Part 11

11
[4:14 PM. Tohjo Falls, at the base of Mt. Silver. The same day.]
The cave had a damp smell of anticipation.
	Porter stepped into the cave after effortless barreling through Victory Road. He let the roar of the massive Tohjo Falls rush over him. The soft spray lashed at his face. It was cool inside. He scanned the area for Cain.
	“I’m up here,” Cain said, “I thought I told you to leave well enough alone?”
	Porter tensed. Their last encounter had gone less than ideally. His Slaking was in no condition to fight, but he hoped that Cain’s Conkledurr was in a similar position. Fighting specialists had never given Porter much pause; he had ways of dealing with them, and daily sparring sessions with Gaap never hurt either. Cain was ruthless, however. Never once had he seen a man so given in to hate and power. Without Slaking, this fight would be much more difficult.
	But he had to end this now.
	Porter could only guess as to what this madman’s ultimate goal was. He could only guess as to how the others were faring. He could only guess as to the final fate of Cealdon city. Cain seemed the last obstacle in finding out, and Porter was a curious man.
	“I guess I’m just not a good listener, huh?”
	“I’ll say. Didn’t you get enough of a lashing the first time?”
	Porter chuckled defensively. “If I recall correctly, we ended on much of a standoff. A stalemate, if you will.”
	“Stalemate my rear,” Cain bellowed. “I had you running scared.”
	“Also, I remember it being you who ran away, not me.” He loosened up his tie and rolled up his sleeves.
	“We each got our own version of events. Let’s see who gets to tell their tale. Winners and history books and all that.”
	“Perhaps if you ever picked up a history book, you would know that it never ends well for people like you.”
	From the center of the waterfall, a Poliwrath jet forward straight for Porter. It raised its fist but Porter steeled himself and caught the fist as it connected. With his free hand he released his Braviary that screeched into the echoing cavern. The Braviary tackled the Poliwrath, taking the pressure from Porter.
	Poliwrath moved to strike the Braviary as it flew in a circle overhead. Its fist began to crystallize before it struck the Braviary, the ice crippled the wings of the eagle. In defiance, the Braviary launched the Poliwrath, taking them both into the waterfall. The sounds of struggle emanated from the fall.
	The Barviary shot out from the waterfall in obvious pain. It circled over head, letting the water dry from its feathers. The Poliwrath stepped from the cave and stood underneath the waterfall. It closed its eyes and tightened its focus.
	“Braviary, interrupt that attack!”
	“Too late! Focus Punch!”
	The Braviary was already speeding towards the Poliwrath as the spiral pokemon opened its eyes. The punch it delivered caught Braviary right in the beak. Blood mixed with the mist of the waterfall. Porter rushed to return the wounded pokemon to its ball.
	Cain laughed maniacally. Porter wiped the sweat from his face. He had only one more pokemon and this madman seemed still good to go. He couldn’t let this freak escape. There was no telling what chaos he could cause with such blatant disregard for life and limb. He reached for a small flute at his belt.
	Cain guffawed at the display. “That’s it? That’s the great Porter’s last hurrah? A flute? I’m sure Poliwrath will enjoy a lively tune as he smashes your stupid face in.”
	Porter ignored the large buffoon and began to play. The melody reflected off the asymmetrical walls of the cave; its haunting notes cascading with the flow of the waterfall. Even Cain stopped laughing as he felt somewhat soothed by the tune. He fought the feeling of relaxation.
	“Please, hear me.”
	The song ended. Porter stood firm, hoping with all his being that his companion would hear him. A moment stretched towards eternity.
	“What a lovely song,” Cain mocked. “Sure was beautiful. Shame I’m gonna have to kill you now.”
	The Poliwrath jumped towards Porter. The common man closed his eyes and trusted in his music. The Poliwrath never connected; it stood, frozen to the spot as the same haunting melody echoed, this time delivered on an angelic voice. The song became louder and louder, but it never increased in harshness or intensity. The tiny sprite of Meloetta flittered down from above onto the back of the Poliwrath. The Poliwrath was immobilized by its enrapturement in the song. The Meloetta whispered into Poliwrath’s ear.
	The Poliwrath nodded and turned away from Porter. Cain seethed with anger. “Poliwrath! I command you! Do not listen to that siren!”
	The Poliwrath ignored its master. It leapt into the water and swam briskly underneath the inky surface, never to return. Cain lashed out in anger. “Machamp! Bury this fool and his whore with this mountain!” The Machamp escaped and moved quicker than Meloetta could begin singing again. It took a few steps before leaping up and striking Porter with a punch to the gut. The man fell to his knees and began to vomit blood and bile. Porter coughed and saw the Machamp stand triumphantly above him. Meloetta’s song turned dischordant, and Porter tried to cover his ears, but the sound slipped in. He felt rage and anger like he had never felt before. The Machamp froze and turned back on its trainer. The Meloetta scowled as its fiery song ricocheted off the walls. The Machamp leapt before Cain could react. It gripped its former master by the head with one of its massive arms. Cain began to scream, his cries for help absorbed into the terrible rhapsody. The Machamp dragged him down and submerged him beneath the water. The brute kicked and lashed out but could not break the superpower pokemon’s iron grip. Eventually the bubbles and thrashing stopped, and the Machamp released Cain into the river where he sunk. The Meloetta disappeared and returned to the place from whence it came. The Machamp regarded Porter for a bit before trekking off into the depths of the cavern, Porter was alone. He felt another spasm of pain wrack his body and he vomited again.
	He lost track of time before a cold voice woke him up. Claudia was bent over him, cleaning him up. Her evening gown was immaculate for having trekked through Victory Road.
	“I got him,” he managed weakly.
	“At considerable peril to yourself.”
	“Lighten up, Claudia, don’t be such a hag.”
	Claudia slipped him some medicine. “Sabrina lost.” Her voice was even and betrayed no emotion. “Unlucky, it would seem. As I watched the battle, I could sense that she could have won. Something must’ve happened.”
	Porter laughed despite the biting pain in his abdomen. “Luck was never part of the equation.”
	Claudia looked at him like a child does a strange insect. “Sabrina told you that when you left to pursue Cain. Why?”
	“Because it was all part of her plan. Every bit of it. She out-thought the kid.”
	“It would seem a foolish plan to allow yourself to be defeated.”
	“You didn’t know her like I did, Claudia. She was an incredible woman.”
	“You can pay your respects after we get you patched up. Hector sits on the Champions throne.”
	“Champion…Octavius! Is his family okay? Is he alright?”
	Claudia remained silent and continued to treat Porter’s injuries.
	“He’s not dead, is he?”
	“Not yet.”
	Porter sighed in relief. “And Santiago?”
	“After tending to his master, the silent one is returning to Indigo Plateau. We are to meet him there.”
	“Excellent. Take me there.” Claudia helped him stand and he threw his arm over her as they exited the cavern in tandem.