Glittering Celestial V 6

The Darkened Quarry--for millennia, many worlds have fallen to their dark arts, and now our world is their next target.

To combat the threat of this close knit group, the corporations of the world decided to extract the mystical energy of a gem, creating an armor-like suit that sleeps within a person's heart, only to awaken when the subject's Heart Song, normally used to induce Mega Evolution, is sung.

After three rounds of successful testing, my friends and I were the first five out of a pool of millions to use these modern marvels to fight against the Darkened Quarry.

This is our story...

Together, we are the Glittering Celestial V!

[OP theme]

Episode 6: The hard hitting ruby knuckle!

In the Crystal Castle...

Topaz Dagger warped into the common hall of the castle. "I can't understand...how did the defensive forces gain tracking abilities?"

"Maybe you don't need to ambush them..." a tall and muscular young man in a red metallic suit grinned as he arrived aboard a Raikou-like monster wearing a red, silver and gold blanket. "You could just crush them with raw power and be done with it!"

"It won't be quite that easy, Ruby Knuckle..." Diamond Saber cautioned. "I am, however, intrigued by something Sapphire discovered before she was caught--is it possible that the defensive forces get their power from something buried beneath the earth?"

"Worth a shot--I have just the brute for the job!" Ruby Knuckle smiled before departing.

Picara just shook her head. "I had more to tell Ruby Knuckle, but off he goes." Diamond Saber sighed.

"You know Ruby Knuckle, chief--all brawn and no brains." Pearl Tome chuckled as she brought some tea.

"I wouldn't be surprised if his acting before thinking costs him dearly one day." Diamond Saber mused before taking a teacup, sipping at it as he studied the map of the Pokeworld.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the waters of Houen...

"What are we doing all the way out here, Bianca?" Ash wondered has his Latias companion dropped the group on a lush island, where a massive cavern stood.

"Mr. Hamada believes you may be on the edge of a breakthrough with your suits--and so brought you out here to the Nameless Cavern to train." Bianca explained. "I will return at the day's end." With that, she took off into the puffy white clouds.

"Bye, Bianca! Fly safe!" Ash called as the Latias soared off, until she was only a tiny red speck in the sky.

"So this is the Nameless Cavern..." Brock mused as he approached the yawning cave before him. "Hello?" he called, only for his voice to echo into the cave

"Anybody home?" May agreed, but her voice echoed too.  

Just then, a pink ball of light flew down before the group, which formed into Mesprit. "Good morrow--my brothers and I know why you have come." she assured the group as she led them inside the cave. "Your challenge is to work as a team to reach the innermost sanctum of the cavern."

Brock swallowed hard at the array of platforms, lifts, and other obstacles that were scattered around the first room of the cave. "What are we getting ourselves into?"

"We didn't come here for vacation, remember?" Misty reminded her friend as she climbed onto the first platformed, then hover jumped onto the next one. Brock followed suit some moments later, despite narrowly missing the second platform and falling into the cold water below.

Meanwhile, in the volcanic caverns of Mt. Chimney...

Ruby Knuckle materialized on the Mt. Chimney path, savoring the musty smell of smoke and burning lava. "Ah...nothing like the smell of lava in the morning..." he grinned before making his way inside a cavern.

Now...where are the stones Sapphire Scepter was researching? he thought as he walked along the rocky path, admiring the ominous red glow from the rivers of lava around him. This firey place must have something to do with it.

A shard of obsidian got his attention. Say...what if I could create a creature from these and the liquid fire around here to guard the stones in this cavern?

With that thought in mind, he brought a large stream of lava to him and squeezed it, making it harden into something he could work with. After spending an hour or two molding the lava into a humanoid shape, he dotted it with peridots, diamonds and more obsidian shards to create a kind of armor. "There..." he smiled gleefully at the lava golem he had made. "That should do it."

The lava golem bent down on one knee, as if Ruby Knuckle were a king. "I am your master, and you will do as I command." he told the golem. "Now...search the cavern for any sort of glittering stone!" The golem nodded, and hurried off, smashing rock formations and making the cavern shake as it lumbered off.

Back at the Nameless Cavern...

As Ash eased his way onto another platform that led to the top of a cliff, the buzzing of his communicator watch almost made him slip and fall, but he managed to steady himself. "This is Fire Ruby."

"Ash, I'm sorry about cutting your training session short, but a Darkened Quarry operative has been spotted attempting to make Mt. Chimney erupt." Mr. Hamada explained. "Fuyan and the surrounding regions have already begun evacuations.

"But how are we gonna get to the other end of Houen from here?" Ash wondered.

"Clemont has spent the afternoon improving the V Ship's autopilot--so they should be arriving to pick you up shortly." Mr. Hamada replied. "I will warn you now--this operative likes to hit hard with raw power, so be careful."

"Got it!" Ash grinned as the transmission ended.

Azelf warped the group outside some moments later. "You are always welcome to come train here any time you wish." he explained.

"Thanks, but we have bigger Magikarp to fry at the moment..." Ash replied, scanning the skies for any sign of the V Ships.

A whine of an engine got Misty's attention. "There they are!" she called as the five V ships landed by their respective owner's side.

"Memo to self--thank Clemont for his hard work!" Brock mused as he climbed in the green V Ship.

Later, inside Chimney Cavern...

"Okay, Darkened Quarry, come on out!" Serena called into the lava filled cave.

"Shouldn't we be--!" May started before the ground beneath them started to shake. "Earthquake!"

Misty was equally afraid as the lava golem approached. "No, it's worse than that!"  

Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul... Ash angrily sang, creating a burst of fire and rubies that lit up the cave.

Inside the fiery cocoon, two heavily armored deep red leg plates appeared on Ash in a shower of rubies. Two armplates and gloves came next in another ruby explosion. A red chestplate was next, with a glowing ruby in the center, and a helmet with a ruby in the center rolled up with a swish, replacing his humble baseball cap. "Fire Ruby, burn!" he called to the glowing golem.

"Perfect timing, defense forces..." Ruby Knuckle smirked as he materialized before the group. "What makes you think a super suit will protect you against my golem?"

"Try two super suits!" Brock shot back. "Or more!"

With that, he held the emerald pendant he wore close and sang Imultaos, ame no hao bakezo... creating a green burst as the jewel in his pendant flickered for a few seconds, creating a cocoon of leaves, crystals and light.

Inside the cocoon of leaves, green light and crystals, five glowing leaves formed on Brock's hands, expanding into one armplate, with a second set forming the other some seconds later. The legplates formed not long after that, then a quiver full of sparkling green arrows appeared on Brock's back as the chest plate, with a glowing emerald inside, formed in an explosion of leaves. "Gaia Emerald, bloom!"

Rou iitsa ron selga vichii... Misty sang, creating a burst of waves and icy crystals that embraced her like a warm blanket. The armplates came first, then the chestplate appeared in an icy explosion, complete with a glowing sapphire in the center. After the royal blue legplates formed, Misty proceeded to perform a few karate kicks, as if challenging the lava humanoid.

A high pitched A note signaling that a small tiara that was part of Icy Sapphire's helmet was forming got the boys' attention. "Icy Sapphire, freeze!" Misty announced, silently daring the lava golem to attack her.

Karuto, iichiida shou... May was next to sing, creating a red and blue tornado of wind around her. Inside her wind cocoon, the armplates of May's suit came first, each one punctuated by a fountain of amethysts. Next, the two halves of the chestplate bonded to her body, complete with a glowing amethyst in the center. The legplates came next, neatly forming from a stream of light that rolled up May's legs. Her bandanna then became the suit's helmet, complete with small Eon wing ornaments on the sides. "Stormy Amethyst, ride!"

Seios, higarima laisido... Serena sang before a burst of yellow light lit up the cavern. Inside the cocoon of yellow light, Serena's legplates came first--first the left leg, then the right. Next came the armplates in explosions of yellow diamonds, with the right armplate holding a small projectile weapon that looked similar to a Fennekin tail. A stream of light wrapped around her body and became the chestplate, complete with a yellow diamond in the center, followed by a rain of light wrapping around her head and becoming the suit's helmet. "Shine Diamond, sparkle!"

"We are the Glittering Celestial V!" Misty announced to no one in particular. "Our rainbow light pierces the darkness!"

"Yeah yeah yeah, I've seen this act before." Ruby Knuckle was unimpressed. "But can your glittering celestial greatness hold up to pure, unbridled power?"

With that, he warped away, leaving the group to deal with the golem. "EYAAAAAAAH!" Serena yelped as the golem's punch sent her flying into a cave wall.

"Serena!" Misty gasped, hurrying over to assess Serena's wounds. "Water Guard!"

Ash drew the Thundersword, then fired a red beam at the golem. But he gasped in horror as the flames only made the golem glow brighter. "I guess fighting fire with fire is out of the question!"

"Stay with Serena!" Misty suggested. "I have her protected by a Water Guard!"

"Okay!" Ash hurried over and knelt down by his friend. "You okay?"

"I think so..." Serena groaned as she eased herself to her feet. "Mr. Golem doesn't know I have healing abilities...."

"Still, that was a nasty wallop you took." Ash cautioned before holding up three fingers. "How many fingers do you see?"

"Three." Serena replied as her suit glowed infusing her with healing energy. "I will thank you for your concern, though."

"Golem Fist!" Brock next punched the ground, catching the golem off balance as a stalagmite emerged from the cave floor.

Seeing the glint of obsidian shards on the golem gave Brock an idea. Say...since obsidian is a kind of glass, that means I could shatter it with my Hyper Voice!

He then took a deep breath and unleashed the hypersonic scream, making the cave rumble and the golem writhe in pain as its "armor" shattered.  "Great idea, Brock..." Misty grinned as obsidian, onyxes, and peridots rained around her. "Maybe now it's vulnerable now that its armor is gone."

"I don't know--it is made of hardened lava." Brock cautioned.

He jumped away from the golem's fist. landing on a platform in the river of lava. "Wind Guard!" May called, creating a shield of wind around the group.

Serena, meanwhile, formed a circle of shining swords around her. "Illusory Blades!" The golem tried to flee the shining swords, but ended up pinned to another wall.

Ash smiled. "You have the honors, Misty."

"I have just the thing..." Misty smiled before charging blue energy in her hands. "Bubblebeam!"

Serena watched as the stream of rainbow bubbles slammed into the golem. "Good riddance..." she smiled as the golem shattered into a thousand pieces and the river of lava calmed.

"I'm just ready to get out of this inferno." May complained as the group departed the cavern and out to their waiting V Ships.

"A cold shower sounds great." Serena agreed as she climbed in the yellow V Ship.

"Let's head out--we still have to thank Clemont for the enhanced autopilot." Ash smiled as he settled in the red V Ship.

As the five V Ships streaked into the sky, they did not see the silvery humanoid flying over the mountains...

TO BE CONTINUED...