Chapter 7
Destiny: Platinum
Soon after leaving the lodge, they were approached by Maylene, surprisingly in her normal attire.
"Oh! Hey Laura! Are you maybe on your way to snowpoint city?"
"Sort of. What's up?"
"Ah! That's where I'm going too! I could use Fly to get there instantly, but I'm walking as part of my training!"
"Sounds intense," Lucas commented.
Maylene waved her hand dismissively. "Nah, it's nothing for me. I'm used to the cold because I go barefoot and lightly dressed."
Then she sneezed.
"You could get sick like that, or worse, develop frostbite." Lucas commented.
"Oh that was nothing! I'm really not cold at all!"
"If you say so."
"I really should be going now. Later!"
She jogged ahead of Lucas and Laura, who waved goodbye before continuing after her.
Eventually they came upon another house; they knocked on the door.
No answer.
They slowly entered the house.
"Hello?" Laura called out.
A girl with long black hair sitting at a table looked to them surprised.
"Oh! Visitors? I don't see many... A gift..." She mumbled before handing a Spell tag to Laura.
After a friendly goodbye the two teens pushed onward.
After a few trainer battles and restorative items, they arrived at a rock wall littered with footholds.
Charlie appeared over the edge.
"Laura! Lucas! You just got here now! Sloooow! Way too slow! Listen, see how the rocks here are all bumpy?"
"Yeah. What about them?"
"You can't climb them until you get the snowpoint gym badge! You also need an HM!"
Laura knew he was correct; she had no climbing equipment at all, let alone knowledge of how to climb rock walls herself.
"Anyway, I'm off!" He turned around. "Team Galactic! I'm coming for you!"
He ran off.
"Well, I guess he's fine." Lucas said. "Let's get to snowpoint."
Laura nodded. "Alright."
After some more hiking (and another Max Repel later) the two arrived at Snowpoint.
First stop? Pokemon Center.
There they ran into Maylene again.
"Brr..." She noticed Laura and Lucas. "Oh hi! Laura, are you taking the gym challenge now?"
"Not right now. I need to train my Ponyta some more, because I'm guessing he or she uses ice types."
"Right on the money! I'm hoping to see Candice soon myself, but I need to warm up first!"
"So you came here to see her?"
"Yeah, she wanted to train with me to learn more about the fighting type, cause Ice types don't do too well against fighting types."
"That's good to know! I've been training my Machoke, Ridge, a lot recently!"
"Really? That's great! Well, I'll see you later then!"
"Bye!"
After a couple of hours of defeating wild Pokemon (and several potions) Laura's ponyta was stronger.
However, the wild Pokemon had stopped being a challenge, so Laura started into the gym, taking out a few trainers... and evolving her Ponyta into a Rapidash.
After one or two more trips to the Pokemon center, another few battles, and several snowballs later, Laura arrived at the leader of the gym, Candice.
"You want to challenge Candice? Sure thing! I was waiting for someone tough! But I should tell you: I'm tough because I know how to focus. Pokmeon...fashion...romance... it's all about focus! I'll show you just what I mean! Get ready to lose!"
She sent out a Sneazel, which Laura countered with Ember.
The Weasel Pokemon dealt some damage, but in the end Ember prevailed.
Then was the Piloswine. Laura swapped for Ridge.
The Piloswine struck first with avalanche...which was a bad thing for the Pokemon, because Ridge took the hit and dealt it back with Revenge, KO'ing it in one hit.
Frosslass took out both Ember and Ridge, calling for Sparky to take a hit or two while Laura healed up her fire type for the finishing blow.
After the ghost and ice type was finished, the last Pokemon was a breeze; an abomisnow.
It was burnt to a crisp by Ember; all it took was one fire blast.
"Wow! You're great! You've earned my respect! I think your focus and will bowled us over totally!" Candice then jumped as she remembered something. "Oh! I'm supposed to give you this!"
Laura was handed an Icicle badge.
"That Icicle badge I just gave you? Now you can use Rock Climb outside of battle!" She reached into her pocket. "Oh, take this too!"
She handed Laura a CD. Laura had come to expect this kind of thing.
"That's Avalanche. If the user takes damage, the power of the move is doubled! Can you imagine what kind of focus you'd need to pull it off?"
Laura and Lucas left the gym.
"All that's left now is finding that HM." Lucas said.
"Pokemon Center first, HM second." Laura said, wanting to tend to her wounded Pokemon.
"Yeah, you're right. Let's go."
After their trip they asked around and discovered a man who lived on the route they had just come from owned the HM. They decided to see if they could get their hands on a copy of the move.
After a short hike, the two arrived at the man's home.
They had taken the East side to Snowpoint, while the man's house was on the west.
They knocked on the door and the man answered.
"Ah, come in, come in! I'll get you two kids some Cocoa. You must be freezing!" The man was rather stocky and had a black beard, but he was very friendly.
"I'm glad you showed up. I lost an HM of mine near here but I don't know where. If you two wouldn't mind finding it, I'd be very grateful."
The two realized this must be the HM they were looking for as well.
"Okay, gladly." Lucas said, sipping the hot beverage.
"Great! Well, finish up your cocoa and you can start hunting; I'm pretty sure it's somewhere around the area near my home."
When the duo finished and thanked the man, they exited the building.
After some searching they found it, buried in the snow and returned it.
"Thank you! But, I don't need it anymore; I'd given up hope on finding it. It's yours. However, I like your honesty." He reached into a backpack and pulled out a stone plate with a picture of some icicles on one side and an inscription on the other.
"I found this out hiking once. Didn't know what it was for. Has some gibberish on the back."
Lucas looked at the writing and read it aloud. "Two beings of time and space, set free from the Original One..."
"What does it mean?" Laura asked.
"It refers to the myths of how the universe began; The beings of Time and Space are Dialga and Palkia, respectively. The Original One must be Arceus. This plate is old."
"Actually I have two more." Laura admitted, pulling them from her belongings.
"Let me see." Lucas looked at the inscriptions on the Spooky and Fist plates.
