Hi everyone, SK here.

WOAH OKAY, real talk here.  So this is the third-last chapter.  This chapter is one of the most intense things I've ever had to write, and the climax isn't even finished in this chapter either... still.  To be honest this chapter was a little bit of a struggle, so I hope it's okay.  Tell me in the comments once you finish!  This is one of the last ones in the book, so please, enjoy.

P.S. Do you remember chapter 40 of The Fairy's Cure?  Those wrongs get righted today.

- NO POV -

The sun is beginning to clip over the edge of the horizon when the fairies emerge through portals at the edge of the woods.  They are facing the east, the sunlight shining on the humans turning them into dark silhouettes.  

The Dark Leader steps forward along with her brother, both of them hovering in the air to be seen better by the people that think them to be no better than scum.  "Lance," she says in a voice as cold as stone.  

"How is he still alive," he demands through gritted teeth, as if the very sight of August is disgusting him.

"You did a great wrong by bringing injustice upon the fairies and my family.  All of you.  As Leaders, we will take our revenge for our people here and now."  Verity's voice is as strong as ever, no wavering whatsoever.  Perhaps it's the part of her that's looking for a fight, or perhaps it's the part of her that genuinely cares about the well-being of the Colony.  She only knows one way to protect, and that is through force.  

"Alara told you the terms, do you agree to them?" August asks, mighty and strong, from beside his sister.

The red-headed man thinks to himself for a little bit.  Beside him are all of Red's former associates, the other Champions, as well as a great many others who the fairies can presume are expert battle trainers.  "Yes, she did, and the terms do seem good... for us."

A wind howls as it blows through the area, and Verity looks Lance squarely in the eyes.  "Good.  Then may the best side win," she says with a complete lack of emotion.  Both Leaders fly back down to the rest of the fairies, who by now have all lined up to mimic what the humans were already doing.  They walk side by side to the center, the Ministers and Advisors standing on either side of them.

"Curses," Verity commands, summoning her Mist Pokemon.  This prompts all the other fairies to do the same, the blue sparkling creatures appearing on the grass and enlarging themselves to human proportions.  Of course, this sparks the humans to summon their own Pokemon, tossing their Pokeballs in the air and crying out their partners' names.  

From the side, the soon-to-be Queen watches all of this intensely.  She was told by both the Leaders and her parents that in case her magic should spiral out of control again, she should sit out of the fight.  She wasn't happy about it, but by now she knows the consequences that could be had.  She already has to deal with enough.  However, if things were to get dire, Valerie is supposed to use her powers.  That's what they told her, though she can't help but feel a bit useless as she merely watches her friends fight for their lives from the sidelines.

However, her Spirit Soldiers are definitely partaking in this fight, despite the fact that most of them do not have formidable Pokemon... well, except for Red.  With sure steps he walks forward and stands beside Verity, the entirety of his team already out of their Pokeballs.  The regular Pokemon stick out like a sore thumb around the minty-blue Mist Pokemon on the fairies' side, and Lance spots the former Champion easily.  

Before he can get any words in though, Red speaks up.  "I once was your mentor, I trained you," he pours out.  "All of you were once honourable people that I was proud to rule with, and now look at you.  Is a spell really all it takes to corrupt you?"  He knows the part about the spell can't be helped, but the words are already rushing out of his mouth.  "And you killed Leaf."  His voice hardens.  "You're a murderer, and now I have no choice but to treat you like one."  He holds Leaf close to him, inwardly afraid that he's about to lose her again.

Lance sneers at Red.  "And you are a traitor, so naturally you'll be treated as such."

Heliux watches all these miniature exchanges with an unamused expression.  So much chit-chat, he thinks annoyedly, let us please get this over and done with.  The Light Minister, despite his hot-headedness, doesn't enjoy fights like these.  

Layra, on the other hand, is the complete opposite.  She's itching to tear into these humans (with her Pokemon, not actually), to give them a good scare.  Both the Ministers' hands are on their extra Pokemon, ready to be summoned if need be.

The two sides eye each other, the odd silence being completely deafening.

