The final part of the story! I used some quotes Cyrus says in Platinum, all rights go to Nintendo on those and the Characters in this.
Sorry for the wait, this took a long time to write given that the backstory total is over 11,000 words, Expect updates for the main story in a few weeks at most. And a warning, there is a death in this near the end. Enjoy~
I stood staring at the entrance to the caves I'd spent years practically living in. How had I gotten dragged into this mess? I sighed and started up. There was an eerie haze that thickened the further I climbed, and the area seemed almost deserted - no trainers to speak of, and the scarce Pokemon never put up much of a fight before running off.
I assumed Red would be at the summit, since there was no other especially unique place on the mountain. I was walking through one of the caves I had to go through to reach the top, since I didn't have rock climbing equipment or a HM slave, when I turned a corner and saw Red pacing nervously - someone I assumed was Red, anyway. He had the same hat.
Somehow, he didn't seem to have noticed me yet. I'd been travelling by the light emitted by a small stream of fire from Garchomp's mouth, which I suppose wasn't very revealing. Red was accompanied by a somewhat impressive Charizard, but I smiled to see he still had Pikachu on his shoulder. Some things never changed.
He seemed... older, of course, but that wasn't what made him seem like almost a different person to me. His journeys had harrowed him, and he certainly seemed anxious, perhaps for my arrival. I decided to step forward and let him know I'd arrived.
It was Pikachu who noticed me first, tugging on Red's hair. He looked over and finally saw me. "Hey, uh, Red, I-" I was interrupted by a relieved torrent of words. "Cynthia, thank goodness you've arrived. I'm sorry I left...I got you something, here." He handed me a strange pokeball. "It'll catch anything without fail first try, I think you'd need it more."
I glared at him. "Hey what is that supposed to mean-" He cut me off. "I'd love to explain more but I'm afraid there isn't much time, it's Galactic, come on." He'd grabbed me by the wrist and was trying to drag me toward what I knew to be a dead end in the cave, but I pulled away. "Alright, first you need to explain what exactly is happening. What's Galactic doing? What's going on?"
"Ah- right." Red took a breath. "They stole the Adamant and Lustrous Orbs, and something called a Red Chain from the Lake Guardians, to pretty much destroy the world and create a new one. In about-" He glanced at his watch. "-Fifteen minutes."
"...Uh." I wasn't about to question what had happened with the Lake Trio, or how he knew the exact timeframe of Team Galactic's plan. "So, we have to stop him, then." This brilliant statement prompted an annoyed look from Red. "Well, yes, unless you fancy apocalypse for dinner." I stared at him blankly. "That doesn't make sen-" "Just follow me, okay?"
We ran through the cave, Charizard and Garchomp lighting the way, until we reached what seemed to be the ruins of a painting scattered around a tunnel I was sure hadn't existed before. This seemed like a trivial inconsistency, given the situation, so we continued on.
The tunnel led to a short, but mercifully straightforward series of small caves. Eventually we reached the end of the caves, and looked furtively into the sunlight. It seemed like there was an entire arena or something completely hidden from view, bordered by pillars that didn't seem to be holding up any kind of roof. I'd always just assumed that this area was too dangerous for trainers.
Even more shocking was the two Legendary Pokemon who seemed to be bound by two Red Chains. Cyrus was standing a safe distance away from them, with two very strange-looking women standing a safe distance away from him.
Red ran forward before I could hold him back, attempting to charge towards Cyrus, but the women heard his footsteps and sent out two Bronzor to stop him. I ran to help him, but Charizard was faster, quickly knocking out the Steel-types with a Fire-type move I recognized as Blast Burn. That was probably a bit of overkill, but at least it did its job.
Red stopped in his tracks. "Charizard, return." I managed to catch up with him as his opponents sent out a Skuntank and a Purugly, both with nearly the same overly confident, cocky look of their owners. "Garchomp, Brick Break on Skuntank!" The poor Pokemon was immediately overwhelmed by the blow, especially since Garchomp had prudently chosen to aim for its head, smashing it into the ground. Best case scenario, Skuntank would only have a concussion.
Red demolished the Purugly in similar time, as Pikachu had lodged itself on Purugly's back and subjected it to a powerful Thunder attack for entirely too long. Defenseless, the two girls backed away slowly, staring at us in horror, and we moved past them. A blue haired man I instantly recognized stood there
We approached Cyrus, but he still had his back turned, facing the legendaries, he began talking. To this day I'm not sure if he somehow saw us, or if he was just talking to himself.
"At last... the deities of time and space are mine. I've waited a long time for this moment... My new world will finally be at hand."
