Chapter 71: Welcome to Cipher

                                    

                                          
Earlier that day, when the kids walked to Pyrite Colosseum, they suspected nothing. Registration was normal. The Gym Trainers who opened the door were normal. A few minutes later, they would have heard them saying they hoped it was safe in there, because they never got the morning disinfectant report; but the heavy door was shut by then.
As soon as they stepped in, Delphina knew something was wrong. That was abruptly confirmed when Mackenzie fainted.
'There is Sleep Powder in here.'
Delphina took the goggles from her bag. She passed a spare pair to Fuchsia. So much for Perry's insistence she was overprepared. Before they could even think of escaping, they had to ensure they wouldn't fall asleep. Feet were already thumping up the stairs. Delphina snatched the shirt she changed out of and tore it into strips. She tied her own makeshift mask before securely fastening Fuchsia's. Granite was already on the floor. She wiped his face, fastened the mask and sprayed him with Awakening. The dim light of a lamp illuminated blue hair falling from a helmet.
'Well, hello, sweeties.'
Delphina had no more goggles. The strip she tore from her shorts would only fit one Pokémon. She fixed it to Emboar. Fuchsia had already sent out Gourgeist. Its Insomnia Ability prevented it falling asleep. She didn't hesitate to command it to attack.
Seed Bomb crashed down the steps. It didn't scratch Leucosia. Her new Shadow Salazzle took the attack. A blob of foul, pitch-black sludge flew back.
'Gourgeist! Use Shadow Sneak to dodge!'
Glancing back, Delphina saw the Shadow Charizard that soldered the door shut. It belonged to Jibril. Emboar charged. The door shook, but it didn't budge. Fuchsia released her other three Pokémon. Delphina was about to tell her not to, but she had a strategy. Gourgeist planted Worry Seed around them. Their Abilities became Insomnia. They could no longer fall asleep.
Charizard attacked Emboar from above, its weak point. Two Peons and a Commander, holding rope, followed Leucosia. She couldn't be knocked down the stairs. Her feet were on the solid ground. She released her remaining five Shadow Pokémon. So did the Peons.
'Delphina! Send out your other Pokémon!'
Gourgeist hurriedly planted more Worry Seeds while its teammates struggled to hold the Shadow Pokémon back. Coming around, Granite sent his Sandslash, Skarmory and Umbreon onto the bed of Worry Seeds. Sandslash used Earthquake. Salazzle was hurled, shrieking, down the steps. It took one of the Peons with it. Leucosia's Alcremie released a wild blast of fetid cream. The Pokémon and Trainers were covered. It didn't affect Cipher. Their uniforms were resistant to all Shadow Pokémon attacks.
Skarmory's razor-sharp feathers slashed straight through Alcremie. It sliced off its Berry Sweets. Dodging a lunging Shadow Machamp, Rapidash leapt at Leucosia. Its hooves flew at her helmet. The glass shattered with an ear-splitting crrrack. Rapidash went for her legs next. She fell to her knees. Emboar grabbed the Shadow Pokémon frantically attempting to defend her. It set them alight and threw them at the walls.
Froslass couldn't dodge Charizard's incoming Shadow Fire. Fuchsia commanded it to use Destiny Bond. It took Charizard down with it. Before Jibril could revive it, Emboar stamped on its head. Its skull cracked. Emboar felt guilty, but it recognised those Cipher uniforms. It knew they were the people who tore it from its mother and turned them both into Shadow Pokémon. It also knew that if they didn't fight as if their lives depended on it, there was a high chance they would all die.
One of the Peons grabbed Mackenzie. He held a knife to her throat.
'Give it up, or she dies!'
Skarmory snatched her away. Granite yelled at it to get her to safety. It shot down the stairs and into the shadows. After badly poisoning all of Leucosia's Pokémon, Umbreon began to use Double Team. It was already covered in Bright Powder. None of their opponents could hit it. It darted from the shadows to turn their own power against them with Foul Play.