"When the Universe was created, its shards became this plate." Lucas read off of the Spooky plate.
"The power of defeated Giants infuses this plate." He read off the other one.
"These seem like nonsense," Lucas concluded. "Anyway, let's go catch up to Charlie and make sure he hasn't gotten himself in over his head."
"Right."
After bidding the Hiker farewell, the two teens approached the rock wall they had encountered Charlie at.
"So which Pokemon will you teach it to?" Lucas asked.
Laura pulled out a pokeball and called out Ridge.
"I'm sorry, Ridge, but we need your help." She apoligized for the Pokemon having to be exposed to the cold weather.
It shrugged its shoulders and Laura used the HM.
Lucas and Laura grabbed on to the Pokemon's shoulders and Ridge hefted the three of them up the wall at a surprising speed.
Laura praised the Pokemon and put it back in its pokeball.
The two hurried to the lake... and saw Charlie defeated, his Infernape lying unconscious on the ground.
"You'll never get away with this, Team Galactic!" Growled Charlie.
"Oh? Done already?" Jupiter said with a smirk. "Your Pokemon aren't bad, but you're laughably weak! You honestly thought you could save the Pokemon of this lake? And become the Pokemon League Champion? Dream on, kid."
She frowned. "But ugh it's cold out here. I'm headed back to Vielstone"
As she headed for the exit she ran into Laura and Lucas.
"Oh? Don't I know you? That's right, we met in Eterna. Where's your Psychic friend? No matter. Listen; Team Galactic is going to do something big for everyone's sake. That's why you should keep out of our way. Don't come whining about 'poor Pokemon' or anything trivial like that. Now, if you'll excuse me."
She shoved past the two teens.
Laura slowly approached Charlie. "...Charlie?"
He kicked the snow and yelled a curse. "I couldn't do anything against Team Galactic! That Pokemon...it was suffering!"
He had a serious and worryingly dark expression on his face. "I'm going to get stronger. It's not about winning or losing anymore; that's not good enough. I have to be stronger...It's not enough to just want to be the most powerful trainer ever; it takes honest effort and a determined heart..."
He stormed off, ignoring Laura's calls to him.
Lucas put his hand on her shoulder.
"Let him go. He needs to sort himself out. I don't like him, but even I think he's a sad excuse when he's like this. He needs to have some time to himself to get it together."
Laura rested her head on Lucas's chest and he put his arms around her.
"Now come on, we should get to Veilstone and stop those crooks. For what they did to him. They broke his spirit, Laura. He'll be fine in time, but it wasn't just his Pokemon that were hurt; his pride was as well."
"But I beat him a lot!"
"You're his friend; that's different. He was determined to save that Pokemon and he failed himself. He's going to beat himself up over it for a while, but knowing him, he'll bounce back with twice the energy. If he doesn't I'll gladly knock some sense into him myself."
Laura looked up and kissed Lucas on the lips. He turned several deep shades of red, speechless.
"Thanks, Lucas. That's what I like about you; you always know what to say and how to say it."
"W-Well, I wouldn't say always..."
The two then made their way to Veilstone.
The marched up to the massive building with the Galactic logo and several satellites on and near it.
A grunt was admiring the Satellites, calling them antennae. Then he noticed Laura and Lucas.
"Hey! It's you! I bet you don't remember me but I sure remember you! Because of you they took my Clefairy away.
Laura and Lucas exchanged looks that read "you're kidding me".
"My partner called it quits and went back to his old country." Suddenly the man panicked. "WAAHHH I know nothing! Nothing about a Storage Key! He shoved past the two and ran down the stairs.
Then there was a familiar voice and a squeal from the grunt.
"Stop right there! I'm from the InterPol and you're under arrest!" There were sounds of a struggle then metal meeting metal.
"Hello? Yes this is Codename Looker. I have a criminal in Veilstone in need of pickup for interrogation. Please send agents with all due haste. Looker, out."
The man in question came up the stairs.
"Ah! You two! Leave this to me, I have the storage key for the Warehouse right here!" He held up a keycard. "A frontal assault is not possible, but we can still enter their hideout! Will you take me up on my offer? You have your own reasons, yes?"
"Of course!" Laura exclaimed.
"Very well. Meet me inside the Team Galactic Warehouse. Prepare as you can; I shall join you shortly."
"Let's go," said Lucas.
"Right!"
The two sped off to the Warehouse.
Giratina watched from the Distortion world.
"Arceus, are you aware that your demise draws ever closer? Or are you so arrogant you deny me as a threat, even as the time of my liberation draws near? That man, Cyrus, has already started the process of making the Red Chains. The sheer irony, I must say this is too perfect. While my Brothers shall become slaves, I shall be set free!" He slithered to another location and opened another Viewport.
"Of course there is still that troublesome Clone and his woman to deal with. They shall be my first victims after Cyrus. Should I slaughter the girl or the boy next? Which would have a more enjoyable reaction; the girl at the loss of the boy, whom she's smitten with, or the boy, who while also smitten with the girl is at the same time joyous to finally have a human companion? I'll wreck that bridge when I get to it."
Giratina's laughter echoed throughout the dimension.
Arceus did not enjoy seeing his creations in pain.
However, there was nothing he could do short of appearing himself to end their pain and suffering at the hands of Team Galactic.
No, the Mirage Trio would have to rely on Laura, Lucas, and the odd detective to save them.
"And so the gears begin to turn... your time is coming, Laura. Only you can stop the world from being bathed in darkness forever. I put all my faith in you, as humans did in the days of old for me."
"So... I am assuming you are aware of the situation at hand, Cynthia?" Mewtwo asked "his" woman.
"We shouldn't be too hasty; what if Cyrus hasn't harnessed the power of the Mirage Pokemon yet?"
"Highly unlikely. The odds are-!"
"I told you I don't like it when you tell me the odds; it makes me feel stupid." The blonde replied.
When Mewtwo said the odds, his supercomputer-like brain did dozens of calculations, coming up with a number down to the hundredths place.