He turned suddenly. "And who are you? Two children come to defend Sinnoh? I possess Dialga and Palkia, space and time are mine to control, and you think you can stop me? Pathetic and useless, the whole lot of you don't understand. I'm getting rid of your weakness."
Red took another step forward. I hissed, "Red, get back!" but he ignored me. I stepped between him and Cyrus.
"Celestic Town… I watched as you killed my mother with cross poison in a cave, and proceeded to beat me and leave me for dead... You took everything away from me. You took everything away from Red." Red stepped around me again saying
"Cyrus, your reign of terror stops now"
Cyrus stared at us blankly. "Are you the little boy and girl from Celestic? So, you have come back? I truly am sorry for what happened, but for a perfect world... a world without spirit holding us back, some casualties had to be made. Like yours. I'm afraid it's too late for you. Dialga!" The legendary looked to be in pain, but stepped forward. "With this Red chain they have no choice but to listen to my every command-"
He stopped suddenly, as did we. There was a weird feeling in the air. Cyrus looked puzzled "What is this pressure I feel... something is enraged? What is the meaning of this?" He glared at us. "What have you done? I won't let anything or anyone take my perfect world awa-" He stopped and turned, for good reason.
A small speck of darkness appeared on the ground. A few more cropped up next to it, growing larger and joining together. Dialga roared loudly. More and more splotches appeared, until out of it rose a massive shadowy figure with red eyes and claws. It let out its own roar, causing Dialga and Palkia to swiftly move back in terror. I glanced at Red, he was unflinching. So was Cyrus.
As the creature had fully formed, Cyrus looked at it with mild fascination. "So... there exists a Pokemon made only of shadow? This isn't a problem for me. I possess the deities of space and time. I've had enough of all of these interruptions." As he spoke, the creature spread out what appeared to be wing like objects, and positioned its claws at the end of them. "My new world starts today. I, Cyrus, will become-"
He was cut off as the creature lunged at him, dragging him down into a strange portal. Dialga and Palkia vanished suddenly, leaving Red and I alone staring at the vast portal in front of us. The two girls had since fled in terror, and I didn't blame them. I honestly didn't feel it wasworth it to track down Cyrus right now, and told Red as much.
"Red... this is increasingly seeming like an incredibly bad idea." I gestured at the pillars of the room, which appeared twisted and distorted. "Something is horribly wrong…"
Red didn't turn away from the portal. "I don't care," he said coldly.
"Red, listen to yourself. Cyrus is dead, there's no way anything could survive in the-" Giritina's loud roar came up from inside the portal, shaking the ground and almost knocking Red off balance. Garchomp quickly caught him, and I helped ease him away from it standing in front of him and the portal. "Now, Red... let's just go home. Alright?"
He silently nodded, and we began walking until we heard a weird sound and stepped in something. Red looked down, to see the body of a young girl with blue hair. He bent down and checked for a pulse, but we both knew what had happened. A familiar looking bite mark was present in her neck. Red turned to me. "Do… you see… Do you see what they do…... Cynthia…" He stepped towards me, and I hesitated. Garchomp growled, but I ordered it to stay back.
"...Did you ever wonder what happened to me that night… how that fire started? They beat my mom brutally Cynthia… I... I was out walking. I had a bad dream, and I watched it all from the bushes. they beat her within an inch of her life and set her on fire… I sat crying until they went to your house... I ran to you. I didn't want the same thing to happen again. I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough Cynthia…You're the only one strong enough to stop this… I'm sorry Cindy."
In one fluid motion he stepped forward and shoved me into the portal.
When I opened my eyes, I was in a weird purple dimension, but at the very least I was alive. This place didn't feel right at all. The clock on my poketch was stopped, and to the east I could see a waterfall flowing the wrong way. Garchomp stood beside me looking mildly concerned. "I'm fine. Have you located Cyrus yet?"
Garchomp tilted her head. "...Yes, I know we've only just gotten here. Get started looking, already." My Pokemon flew off, and I sat impatiently surveying my surroundings. Given that time wasn't working here, it was safe to assume Palkia's power to keep space in balance didn't work either, which would probably explain why the upside down waterfall was a thing.
When Garchomp came back I asked right away, "Well? Where are they?" She pointed at the waterfall. I mounted it and flew through the waterfall. Surprisingly we didn't get wet, there was something seriously wrong with this world.
We arrived on fairly large circular patch of land and saw Cyrus scowling off into the darkness. "This...this thing is ruining should I run and hide from the world and have to wait quietly? My aim is to rid our world of the vague and incomplete thing we call spirit. By freeing ourselves of that, our world can be made complete. That is my justice! No one can interfere!"