Verity's hand thrusts forward, her cry echoing out to the heavens.  "Curses, Dragon Darts!"  

Of course she's attacking first.  That's just in her nature, after all.  To have the first strike.

And to have the last.

In an echo to their Leader, the rest of the fairies begin their attacks, the Mist Pokemon (and Red's) surging forward.  

"Corviknight, Body Press!"  

"Alakazam, Psychic!"  

"Absol, Night Slash!"

By now, the humans have started attacking too, chaos ensuing in their wake.  After the first few minutes of all-out attacks, the battle begins to divide itself into miniature sections.  It seems that chaos also has an order to it.

Leave it to Heliux and Layra to take on a large group of humans by themselves.  If it were a ratio, it would probably be 10:1, humans to fairies.  They begin by attacking just with their Alakazam and Absol, their two most trusted partners.  The duo have fought together for eons, and that same natural synergy kicks back in here.  However, there is strength in numbers, and after a few minutes this becomes painfully clear to the two Ministers.  The minor argument they had earlier is seemingly forgotten, their duty overriding their personal feelings.

"I think it's time," Layra pants, "to bring out our allies."  It may be early in the battle, but they need to use all their strength.  She smiles at her partner.  "Are you ready, Love?"  

"Of course, my Dear."  Heliux's reply is lost in the sound of battle, but both of their hands still find a way to the Pokeballs they had attached to their respective belts.  With a shout they're tossed up, blue light shining down revealing the ten Pokemon that Time forgot about.  

A snow-white Ninetales comes to the ground, bringing with it a storm of hail, joined by Heliux's Rapidash whose mane is still burning with flames.  The ancient Golurk slowly blinks as it comes to life.  Heliux's last two Pokemon, Milotic and Serprior, slither to the front and take aggressive stances.

Meanwhile on Layra's side, her Goodra is roaring at the opponents.  Her Indeedee's strong psychic aura fills the battlefield in the form of a psychic terrain just as her Ribombee does twists and turns in the air, probably happy to be free.  Her Gastrodon and her Salazzle both look raring to go.

"Which weather's best?" the Dark Minister asks her partner whose team features a bunch of weather-changers.

Heliux quickly analyzes the situation.  "It seems that most of our opponents are using either ice or water types, as well as some other in the mix," he thinks out loud.  Alakazam and Absol are still attacking, but the rest of their Pokemon are waiting for their orders.  "So..." he turns to Serperior.  "A Sunny Day, if you will."

The snake-like Pokemon raises its head and lets out a cry, a cry that dissipates the hail clouds and replaces them with a bright blue sky.  "Leaf Storm," Heliux commands, "then Solar Beam.  You will only be stronger."  He turns quickly to his other Pokemon, giving them quick but precise orders. "Rapidash, use Flare Blitz at the Ice-types.  Milotic, Ice Beam at the Vileplume.  Golurk, please use Shadow Punch to get rid of the opposing Ghost-types, you know they're a trouble for Absol-" the Pokemon being talked about lets out a grunt but Heliux ignores it.  "Ninetales, help defend Goodra from the opposing Dragon-types."

Layra's quick to command as well.  "Goodra, Fire Blast while the sun is still up- you should know who to attack.  Ribombee, help Milotic against the Vileplume with a Bug Buzz."  By now, the humans are almost blank with shock at what the two fairies are doing, wondering where those Pokemon even came from.  "Gastrodon, Ancient Power, try and get a bit stronger from it.  Salazzle, you use Fire Blast too 'cause of the sun.  Indeedee, uh-" she falters but Heliux covers for her.

"Use Expanding Force," he commands swiftly.  All ten of the additional Pokemon go to fulfill their orders, working together and eliminating the opposing Pokemon quickly, so quickly that it almost fuels the chaos further.

"Wh-What is this anarchy?" one of them questions with a stutter, staring in shock at their allies' Pokemon being ripped to shreds by the ones belonging to the fairies.

Heliux raises an eyebrow.  "This is anarchy?" he repeats, thinking to himself and crossing his arms.  "No..."

"... this is order."