"Apologies. But the question still stands; will you act?"
"...Yes. Eventually."
"Let us hope the world has not ended when 'eventually' arrives." Mewtwo said grimly.
Upon reaching the metal gate of a door inside, the two teens were scared out of their minds when Looker burst though the warehouse door behind them.
"I have kept you waiting, no? Allow me." Looker slid the card into a reader next to the door and it opened.
He entered.
"I will go on ahead my friends! Do not expose yourselves to danger!" The detective scurried off.
"Let's go, we can't stand around wasting time." Lucas said, his voice loud and authoritative.
"Mmmmm," Laura purred. "Look at you! Quiet Lucas is barking orders..."
"S-sorry, did I offend you?"
"Not at all."
The two entered the lower levels of the warehouse.
It was a maze of teleportation panels and grunts.
However, the found a very useful item; a sort of skeleton key for Team Galactic's main HQ.
They exited the warehouse to Veilstone, hit the Pokemon Center, and then entered the HQ.
After a door and some stairs, the two teens engaged in a double battle.
Surprisingly, Liro jumped into battle, and as an even bigger surprise opened up a can of beatdown on the enemy Pokemon.
Lucas praised the small dog-like creature and ruffled the fur on its head.
The two teens continued on their way, battling several more grunts and using several more healing items.
Eventually the pair caught up with Looker, who was spying on a crowd of grunts.
"Psst! Over here!" he whispered to them. "This gathering... what is the meaning of it?"
There was a balcony and Cyrus himself appeared.
The crowd roared.
"Fellow Members of Team Galactic! Hear me! My name, as I appear to you today, is Cyrus. This world of ours is a crude one. In a word, incomplete. It has been, and always will be, a struggle to survive in this world. We humans and Pokemon are, likewise, incomplete. Because we are all so lacking, we fight...we maim... it is all so ugly. I hate the incompleteness. I hate it with my body and being. The world should be complete. The world must change."
Once again the crowd roared in response.
"Then who will change it?" The question was rhetorical of course. "Me, Cyrus. And Team Galactic. Yes, all of you. Together we poured over myths and exposed their secrets. Together we captured Legendary Pokemon. And now, Team Galactic has obtained the energy to change the world! The power of dreams is within our grasp! Understand it, fellow members of Team Galactic! My long-held dream world is on the verge of becoming reality. All those headed to Mt. Coronet... and all those remaining here... though our missions may be different, our hearts beat as one."
He raised his hands.
"LET THERE BE GLORY FOR TEAM GALACTIC!"
The crowd roared even louder this time.
Cyrus then walked off.
"You wish for a world to call your own, do you? Very well... I shall grant your wish, human. Do not scream when your dream turns out to be a nightmare..." Giratina would have grinned had he the ability.
Cyrus wanted his own world alone?
He could have it.
After the crowd left, Looker turned to his to proteges.
"So that's Cyrus, the leader of Team Galactic."
"Yeah. He's got an ego as big as his plans to dominate the world, and charisma to boot." Lucas explained. "Heck, even I was starting to buy into it there for a minute."
"Yes, quite mesmerizing, especially since he's only 27 years old." Looker agreed. "But to make a world for Team Galactic and nobody else? It is preposterous, so much that it makes my head spin."
"It's a real threat. If he was telling the truth, he already has the Red Chains." Lucas said darkly.
"Red chains? What are those?"
"What he needs to summon Dialga and Palkia, and to create a new world. At this point I'm wondering if his plan is to draw out Arceus." Lucas pondered.
"I must investigate this further. This is where we part ways. Farewell, my friends." Looker scurried off.
"Come on," Said Laura. "We need to hurry!"
She motioned to a teleportaion panel across the room.
It led to a room with two beds and a staircase.
After another double battle up the stairs, the took another teleportation panel and then went up another set of stairs.
They opened another set of doors... and were met with Cyrus.
"...So you've come? You heard my speech I take it?" The man smirked. "A big lie of course."
"You're a sick, sick man, Cyrus." Lucas said, stone serious.
"We won't let you get away with... whatever it is you're going to do!" Laura declared.
"That speech was true insofar as to my intentions to create a new world. But that world isn't for the likes of Team Galactic. I seek an entirely new world solely for myself. If not, it could never be the complete and perfect world."
"Do you listen to yourself talk, or do you just like sounding like an arrogant, self-important, jerk with an overinflated ego?" Laura said with a smirk.
"Petty insults will get you nowhere, girl. You've seen my minions. They're useless and incomplete. I know why you're here," He said, taking a step towards the two. "I can sense it in you. It's about Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit, correct? You wish to save them."
"Of course!" Laura said.
"I have no use for them anymore. If your heart aches to save them, go right ahead. It will save me the trouble of disposing of them."
He looked to Laura specifically. "But.. I must say, you are a remarkable specimen."
Laura turned red. "W-What was that?"
"Silence child. Those Pokemon have nothing to do with you, do they? And still you came to rescue them? Out of what? Pity? Such useless and illogical emotions." Spat the Boss of Team Galactic. "Pity and compassion are products of the weak and faulty human heart."
He gestured to the room behind him.
"You were compelled to come here through such vacuous sentimentality! I will make you regret paying heed to your heart!"
He sent out a Sneasel, to which Laura countered with Ridge.
The Machoke destroyed the weasel Pokemon in one blow.
Next was a crowbat, which Sparky was sent out to challenge.
He was poisoned and beaten up, but he managed to win.
Barely.
Then the poison took effect and knocked him out.
After several of her team fell, she managed to revive and replenish Sparky, to finish off the Honchcrow, Cyrus's final Pokemon.
"I see," the man said. "You are indeed strong. And the basis of your strength is your compassion toward Pokemon." He snorted.
"How wasteful. Such emotions are but mere illusions. And like all illusions, they fade until time overtakes them and they vanish forever. That is why I have abandoned all emotions and sentimentality."
Lucas chuckled lightly. "Then I feel sorry for you. I really do. "
"You'll never understand my position." He crossed his arms. "That said, I recognize you are strong and courageous to face me without aide from this young man."
