2.5. guardians of sealed space.

part v

giratina's p.o.v.

As far as the others knew, Giratina hated the assist, but inwardly, he was glad that Lucario couldn't kick his ass more than it already had been.

Still, that growlithe won't win, not against a Mega Lucario…

It was more than a little surprising to hear concern in his own thoughts, but he figured that even those dregs would grow on him eventually. Lucario was first to recover, clenching his paws around an invisible weapon that solidified into a bone made of energy, and rushed her. Koko dodged his swipes at first, then a feint ended with her taking a hard crack to the side that made Giratina wince, sending her barrel rolling across the dust. She recovered with a cough and charged, electricity racing from her form as she rammed into Lucario's chest. He was stunned by the impact, but not for long as he used Bone Rush once more, this time connecting with her legs. Won't work, he thought with a growl, trudging past them. She has no real battle training. She'll die, then we'll die.

With a more furious growl, he stepped down hard on Mew's shadow. She jerked once in shock, then her body turned rigid as he rolled her onto her back. She gave a surprised gasp that turned into a coughing fit, red blood dribbling down her chin. "Mew, we really need you right about now."

"G-Gira," she managed, eyes a little blurred. He carefully gripped her tail with his mouth guards, lifting her into the air.

"Nap time's over. Take a look."

"What?" Mew looked over at the battle raging between Lucario and Koko and frowned. "No…"

"Exactly. You've got to send him back."

"I…can't," she said after a moment of straining. More blood ran from her mouth and joined a stream from her nose. "Headache," she complained, clenching her head. She probably had a concussion—she wouldn't be useful for a while. He released her and tried sinking into the shadows. While he could still manage that without causing himself too much pain, he couldn't say the same for the others, and as much of a bastard he knew he was, he wouldn't leave them behind. Couldn't leave them behind.

"Next time Arceus needs help," he muttered resentfully, "damn everyone's excuses. I'm never doing this shit again." He watched Lucario knock Koko flat on her back one more time, a stream of blood following her trail, then he raised his bloodied fist for the last blow. Linda tried to run over but fell on her stomach with a weak cry. He tried to make a portal to anywhere, but just the attempt had pain lancing through his body like the lightning from earlier. Why did he have to be so useless? The one time someone went out of their way to help him, and he couldn't return the favor. "Giving up, I can't be giving up…"

He turned back towards Shaymin as it whirled from behind, eyes glittering with the excitement of battle, and went to dodge its Energy Ball, opening him up for a Seed Flare in the face. The light blinded him, followed by an intense burning sensation all over his torso, and he slowly sunk from the air and to a platform, furiously rubbing his eyes.

"Giving up already?" Shaymin jeered from just a few feet away. "You always quit. You're such a quitter, Brother."

"I'm not…" he rumbled.

"You're what? I can't hear you." Now it was just next to Giratina's ear. He growled louder and spun around, slamming its tail into Shaymin's side. It went flying before crashing into a mangled streetlamp.

"I'm not done with you!" it roared. "I only give up when I'm dead!" Shaymin floated back into the air, a few damaged leaves falling from its body.

"Good," it beamed. "Because I know you, Brother, and you're too strong to give up."

Strong, him? The words still didn't make sense to date.

Giratina's bones ached as he slammed his front leg down. Lucario froze not of his own accord, eyes darting to his shadow now pinned beneath Giratina's foot. "Release me," he growled, fist inches from Koko's skull. She was shaking as she got to her feet, and blood trailed from her leg as she limped away. "Or would you rather I killed you first, in front of these kids?"

"I'd like to see you try," he sneered. He lifted the chunks of rock around them and launched them at Lucario, who was still paralyzed. They stacked all around him, growing thicker and taller until he had a virtual mountain restricting him. Giratina quickly backed away, knowing that even that wasn't going to hold long, and went to inspect Koko.

"She's hurt," Linda whispered as Koko laid silently on her lap. She may not have been killed on the spot, but she was already going down that road for sure. Giratina crouched down as much as he could and nudged her.

"Thank you," he said. Koko mumbled something in response before she started coughing, blood staining her fur and Linda's pants. "Linda, let go of her and step away."

"I'm not going to—"

"She's going to die if you don't," he barked. She met his eyes and maybe saw something in there that he wasn't aware of, because she silently nodded. She gently set Koko on the ground and stood on shaking legs, making her way over to her brother. Numerous cracks and smashes echoed from the rock formation as it began to crumble—it wouldn't hold much longer. Koko couldn't even lift her head as Giratina made a Will-O-Wisp, letting it burn just above her fur. She leaned into the heat gratefully. Flash Fire, he figured. Dragging out more of his energy, he stepped away as he made more, letting the flames coalesce into a fire growing bigger and bigger around her by the second. She rose into a sitting position, then stood as it looked like she was centered in a bonfire. An indeterminate expression flashed in her eyes as, amid the now-blue fire, a white glow surrounded her body.

