around Houndoom at incredible speed, at times disappearing and reappearing. Each time the fox reappeared it tackled into Houndoom. After six or seven attacks Houdoom began to have trouble standing up.
“Finish it with Flamethrower!” Lisa commanded.
Ninetales hit Houndoom with a stream of flames breathed from its mouth. The black dog fell on its left side and was out cold. Marie called Houndoom back to its Pokeball.
“Go… Hydreigon!” Marie called after throwing out another ball.
Emerging from the ball was a large three-headed dragon that was black with a blue underside. It had six black wings that looked a bit like strips of tattered cloth. All three of its faces were blue, and around each of its necks were what could be described as fuchsia-colored flower petals. Its two legs looked as if they had decayed and regressed into simple stocks.
“Dark Pulse!” Marie commanded.
Hydreigon reared back all three of its heads and fired off a barrage of black energy rings at Nintales. The attack impacted with such force that it created a large explosion. When the smoke cleared Ninetales was on its side out cold.
“When I’m through with you I’ll make you experience my hell all over again!” Marie declared as Lisa called back Ninetales.
“…Go… Arcanine!” Lisa called out with a sad expression as she threw another Pokeball.
From the thrown ball came a very large red-orange dog with black stripes and a snout, chest, and tail of cream-colored fur. The top of its head was also covered in the same color fur, and tufts of it covered the backs of its legs.
“Attack with Outrage!” Lisa commanded.
Arcanine’s eyes began to glow red and its body began to emanate a red aura. It then roared and charged at Hydreigon, tackling it with incredible force. After the attack had hit, Arcanine roared and charged again, once again tackling the dragon.
“A Dragon-type attack to fight a dragon.” Marie observed. “Not bad at all, but two can play at that game! Use Outrage Hydreigon!”
Hydreigon’s eyes soon began to glow red and its body began to produce a red aura like Arcanine’s. The dragon then roared and charged into Arcanine just as the fiery dog charged into it. The two Pokemon then began attacking each other relentlessly, ramming into each other nine or ten times. Eventually they stopped and stared at each other as they panted. Soon both of them fell to the ground unconscious. Lisa and Marie then called the two Pokemon back.
“It’s time we ended this dear Lisa!” Marie declared as she threw out another Pokeball. Darkrai emerged from the ball and hovered before Lisa.
“Using Darkrai already, huh?” Lisa observed. “Then in that case… go Entei!”
Emerging from Lisa’s ball was a very large brown lion-like creature with a cream-colored underside. Its paws were white and it had a pair of large spiked grey plates on the sides of its back. In between those plates like a cape was something that looked like billowing grey smoke. The creature had an almost mask-like face with a three-pointed yellow plate on its forehead, red plates on the sides, and a white mustache-like plate on the front of its snout.
“Hit Darkrai with Flame Charge!” Lisa commanded.
Entei roared and began charging at the shadowy Pokemon, and as it did its body became shrouded in flames. The beast of flames rammed into Darkrai and the impact created a small explosion. But when the smoke cleared, standing in Darkrai’s place was Zoroark. The monster fox chuckled at Entei.
“What the…?” a confused Lisa exclaimed. “Marie, when did you…?”
“What you saw is Illusion, Zoroark’s signature ability.” Marie explained. “It allows my darling Zoroark to take on other forms. In fact when I found and captured my friend at Scorch Gate when he was just a Zorua, he used his Illusion ability to entertain me and keep me from going mad. Now Zoroark, attack with Night Daze!”
Zoroark’s eyes began to glow blue and a massive red aura emerged from its body and cracked the ground around its feet. The monster fox raised its arms and then quickly brought them down, sending a wave of red energy at Entei. The wave hit, and Entei suddenly began moving as if it was dizzy.
“Use Flamethrower!” Lisa commanded. Entei breathed out a stream of flames, but the attack did not hit anywhere near Zoroark. “What?”
“That’s what happens sometimes, Night Daze can reduce an enemy’s accuracy.” Marie explained. “Now Zoroark, hit Entei with Night Slash!”
Zoroark charged at Entei with its claws glowing with a red light. Entei breathed out another stream of flames, but Zoroark easily avoided it. The monster fox got near Entei’s left side and began slashing with its glowing claws.
“Use Night Daze again!” Marie commanded.
Zoroark once again began to emanate a powerful red aura. The monster fox brought up its arms again and slammed them back down, sending forth another wave of red energy. Entei was hit by the wave and knocked out. Zoroark roared in triumph as Lisa called Entei back.
“Go… Phoenix!” Lisa called as she threw out the ball that contained her last Pokemon.
Emerging from the ball was a six-foot tall humanoid creature with a red bird-like face and body. It had grey talons for hands, yellow feet, and long blond hair-like feathers that split down the middle like a V.
“Oh, your Blaziken.” Marie observed. “I remember when you got it as a Torchic. I even helped you come up with its nickname. We were so close back then… who would’ve guessed that you’d betray me?”
“…Use Bulk-Up.” Lisa commanded with sadness in her voice.
Phoenix cried out and its body began to glow with a red aura. Veins on its arms and legs began to bulge and its body became somewhat more muscular.
“What is this?” Marie asked in a surprised tone.
“Bulk-Up increases the attack and defense power of its user.” Lisa explained. “Now Phoenix… Sky Uppercut!”
Phoenix cried out again and charged at Zoroark, forming its right talon into a fist as it did so. Phoenix then hit Zoroark on the jaws with a punch so powerful that it sent the monster fox a few feet in the air. Zoroark hit the ground unconscious.
“You did well my friend.” Marie said to Zoroark as she called it back to its ball. She then pulled out another Pokeball. “It’s time to end this… go… Darkrai!”
Darkrai emerged from the ball and hovered in front of Phoenix. The shadowy Pokemon glanced at Lisa for a moment before looking back at her Pokemon.
“Attack with Dark Void!” Marie commanded. Darkrai threw a ball of black energy that hit Phoenix faster than it could dodge. Phoenix fell to the ground asleep and was twitching as if it was having a terrible nightmare. “Now Darkrai, use Dream Eater!”
Darkrai brought its arms forward and began to glow with a red aura. The aura around Darkrai then stretched out and extended around Phoenix. The man-bird then began to cry out as if it was in intense pain.
“Yes! That will be your fate dear Lisa!” Marie laughed madly. “That will be what I’ll do to you once I’m done with your Pokemon!”
“…And I deserve it.” Lisa suddenly said, surprising Marie. “I deserve all the pain you want to inflict on me after the horrible thing I did to you. I helped to send you to a hell that you never deserved to go to, and for that I’m the one who deserves to be punished…. But before you punish me there’s something I have to tell you, something I should’ve told you thirteen years ago.”
“W-what’re you doing?” Marie asked in a somewhat frightened tone as Lisa suddenly began walking towards her. “Stay back!”
Lisa did not listen to Marie one bit. Instead she came up to Marie and pulled off her mask, carelessly letting it fall to the ground. Lisa then pulled Marie in and planted a firm kiss on Marie’s lips, Marie’s eyes widened in surprise. After a few moments Lisa broke the kiss and stared into Marie’s eyes.
“I love you… Marie.” Lisa said to her.
