-FALL-
The crowd was stunned into silence at Crimson's revelation. Immediately following were panicked whispers, bouncing between those seated. Malorie watched from the side of the stands... had she said Team Cinder? Wasn't that the shady group that the students from Aquacorde had clashed with? The one causing chaos across the entire region...?
"Jackson..." She mumbled her brothers name and gripped her skirt with both hands in her seat.
"You were foolish to reveal yourself here..." Steven Stone stepped into the middle of the battlefield, his Metagross swiftly floating down in its mega evolved form to its trainers side. "This place, this time, you people are never satisfied are you? This is a festival to celebrate all the good in this world and you sully it by existing here."
"All the good...? My, you are full of hubris." Crimson's small smile flickers away and she glares at Steven with a cold, dead glare... both sets of eyes glow with prismatic light and emanate an aura of intensity. "All I see is a monument to self celebration and arrogance... not all that surprising considering 'champions' like you are littering the streets of Kalos these days."
"Hold your tongue! I'll not listen to your poison!" Steven takes a step forward causing Crimson to tilt her head curiously. "You're under arrest for acts of terrorism against the league, the people of Kalos and innocent children! As well as for resisting arrest on behalf of the international police. Do not try to resist or I will have Metagross restrain you."
"Your floating ball of metal doesn't frighten me Stone... besides..." Her lips barely twitch into a very slight smile as from the pocket of her dress she produces what appears to be a small device, with a trigger built into the side. "You'll soon see that I'm the least of your problems."
"Wait... don't-!" Steven quickly reached out and Metagross began to charge forward but it was too late, with a single clutch of her fist the trigger was pulled and immediately all hell broke loose.
Across all of Shalour city explosions began to erupt, people screamed in terror and pain as important city building began to burst and explode into flame, the ground itself began to shake, knocking Steven off of his feet and causing Metagross to turn and grasp him.
Crimson's face returned to neutral as she turned away... and a large black Dragon pokémon landed before her. As Steven scrambled to his feet, she climbed upon the Mega Charizard's back, glancing down at the crowd, now screaming and scrambling onto the arena, she spied Odette out of the corner of her eye and met the girls gaze. "I'll be in touch."
"You won't get away! Metagross, Meteor Mash quickly!" Without hesitation, Metagross, still in its mega evolved form, rushed forward as swiftly as it could. Rushing forth with an outstretched claw, but it was just a little too slow. In an instant, Charizard had dashed upwards, carrying Crimson and flying out over the city to escape.
"Damn it!" Steven stood quickly and moved to pursue, but a sudden cry caught his attention before he could act.
"P-Please... someone! Help us!"
Peering over his shoulder he saw he was met with another sight of crimson. A pair of parents were struggling with a large piece of rubble. One that sat upon the lower half of their young son. A stream of blood had shot outwards and sprayed across the cobbles. The boy was conscious, but barely, his legs most likely numbing his senses with the pain. "...graaah! Metagross, quickly to me!" Steven turned from his fleeing assailant and moved to the aid of the parents, Metagross and his efforts easily aiding in the removal of the rubble.
Once again, the Hoenn champion quickly placed a finger to his ear, speaking into a device mounted on his ear as he already rushed towards another call for help. "Contacting all available allies, I repeat ALL available. Code Cinder, a massive code Cinder at Shalour city we need immediate resistance!"
---
"T-This can't be happening..." Professor Augustine Sycamore looked on at the carnage, the sky was painted red against the stars, reflecting the light of the burning flames across all of Shalour City. Occasionally another explosion would go off, more injured, dead and destroyed by the second.
"M-My students... Malorie...!" He quickly looked around the pathway outside of the pokémon center, his gaze frantically darting left and right, desperately he searched for a head he recognized. What if they had already been hurt? What if they were already...?!
He rushed through the streets like a man possessed. He had to find them, he had to find at least one of them, but he had no idea where they were! They could be anywhere in the city, he couldn't-
Unless...
