33 Chapter 33
Emmet finds himself in a dream, trapped in a pitch-black room. He feels an overwhelming lethargy, his mind foggy. Desperately, he tries to summon his Psychic Energy or tap into his Aura, but nothing responds. It's as if he's been cut off from his own abilities, leaving him helplessly stranded in the dark void.
Out of nowhere, a soothing pink glow pierces the darkness. The oppressive force that's been holding him down weakens, and Emmet feels a glimmer of hope. Slowly, he can sense his Psychic Energy and Aura beginning to stir, responding weakly to his mental commands. The pink light seems to be breaking through whatever barrier has been suppressing his powers.
Then, another surge of pink light washes over him, shattering the invisible shackles binding him. With a sudden jolt, Emmet feels a rush of energy flood through him, his mind snapping back into focus. His eyes snap open, a gasp escaping his lips as he returns to consciousness.
To his surprise, he's no longer in the dark room of his nightmare. Instead, he finds himself back in the room with the partially collapsed roof and the macabre display of mummified remains. His eyes quickly adjust to the flickering light, which is far more intense than any he remembers from before...
His thoughts are abruptly cut off as he realizes the source of the light—Pokemon moves. Shocked and fueled by a sudden rush of adrenaline, he fully awakens. Before him, Clefairy and a gargantuan Haunter are locked in a fierce battle, trading blows with intense ferocity.
Agatha's chilling words echo in his mind, painting a vivid picture of the Haunter's murderous past. The realization hits him hard—he was just moments away from becoming another of its victims. Now, it's Clefairy who's putting herself on the line, saving him with an unexpected Fairy Type attack.
He watches as Clefairy counters Haunter's relentless Shadow Balls with her newly mastered Moonblast. 'She must have got the move right by being pressured by the Black Fog' He thought to himself.
Clefairy's fighting with all her might, the benefits of EM evident in her strength. Yet, Haunter, with its decades of fighting experience, seems to have the upper hand. The disparity in their battle-hardened skills is painfully clear and the ghost pokemon is just toying with her.
His eyes shift upwards to the collapsed ceiling, where Pidgeot is flying in wide circles. The bird Pokemon's sharp eyes are locked on The Black Fog, as if calculating the perfect moment to strike. Emmet can sense Pidgeot's readiness to swoop in, waiting for just the right signal.
A plan starts to form in Emmet's mind, but it hinges on him executing a Psychic ability he's struggled with before. He watches Clefairy, noting her fatigue. Time is running out. He must act now.
Emmet attempts to block out the chaotic battle sounds, focusing his Psychic energy upwards towards Pidgeot. It's a struggle at first, the connection elusive. But after several heart-pounding moments, he feels it—a link, fragile but there. With a significant effort, he sends a telepathic message to Pidgeot: "Get ready."
Emmet splits his psychic focus, straining with all his mental might to maintain the link with Pidgeot while simultaneously trying to open a channel to Clefairy without disrupting her concentration. But each Shadow Ball that whizzes past like a missile destabilizes the tentative psychic connection he is building.
After an agonizingly long minute that feels like an eternity, Emmet finally establishes a link with Clefairy's mind. But despite using the gentlest psychic touch he can muster, it breaks her focus at the worst possible moment. A particularly large and ominous Shadow Ball smashes directly into Clefairy, the impact sending her small body rocketing backwards until she slams brutally into the unforgiving stone wall. The bone-jarring collision makes the entire ancient chamber shake, spiderweb cracks erupting outward from the point of impact. Emmet winces in dismay, flooded with guilt for inadvertently distracting his pokemon.
The sadistic Black Fog lets out a chilling cackle of delight at Clefairy's agony. Battered but unbroken, she peels herself off the cracked wall, glowering with determination at her tormentor.
