Five Hours Earlier…
Azure and Ferrick approached Zacheus’ cell, hearing the Incineroar’s yowling. The Project Pokemon were still spooked by the disappearance of the guest Machoke, Azure in disguise, and would not be coming out any time soon, so they had little to fear as they grew closer.
Azure knocked on the iron door and said, “Zacheus?” The door bent outward as she said it, the occupant ramming against it with all his might.
“Let me out! Let me out, I dare you! I am Zacheus of the Forgotten Isles, the greatest warrior to live! I will destroy all who come in my path!” He roared. He rammed against the door again, then scratching its surface.
Ferrick said, stepping away, “I remember Maxim saying something the other day about playing with one of the prisoners…that might have something to do with this…” Zacheus cackled crazily, clawing open the iron that protected the little viewing window.
He set an eye next to it, and upon seeing Arthus, he cackled, “Ah, Arthus has come to challenge the great Zacheus! I accept your challenge! Come in here and fight me!” Azure stepped back in fear, worried that Zacheus may have truly gone insane.
“Zacheus, please tell us what happened to you! What drove you to be so aggressive?” She asked. Zacheus’s eye moved away from the grate, and fading from sight.
“Ah, so you do not know what they did to me? Very well, I will show you! Outside!” He yelled. He rushed the door again, forcing it to bend outward once more, the bolts being dragged out of the wall a little bit.
Erik ran out of the hallway, Ferrick grabbing Azure’s shoulders and pulling her away. “We can’t stay here, that thing is breaking out!” Zacheus rammed against the door once more, pushing it farther from the wall. They began to run as fast as they could out of the hallway, and they heard the final bang!
They looked behind them, and saw what Maxim Magmortar had indeed accomplished. All over Zacheus were scalds and burns, his fur singed and his tail part gone. He had only one eye, the other sealed shut, but his claws were sharper than ever, and his teeth glinted maliciously.
He said, exhaling beast-like, “So, you see what they have done to the mighty Zacheus! I was an almighty warrior, respected by my tribe, a king in combat! And they treat me like this!” He kicked the door back into the cell, a plume of dust coming from the tiny room. He grinned, softly saying, “Well…now you must deal with the king.”
Other Project Pokemon came from the barracks, and upon seeing the freed Incineroar, got ready for combat. The Throh who lost PokeBoard exclaimed, “The beast is free! Attack him, for the Project!” They ran into the hallway to meet the champion of the Forgotten Isles, yelling out with various battle cries.
He growled playfully, and he began to glow red. He rushed them, swinging both claws into the fray. He scratched the Project Pokemon with dark energy, making them fall to the ground in pain and misery. He blocked a Hitmonlee’s kick, countering it with a scratch to its body. He countered a Darmanitan’s punch, kicking its stomach and scratching its face. He was a war machine in battle, mowing down what competition he had.
Azure looked in horror at the gentle Pokemon she had known in the cell, hearing this incarnation only once when she arrived. He was far different than the Pokemon she gave food to, the one she had gentle talks with, and the noble fighter from these Forgotten Isles. She hid her face in Ferrick’s shoulder, as Erik hid behind the legs of his uncle.
The final blow to the oncoming assault of Project Empowerment was made, a burst of fire from Zacheus’s belt dealt to a writhing Carnivine, struggling to put out the flame. He grabbed it by its vine, swinging it around swiftly and extinguishing the fire. He tossed the Grass Pokemon in a heap with its comrades, cackling as he did so.
“Is that all you have to give me? I am disappointed, especially with how you ruined my body for your play!” He exclaimed. The Project Pokemon dared not move as he approached Ferrick, showing off his claws.
“So, Arthus, you now see my strength. This field of battle isn’t worthy for you, so let us clash in the outside!” He said, his tail whipping excitedly.
Ferrick held Azure close with one arm and Erik with another, shielding them from the Incineroar’s gaze. He stood steadfast, calmly stating, “You are not worthy for any more titles, Zacheus of the Forgotten Isles. All you have done is shown us what beast you are, and nothing more.” Zacheus growled at the statement, but upon seeing Azure’s frightened expression, and Erik’s timid whimpering, his eyes shown with a different light.
He turned back to the Project Pokemon, witnessing the carnage he had committed. Their bodies lay mangled and wounded, burned and scored, all through his prowess. In his mind he was the winner, and had successfully defeated his foes. In the minds of others, however, he was a murdering beast, one capable of great destruction.