A memory shot through him, as he walked the streets of Shalour searching for a student. Drew Tucker, a younger student than the others... recently in trouble with the leage but still so full of potential. He had meant to punish him, speak to him about his conduct at the gym. He had seen him, walking with head held low through the streets. He had been heading somewhere important enough that Augustine had held back. He had felt that he had to let Drew go there alone, to grow, that they could talk after his trial was complete!
The tower of mastery.
Without missing a beat, the Professor turned, suddenly glad to be younger than his colleagues as he sprinted towards the tower, moving against a wave of people heading towards the gates. He had to get there soon, he had to save Drew, he had to save all of them!
Swiftly he approached the bridge and entrance to the tower... looking up desperately he saw a glimmer of hope. A figure stood atop the building, facing the carnage, but far too far away to see. Was it him? Was it Drew?
Before he could finish the thought he felt a massive impact on his chest. In front of him, the bridge to the tower erupted in flame and shrapnel that pierced the arms he desperately used to cover his face. He was sent flying back by the impact, sprawling helplessly, his vision blurring and shaking from the explosion.
Arceus no, it couldn't be.
Even with shaky sight he could see it, explosions racing up the tower of mastery, sections of stone launching outwards into other building and the ocean behind it. The foundations began to crumble with a noise that shook the very hurt and quite nearly deafened the professor on the ground below...
...and soon to follow, the tower began crumble and break, shattering along its structure and falling backwards into the sea.
"DREW!!!" He screamed, trying to pull himself to his feet... but it was too late, as the tower crashed down, erupting into a massive wave that slammed against the city walls, there was nothing he could do but watch.
---
As the tower of Shalour fell, Crimson fell to one knee before a single man. The dark red suit he wore was complimented by a black cloak that billowed out behind him, flowing gently in the hot wind rising from the heat of the flames below. Upon his head was a helmet night identical to the one worn by Crimson herself in the tournament prior. A black, glass dome, accentuated with black and red metal to fasten it in place. An emotionless, blank sphere that gazed out upon the soon to be ruins of the wretched city he had longed to see burn.
"Master Zevran... your will is done, their arrogance is punished." She spoke with the same calm and empty tone, but now there was familiarity in her voice... and what could be perceived as a gentle pining for approval.
"Not yet." His voice was lined with bitterness, yet it was difficult to tell, his helmet modulating his voice until it was nigh unrecognizable. "Rocket, Plasma, Cipher... Flare... all flawed and weak names that lacked vision. All examples of why this world must be reset, reduced to zero as per our plans. Yet their concepts, cloning, enhancement, shadow and the ultimate weapon of the passed. Together they form the basis for our goals, finally we have a prototype to show for it, a facsimile of our power to show them all that they are powerless to stand before us. That they are not strong enough to resist us. Dear Crimson, it is time, time at last we show what we are truly capable of..."
"Reveal the ship... and prepare Project: Black Zeta for deployment."
"M-Master...? Are you sure we are ready... are you sure IT is ready...?"
"Do not question me Crimson, when Artece has moved to the city square, unleash the experiment. We will witness now firsthand what my legacy is capable of." His voice was stern and demanding, Crimson visibly winced under its pressure. "As you wish, my Master."
Standing and moving from the bride, Crimson raised a small communication device on her wrist to her lips. Speaking the order she had been given somewhat shakily. "Reveal the ship... the Master has willed it, we reveal ourselves now."
No sooner had the command been given then a shimmer of light glistened atop all of Shalour, the people below looking up in awe and fear as an invisible cloaking device lifted its control. To the untrained eye, a massive floating fortress seemed to appear out of the sky. An airship decorated in red and black, bearing a flaming insignia upon its side. The symbol of Team Cinder. Above the battlefield it roared to life, the engines screeching with sounds of death and flames jetting from the exhausts.
They had planned for every eventuality, they had launched a full frontal assault on the city and its inhabitants.
Under the orders of Cinder, the Fall of Shalour City had begun.