The ride up Peace Tower wasn't awkward at all.
While the elevator music played, Kellyn and the others remained quiet, Sven's Luxray standing between Sven and Ash, Brock, and Dawn. There was no way it could climb to the roof, so Kellyn wondered what Sven's plan was.
More importantly, if what Kellyn feared about Parity was true, he really had let Darkrai down—both as a Ranger and a Guardian. There was only one way to confirm it, though.
The elevator stopped, and the doors opened, allowing a gust of wind to pass through.
The group piled out and found themselves on the other side of the grate, peering down at Pueltown's tiny buildings and the rest of Almia: Vien Forest and Puel Sea specifically.
"Piplup!" Instantly, Dawn's Piplup leaped up to her and hugged one side of her face with its little wings.
Even Pikachu appeared a little queasy, so Ash told him, "Just don't look down, Pikachu."
Pikachu quickly nodded and pulled his attention away from the grate.
"Staraptor should be waiting on the roof," Wendy said, moving toward a tall ladder on the left.
Sven faced Luxray and said, "You stay down here and keep watch, Luxray."
"Luxray." Luxray's fur sparked.
"Thanks, Partner." Sven took the lead and began climbing the ladder, followed by Wendy, Kellyn, Ash, Dawn, and finally, Brock.
Piplup moved down to Dawn's neck and shut its eyes.
"Don't worry, Piplup—I'm right here," Dawn encouraged. "Just keep your eyes closed."
"Piplup, Piplup!" Piplup whimpered.
That was the first time Kellyn had really seen Piplup scared.
Brock looked up at him. "Kellyn, if you need to stop at any time to rest your arm, go ahead."
That was nice, but Kellyn could do this.
Sven called down to Wendy. "The same goes for you, Wendy."
"Oh, Sven." Wendy rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a worrywart." She tapped Sven's boot. "Go on—the Luminous Crystal is waiting."
Why was Sven worried about Wendy? She seemed fine to Kellyn; she even hummed with Blu as everyone climbed.
Kellyn's arm throbbed, but he pushed through the pain and told himself, Parity needs me.
After three minutes of climbing, the group reached the Peace Tower's roof.
Sven crawled onto it and offered Wendy his hand, but she slapped it away and finished the journey herself.
Kellyn made it right when another wind gust blew Sven's hat off his head, and it hit him in the face.
"Whoa!" Kellyn said, tightening his grip on the ladder with one hand and removing the hat with his other. He tossed it to Sven and crawled off to the side, inhaling and holding his arm. That hurt… a lot… but at least he was there, and wow—the memories flew back: the Shadow Crystal, Blake Hall, and Darkrai. In addition, there it was… the Luminous Crystal and the Tears of Princes floating high above the roof in an overcast sky.
Just as Wendy said, Staraptor waited under the Crystal. "Staraptor!" it said, flapping its wings.
Blu flew to it and turned, calling, "Blue-Bird!"
"We're coming, Blu." Wendy approached him, and the others followed.
Dawn said, "It's okay, Piplup," and pulled it off her neck. "We're here."
"Pip?" Piplup opened its eyes and searched the area, sighing.
Altru Tower's roof was large, a little wider than the Tower itself, and was a perfect circle. The cherry on top was the view, as well as the view of the Crystal and Tears of Princes. If only it were sunny.
"There it is, Ash, Brock, and Dawn." Wendy pointed at the Crystal. "The Luminous Crystal."
The Crystal flickered, as if saying hi, and the three friends said, "Whoa."
"It's beautiful!" Dawn's eyes sparkled just as much as the Crystal.
"But what are those three things around it?" Brock inquired, studying the Tears of Princes.
"The Tears of Princes, special gemstones," Sven explained. "What, are you Pokémon Trainers unfamiliar with Almia lore?" He clicked his tongue. "Shame."
They glared, and Wendy said, "Oh, Sven. When will you realize that they only want to help?"
He folded his arms. "After they prove themselves."
"Oh, we'll prove ourselves. Just watch," Ash threatened, facing Wendy. "What's the plan, Wendy?"
She shifted her weight. "Kellyn and I will fly up and see what we can find. You guys stay here in case Hunter J shows up."
She was going to go with him? But Kellyn had the Vatonage power. What if something happened?
"Wendy, I need to go myself," he tried.
"Nope," she refused. "If J is up there, she'll wait until you're alone to get you and Blu. Remember what Erma said?" She tapped her head. "'Safety in numbers.'"
"Exactly!" Sven said, punching his palm. "So, why doesn't he stay down here with the Trainers, Wendy, and we'll check the Crystal?"
Okay, what was with him and Ash and his friends?
Dawn looked like she was about to erupt. Steam seemed to puff out of her nostrils.
"Sven, please," Wendy said, smiling cheekily, "Kellyn is the Guardian, and you yourself said that Ash, Brock, and Dawn must prove themselves, right?"