He turned back to Azure, his face no longer filled with the same rage, and instead with shame for what he had done. He looked back to her, forlornly saying, “I…I am sorry…I never knew-“A fireball hit his chest, pushing him back into the hallway in a plume of smoke.
Maxim Magmortar came down from the staircase into the Tower of Wisdom, his fire barrels smoking. He sneered, letting his claws eject from inside his arm. “So, the almighty Incineroar finally broke out? About time I say; I’ve been itching for another flamefest.” Zacheus burst out of the smoke, his fighting spirit returned.
He roared, then exclaimed, “You are the one I deserve to face! Face me, here and now!” Maxim chuckled, and he raised his arm, the inside glowing with red energy.
“Fine by me. Let the flames rise high!” He exclaimed. He jumped off the stairs, landing with a crash, and ejected a Fire Blast. Zacheus jumped over it, letting the ball of fire hit the far hallway.
Azure looked at the desolation and gasped. “The children! No!” She exclaimed. She broke away from Ferrick and ran into the hallway, dodging Zacheus and going through the smoke.
“No, it’s too dangerous!” Ferrick cried. Erik looked over to his uncle and growled angrily. Ferrick looked down, pointing behind him.
“You go to Gaska; it’s too dangerous here!” He exclaimed. Gaska wobbled over from the kitchen and let out a whistle of amazement.
“A’ll say. You com ova to big Uncle Gaska this instant young Zorua!” He ordered. He dodged a stray bit of debris that flew from Maxim and Zacheus’ scuffle, stamping his foot.
Ferrick scooped up the Zorua and threw him over to Gaska, the overweight Bibarel catching him. He ran back into the kitchen, grabbing Ian from the ceiling on his way out.
Ian wriggled in irritation, complaining, “Aw, but I want to watch!” Gaska would have clouted him had he had a free arm, but he instead spat on the annoying Chimecho.
“If you watch that you gonna die! Now, we’re goin’ into the storeroom to wait this out!” He exclaimed. He trotted to the stomach of the kitchen, entering the tiny door, shutting it, and locking it on his way in.
Ferrick dodged a fireball from Maxim’s fight, sliding underneath the swinging claw of Zacheus. He ran into the prison hallway, dodging the flames caused by the inferno of battle. “I’m coming Azure!”
Within he heard children cry in fear, frightened by the sudden flames and sounds of battle. He stormed through the smoky hallway calling out for Azure. He finally saw here next to a tiny cell, holding the frail body of a Sneasel.
Azure saw Ferrick and exclaimed, “Quick, she’s hurt!” The flames spread quickly, crawling up the wooden beams that supported the massive rock structure of Fort Ervine. Ferrick mustered his strength, picking up Azure and Clera, lifting them away from the section of ceiling that broke away above.
Clera looked up at Azure, stunned by the turn of events. Azure didn’t notice, seeing only the other children within the cells.
“We have to get them all out of here!” She exclaimed. Ferrick nodded, reaching for his side and pulling out a ring of keys.
“I’ll get them out. There’s an emergency exit in the back of this wing; it’s a large black wall with hinges. Push on it with all you got, and it’ll lead you into the open. Now go!” He exclaimed. The flames grew larger, and the fight moved from the center into the hot springs.
Zacheus hissed as he clawed at Maxim’s eyes, hanging on his back. Maxim blew flames everywhere he went, catching any uncovered wood on fire. He spit out a Smokescreen from his cannons, cascading across the entire area.
Gaska peeked out of the storeroom, sniffing wildly. “Them guy’s gonna burn the entire place down unless I do somethin’.” He pointed at Ian, saying, “Keep an eye on the little guy, I’m going fire fightin’.” He unlocked the door, shutting it quickly behind him.
Ian looked down at the Zorua, seeing him whimpering. “I don’t like you whimpering like that, so how about a nice nap?” He said, Yawning. The Zorua yawned after, falling asleep right on the stairs. Ian chuckled, waiting for Gaska to return.
Gaska stomped into his kitchen, crying out in dismay. “The wood’s ruined! And I carved it myself!” Flames spurted out everywhere, landing on the tables and on his counter, catching anything it would on fire.
Gaska grunted, furrowing his brow. He pat straightened his chef’s hat, and took a deep breath. He turned around, his tail glowing blue, and quickly swung it towards the flames around it, using his Aqua Tail to put out the inferno. The charred wood dampened, and Gaska continued his endeavor, spreading water wherever he could within his beloved kitchen.