He stepped forward, more crazy looking than I'd ever seen him "I won't lose! I can't lose! Not to you, not to any worthless shadowy pokemon in any world! I am a god!" He sent out a Pokemon. A Gyrados, the massive serpent towered above Garchomp, like that made a difference. Without even being given any orders, Gyrados slammed its tail into the ground, causing the area to shake.
"Dodge it!" The order was unnecessary, as Garchomp immediately flew up into the air swiiftly, before the shock waves could ever hope to reach her. The shaking almost threw me off balance, but I somehow managed to stay upright. The section of land I was on happened to be tilted a bit which made things confusing enough, but Cyrus seemed to be having no difficulty.
"Okay, Giga Impact!" Garchomp managed to land a direct hit on Gyrados's back, as the gigantic snake couldn't quite get its whole body out of the way in time. Somehow, the attack didn't knock it out - this was not good.
Cyrus sneered. "My Gyrados has the focus sash, you couldn't possibly hope to beat us that easily, could you? Now, while it can't move. Ice fang." Gyrados looked like it could hardly move and stared helplessly at Cyrus. "I said use Ice fang. NOW" he shouted at it, and somehow it slowly coiled around the momentarily defenseless Garchomp, and sunk its fangs into my Pokemon's wing. Garchomp managed to retaliate, though, moving the arm Gyrados was attached to and nailing its opponent in the neck with a Brick Break. The attack wasn't very effective, but at least it startled Gyrados into releasing Garchomp's wing and recoiling backwards in agony. Garchomps wing was frozen solid, it was having trouble moving.
There was no way I was going to waste my star Pokemon on this pathetic monster. Still... I grimaced. For the first time in ages, I wasn't entirely sure of a battle's outcome. Cyrus shouted for Gyrados to use Giga Impact, but I managed to recall Garchomp and replace it with my newest Pokemon before the attack hit. Gyrados crashed into the ground, making a sizable crater, as Spiritomb effortlessly sent a Dark Pulse toward it. The serpent seemed to lose the will to fight, and was an easy target for a Psychic attack sending the beast into a rock, evidently fainted that didn't stop Spiritomb from starting to launch another attack, but Cyrus withdrew his pokemon before it hit.
"Weavile." Great. That was a wicked fast Pokemon, but it did have type advantage over Garchomp. "Spiritomb, Curse!" Before Spiritomb could ready the attack, Weavile attempted an ice punch, but it went right through Spiritomb's body. A segment of Spiritomb broke off and moved over to the helpless Weavile, who had been thrown off balance and didn't notice the ghostly energy as it formed into a spike and drove straight into Weavile's back. It let out a cry of pain, and Spiritomb took that opportunity to use Toxic.
The Weavile was losing HP fast, and Spiritomb kept using dark pulse whenever it would try to stand. This, coupled with continued damage from Curse and Poison, meant the battle was easily won. Cyrus looked frustrated. "Stop using that… thing, you coward. No matter... I've still my most powerful Pokemon. Crobat go!" I cringed and called back Spiritomb, Cyrus noticed my expression.
"What's wrong little girl? Afraid of a little, harmless bat Pokemon? Don't worry, this time I'll make sure to finish the job, and you can see your mother soon enough." Rage boiled inside me. "Cyrus, since the day you killed her I made a promise that I'd destroy scum like you. I'd avenge their deaths, and I'd be strong enough to end you." I released Garchomp, whose wing had thawed. "On behalf of all those you've killed… your time has finally come Cyrus." He sneered again "Oh I'm soooo afraid, Crobat Toxic!"
Garchomp jumped up in an attempt to dodge it, but it was in vain. She altered her course as the poison achieved contact with her body, landing on a floating chunk of land that appeared to be floating upside-down. Crobat began pelting it with Air slashes that Garchomp kept avoiding- until she slowed because of the poison and was struck down. "Quick Cross poison!" We both stopped... unable to breathe almost... Cross poison was the move that-
Garchomp, not stopped by its lack of hands, caught it by digging its claws into Crobat's sides, much to Cyrus's horror. There was a new fury in it's eyes, and I liked it. Cyrus nervously ordered a hyper beam, he was finally getting scared now. The beam hit Garchomp's face directly but it didn't stop. "Giga Impact!" with Crobat still squirming helplessly Garchomp flew directly down to level ground and smashed straight through the platform. I could hear sounds of more attacks coming below, and aloud screech by the crobat, followed by silence.
