"Come out, Giratina," I shouted into the dark realm. "You cannot hide from me!"
After traveling through the very rings that made up this mad world, I have finally made it into the center sphere-the tomb of Giratina. The realm was pitch-black and devoid of light, and the atmosphere was cold and without life, nor warmth. I ignored the fear and dread that wormed its way out of my body and continued to trek through this lifeless stage. Suddenly, my senses led me to an edge, where a pale, bluish light, radiated from the other side. Wasting no time, I ran toward the cliff and dove off.
"Giratina!"
I landed on the frozen murky ground and stood before a giant iceberg. I withdrew my katana and held it before the frozen sculpture; even though it appeared to be any frozen glacier, I knew never to judge things based on appearance; whatever this 'thing' was, I could still sense something menacing seeping from within the encaged ice. It was him, without a doubt.
"Show yourself, traitorous coward," I snapped at the glacier, but no response. "Answer me!" I shouted as my anger rose.
Still, no voice spoke to me. Then suddenly, a dark chuckle erupted from all corners and the iceberg shook in delight. That was when I finally heard the voice of the anti-Pokémon:
"Well, well, well..." it whispered."Look what we have here. If it isn't my former servant, Riolu "Shadow" Aura."
My fur began to twitch in unease and my body shook with anxiety, but I forced myself to remain calm and focus. This was one battle I could not afford to die in.
"Why so solemn," the voice mocked. "Have you no words for your former master? Have you truly forgotten me? After all that I have done for you?"
I remained silent.
The voice paused for a moment before continuing its' taunts: "You seem a bit different than you previously were," he rasped. "Your shadow, it doesn't seem to frighten you than it used to."
"How can you know such a thing," I steely questioned.
"It's quite simple, really: You are a part of my being," it answered humorously. "I am you."
"Wrong," I retorted fiercely. "I am me!"
"'You are you,'" he questioned. "When did that happen? Originally, you followed my orders without hesitation; why now did you choose to betray, not just me, but my teachings?"
"I changed my mind," I answered.
The voice growled in distaste, but I didn't care. I was going to fight him and that was all that mattered. So, if I had to egg him on a bit to get him to reveal himself, then so be it. Finally, the voice returned with another question.
"If that is the case," it went on. "Why would you choose to fight in the name of Arceus, and yet continue to wield the power of darkness? Perhaps there is a piece of you that still clings to it?"
I smiled in satisfaction because we both knew that his words were not going to persuade me.
"No," I replied. My expression changed from uncertainty, to confident as I stared at the frozen statue. "I just believe that sometimes it's best to fight fire with fire; in this case, shadow-type vs. shadow-type." I held up my blade with resolve fueling my body and renewing my strength.
Giratina, however, didn't sound threatened; if anything, he was annoyed and was losing patients.
"You are a fool," he spoke at last. "Do you honestly believe you can defeat me? Have you forgotten that it was I who turned the once great Mewtwo against his father? Have you forgotten that it was because of me that you are even standing before me?"
"I have not," I replied solemnly. I stared at the frozen statue and smiled darkly at it before continuing to speak. "I remember everything you and the syndicate has done for me: you created me for your own personal benefit, had me perform yours and Mewtwo's dark task, and made me into your personal attack-dog; those were your top three mistakes; your other mistake was not killing me and the others when you should have.
"Now your greatest weapon is being used in the name of the father that disowned you."
That got his attention.
Immediately, the area began to shake violently. The ground began to tear apart as large faults suddenly appeared. Frozen stalactites fell from their ceilings and landed on the dead earth with a great thud; as they broke, pieces flew in every direction and landed across from each other. Still, my eyes remained bound to the frozen glacier that trembled menacingly and with violence. As I looked on, cracks began to appear and they stretched across the hunk of ice until the glacier was covered in cracks. He was finally about to reveal himself.
"So be it," Giratina growled viciously. "If this is the path you choose to walk, then you shall pay for it with your very existence!"
The statue collapsed and from within the ruined remains, a vortex of treachery, pride, and hatred, soared into the dark sky and enveloped the area in black, red, and purple shroud. I shielded my eyes from the blinding rays and was nearly knocked over by the intense pressure. When I opened my eyes I was confronted by a monster, with which my eyes have never seen: the creature had the appearance of a colossal-sized gray centipede with six, thick, golden, stump-legs, three golden claws that hung from his sides, a pair of ghost-like wings with three pikes hanging from each side, and a golden helmet plastered onto his head. A red and black stripe ran down from his neck down to his torso, and his tail swung loosely from side-to-side.
Pure terror coursed through my body as I stared at this abomination. Sweat began to fall from my face as I realized who this being was: Giratina.
"You should've done the right thing and give yourself to me," he sneered. "Now, it's too late!"