While the Ministers fight it out, the Leaders are being aided by Valerie's Spirit Soldiers in their own fight.  However, unlike Heliux and Layra, the twins seem to have lost some of their synergy.  Again, unlike the Ministers, the pain of their earlier debacle hasn't faded away.  August is still painfully aware of what his sister did, and Verity seems to be overly calm about it. 

Out of all the Spirit Soldiers, Red is putting up the most of a fight.  This is natural of course, considering he is using a team of fully trained Pokemon that he's been with for years, the same team that won him the Championship so long ago.  By now, he knows the ins and outs of the battlefield pretty well, and he knows that one rule is keen when fighting with allies: You must fight with your ally, not against them.

The former Champion pauses his assault and turns to the two Leaders.  "You two need to fight together if we're actually going to win this battle, considering we're severely outnumbered," he orders gruffly, not giving a damn about what position they hold.  "You're used to relying on the other in battle, don't let go of that now."

"Body Press on that Quagshire!" August calls out, turning to Red after.  "She's not the Verity I once knew," he mutters.  "I would gladly fight aside that Verity, this one isn't real."

The Dark Leader feels as if her brother shot an arrow through her heart, but she knows that this is what she deserves and more.  "I'm really sorry, but I'm the only Verity you're gonna get," she hisses, coming off more angry than she intended to.  "August, please, let's put that conversation behind us and focus on the battle at ha- Curses, DODGE!" she screams frantically, her Dragapult thankfully dodging just in time.  "Phantom Force," she commands swiftly before turning back to her brother.  "August?"

"Brave Bird!" he orders his Corviknight, and once the Galarian regional bird Pokemon starts to execute its attack, he turns back to his sister with a huff.  "I... I don't know what to say, honestly."

"Raichu, Thunderbolt!  Machamp, Ice Punch!"  The Spirit Soldier of Cold turns back to the Light Leader.  "I don't know what happened between you two," he begins, "but you both need to remember who this fight is for.  This isn't for yourselves, this isn't for any revenge you had in mind.  This fight is for all the fairies, for them to prove to the humans that they deserve the right to peacefully exist on this planet.  This fight is to earn the fairies' safety, and you need to get that in your heads before an- Snorlax, Body Slam-" he falters to give a command to his Pokemon "-anything else."  

Instantly, August thinks back to when the fairies were captured, how scared they were, how willing he was to put his life on the line for all of them.  He glances at his sister; is she really making him toss away those ideals that easily?  "Fine," he laments in a gruff tone.  "For this battle, Verity, let's fight side by side."

She grins.  "Alrighty then!"  She cracks her knuckles, a cunning expression on her face.  "Let's do this.  Curses, Dragon Dance!"

"Corviknight, Bulk Up!"

The two Mist Pokemon, by now, have fought for centuries together.  The routine is almost a cut-and-paste, except this time it's different because of how many enemies they have to face at once.  

"Ninjask, Acrobatics!" calls out an opposing human trainer.  "Aim for the Dragapult!"  

That Pokemon is lighting fast, but August is faster.  "Corviknight, block the attack!"

Sometimes August's Mist Pokemon is smarter than him, so it does him one better.  Corviknight not only blocks and heavily resists the attack with its mighty strong defence, it also grabs the Ninjask firmly in its beak.  Corviknights are as strong as steel, there's no breaking through.

"Curses, Dragon Darts to finish off the bug," Verity calls out, Curses making swift work of that poor Ninjask who never stood a chance against the twins and their powerful Pokemon.  The tiny victory is good, but still nowhere near close enough to what they need.  "Keep on the offensive," she commands, wanting to fight for her fairies, "Dragon Darts over and over!"

"Body Press," orders August with a flick of his wrist.

The fighting continues, both sides bring out their best; it goes on for what seems like hours.  Fairies up and down are fighting hard against the humans, but there is one thing they lack, and that is numbers.  Despite their shows of strength they are quickly being overwhelmed by the humans, and although they had a backup plan, Valerie is starting to get worried.  She has a hunch what is going to happen, either she needs to actually join the battle or use her powers to help the fairies.

She smiles to herself with a sudden thought.  What if I do both?