Seizing this small window of opportunity, Emmet quickly sends an urgent telepathic message urging Clefairy to try to lure the gloating ghost pokemon directly underneath the gaping cavity in the ceiling. The intense psychic strain of maintaining two simultaneous mental links is splitting Emmet's skull with agonizing pain. Through clenched teeth, he instructs Pidgeot high above to begin powering up using Work Up, building its strength for the mighty Aerial Ace attack they will need to defeat this merciless foe.
Clefairy begins the grueling task of maneuvering around the room, trying to position the battle so the Haunter moves directly under the ceiling hole. Each attempt leaves her exposed, battered by Shadow Balls as the Black Fog toys sadistically with his prey. But Clefairy presses on, determined to enact Emmet's strategy despite the repeated painful blows from the weakened ghostly attacks.
The instant The Black Fog is positioned directly under the gaping cavity in the ceiling, Emmet senses Pidgeot's readiness through their psychic bond.
A pang of regret pierces Emmet as he realizes how many incredible powers granted by EM he had failed to fully explore, powers that could turn the tide here. But he forcefully shakes the thought away, focusing his mind wholly on the task at hand.
With perfect strategy, Pidgeot climbs as high as possible before diving down in a blistering Aerial Ace, his wings glowing brilliantly as he rockets toward his target in utter silence.
Emmet's blood turns to ice as he sees Clefairy still dangerously near the Black Fog's position, right in the blast zone. Frantically, he grabs her pokeball, ready to recall her. But doubt paralyzes him - what if Haunter trapped her with Mean Look?
Offering a desperate prayer to Arceus, Emmet sees the Black Fog notice the white light barreling down from above, far too late. He mashes the pokeball's button, relief washing over him as the red beam pulls Clefairy to safety.
Emmet ducks behind a massive chunk of debris just as the collision rocks the chamber. The Black Fog's cry of pain is music to Emmet's ears.
The room shakes violently as Pidgeot's Aerial Ace slams into the Black Fog, but as the debris settles, Emmet's elation turns to horror. The ghost pokemon remains floating, clearly damaged but far from finished.
Letting out an enraged shriek, the Black Fog whirls and launches a Shadow Ball straight into the diving Pidgeot before he can pull out of his attack. The ghostly orb explodes against Pidgeot's body in midair, sending the bird pokemon careening to the ground. He lands hard on the stone floor, struggling to rise.
Turning its malicious gaze to Emmet, the Black Fog begins drifting toward his hiding spot, murderous intent in its eyes. Emmet's mind races desperately for options, cursing himself for not having a contingency.
In the corner of his eye, Emmet sees the red beam of Clefairy's pokeball materializing her back into the fray. She emerges ready to fight, but Emmet's shout of warning comes too late.
Moving with astonishing speed belying its size, the Black Fog is suddenly right in front of Clefairy. Before she can react, it lands a Sucker Punch squarely on her torso with savage force.
Clefairy flies backwards from the blow, hitting the far wall with a sickening crack before sliding to the ground, unconscious. Emmet cries out in dismay, agony gripping his heart at the sight of his battered pokemon.
The Black Fog cackles with sadistic delight, before turning back toward Emmet's hiding spot. Fear courses through Emmet's veins, the full gravity of the situation crashing down on him.
Desperately, Emmet tries to psychically reach Pidgeot to get back in the air. But the bird pokemon's mind is foggy, unclear. Emmet curses under his breath, knowing he and his team are completely outmatched.
As the Black Fog looms nearer, Emmet's mind flashes back to Leaf, to all the others counting on him. He steels himself, ready to stare down the ghostly monster bearing down on him. There is still one card left to play.
The Black Fog rounds the debris, its horrific visage filling Emmet's vision. This is it - their last stand. Emmet's hand goes to his belt, ready to release his injured pokemon - Firefly, Sylveon and Annihilape - his only hope.
But before he can act, Elite Four Agatha suddenly appears from his shadow, cackling madly. In the confusion of the fight he even forgot about her. A gigantic Gengar materializes beside the Elite Four, radiating an aura of ghostly power so strong that even the Black Fog recoils.