The thought of death constantly flew through my mind as I stared at this hideous monstrosity. I have always known from Mewtwo that Giratina was the first true shadow-type Pokémon and considered to be the true monster, but I had no knowledge of him being like this. My mind was at a standstill and my body refused to move; I didn't know what to do except stare at my impending death.
"What seems to be the problem," he taunted. "Has fear finally wrapped its grip over your throat?"
Have faith. I heard a voice inside my head. I turned my head in the direction of the voice but saw no one. Was I hallucinating? Have faith, Riolu Aura.
Suddenly, all of my fears melted away and was replaced with confidents and determination. It was a mystery to me as to how this happened, but for some reason...it felt "relieving". It felt as though that someone-something-was cheering me on and encouraging me to fight. I stared audaciously into the legendary Pokémon's blood-red pupils and held my sword before his face. This would be my final battle and I was determined to win it. Losing was not an option for me: I would either win, or die.
"Giratina," I roared out the legendary Pokémon's name. "In the name of all the lives you've ruined, and in the name of every Shadow Pokémon you corrupted, your time has finally come! I will send you back into your imprisonment!"
Immediately, Giratina launched his head at me and I jumped back to avoid the attack. I landed on the ground and proceeded to firing a barrage of aura spheres' and shadow balls' at the colossal-sized worm; unfortunately, neither sets of attacks seemed to have done any damage. The legendary Pokémon recovered from his attack and fired a lethal dragonbreath in my direction. I used extremespeed to dodge the attack, but the treacherous Pokémon continued his assault.
"You seem a bit tired," he growled. "Aura Sphere!" At his command, a sphere made entirely of dark matter charged toward me.
Dung! I cursed mentally. "Aura Sphere!" I summoned a large light-blue sphere and sent it flying at its dark counterpart.
A huge explosion occurred, and I was blinded by the smokescreen. Before I had a chance to react, I was sent flying through the air and landed with a great thud, followed by a searing pain shooting through my right arm. When I regained focus, my arm was bloodied and covered in black scars. I looked up and was speechless. Standing before me was an army of undead shades that were under the command of the Shadow Pokémon. He smiled triumphantly at me, as though he would win this battle, but I was prepared to prove him wrong. I jump back on my feet (ignoring the pain sprouting from my damaged limb) and charged toward the dark god.
An hour seemed to have passed as I laid waste to shade after shade of the legendaries army. When every one of them was disposed of, I stood before the god of the underworld. He hovered over me with confidents lingering in his diamond red eyes.
"So, you chose to stand against me, destroyed my familiars, and now I find you before me-alive and ready for more," Giratina bellowed in fascination. "Bravo, then! I would have expected nothing less from the Shadow Aura. However...I fear this little waltz of ours has come to an end."
What? I thought bitterly. What does he mean?
"Consider this as a token for braving this far only to fail," he continued. "I shall kill you here and now in my origin forme!"
At his command, a purple cyclone spun around him until he was completely engulfed in the spiraling gale. His two black wings morphed into three separate black streamers, each one having a red spike at the end. His six legs disappeared and were replaced with a long serpent-like tail, and his helmet was larger and more dangerous than ever. My mouth gaped open at this sudden revelation.
"By that distraught look on your face, I guess you have now realized how weak you are," Giratina guessed.
Without waiting for a response, Giratina went on the attack. He launched his tail in my direction and sent me soaring in the air. Before I could react, I felt intense pain crush my torso as Giratina slammed me to the ground. My body impaled itself onto the frozen floor and I was left paralyzed with fatigue; I couldn't move my arms, or my legs, or my own body. I feebly opened my eyes and saw a giant serpent spiral around me as though I was fearow-food.
"Judgment is upon you, Riolu Aura," Giratina roared to the heavens. "You have failed!"
The renegade Pokémon suddenly dove toward me at an alarming speed. I attempted to force myself back up to avoid the attack, but alas, I couldn't even move the very stump of my paws. Call I could do was wait and witness my life flash before my eyes. As Giratina flew down at me, I closed my eyes and waited for my impending death. I had failed.
"You are truly beyond saving, soulless apprentice,"
The mocking voice of Giratina filled my mind as my conscious drifted through this strange and mysterious existence. I couldn't see, move, or even speak. All I could do was listen to the rambling words of my former master, as he continued to taunt me for my failures.
"Did you honestly believe that Arceus could forgive you for your transgression against the Pokémon world," he questioned. "Bah! Have you forgotten what you have done: You have killed everyone-friends, family, and more innocent Pokémon, all in my name, and yours. You are no warrior of Arceus, nor are you my servant. You are simply a frightened kit who is running from his shadow-a cowardly Pokémon crying out in fear. There is no place for someone like you, just as there is no salvation for your soul.