In the chaos of battle it's easy to sneak away.  When she leaves, she sees the fairies condensing themselves to one group, one oh-so-little group, against the now-growing group of humans.  They're surrounded on all sides by the time Valerie makes her escape, she knows that if she doesn't act quickly even more bad things will happen to them all.

She rushes into the woods, taking in a deep breath once she reaches a quiet area.  An area where the sounds of battle cannot reach.  So many thoughts are running through her mind.

She knows what she's about to do, what she's about to initiate.

What's about to happen after.

She's ready.

She's ready.

Inhaling yet again, she summons two of her very first Elements.  Space and Spirits, the ones given to her by her parents.  She takes both Elements into her hands and makes a portal.  Space to make the portal possible, Spirits to set the portal's destination.

Valerie steps through only to find herself on some sort of slide.  Streaks of light fly past her in every colour she could've ever imagined.  All she can see is light, the forest that she once stood in now a blur behind her as she's stepped into this foreign realm.  She follows the twists and turns of the slide, smiling a little as a wind rushes against her, until she finally reaches the bottom.  She exists gracefully and turns to the Spirits that have approached her.

She bows.  "Greetings," she says respectfully.

In this part of the Spirit Realm, fairy Spirits of all Elements can join together.  Think of it like a daisy, its center being where they are now and its petals being the individual realms that each Necklace connects to.  There are many Spirits here, including Gardenia, Lita, Zagan...

... Ash, Serena...

"Greetings," Gardenia returns warmly.  "Why are you here, Valerie?"

She swallows any pride she might have.  "I've come to ask for your help.  All of your help.  The fairies are in grave danger."  She continues.  "We're fighting the humans, but we don't have the numbers.  They could lose, we had a plan, but..." her gaze shifts.  "I didn't factor in that the humans easily power over us with their size, before we could have a chance to escape with portals they could easily capture some of us, putting us right back in that same loop."

"What can we do?" asks Serena, sounding a little scared for the fairies she just left.  "We've all moved on, we can't go back-" she spots Valerie's look and stops herself.

She smiles at them all.  "If you're willing, I can bring you all back- for a limited time of course," she adds when she sees the Spirits' looks, "because I'm sure you know the repercussions of all of you coming back for good.  I could bring those of you that are willing into the realm you once came from, make you and your Mist Pokemon visible to everyone else so they can also fight."  Looking at Ash and Serena, she adds, "I can even bring the Star Pokemon if they would prove useful."

Ash tears up.  "You can bring Pikachu back to me?"  The Realm of the Stars and the Spirit Realm are two different places.  Pikachu, as a Star Pokemon (like Sylveon) never got to reunite with Ash after his death, like how Sylveon never got to reunite with Serena.

Valerie nods, a warm smile on her face.  "Yes," she confirms.  Letting out a sigh, she goes on.  "I know this is asking a lot out of all of you, you've all served your time and you deserve your eons of rest.  I wouldn't be asking if the situation wasn't dire, but we need help."  Her voice grows desperate.  "We really need your help."

"A battle?  You know that's my specialty."  Ash grins and walks up to Valerie, pausing after.  It seems he forgot about the incident with his daughter... but the important things come first.  The safety of his friends is definitely more important than anything he needs to settle with Verity.

"Of course I'll help as well," echoes Serena, stepping up beside her boyfriend.

Gardenia gazes at the couple warmly.  "I'll give you my aid as well."

Lita and Zagan also offer up their aid, as well as so many other Spirits.  Valerie is a bit overwhelmed by the number.

"Raichu, whad'ya say?" Rin asks, his Alolan Raichu responding with a happy yip.  The former Dark Leader tosses at thumbs-up to Valerie.  "We're in!"

"As are we."  A gruff looking man with an odd-coloured Garchomp walk through the crowd.

Ash scowls at him.  "Drago, what are you playing at?"

Drago eyes one of the youngest Spirits, giving him a glare. "Think of me what you will, but always wanted the fairies to thrive-"

"The Dark fairies!"