He reached into his pocket and both teens tensed. Liro jumped off of Lucas's shoulder and his fur bristled.
He pulled out a pokeball that was half violet with pink dots on it and handed it to Laura.
"This is your reward. The Master Ball is the ultimate Pokeball. It will unfailingly catch any Pokemon in the wild. But it is not anything I require. Unlike you, I do not make Pokemon my friends or partners. Unlike other Team Galactic members, I do not use Pokemon as tools.
Instead, I make the power of the Pokemon my own. "
Cyrus began to walk away, but looked over his shoulder.
"If you wish to save the lake Pokemon, take the warp panel up ahead. I am off to Mt. Coronet. I will ascend the mountain to its peak, where destiny awaits me. It is there I shall create my new world."
The man then walked off.
"Come on, let's save the Lake Pokemon!" Lucas urged.
"Alright!"
He and Laura took the warp panel.
The three traveled through rows of strange glowing glass tubes that were full of a green liquid.
Eventually they arrived at the room with the lake Pokemon.
Laura turned to Lucas.
"See if you can free them. I'll keep the Commander busy."
"Right!"
Laura marched up to the man, Saturn, and tapped on his shoulder.
"You. You came all the way here to save some Pokemon?"
"Of course I did! Now let them go!"
"I don't get why the boss would let you come and go freely... No matter. You took the trouble to come here, so let me Welcome you!"
His first Pokemon was the ever-predictable Golbat.
Laura sent out Sparky, her trump card against flying types.
He took some damage, but Sparky was able to take the Golbat out in two hits.
Next up was bronzor. Ember got a turn now.
After a few minor hits, and several misses, Ember got a hit with his Fire Blast, KO'ing the steel type.
Next was Toxicroak.
Normally she'd use Nigel, but instead she chose Sprout; he hadn't seen much battle lately, and his earthquake attack devastated the enemy.
Saturn lost.
Again.
The Commander growled.
"What makes you so tough! " He sighed.
"Fine. Do whatever you please with those Pokemon. Press the button on that machine to set them free." He nodded to a nearby control panel.
The three Pokemon vanished.
"Our boss made a Red Chain from the crystals he took from those three Pokemon." Explained Saturn. "He needed it to shackle something at Mt. Coronet. It's also apparently needed to create something."
The man shruged. "But who knows what the heck he's doing up there?
The blue haired man walked out of the room.
Laura pressed the button and the Pokemon were freed.
They then vanished.
"This is really really bad, Laura. If he has the red chain..."
Laura's eyes widened. "Oh no..."
"Oh yes! We need to get moving! Quick, have Nigel fly us to-! Oh yes, let's get back outside first."
The two hurried back outside and flew to Eterna.
The sky was turning dark.
But it was about 1 in the afternoon.
"Not good. Soooo not good." Lucas was starting to panic.
"Then stop standing there like a torchick and let's go!" Laura urged.
The two entered Mt. Coronet.
The soon learned that they could not proceed from this entrance.
However, a rather stupid grunt let them in on the fact they needed to go from Orebuhrg instead.
One swift flight later they sped north into the caves.
Laura's team got a VERY good workout; several HM moves had become mandatory to proceed.
Eventually they saw what appeared to be a shattered mural, carved in stone, on the ground next to a cavern entrance.
"Observe, if you will, that hole."
The two jumped as Looker appeared.
"Ah, yes, apologies."
"It's fine." Lucas said.
"Anyway, do you see it? There was once a cave painting that blocked the way to the summit, you see. But it lies in pieces now, as you can see." He motioned to the rubble on the ground.
"Ever since the three Pokemon of the lakes were captured... something terrible is happening, but I do not know what. There is but one cause! Team Galactic's Cyrus!" He put his hands in his pockets. "On to the next step."
"Which is?" Laura asked.
"Are you trainer enough to advance? Show me, if you will!"
He pulled out a pokeball and acted as if he was going to battle her and then laughed.
"Aahah...relax. You are far superior to me. As are the commanders; Cyrus too naturally. Team Galactic is beyond my reach." the detective had a hint of sadness in his eyes.
But it vanished in a moment.
"You must stop them! For only YOU are able." He pointed to Laura.
"So I've heard..." She mumbled.
He reached into his coat and pullled out a Black Flute.
"All I can do is give you this." He handed it to Laura.
Laura nodded. "I'll stop them."
"Good luck."
Laura and Lucas began walking again.
They encountered more grunts from Team Galactic, but they were easily dispatched.
They exited the cave into the snowy peak of the Mountain.
"Great. More snow." grumbled Laura.
The two forged on, fighting Gurnts and climbing rock walls. Eventually they emerged...
At Spear Pillar.
"The Spearhead..." Lucas murmured.
"Spear Pillar! It's falling into place now. He's going to use the Red Chains here... to...oh no..."
"What? What's he doing?"
"He's going to call forth Palkia and Dialga soon. We don't have much time."
The two fought a pair of grunts then sprinted forward... but were halted by Jupter and Mars.
"Where do you think you're going? I won't let you disturb our boss." Mars said. "If you want past you'll have to go through me."
"And I'll be next." Jupter said with a smirk. "Unless you want to try and take me on with your pitiful team?"
She was talking to Lucas.
"Mars told me all about how easy you were to beat."
"Hold on one second!"
All heads turned to the Blonde running full speed to Laura's aid.
"Charlie!"
"Don't you start the party without me!" The boy smirked, facing Jupiter.
"Huh?"
"Remember me? I"m here to get my revenge!"
Jupiter recognized him and laughed. "Ha! You're that boy from the lake! That little crybaby! Did you toughen up a bit? I'm all for a two on two battle!"
Lucas smirked. "Nice to have you back, ruffian."
"Nice to be back, stick in the mud."
Charlie looked over his shoulder to Laura. "Let's show em what best friends can do!"
"Yeah!"
Jupiter and Mars both sent out Bronzong.