"You're wrong..."
Instantly, my eyes opened.
The voice I heard awoke me in a dimension filled with haze and smoke. I couldn't see anything except my arms and legs. When I thought that nothing else could surprise me, I was proven wrong. From a far distance, I could make out a sphere of light gliding toward me at slow pace. At first, I thought this was some trick concocted by Giratina, but something inside me told me that it wasn't.
"The darkness inside you may be strong and endless, but I sense a power just as strong," the sphere whispered.
When the sphere was now a tail-length away from me it began to take form; my body was engulfed in a blanket of light as it transformed from a sphere into a Pokémon. It was a full-grown lucario with snow-white skin and dark blue irises. I awed at the sight of the cleansed spirit and found myself unable to speak. All I could do was listen to it as the spirit began to speak.
"I understand that you have experienced a life no youngling should ever go through," itwent on. "If only your mother and I were there to save you before they captured you."
I didn't know how to respond to the spirit's words; one minute, this creature appears before me with intentions of helping me, the next, it claims to have known me since my birth? If it saw my expression, it didn't respond to it because it continued to talk.
"When we saw you-your mother, brother, and I-I thought it was a miracle; but then I saw how much you were poisoned by the syndicate and their evil ways. I regret not have been able to save you then, just as I regretted not being able to save you now. However, I do see a speck of hope for you yet. Inside you is a light that continues to shine even in the very depths of your being: use it to defeat Giratina and conquer your demons. If you can do that, then you will be one step closer to redemption.
The spirit placed his ghostly palm on my shoulder and looked down at me with pride and love shinning through his eyes. "Also, never forget," it whispered into my ears. "No matter what you've done, I will always love you...my son." With those last words, he vanished, leaving me alone in this abyss.
It all soon became clear to me: the lucario that I killed all those years ago and the one I just saw were the same person.
"Father..." I said at last.
I didn't know why, but I began to cry. After everything I've done-after everything that has happened-he still loved me. The father I never knew still loved me, despite my wrongs and faults; even in paradise, he would continue to love me, even if my soul would forever be purged in the flames of damnation.
"We are with you, Aura," my father's voice spoke inside my thought. "All of us."
I wiped the tears away from my eyes and smiled; I knew what I would have to do. I looked toward the dark sky and made a promise, not to myself, but to all my fellow brothers and sisters who died because of me, and to my father, who was waiting patiently for me beyond the skies.
"Everyone," I shouted toward the heaven. "Lend me thy strength-absolve me!"
When I reemerged from my sub-conscious state, I discovered that I was holding back Giratina with my dark powers in my hyper form. My body was engulfed in a sphere of red and black aura that seemed to have prevented any further attacks at the claws of the beastly Pokémon. This must've surprised him more than it did me because of the shocked expression that remained bound to his face. Tried as he could, he could not push me back; instead, it was me who was able to push him forward.
"Giratina..." I whispered his name solemnly. "It wouldn't have mattered to me if I was killed in battle-whether by you or any other Pokémon. Because of that day: many years ago...that day, on that third day of the second month of the summer season; that bloody and chaotic night-for a monster like me to be slain in battle, it would have been a blessing!"
I stared audaciously into the dark lord's crimson eyes and saw fear and uncertainty aluminate from within. Forcing all of my will into my shadow, I imagined it morphing into two giant claws and slashing them across Giratina's upper body. He fell backwards and let out a painful cry as he turned his attention back on me. I was ready for him, however, but this time it would be me who would defeat him.
"However, that dream has come and gone," I replied with a hint of anguish, but it was quickly dissolved and replaced with new determination. "You will not kill me."
I ran toward the defenseless Pokémon with no show of slowing down, with my shadow accompanying me from behind.
"We shadow Pokémon are not weapons," I exclaimed with sudden fury. "We can think and feel like any other Pokémon, and to have monster like you abuse and use us for your own benefits is unforgivable!"
I transformed into my dark lucario form continued to sprint toward the fallen legendary. He attempted to fight back by launching every one of his attacks in my direction, but miraculously, each attack was deflected. I glanced behind me and to my shock an army of lucarios' and riolus' were charging beside me. As I the distance between me and Giratina began to shrink he continued to try and stop but with every attack, one of my familiars would shield me from his attack. When the gap between us was closed, I soared into the air and prepared to launch a final attack on my former god.
"Take this," I shouted. Summoning my aura-light and dark-into the palm of my right paw, I concentrated on forming a giant sphere filled with light and dark energy and sent it flying at the face of Giratina. "My own customized technique: Shadowaura!"
My attack landed dead-center on Giratina's face as he roared out a painful cry. Once he did, an explosion of dark energy engulfed us both, and everything went dark.