"But fairies nonetheless," he points out to Serena.  "I would never want them to fall to human scum."  He eyes Valerie.  "It's your call, Your Majesty.  I can provide my battle skills to this fight if you'd like them."

Valerie lets out a sigh.  "Fine, Drago, you can come along."  She knows all the history concerning this man, but this just means that she knows his words are true.  He hated humans and wanted to ensure fairy (albeit Dark fairy) survival.   

He smirks.  "It'll be interesting seeing your father again.  Did you know he tried to kill me once?"

"Probably because you were acting like an idiot, just like you're doing now," she retorts with an eye-roll.  She scans the crowd of Spirits, a crowd that must have hundreds, maybe even a thousand, bodies in it.

She figures that it's enough, and so she creates the portal that goes back into the world of the living.  "Through here," she instructs, wanting to smack herself after because they probably already knew that.  When Gardenia comes up to her, Valerie calls her aside.

"I know you're the only one capable of bringing the Star Pokemon back, can you?" she begs.  Well, not the only one capable... the only one that knows how.  Gardenia looks at the young girl with a mildly amused expression and nods.  Gardenia is the first Queen, remember, she is capable of things that most cannot do, even someone with eleven Elements.  She knows more and is stronger than anyone can know.

"There's something else.  I need you to give me some advice," Valerie admits while fiddling with her fingers.  "Alara.  What should I do about her?"

The first Queen lets out a sigh.  "Ah yes, her.  Valerie, you forget that most Time fairies cannot see past their own deaths.  Some, like Melodia, you, and I are born with extra gifts- though, I suppose yours come from your extra power that you already had.  She clearly did not think ahead of her little play- so for now, let her be.  She's needed when she's needed, and now is not that time."

"Thank you, Gardenia."  Valerie's relieved response is met with a nod from the former Queen, who promptly travels through the portal moments later.  It takes a few minutes for the Spirits to go through, Valerie exiting last so she can close the bridge between realms.