Laura dealt with one, but she felt that Charlie was... ill equipped; he'd sent a Munchlax out.
"Really? A Muchlax?"
"Hey! He's cool so shut up!"
After both of them took several KO's they finally pulled off a victory.
Charlie but on a confident grin and looked at Laura.
"Hey, my Pokemon are tough, right?"
"Yeah, it's just your strategy that needs some work."
"Heh. Well, I'll help you with this," He healed her Pokemon completely.
"Thanks!"
"Well, I'm off! Later!"
Charlie sped off and Laura just sighed; at least her best friend was back to normal.
Lucas and Laura turned to Cyrus.
"...Everything is ready...for the creation of a new world." He smirked sadistically. "Now everything will end... and everything will begin."
He held his hands out in front of him. There was something hanging loose in theim.
Lucas's eyes widened.
"No..."
"With this, the red chain made from the crystals of the Lake Pokemon..." he reached into his jacket... and removed another red chain. "And this, the red chain I replicated with technology..."
He held them, one in each hand. "I will open a portal to another dimension... I COMMAND YOU! RELEASE YOUR POWERS TO ME!"
The chains circled Cyrus.
"DIALGA, THE MYTHICAL POKEMON, AND MASTER OF TIME!" He paused.
"and the other... PALKIA, THE MYTHICAL POKEMON AND MASTER OF SPACE AND DIMENSIONS!"
Two orbs appeared then vanished... in their place were Dialga and Palkia.
Their eyes seemed dull, as if they weren't entirely conscious.
Cyrus laughed. "I've waited a long time for this! Time and Space, shaping a double spiral that is this world."
"What is your point?" Growled Dialga.
"Yes...What is it you desire, human?" added Palkia.
"Those are the very things you control! You WILL do my bidding! I WILL have your powers as my own! With that power, I shall create an entirely new world! The incomplete and ugly world we have can now disappear. I am resetting everything to zero. Nothing can remain."
Then three lights sped to the monument.
"I should have expected as much," growled Cyrus. "Uxie...Azelf... Mesprit... They have come to protect Sinnoh? How pathetic."
He turned to face Laura and Lucas.
"It takes the three of them to balance either the Pokemon of time or the Pokemon of space. But they cannot maintain balance against the two." Their coming here is in vain. So much meaningless drama."
He smirked.
"Now Laura...You've constantly interfered with my plans... but you will be forgiven. After all, there will remain no spirit when I am done. It will all be ripped away..."
He got a crazed look on his face.
"From YOU! From your Pokemon! From those PRECIOUS TO YOU! IT IS TIME! MY DREAM..WILL BE REALITY!"
Suddenly the air grew dark, as if all light was being blotted out.
"What is this pressure...?"
Behind Cyrus black circles began to appear and merge into one black circle. From it, a black shadowy mass with glowing red eyes and red claws appeared.
"I'M FREE! FREE AT LAST! AHAHAHAH!" The telepathic voice echoed through the minds of the humans and Pokemon at Spear Pillar.
The shadow leaned in to Cyrus's eye level.
"It's all thanks to you, human."
"Interesting... So there is a Pokemon that can only appear as shadow?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. Do you want to find out? You once said you wanted a world to call your own. For you to rule. I want my freedom. How about we make a deal, human? I give you your wish... you give me mine." Sneered Giratina.
Dialga and Palkia came to their senses.
"You... what are you doing here?" Asked Dialga, shocked.
"It's been ages brother...literally. I'm getting my freedom of course. Then I'm going to throw Arceus off of his throne and devour this world in shadow and death!" The Nightmarish shadow replied.
"You're not right in th' head. Then again, ya never were." Replied Palkia.
"You're content to live in your little bubbles of time- space. I am not content to live in a world of shadow."
"I have to decline. I am about to create my new world right now!" He tugged on the chains and Palkia and Dialga returned to their half concious states.
"Welcome to hell."
Giratina let out a roar and Cyrus was snatched up by the shadowy claws and pulled into the Distortion world.
"No!" Shouted Cynthia as she arrived on the scene, Mewtwo in tow.
"Blast it all! We arrived too late!" Said mewtwo.
Laura and Lucas were still frozen in terror.
Dialga and Palkia had vanished.
Then the three lake Pokemon flew into the newly created portal.
Cynthia apologized to Laura and Lucas.
"Sorry we took so long."
"What..." Laura began
"...was that thing?" Lucas finished.
"That... was-!"
"Giratina. That was Giratina. I thought he'd been sealed in the Distortion World for good. I guess the simultaneous summoning of Dialga and Palkia weakened the barrier here." Arceus explained.
"Now, Laura, is the time for you to complete your destiny. You must either capture or kill Giratina. If he gets free... then you would wish Cyrus had finished his plans."
"What am I supposed to do? I'm just one girl!"
The group felt unease and looked at the pillars around them.
"They're distorting..." Cynthia gasped.
"If you do not quell Giratina, it will spread throughout Sinnoh, then the world, until everything is part of the distortion world. You know what that means for this world."
"Are you ready, Laura? We have to chase Cyrus!"
"Yes!"
"I'm coming too," Lucas said.
"I shall remain behind," Mewtwo dropped his disguise. "And make sure these two don't try anything."
He grabbed Mars and Jupiter by their collars.
Laura, Lucas, and Cynthia looked at the portal and then jumped in.
They exited into a bizarre world, with floors floating sideways, and water flowing up.
"This place..." Cynthia started. "Can you feel it? There aren't any Pokemon here at all... Time isn't flowing... Space isn't stable...A world where the rules are broken."
"Are you impressed, human? This is my world. I am god, king, and Judge here. I see all. I know all. I am all. It is rather enjoyable watching the blue haired human scurry around like a Rattata in a maze. I would advise you leave. Now."
"Not happening," challenged Laura.
There was a sigh. "Very well, Human. I will have to teach you that I am not a being you should pick a fight with. Come find me... if you dare."
Evil laughter echoed in their minds.
"Well, he seems like quite the pleasant... whatever he is." Lucas said sarcastically.