He chuckled while spraying, “Good thing my granddaddy had a Floatzel for a daddy.”
In the prison hallway, Ferrick opened up cell doors, dragging children out and exclaiming, “Follow the hallway and go to the black wall, Azure is waiting there for you!” All the children obeyed these orders, running frantically to escape from the growing flames.
A Sentret cried out, “Help! Please! A beam landed on my friend!” Ferrick ran into her cell, and saw an Eevee crying, her tail caught underneath a burning beam of wood. Ferrick went to it, his fur singeing, and set his claws under the beam. He grunted, and with all his strength, lifted the beam, the flames licking his digits.
The Sentret helped the Eevee to her feet, saying, “Come on, to the wall! Azure’s there!” Ferrick dropped the beam, letting the ceiling collapse and returned to releasing the prisoners of Fort Ervine.
Zacheus roared, spreading the mineral water of the hot spring into Maxim’s eyes, receiving a cry of pain. Maxim’s fist charged with purple energy, and swung with a Feint Attack in Zacheus’ direction. He missed, hitting the wall that contained the water’s spout, cracking it.
He blinked the water out of his eyes, seeing what he had done. Zacheus laughed, running out of the room, crying out, “I hope you like boiling alive!” Maxim cringed, running as fast as he could out of the room.
Gaska looked out of the hallway, hearing a crack of stone, the fire cleared and his power spent. He saw a trickle of water coming out of the hot spring hallway, and his face drooped.
“Burnt biscuits.” He muttered, dashing to his beloved storeroom. The stream quickened, becoming not a trickle but a river, flowing out of the hallway.
Gaska opened the door and shut it behind him, locking it tightly, He sat in front of the door to block water from coming in, and with a fearful face, said to Ian, “If we don’t die of fire we’ll die of fire water!”
Ferrick opened the final cell, near the last turn before the black emergency exit. He carried out the Chikorita within, and ran to Azure, seeing her push against the wall.
“It won’t budge! It’s stuck against something!” She cried. On the other side, a sizable boulder sat next to the wall, landing there from a distant time.
Ferrick began pushing with her, exclaiming, “Push kids, with all you’ve got if you want to make it out!” Children of all shapes and sizes pushed against the wall and the adults. A Machop strained his powerful muscles, while a tiny Solosis pushed it with his kinetic energy.
Zacheus and Maxim ran through the prison hallway, covered in burns, gores and bruises. Zacheus clawed at his foe as he ran ahead, forcing him to slow. “Die a slow, prolonged death, torturer!” He called. Maxim stood on one leg, looking behind him
The wall from the hot spring cracked, and cracked further, releasing more scalding water from the geothermic reservoir in the mountain. The wall gave one final strike, and the entire reservoir poured out into the room flowing voraciously through Fort Ervine.
Ferrick heard the sound, and stepped back. He took a deep breath, and began to shimmer, using Agility. He ran forward, boldly yelling out, pushing the boulder in his path away from the wall.
It opened, if only slightly, and Azure and Ferrick pushed all the children through the tiny channel. “Quickly, a flood’s coming!” They said. The water cascaded through the prisoner’s hallway, worming through the intricately designed fortress of Arthus and Matheus’ design.
The scalding wall roared behind Maxim, and he cringed for the final time before the wall flowed over his massive frame.
The last of the children was forced out into the openness of Draco Canyon, and Azure struggled to fit through. “I think I’m stuck!” She cried, wriggling as best she could. Children pulled on her arm to help their maid, while Ferrick pushed from the other side, hearing the approach of the coming water.
She finally burst through, receiving praise from the once-prisoners. Ferrick began to crawl through the wall, squishing through the small crack. A stream of water collected next to him, and Azure pushed the children away, beginning to run toward to the other side.
“Run away, the wall’s going to get hit!” She cried. Guards from the walls above watched as their fortress burned, the smoke rising high into the sky. They rushed to and fro, frantically crying out what to do. None listened.
Zacheus padded through the hallway, looking behind him. “Water won’t claim this cat, or my name is not Zacheus!” He roared. He reached the black wall, seeing the red fur of Ferrick. He grinned, and began to push on the wall more.
Ferrick felt the pressure, and he exclaimed, “Push me through, please! The flood’s coming!” Zacheus cackled, forcing the boulder to move unwillingly across the ground.
“No feat is too mighty for the great Zache-“ Water pounded the wall, forcing the boulder to finally roll away, letting the water cascade through the emergency exit, the walls of the great Fort Ervine crumbling to dust on its west side.
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