Okay, so this chapter's all on the Hoenn group, because of... well, you'll just have to read.
100% guarantee that there's something here that'll surprise ya, so have fun, and don't forget to review! I haven't been getting as many reviews as usual lately, so I'd like to see you guys really pour 'em in this time, though I of course would appreciate more than a "Awesome!" or "Good job."
"Hey guys!" Saphire exclaimed, diverting all ten of our eyes to her. "We should totally have a huge battle between all of us!"
"Yeah, I'd love to see what all you guys are made of," Ciel said, stretching his giant wings as far as they could go. Everyone backed up as he did so, so as not to get hit.
"It's been ages since I've had a good fight," Lauren replied, sneaking a smug smile in my direction.
"This should be fun," was Aster's short response, rolling up his sleeves, and Lucario grinned at the prospect of possibly beating up on me, his own trainer. Suddenly, everyone's attention was on me. My tail twitched as I stared out at the rest of my group.
"Could I just sit and rest?" I asked.
"NO!" the others shouted in unison, Lucario included.
Sighing heavily, I walked over to Ciel, and proceeded to Drain Punch him. "Let the chaos unfold," I said, watching Ciel fall backwards, using his wings to right himself.
I ambled over to a tree and leaned against it as Lauren put Saphire to sleep with Sing, at the same moment as Aster prepared a Grass Knot to hit Lauren from behind.
As the Houndour morph's eyelids started to droop, Lauren was picked up and thrown away, and Saphire decided to thank him by using Fire Spin, which ended up putting Aster way back next to Lauren. She grinned evilly as she stood over him, like a Gyarados hovering over a Caterpie, and she decided to simply use Sing, taking him down with Twister while he was snoozing.
Just then, Lucario sprang over to me, and I quickly ducked as his Brick Break smashed into the tree, making a large indent in it behind me. I swiftly Drain Punched him, and followed up with an Aura Sphere. Ciel then came and finished him off with an Aerial Ace, blindsiding him from above.
Saphire then ran over and used Fire Spin on Ciel, then a Faint Attack, and I finished him off with a Aura Sphere. Suddenly, it was down to three.
That is, until Lauren hit Saphire with Extremespeed, while I pinballed her back with Drain Punch.
Finally, it was down to just Lauren and I.
"Aw, so I guess I'm taking you down last, then? Shame..." she taunted.
"Don't get cocky now," was my simple rebuke.
Floating inches above the ground, she charged in like a bullet fresh from the gun using Extremespeed. I dodged using the same technique, and fired an Aura Sphere in return, hitting her right in the face.
That one caused Ciel to say "Ohhhhhhhhh!" and Saphire squealed, yelling "Come on, Silvy!" at the top of her lungs.
"Don't call me Silvy!" Lauren screamed, using Twister. This one was different, though, as it was immensely powerful, thanks to her little fit of rage. Even though I had a type resistance to it, I was thrown like a tin can kicked up the road, and she followed up with Extremespeed, nearly knocking me out right then and there.
Looking victorious, Lauren smirked as I got back on my feet, slightly wobbly.
"This ends now!" she said cheerfully, landing now on the ground.
"You're absolutely right," I replied bluntly. And she was right, because it was the end... for her.
In not even a second, I unleashed a Dragon Pulse so brutal that she was nearly knocked unconscious from the impact in one hit. The others, now spectators to the side, all looked at me, dumbfounded that I pulled a victory off. I simply swaggered over to Lauren and helped her stand back up, brushing off her heavenly-soft wings. She said nothing, just glanced over at everyone else, who were getting up now that they were all rested.
Setting course for Mauville City once again, I silently led the pack, and could hear every conversation with my Lucario ears.
"How did Will DO that?" Saphire asked nobody in particular.
"Damn, I am hungry!" Ciel exclaimed for all to hear.
"You know," Lauren told Aster, "Will's been acting a bit strange since he came back..." That piqued my interest, and I listened in.
"Well, I surely don't remember his Dragon Pulse being that strong, and it was weird how he just appeared back, now that I think about it." I clenched my teeth.
"Adding to that, he knew exactly where Mauville was directionally..." she continued, starting to get on a roll.
"Yeah, that is pretty curious," Aster replied, putting some thought into it before answering.
"And he's been oddly quiet lately too," Lauren added. A bead of sweat formed on my forehead, rolling down until it finally entered a freefall to the grass underfoot. It was really quite humid out today, and it was starting to get to me.