Stunned relief washes over Emmet as he realizes they are saved. Under Agatha's command, the Gengar launches a devastating Shadow Ball. The Black Fog wails in agony before trying to flee, only to hit its head on an invisible wall that screams Psychic to Emmet's senses.
Trapped by Gengar's psychic barrier, the Black Fog can only watch in horror as the massive pokemon stalks toward it. Gengar's eyes glow malevolently as it unleashes a barrage of Shadow Balls that explode violently against the Black Fog.
Dark mist sprays in all directions with each blast, accompanied by the Black Fog's wails of pain. But Gengar shows no mercy, continuing its relentless assault as Agatha looks on, an unsettling grin on her face.
Emmet notices her relishing the destruction, as if she has some personal score to settle. Unease twists his gut, even as he recalls his injured Pidgeot and Clefairy, feeling exposed without any battle-ready pokemon.
Pressing its advantage, Gengar phases right through the Black Fog, then materializes inside it. The ghost pokemon shrieks in agony as Gengar literally tears it apart from within, vicious claws shredding through its smoky form.
The Black Fog desperately tries to escape, but Gengar drags it back with psychic force. Then with a savage roar, Gengar summons a towering, swirling Shadow Ball and drives it straight through the Black Fog's center.
The dark explosion blows a hole straight through the Black Fog's body, wisps of shadow leaking out. Gengar shows its fangs in a gruesome smile as the crippled ghost pokemon sinks to the ground, writhing feebly.
Merciless to the end, Gengar towers over its broken foe, charging up one final Shadow Ball to finish it off. The Black Fog trembles helplessly before the looming attack.
Just as Gengar delivers the final blow, obliterating the Black Fog, a strange shimmering manifests before them. Emmet watches in wide-eyed astonishment as the translucent spectral form of a young girl materializes, radiating a soft ethereal glow. He can't believe his eyes - there was never anything like this in the games or anime.
At the sight of the ghostly child, Agatha's legs buckle as she collapses to her knees with a heart-wrenching wail, hands flying to cover her mouth in shock. Tears begin streaming down her wrinkled cheeks as she reaches out a trembling, desperate hand toward the incorporeal spirit.
"Oh...my dear child, my sweet girl," Agatha sobs, voice cracking with emotion, "I'm so sorry, I failed you! I swore to protect you and I wasn't there when you needed me most!" She doubles over, shoulders shaking with the force of her anguish.
The spectral girl's misty form gazes sadly at Agatha, her voice echoing softly as she speaks. "Please don't cry, Aunt Agatha. It wasn't your fault, you couldn't have known this would happen."
Agatha looks up, face twisted in grief, still trying in vain to grasp the ghostly child's hands. "I should have been there for you! I should have saved you!" She bows her head, fresh tears dropping to the stone floor. "Can you ever forgive me?" she whispers hoarsely.
The spirit girl's form kneels gracefully next to the grieving woman, her glowing aura pulsing brighter. "There is nothing to forgive. What happened was out of your control. Please don't torment yourself, Aunt Agatha."
Agatha's breath hitches, her shoulders shaking with barely suppressed sobs. She reaches out a hand as if to caress the ghost girl's face, but it passes through the glowing mist.
The ghost girl's aura flares even brighter as she gazes sympathetically at the distraught Agatha. Then the spirit turns to Gengar with a warm, affectionate smile. "Look at you, you've grown so much!" she says with a musical giggle.
Gengar rubs the back of its head bashfully at the spirit's praise, uncharacteristic warmth in its eyes.
Agatha takes a few deep, shaking breaths, wiping the tears from her eyes as she looks up at the spectral form of her niece hovering before her. "I miss you so much, my dear. I promise I will make it up to you. Someday, we'll be together again."
The spirit girl's aura pulses soothingly as she gives Agatha a radiant smile. "I know we will. For now, live your life to the fullest. And know that I will always be with you." With that, her glowing form slowly fades away, leaving a calm quiet in the room.