"Garchomp? Come back up here" After a little bit, Garchomp appeared again with Crobat still impaled on one claw, who was noticeably limp. "C-Crobat?" Cyrus stammered, I sent out Roserade and ordered a stun spore on Cyrus, who fell down helpless. "I'm not done with you, but first..." I turned around to see the shadowy Pokemon watching. "I think I've shown I'm worthy enough to possess you."
The Pokemon was floating silently, as if waiting. I threw the pokeball at it and it stopped shaking instantly- and started falling into the abyss. I really should have thought that through. "Garchomp quickly!"
Garchomp flew off the ledge and out of sight, before reappearing and landing in front of me. "Well? Where is it?" She spat out the Pokeball at my feet - of course. No hands. "...You're a miserable, worthless failure." I sent out Giratina. It seemed to be clutching a small orb here, I took it away and it became a shadow again. "Interesting," I remarked, before turning my attention to my fallen enemy.
"Cyrus. I told you that your time had come to pay for what you've done. Giratina!" Long dark tendrils of shadow stretched out and grabbed Cyrus who helplessly was stuck. Complete fear shown on his face. "Cindy! Wait!" Red appeared from behind a giant pillar, had he been watching the whole time? "What" I said coldly
"Cynthia, he has to go through a fair trial, no matter how horrible he is. Let him go through the Pokemon League. You can't do this."
I grinned. "Now that you mention it, Red, I caught Giratina. I managed to do the impossible. I caught a legendary - doesn't that make me the Champion!? Haha, the bringer of justice. Giver of Judgment. Giratina!" Another tendril wrapped around Cyrus's throat he began to struggle a little bit in vain, the stun spore had made him all but immobile.
"Cynthia! This isn't right! You can't take his life, it'd make you no better than him to kill a man in cold blood. I'm sorry I shoved you in here, I came after you to-"
"I'm cleaning the world of this scum just like you wanted me to, aren't you happy? Red, you're right, I was the only one who could stop him, and even that took some effort. He's too dangerous to let live. He's taken everything from me... I'm taking revenge, and destroying what no one else could. I am the champion. I am the Pokemon League now Red, and you'd better start listening to me!" I grinned even wider. Finally… ultimate power… was mine. "Giratina, stop wasting time." Cyrus went limp, much to Red's horror.
"Oh look, Cyrus got lost in the Distortion World, and we couldn't find him. That's a pity, huh Red?" "Y-you've turned into a monster...what have I done…" I kept laughing. This was hilarious. Red just didn't get it sometimes. "I've finally achieved our dream, Red. I've finally killed the man who took so much from us, from everyone. I stopped him from destroying Sinnoh."
"I'm a hero, and now I'm going to take the helm as ruler of this region that was too weak to help us. The region that betrayed us and left us for dead, then pretended it never happened. It's over. Now let's get out of here. Giratina!" It grabbed Red as I returned Garchomp and I mounted it, flying toward the portal it had created out of thin air.
We landed back in Mount Coronet, and I was surprised to see a purple haired man standing there. He stared in awe as I landed Giratina. "Hello ma'am and sir, I am Luican of the Elite Four. I heard of a disturbance here, but... it seems that you have it under control. Tell me, what sort of Pokemon is that?
I laughed. "A legendary Pokemon! It's Giratina. I caught it. And that makes me the champion, right~?"
Lucian shuffled a bit. "Well, yes… if you prove it's powerful enough. Defeat my Brozong and we'll escort you to the league at once." He sent out his Brozong and ordered "Use Gyro Ball!" It started spinning faster and headed toward Giratina. "Shadow Force" I sang and it vanished. Brozong stopped and looked around trying to find it, to no avail. Giratina appeared above it and slammed it into the ground, knocking it out in one hit.
Lucian looked considerably impressed, and smiled warmly "Congratulations miss... uh…" "Cynthia," I interjected. He chuckled a bit "You sure are excited about it, but I guess I can't blame you. Yes Cynthia, you are the new league champion!"
I threw Red, who was unconscious, into a cell. "Sorry Red, but it's league policy now~! Tell you what though, I won't steal all your Pokemon forever. I'm going to just keep them in this inaccessible locker right outside your cell, just to let you have the false sense that you could ever escape. Have fun now~!"
With that, I left my old friend alone. The past didn't matter. Nothing mattered except stopping that freak N from trying to take my power away from me. I glanced over at Garchomp, who was following me out of the hall. "Remember our pledge, Garchomp~? Well, we have another monster to stop." I took a report that Lance had sent over to me from Stefan, who was still trembling. "And it looks like he's heading to Nacrene."