"Well, maybe you should just ask him," Aster suggested to her, but she disagreed.
"Knowing him, he'll just deny anything, right or not... Hey Lucario!"
Damn.
"Could you check on Will's aura? We're wondering if something's wrong with him, he's been a bit different since he came back from... wherever," Lauren asked politely.
A few endless seconds later, he responded, saying "Well, your hunch is right, because something is definitely up. His aura is much different than usual... but also quite similar in some regards."
I gulped down imaginary saliva.
"Anything more specific?" Aster inquired, cutting in.
"Well, it seems to have some element of Dr-"
"Okay, you got me," I suddenly said, whipping around. I had my hands up, and was walking backwards now.
"What?" Lauren asked, a look of pure confusion on her face.
"Gotta commend you, I didn't think you'd see through it all, but alas, it seems you have anyways. Well done," I said, resigned. They knew my game, but even Lauren couldn't comprehend the reality of this situation.
"Will? You feeling all right?"
"Will's just fine, thank you very much," I retorted.
"Who are you?" Lucario growled, taking the next step in the conversation.
"Oh, you have to know my name, eh? Fine, then. Just call me Dialga," I said, raising my eyebrows in a gesture that told them "Well, you got me."
"Not funny, Will..." Lauren muttered.
"What have you done with Will?" Lucario barked at me.
"Will's perfectly fine, he's fully aware of what's going on at this moment," I replied calmingly, but Lucario obviously wasn't receiving any of those vibes.
"Well, you better start talking, Dialga, or I've got a load of pain for you."
I looked at everyone else, and they were silent, letting this unfold instead of getting involved. Ah, the Bystander Effect...
"Now, first, I would like to give a special bit of thanks to someone who I couldn't have done this without..."
A certain someone tugged at his collar nervously.
"Ah yes, Aster, it's okay. Don't be nervous, you did the right thing, bringing Will to me," I said, my human lips curling into an evil grin. Lauren's jaw dropped as far as it could go, as did everybody else's.
"Why, Aster?" Lucario asked, almost yelling.
"Why else? I cut him a simple deal: if he brought Will to me, then nobody would try and hunt him down ever again. I thought it was a fair trade, at least..." I answered for him, as he hung his head.
"How could you sell out Will like that... literally?" Ciel burst from the back.
"Hey, hey, calm down now, unless you don't want me to explain."
Everyone hushed at that, and all eyes were on me. Good.
"So yes, what Aster told you all was a lie, as he really just knocked him out and brought him to me. After that, I gave Will a little cryptic hint at what I was scheming, but he had no clue what was coming. Anyways, he then... lent me his body, and I came back just like that. I felt that I should explain to you guys about what will go down next, even though- no, I won't say that yet."
Lucario began to say something, but Lauren shushed him, instead asking "So, what's your whole plan, then?"
"Simple. I'm the God of Time, and I want to be Will's guardian. I'll-"
"Why?" Saphire asked meekly.
"Why? Because one, he was one of two Steel-type morphs out there, and Groudon already had the other. Plus, he's a really decent guy, and I think I'd work well with him," I replied, facing her directly.
"Okay, so on with the plan. What is it?" Aster asked.
"Ah, of course. It's really quite simple. I'll just go back in time and make it so I'm Will's guardian, and nobody will know! Because this event will have never happened, none of you will remember a thing unless you hit the 0.1% chance that you do, but nobody would believe you then, most likely."
That one hit them like a Draco Meteor, and my grin widened.
"How could you be so, so..."
"Selfish? Self-absorbed? Mean? I'm simply a god of action. I want something, so I go and get it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I shall do just that!"
Lucario suddenly charged up, a Brick Break charged already, but with one swipe of my hand I knocked him away, face in the dirt.
"Foolish, thinking that that will stop me. Sayonara, everyone!"
In a flash, I disappeared, and returned to my normal body. With one Roar of Time, my plan was set into motion.
It's good to be a god.
"The bystander effect refers to cases where individuals do not offer help in an emergency situation when other people are present." - Wikipedia
Yes, another effect. I just love them so much...
Anyways, betcha didn't see that coming! Any of that! Oh man, I am so thrilled all of a sudden to see how this develops, and I have a perfect ending for this fic too! Woohoo!
Now, I don't actually consider Dialga to be evil in this fic, but you guys can certainly think that way! Hey, I ain't telling you how to live your life!
Read and review, I know you all want to! Have to! Need to!