"I-I am not going to be these Trainers' babysitter," Sven stuttered.
"Babysitter?" Dawn stamped her foot and dove for him, but Brock and Ash grabbed her and pulled her back. "All right, you! You've asked for it!"
Wendy winked. "Oh, it's good practice for you, Sven. You're also not the best Staraptor flier."
He blushed and tightened his stance.
Those two were so hitting on each other, and it was amazing—the best thing Kellyn had witnessed in a while. That didn't erase his urge to protect Wendy, though.
She flicked her wrist. "Well, ta, ta. Let's go, Kellyn and Blu. I see a few more Staraptor out there."
"But, Wendy—!" he tried once more.
"Safety in numbers," she repeated.
Kellyn finally had no choice. He went with Wendy toward the edge of Altru Tower, and sure enough, a flock of Staraptor soared by them.
Okay, here it went.
Kellyn lifted his Capture Styler and yelled, "Capture on!" The spinning top left it and circled the outermost Staraptor. "Vatonage!" Kellyn moved at his normal speed that time, drawing the loops, but that was because he had tried to remain calm.
There was the familiar white light that washed over Staraptor, and Kellyn released his breath. "Capture complete."
"Well done, Kellyn," Wendy congratulated.
Well, of course. It wasn't Kellyn's first rodeo. At least he controlled his power. For how long, though?
His Staraptor landed beside him, and Kellyn patted its wing. "Hello there. Could you take me up to the Crystal?" He gestured at it, and the Staraptor looked with him, nodding. "Thanks," Kellyn added, hopping onto its back.
Wendy petted her own Staraptor. "Let's go, girl."
"Star!" Wendy and Kellyn's Staraptor opened their wings, flapping. They lifted off the roof, left the safety of Altru Tower, and began their flight.
The first thing Kellyn noticed was that it grew increasingly colder. Also, were the Luminous Crystal and the Tears of Princes lower than usual? It had been a year, so he may have been seeing things.
As he and Wendy drew closer, Kellyn's eyes caught something: corruption in parts of the Luminous Crystal and the Tears of Princes. It was purplish-black and resembled a shadow. No, was Kellyn too late? There was a lot of negative energy there.
"Everything's corrupted, even the Tears of Princes," he observed, voice quivering. "Parity, are you there?" he shouted at the Luminous Crystal. "If you are, give us a sign!" Kellyn whispered his following sentence. "Please."
"Blue-Bird!" Blu cried.
"Kellyn, don't get too close," Wendy warned. "Remember, your power is unstable."
"I have to save Parity! This is my fault!" Kellyn rushed past Wendy and flew higher. "Come on, Parity. A sign—anything." The negative energy grew stronger, and he held out his hand. "Vatonage, please! Please don't be too late!"
Nothing happened.
"Vatonage!" Kellyn repeated.
Nothing.
"Kellyn!" Wendy cut him off and ordered, "Staraptor, use Whirlwind!"
"Raptor!" Staraptor unleashed a blast of wind that chucked Kellyn and his mount back.
The Luminous Crystal pulsed, releasing a shockwave that shook the surrounding sky. It struck Wendy and her Staraptor, knocking them right out of the sky.
"Wendy!" Kellyn hollered, kicking Staraptor's flanks.
A rainbow light flashed from within the Crystal, soon replaced by the corruption that spread to another part of it and the three gemstones.
No! Parity was trapped, all thanks to Kellyn, but he couldn't do anything now. His Vatonage refused to work, and now Wendy and Staraptor were falling toward Peace Tower.
"Wendy!" Sven yelled below. He sprinted away from Ash and the others and hurried forward, his eyes fixed on her.
"Sven!" Ash, Brock, and Dawn snatched Sven's arms before he ran off the Tower, and all four of them fell back.
Wendy's Staraptor caught herself, but began flying in circles, leaving Kellyn to dive and catch Wendy's shoulders before she crashed.
"Wendy, are you okay?" he asked. She didn't answer, and Kellyn began to sweat. No, he hurt her! He tried to tell her not to go with him!
Kellyn rushed down to the others and dropped Wendy into Sven's arms. He landed and immediately dismounted. "Sven, I didn't mean to…"
"Get back!" Sven shoved Kellyn, and he fell onto his injured arm, yelling.
"Kellyn!" Brock and Dawn hurried to him, but Ash focused on Wendy's Staraptor, still flying in circles.
"Okay, Pikachu, use Thunderbolt," he said.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu unleashed an enormous lightning bolt, and it struck Wendy's Staraptor.
The Pokémon cried out before sinking onto the Tower's roof and shaking her head.
The Luminous Crystal and Tears of Princes pulsed again, and then everything returned to normal, leaving Kellyn with nothing but another wave of guilt that proved everything.
He was not a Ranger, not a Guardian, but a traitor.
End of Act II: Unbalanced!
Current Word Count: 28,802