Then they all practically jumped out of their skin as Giratina sped over them at high speed, letting out a roar.
The group moved through the maze-like world until Mesprit appeared.
"Woah!" Lucas was caught by surprise and nearly fell off the platform, saved by Laura and Cynthia.
There was an evil laugh. "Yes... falling would not be a good idea. Gravity means nothing here. Nothing at all. Nor does time. So you might find yourself falling up for many eternities. You do not age here; time is not able to dictate my world."
"Jerk."
The Lake Pokemon pointed in a direction before speeding off.
Lucas decided to test something, and it worked.
He was standing sideways.
Laura and Cynthia followed his lead.
They were content with him as a guinea pig.
Eventually the decided to split up...
Laura ran into Cyrus who went on an insanely long winded rant about genes, a metaphor for the Distortion and Normal worlds before decalaring war on Giratina and running off again.
She traversed more of the strange dimension before Uxie appeared, once more guiding her.
After the first part of a puzzle, Mesprit appeared and, after tapping Laura's had, guided her again to the next part of the puzzle.
She sighed and began working her way to finish the puzzle that involved boulders and Strength.
Lucas sighed. He had been walking forever, Liro keeping his spirits up with cheerful barks.
He then jumped as Giratina flew over him again with a roar.
This was turning out to be a very bad day.
Laura was visited by the Renegade Pokemon soon after, the same event happening to her.
She felt her heart start to race, but forged on.
There were some very strange plants everywhere, and she was a tad disturbed by the sight.
She noticed Cyrus on an adjacent platform and hurried forward.
After more wandering, Laura met up with Cynthia again.
"This place... it seems to be a giant puzzle." the blonde observed. "Maybe... Giratina wants to test those who enter here?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. That's for me to know and you to find out." boomed a telepathic voice.
Giratina's glee of returning to the World Above had dissipated, and he seemed a bit more rational now, the insanity gone from his voice.
Laura continued on the Puzzle Quest and once more Giratina sped overhead.
Laura had to Surf down a waterfall of sorts.
It was a very disorienting experience for her and Buiz to say the least.
Finally, she managed to get the boulder to the appropriate pit.
She walked back to Cynthia and a platform appeared behind them.
The got on and it moved down.
Well, as "down" as you can get in a world that had the kind of gravity the Distortion world had.
"This is it... Giratina is up ahead..."
Lucas had found an alternate route down, ahead of Laura and Cynthia. He decided to wait for them.
Bad idea.
Giratina swooped in and roared.
"Well, well look who it is? How did you get down here?"
"I'm a Pokemon Researcher; I found a way."
"You've sealed your fate, boy. Right about now, your precious "Laura" is in battle with Cyrus. Would you like to watch?"
Giratina willed a portal to appear, showing Laura and Cyrus facing off...
One more rant later, Cyrus turned to Laura.
"I shall not lose! Not to that shadowy Pokemon! Not in any worthless world! And especially not to a CHILD!"
He sent out a Houndoom.
Laura responded with Buiz.
Buiz was burned, but managed to defeat the Houndoom with two surf attacks.
After that it was rough; Laura used all her revives against the Gyarados, but the last Pokemon were stopped by Sparky.
"Don't think you can defeat or capture that Pokemon." Cyrus warned. "This bizarre world is nothing but that Pokemon itself! Capturing or defeating it will make this world disappear!"
"I doubt it." Laura replied.
"Very well! Do what you will! Rather than repair the world, you'll destroy it for me!" The man smirked. "Do it. You inherit my legacy."
The man then took off.
"Don't believe his lies." Cynthia warned. "It's not possible that a Pokemon can make a world disappear."
"Perhaps not... but I can very easily extinguish lives!" Giratina boomed. Then, as if to someone else; "Stop moving and let me kill you you brat!"
Giratina was getting frustrated; the boy and his Riolu were dodging his strikes easily.
Needless to say, this made the Shadow Pokemon very, very angry.
"Stop moving and let me kill you!"
"Not happening!"
Then Liro tripped.
"Very well. I shall take his life instead!"
Giratina brought a tentacle down...
and found the pointed tip stopped by something soft.
Blood trickled down Lucas's back from the medium-light penetration the claw had managed into his back.
Thankfully, his backpack and its contents blocked most of the strike.
"...Why would you risk your own life to save that of a Pokemon?"
"Liro is my friend. I won't let you hurt him."
"Then perish."
Giratina brought down a claw... and stopped.
A flash of white light shone and holding the sharp tip of the tentacle was a Lucario.
"I will not allow you to harm my master." The Pokemon stated.
"...Liro?"
"It is I, master. Thanks to your kindness and friendship, I evolved just in time. I shall deal with this ruffian."
Lucas smirked at the vocabulary.
"Go get em'."
Somehow, Liro's hits were making contact.
"What did you do?"
"I'm not actually hitting you; I'm hitting you with aura condensed around my paws. Although Aura is a fighting technique, it is energy, not physical. Therefore, I can hit you with it."
Giratina vanished and Liro closed his eyes.
The Lucario's eyes shot open and he dodged a Shadow Force.
"Impossible! How did you know to dodge?"
"I followed your Aura. Since this is the world you travel to when you use that attack, I could track you as we are both here."
Liro began charging his Aura.
"Now... WATCH THE POWER OF AURA!"
Liro shot into the air above Giratina and fired a massive blast of Aura, an Aura Storm, at Giratina.
However, the Pokemon was only slightly weakened.
"Get lost." The shadow Pokemon slapped the Lucario aside, who hit the ground with a telepathic grunt.
Then Laura and Cynthia arrived.
"Ah, so the heroine finally arrives! What will you do now? Fight me? I'd be more worried about your lover right now if I were you." The dragon chuckled, a vile, wicked sound.
Laura rushed over to Lucas.
"Lucas!" She saw the wound on his back.
"Lucas! Talk to me!"
"Hey...I'll be fine! You take care of Giratina!"
Cynthia nodded. "I'll tend to his wounds."