BOOM! The rocks flew apart and Lucario stood heaving, fists literally smoking from the effort. He gave them an enraged look before running, disappearing entirely the next second. Giratina could sense him though: he was moving too fast to be seen. He lifted his legs and slammed them down on the ground, rending it with a huge fissure down the center. Lucario briefly appeared some feet in the air, slightly startled, but used Extremespeed right after, vanishing again. He used Protect, or at least tried to, and managed to block the first attack, but his shield shattered right after as he couldn't keep his focus. His next punch smashed one of his mouth guards, golden bits raining to the ground, and Giratina recoiled from the pain. Then, point-blank, he made another Aura Sphere. Giratina was just preparing to take it when Lucario was sent flying by her Iron Tail. He caught himself as he hit the ground, but a new bruise was forming on his head.

"It's gonna be harder to eat you now," Giratina complained. Koko turned back to flash her teeth, and Giratina noticed that she didn't really have to look up at him anymore. Linda stared with wide eyes, her mouth open. Koko started running, larger muscles contracting powerfully, and as soon as her paws hit the ground she burst into flames. Lucario was up as well, and when he charged she dropped into a roll, the flames bending around her to form a wheel. Lucario dodged her initial lunge, but she made a sharp turn and barreled into him. He tried to stand his ground, but her lack of control was in her advantage: her flames burned hotter and hotter by the second. On top of that, she also had a height and weight advantage now. He dug his feet into the ground, holding her at arm's length, but after a while his form dissipated into vapor, leaving him a normal Lucario. Koko came to a stop, her bared teeth right in his face, and she bit down hard on his arm.

"Let go!" he howled, trying to pull away, but Koko held fast. Electricity started sparking from her jaw and then both of them were covered in it. His muscles locked up after just a few seconds, and by the time the electricity dissipated he was too weak to stand. She didn't release him though, and her flames were having a devastating effect now. Blood stained her teeth and the fur around her mouth from his arm before she let go, and he immediately fell onto his back. Giratina turned away; he knew what was going to happen next, and he didn't really want to see it.

"Koko," Linda whispered. He looked back and saw her freeze, her teeth just barely around the Lucario's skull. "Koko," she repeated before falling onto her side and going still. Koko yipped as she ran over, nudging her onto her back.

"Hospital," she said nervously, lowering her head to move Linda and Mel onto her back. "Can you fly?"

"If I could, do you think I'd still be here?" he said dryly. She growled in response. "Yeah, I get it, not the time for sarcasm."

"What about shadows?"

"It's going to hurt them even more."

"But…there's no other way…" He saw the conundrum too, and he didn't like it any more than she did.

"Arceus isn't fond of me," Giratina said, using his back legs to dig up the earth. "I just want to give you warning now. It is not very likely to spare me good fortune." It gestured to the shadows created by the mount of dirt and Koko stepped into the range. It gripped Mew between its mouth guards with just enough leeway to breathe and followed. She stood shoulder to shoulder with him. "Hold your breath," it warned before they plunged into darkness. Mel's eyes popped open as did his mouth, and his hands went to his throat when he realized that he couldn't breathe. Giratina rolled its eyes as it brought them to the surface again.

"Cold," Mew whined, shivering. Snow surrounded them in all directions, and more of it was coming from the dark clouds above.

"There," Giratina said, turning towards the buildings in the near distance. "Snowbelle City." He heard a yelp, then Koko jumped back, releasing Linda and Mel to the ground. The snow under her paws and around her melted in record time.

"Can't," she said, turning away. "I can't control the fire." Mew managed to get in the air and patted her head.

"You'll learn," it consoled. Koko whined in response. "Giratina, you have to carry them."

"Great. Now I'm demoted to luggage boy." Mew helped lift Linda and Mel onto its back, but the effort left it more exhausted than before. "This would be so much easier in Origin Form…"

"We don't have the time to go looking for your Griseous Orb."

"I know where it is," it corrected, setting across the snow purposefully. It helped that Koko took the lead, melting it to clear the path ahead. She was emitting too much fire though—she'd burn herself out quickly like that. "It would be an easy flight too." Mew flopped onto its head.

"Maybe." There was silence for a moment, nothing but the wind in their ears.

"Thank you," Koko said. "For not saving your own skin." Ah, it sounded worse coming from another's mouth.

"What can I say? You all grew on me. Like fungus." He paused. "Speaking of fungus, didn't the brat have a cacturne?"

"The pokéball is still in the hospital room," Mew said. "The teleportation was sort of…quick thinking."

"Yes, I'm very curious about that situation. Please elaborate."

"Well, we snuck into the hospital and found Orville's room. He, Melchior, was acting…odd, so I both caused a distraction and worked on getting him away."

"Odd?"

"It makes sense," Koko said. "Mel doesn't like hospitals."

"Oh, yeah, he said he was sick as a smaller brat. Then let me guess: blue rat crashed the show?"

"No, Orville's Lucario showed up. There wasn't a rat or a show."

"It's exaggeration." He sighed into the air, watching his breath freeze into a cloud instantly. The cold made his wounds ache even more, and his steps were starting to get sluggish. He was down to his last three when Trainers on their way from the city spotted them—not that they were hard to miss.

"Is that— Haylie, look, it's Giratina!" the boy said, pointing. "And he's hurt— Are those kids?"

Giratina came to a stop, allowing the two to pull Linda and Mel down. Take care of them, it said before losing consciousness.