The Time fairy trudges to the front of the crowd, ready to lead her army.  "This way," she points, showing the direction that the battle is.

~~~~~~~~~~

The fairies now have formed into a singular line, their backs against the forest.  They're trying, but most are growing desperate.  Quite a few Pokemon on both sides have gotten injured.

"Where's Valerie," August shouts after yelling a command to his tiring Corviknight.

"She was here a few minutes ago!" returns Verity, sounding frustrated and a bit worried.  "We have our plan, but we can't just leave without her."

Heliux curses under his breath, his focus aimed straight at the battle in front of him.  If any of his fairies are hurt again, he'll never forgive himself.

Layra's also trying to foucs, but is less-so.  It lets her spot an odd translucent glow coming from behind them.  Her eyes widen as the Spirit walks between the fairies, honey-blonde hair blowing slightly in the breeze.  Her pale rose-coloured dress shifts back and forth as she walks.  Her bright blue eyes are filled with such life, it's almost as if she were actually alive.

As soon as he sees her, August thinks its a hallucination.  A dream.  But when his mother summons her Braixen, ready to join the fray, he feels tears come to the edges of his eyes as his shoulder begin to shake.

"M-Mom?"

His voice cracks as she turns to him, a warm look on her face.  "August," she calls out in a voice so heart-broken.  "Verity."  She pulls her children close to her, but this hug doesn't stop the battle.  Oh no, things are still worsening while two more fairies are taken out of commission by their mother coming back to life.

August doesn't know how to feel, he just holds her close so she won't ever leave him again.

Verity's eyes lock onto another Spirit who comes up.  His raven hair is messy as usual, and his red translucent cape is as bright as always.  His jacket is clean and neat, unlike his hair of course which is covered by a favourite baseball cap of his.

"Dad."  The Dark Leader's voice is filled with shock, shock that she's seeing him again so soon.  She has no idea what to say to him, what can she even say to him?

"Verity."  At the sound of his voice, August's head perks up and he spots his father.  His crying gets worse as he reaches out one of his arms for his dad, he wants his dad.  Ash happily embraces his son, and his daughter.  Verity's shocked at this, he actually... he's hugging her?  After what she did to him, what she did to his life?

The Ketchum-Yvonnes are united at last amidst the chaos.

Heliux's eyes grow wide at the sight of the two Spirits, the two Leaders, and slowly turns to look behind him.  Gasps escape from all the fairies as former Leaders and Rulers pour into the area, leaving the humans with an incoming sense of dread.

When Drago comes out, the Light Minister's eyes narrow.  "Drago," he mutters."

The former Dark Leader smirks.  "Heliux."  His smirk grows wider when Heliux wraps his arms around Layra's shoulders, Layra herself being a bit shaken at seeing this man again, the man who's tormented her for years.

"Relax, I'm not here for either of you today.  I'm here to help you attack those human scum."

Heliux rolls his eyes, but they widen once again as he sees the Spirits that poor into the area.  Leaders, Advisors, other fairies, Rulers... old friends that he thought he'd lost forever.  Old friends now coming back into his vision for real, not just in a dream.

Layra's looking for someone.  The same person Heliux is.  The one that first connected them in the first place, the one they've wanted to thank for millennia now.

All of a sudden, just as it seemed that all of the Spirits came to join, glowing orbs form in the sky.  Despite the timing, meteors soar from space toward Earth, falling stars glowing with crystal starlight.  As they near closer, their forms appear clearer.  They're Pokemon, Star Pokemon.

Serena breaks away from her family and watches her long-lost friend come down from the sky.  Five hundred years... and finally, they get to be together if only for a little bit of time.  "Sylveon," she calls out happily, her arms reaching for her first Mist Pokemon.  Braixen joins in the hug when it happens.

Ash, who by this point has already taken out Greninja, is looking for his best bud.  Pikachu.  It doesn't take long for the yellow mouse Pokemon to descend from the sky, sparking with all its electric glory.  "Buddy," the former Dark Leader calls out mournfully, "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too," returns the Electric-type, who leaps into Ash's arms as soon as he's close enough.  The two finally embrace after spending five centuries apart.  At last, the golden duo is together once again.

One more Spirit enters the crowd, her mint-coloured hair flowing in the wind.  All the fairies know who she is, and even if the other Rulers didn't get bows, she does.  Gardenia is quick to tell them all to rise on their feet, for they have a fight to attend to.  She orders the fairies to go back to the battle, as the ones who chose keep fighting on even as the Spirits were arriving are needing help.

She walks up to Heliux and Layra, smiling at the two.  "Well, look at you now.  I told you, didn't I?"

"That one day, being stuck together wouldn't be as bad."  Layra laughs.  "You were right.  Although you should know he's still horrible with alcohol, so I don't have a drinking buddy.  That's still bad."

"Layra is this really the time-" Heliux cuts himself off with a sigh, looking back at his old friend.  "Gardenia, it..." his voice trails off.  "It is very nice to see you again."  He's trying to stop himself from breaking.  As an immortal person you don't expect to ever meet old friends again, especially ones that have died.  Yet another way Heliux is thankful for the magic of this world.

Gardenia gives the Minister a smile.  "Yes, it's very nice to see both of you again too.  That daughter of yours is really something, though."

Heliux's mind becomes alert.  "Valerie!  Where is she!?"

Ah yes, one last person has yet to enter this fight.  Footsteps sound from behind the fairies and the ones who aren't fighting turn, waiting for their Queen.  Her dress shifts in the breeze, the lighter pair of her wings bright like the dawning sun.  Her chocolate-coloured hair waves in the wind with her as she walks, the gold flecks in her violet eyes glowing like the shine of a thousand stars.  A Frosmoth flies next to her, imperial and strong, as she walks toward her family.  The Ministers and the Leaders.  She stands between them both, giving them each a little nod.

She thrusts her hand out.

"Nombles, Ice Beam!"

Yep, Ash and Serena are back, as well as Pikachu and Sylveon.  I bet you didn't think they were coming back- well, at least Pikachu and Sylveon.  I hope you enjoyed this chapter!  Next chapter hosts the climax... and then it's the last chapter.  My God.

Anyway, I'll catch you all next week with chapter 45.  Hope you all have a good one!