Laura had a dark expression on her face, the flames of revenge burning in her eyes.
She called upon Sparky.
"Use bite."
The Luxray jumped and bit into one of Giratina's tentacles.
The Pokemon roared and shook Sparky off.
"Good... give in to your desire for revenge... let the hate consume you."
Suddenly Laura's head felt as if it was going to split open.
"AHHH!" she fell to her knees.
"I said I was going to escape... I never said how. Once I posses your body, I will be free of this wretched prison of a world!"
"...This is bad." Cynthia said.
"What? What's he doing?" Lucas demanded.
Cyrnthia used Full Restore on Liro.
"Thank you."
"He's possessing her body. All Ghost-types can do it, to an extent... but he's so powerful... all she had to do was give in to her negative emotions once and-! Hey!"
Lucas ran to Laura's side.
"Laura! Fight it! I..." He closed his eyes, tears starting to form. "I don't want to lose you!"
He embraced Laura tightly... and the pain stopped in her head.
Giratina was confused.
"How... did a mere human... how did you stop my control?"
"Because Laura has me and her team. She isn't alone like you."
"Silence, human, or I shall rip your flesh from your bones!" Giratina threatened.
"...Sparky, use Bite!"
The Pokemon nodded and then attacked again.
As soon as Giratina spotted the Master Ball, he fled.
"I shall NOT become slave to you, human! You want your world? FINE! You have beaten me! I shall weaken the rift so it does not disrupt the Real World!"
A portal opened up.
"Let's go back home," Cynthia suggested.
Laura and Lucas nodded.
Lucas called Liro back to a Pokeball and they entered the portal...
Arriving at Spear Pillar.
"Wait... why are we here? I thought for sure we'd wind up at the Sendoff Spring." Cynthia commented.
"No. I need you here. More specifically, I need Laura here. It is time we meet."
A shining pillar of light poured down from the sky and a young man, in his early twenties, stepped out.
He wore a white jacket with white fur around the wrists and collar.
He had gold bracelets on his wrists and wore gold plated boots. Over the tops of them he wore white slacks. He had a golden Circlet around his forehead as well.
He had light peach skin and wavy white hair that fell to his lower back, and his eyes were green with red pupils.
"Wait... you're Arceus!" exclaimed Lucas.
"You were expecting more I assume. I have taken this form so as not to overwhelm you after your traumatic event in the Distortion world. Come here, Lucas."
The boy did as instructed. Arceus spun him around and placed a hand over his wound.
It was instantly healed.
"Thanks..."
"Do not mention it; you were brave back there. I had to reward you for your effort and dedication to your Pokemon. You are truly a remarkable individual."
He looked to the other heroes.
"As are all of you. But," he turned to Laura. "you most of all. You managed to drive Giratina off with just one Pokemon. I am very pleased. However..."
Arceus sighed. "Giratina is still on the loose. What's more, he's traveled to Turnback Cave. That place is where the barrier between this world and the Distortion world is weakest. No doubt he is licking his wounds as we speak. Laura, you must take your Master Ball and capture him. However, battle is not how you should do it."
"Then how, Arceus?"
"Have you ever heard the phrase 'to kill with kindness'? Well, that is what you must do. Let me tell you how he came to be sealed in the first place."
In ancient times, when the world you live on was young, there were several tribes of humans. However, there was one that even I frowned upon. They believed Pokemon were nothing but slaves to be commanded. Their small tribe grew into an empire, and they thrived because of their greed and abuse of Pokemon. One day, Giratina, here at Spear Pillar with Palkia, Dialga, and I, came to me and asked why I allowed it. I said that it was not my preference to tamper.
I shouldn't have said that.
He took it upon himself to "liberate" the empire. He killed hundreds of thousands of humans single-handed.
Now, while that may seem like nothing now, back then that was a lot of humans.
I was... disappointed in him. Not angry yet. They had it coming, after all, even I agreed.
However, I warned him never to go on such a rampage again without my say-so.
He grudgingly agreed... but not for long.
He met one young man abusing a Pokemon at some time after that; say a few hundred years.
He wasn't happy.
He asked the boy where he came from, and the boy answered, not at all terrified of Giratina.
This was a mistake; Giratina ate him whole.
Then, he went on a killing spree in the boy's town before I stepped in and used Judgment to defeat him and seal him away in the Distortion world.
I used the seventeen Elemental Plates to create and seal the Distortion World.
However, after that the plates were lost, and so were most of my powers.
I then sent Dialga and Palkia into hiding, in their own dimensions. I returned to the Hall of Origin myself and thus we became merely legends."
"..and that is the story of how Giratina became sealed. He hates humans because he views them as wicked slavers. I know certain humans do that, such as Team Rocket in Kanto or even Team Galactic here in Sinnoh. But I know you do not. You care about your Pokemon as if they were family, Laura. I want you to extend this kindness to Giratina in whatever way you can. I suggest an offering of sorts; food would probably do the trick as there is nothing to eat in the Distortion World; he fed off of the dark energies within."
"You're kidding," Mewtwo said, reading Laura's mind.
"What do you mean, Child of Man?" Arceus inquired.
"Cookies. That's her brilliant offering. Home-made cookies from her mother."
"That's actually a good idea. You humans talk about putting your heart into making food, do you not? If you were to make him some of these... 'cookies'... then perhaps he would see that humans are not all evil. With any luck, he might at least agree to keep from killing any more humans. Also, he will most likely be in his Altered Forme. You will still be able to recognize him however. Oh, before I forget..." He snapped his fingers and a surprised Charlie appeared in front of them.
"What the heck?" He looked to Arceus. "Who're you!"
"I am Arceus. You two have a great destiny as well." He nodded to Lucas and Charlie.
"Although Giratina has been quelled, my other two Sons are still under the effects of the Red Chains, making them almost mindless animals. Once you have finished your journey to become Champion of the Pokemon League, I require you return here. And that wasn't a suggestion."
"R-right..." Charlie replied.
"Good. Run along now."
"Yes!" Charlie bolted.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, taking this form and being on this plane are both tiring affairs. I shall return to my place at the Hall of Origin for now. I have removed the trees blocking the path to the Sendoff Spring; good luck, Laura."
"Hold on!" Lucas stopped Arceus, fishing around in his bag. Miraculously, the plates were intact.
He showed the Three plates to Arceus.
"These are what you meant, right?"
"Where did you get those?"
"Laura and I found them on our travels."
Arceus raised a hand and the plates hovered over to Arceus, floating behind him in part of a circle shape.
"Thank you very much. My time asleep will be much shorter now. Bring any more you find and I shall reward you for your troubles."
Arceus vanished into another pillar of light.
"Laura... " Cynthia was speechless. She had seen Arceus!
"Laura! You should tell Professor Rowan at his lab once you deal with Giratina." Cynthia managed to say.
"Will do!"
Laura had a cheerful expression on her face and summoned her trusty Noctowl Nigel to fly herself and Lucas to Twinleaf.
After a thorough explanation, Laura's mother seemed okay with the prospect.
However, the scale of the cookies would have to be increased to match the size of the one who would be eating them, Giratina.
Well, so they hoped.
Laura and her mother made a dozen of the massive cookies, each the size of a hubcap.
Then they made another batch of normal sized cookies, for themselves of course.
Lucas was a bit nervous; he'd never been in Laura's house before and had only met her mother once.
For him it was awkward.
But after a warm welcome and some time he became relaxed.
After their own quick snack the group managed to get the cookies into large containers and flew to the Lakeside Resort south of Veilstone before heading north and entering the cave.
After reading some cryptic instructions, Lucas figured out how to get through in three rooms.
With Repels on their side, they made their way to the central chamber.
The peaked into the cavern to see Giratina looking rather angry, brutally attacking any wild Pokemon that got near him.
"Uh...Hello?" Laura managed meekly.
Giratina narrowed his eyes. "You... YOU'RE the reason I look like THIS!"
Giratina directed his gaze at the doorway.
"You've defeated me... You've humiliated me...but you are NOT going to shove me in that device! I would sooner die than be a slave!"
Laura shoved her backpack, which contained all her pokeballs save the ones on her waist that were occupied into Lucas's arms.
"Take it and walk." She instructed.
"R-Right..." He did as told.
Laura turned back to the door.
"Y-yes! Well... I uh... come in peace? Or something? I don't know what to say really after your last words."
"Peace! Humans making peace with Pokemon? Don't make me laugh. All you do is enslave our kind and use them to do your work, fight your battles for you! You humans are a cowardly species!"
"Arceus told me what happened. Why you were banished."
"Then you know what I say is truth."
"It isn't! Yes there are bad people in the world! But there are good people too! Lucas, Charlie and I tried our hardest to stop Team Galactic! They were bad people! That boy you met was one bad person! That doesn't make his whole town bad people too!"
"So, Arceus is playing righteous and perfect again, is he?"
"He admitted you were right the first time, didn't he?"
"With a warning! Because he is too lazy to do his own dirty work! He's as bad as you humans!"
"He created us. He created you too."
Laura hefted one of the containers and walked over to Giratina, dropping it at his feet.
"What is this, some kind of explosive?"
"Food!"
She opened the container.
"How do I know this is not a trap?"
"Lucas took my empty pokeballs and I told him to go away."
"How do I know they are not laced with poison?"
Laura sighed and tore a chunk off one of the cookies, biting into it and swallowing.
"That good enough?" She pulled out one of the foodsutffs and held it up to Giratina.
Cautiously the Pokemon let its sweet tooth get the better him.
"Why?" It asked.
"Do I need a reason to be nice?"
"I see. This is bribery." he spit the food out. "Whatever it may be you are trying to accomplish, I shall not go along with it."
Laura sighed and sat down on the floor of the cavern.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to decide what plan B is. If bribery doesn't work to get you to trust me enough to be my friend, then what would it take?"
"...friend? You and your cohorts say that word often. What does it mean?"
"You had to ask that, didn't you? It's hard to explain really. It's when people and/or Pokemon get along together." She rocked back and forth, curling her legs to her chest. "Mewtwo said that Red had told him that it's not just about the battles. It's about the aftermath too. Red said that if he lost, he shared his defeat, if he won, he shared his victories, if either he or his Pokemon were sad, he shared their sorrow. So I think that's what friendship is; it isn't one sided like you say. It's about teamwork."
She looked up at Giratina, who was obviously letting the information sink in.
"I want you to be my friend. I want to share my victories with you. I want to share my defeats with you. I want to share my sadness with you. And I want to share my joy with you."
"...Very well. But do NOT attempt to keep me confined in that wretched device."
"W-well you need to go into it once for it to technically count...and if we go insides somewhere."
Giratina looked at the girl with somewhat angry eyes.
"A-Ah! W-well we can swap it out for a Luxury ball later, okay?"
"Luxury... ball?"
"Y-yes! A high end pokeball that's supposed to be more comfortable than a normal pokeball. "
"So be it. However, if I find reason, you shall perish by my...claws, understand, human?"
"R-right..." Laura ran off to fetch Lucas, who was running from a Hanuter that had scared him.
Giratina shoved his face into the box and ate the food.
He could trust this human.
For now.
END CHAPTER 7
Technically Laura did beat Giratina in battle, so it isn't completely an Ash-Style bullshit method of capturing a rare Pokemon. (Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Chickorita, Pikachu even... You get the idea.)
The cookie idea mainly came from the crack I"ve been doing (kidding of course.) but partially came from the fact that Giratina (I caught it beforehand with the master ball because if I didn't want to wait until after the Elite Four to get it.) in my game has the tidbit "Likes Sweet things" in its description in the menus.
I also make mention of the Luxury Ball here, something I haven't done yet.
Also, Aura Storm is from Super Smash Brothers Brawl.
Hey, it's based in "Game" world, isn't it?
We'll get to that later.
Right now?
Now We head back to Sandgem...
Also, Long Chapter is Long.
