Chapter 11

Yeah, I decided to scrap the history chapter thing altogether. Why? Well, I could use it for a later story related to this entire story, and as I prepare this for 'finishing' status and such, I want this story to be as polished as possible. Thanks for those of you who HAVE been reading and reviewing and keeping up with the story.

Once again, I do not own Pokémon or any of its canon characteristics.

The Orre desert in the daytime was unbearable; but the Orre desert at night was torture, especially if you were walking. Temperatures would continue to plummet as the night went on, most likely going below the negatives before long. The only thing keeping me from panicking were my party members, all six of them released from their pokéballs. Why were they so reassuring to me right now? Well, obviously, they were keeping my mind off of the inevitable truth as starry sky and full moon lit up the entirety of the desert sand, which had cooled off at least an hour after the sun had fallen.

Their conversation mostly included their personal exploits prior to becoming a member of the party, and much to my surprise, most of my party had quite the lives before they became a part of my arsenal. "Yeah, before I joined, I was quite the trouble-maker throughout Sinnoh," Emperion boasted, "in fact; my name had been 'troublip' before I was captured by Jack." "What precisely did you do?" Katty inquired, "I would love to hear some of the infamous pranks you pulled!" "Do you want to know why poffins was banned for a whole three months in Hearthome City?" Emperion asked, "anyone?" "I dunno, but it was partly because Jack went crazy in the cooking house and nearly ate them out of business," Agron joked, "seriously, the guy was and probably still is crazy about poffins."

Despite the food being focused on pokémon tastes, I fell in love with it the first time I tried it. I don't have an idea what in the world was in that first poffin I ate, but after that, no poffin was safe near me unless it was bitter. To further elaborate my addiction to poffins, one time Katty had compared my 'situation' equivalent to Emperion's carnal desires. I personally didn't think that it was that serious, until of course that incident. However, last time I checked, Emperion had been a member of my party during that time, and, as a result, his claim would be invalid.

Cambrai caught this about the same time as I did. "Now hold on a second, if it were that recently, then weren't you a part of Jack's party by then, since he got you before he even officially set foot on Sinnoh?" Cambrai explained, "and if that were the case, you can't boast about that exploit!" "Now hold on a second that was not the first time the house had been shut down!" Emperion argued defensively, "it had been shut down one time before when I did this!" "Really?" I interjected, "Emperion, I have known you to make up things before just to make yourself greater than you are; are you doing that now?"

Apparently not wanting Emperion to get the critical statements that he so properly deserved at this point, Keniblaze intervened. "I used to be a part of a territorial gang back in Hoenn." Everyone suddenly stopped, even Meta, save for Keniblaze. I, naturally, had been the center of the group, and as a result, somewhat directed our movements from there. Directly in front of me was Agron, because he knew the desert far better than I did, to my right Katty and Cambrai, and to my left Keniblaze and Emperion. Trailing behind was Meta, who, as usual, wasn't really up to joining the discussion. However, even it stopped when Keniblaze said that.

"No way!" Agron said in disbelief," YOU were a part of a territorial gang?" "Bullcrap," Cambrai accused, "prove it!" I would have believed him either way, but Keniblaze shrugged, then turned around and pointed to the nape of his neck. "There you will see the outline of 'BZR', short name of Blaze's Raiders," Keniblaze explained, "Jack if you please?" Eagerly I stepped up behind Keniblaze, and after some initial searching, there, completely out of place, was a missing group of feathers that indeed read 'BZR' in all caps. "It's there," I exclaimed, "who was Blaze?"

Keniblaze turned back around, ignoring my question, and instead continuing, "Back in those days, I had been a tough little combusken that pretty much got whatever I wanted as long as the group was with me. It was a nice life, because in Hoenn, we pretty much roamed, owning almost instantly wherever we happened to settle for a few weeks."

"How many members were in the group?" Agron asked as he directed us to begin moving again as a chilling wind passed through, "including you." "Just three," Keniblaze answered, "Myself, a mightyena, and an arcanine made up this group." "Weird, why would those fully grown pokémon let you hang out with them?" Katty asked, "that doesn't make sense." "I could use aura, which was quite rare, and as a fire type, I could easily take on their most dangerous rivals," Keniblaze explained, "fighting and steel types." "But that arcanine could easily take on a steel type," I argued, "why would they need you that much?"

Keniblaze chuckled, as he explained further, "The only fighting and steel type that you have ever known to kick the butt of an arcanine is a lucario right?" "Yeah, I saw Cynthia completely own that trainer on Sinnoh's Victory Road who thought he had her cornered," I said, "she was down to her last pokémon, but that male lucario of hers knows how to pack a punch." "Well, essentially, there were a group of three lucario who made up their own roaming group," Keniblaze continued, "essentially that group used to always beat the crud out of the other members till I showed up." "How did you honestly tip the balance that much?" I asked, "I mean, I know now that you could beat two crazy lucario on your own but back then?"

"The element of surprise the first time we met," Keniblaze laughed, "to be honest, had they known that I could use aura the first time we met, things would have went differently." "What happened?" Meta timidly asked, barely being heard over sudden scowling of Emperion. "Well, while they were focused primarily on taking out my large counterparts, I pretty much aura sphered them one by one," Keniblaze recounted, "only one of them actually needed to be hit three times, the others being taken out in one shot."

"That must have been your signature move or something," Emperion spat, "otherwise I find that hard to swallow." "It was, actually, and still is to a certain degree," Keniblaze cheerfully agreed, "although, I think the fighting nature of the move is probably what did them in rather than pure strength." "That is still rather impressive, especially considering it's true," Cambrai said while shifting a gaze towards Emperion. Emperion growled, though Agron decided it was his turn next.

"Well, since I am the only one here who is completely and utterly native to Orre," Agron began, "I suppose it would be appropriate to tell you about me next." "Agron, I'm native to Orre too," I pointed out. "Yeah, but we all already know enough about you," Agron jeered, "we don't need to hear more." I rolled my eyes as we began the cresting of an unusually large hill.

"Well, as you can imagine, I used to live here, roaming wild and free in Orre before Jack showed up on the scene," Agron began, eyes flashing towards a different time and place, apparently having a flashback, "the desert was home, and the colony consisting of my own species was my family." "Where..." Cambrai began before Agron viciously growled, "Wait till I finish before asking any questions got it?" Cambrai was effectively silenced, and I was surprised that she could actually be silenced by such means.

"Anyway, within the colony, I lived a pretty normal life till Snagem showed up," Agron said, "as an aron, the arrival of Snagem wasn't all that significant to me." "Team Snagem invaded your colony's home?" I inquired, rather surprised, "why didn't you ever say anything?" "I said don't interrupt!" shouted Agron, giving me the evil eye, "one more word out of any of you..." "Everyone be quiet!" Meta hissed, "and get down!"

The S.S Libra, as previously stated, had become the center piece for a large oasis, and as a result, news of Arceus' arrival into Orre had brought a large amount of worry over the group. The lack of hearing from any of their commanders also concerned them to an extent, as they had expected this to be a well-organized, constantly managed affair. As a result, however, this also meant there was an unprecedented amount of free time, since food was nearby and water could easily be accessed. Games of various natures were ongoing throughout, some involving deep down strategy while others merely needed at least a one pair of legs and some energy to play.

This army in particular had just returned from the ruins of what used to be the Realgam Tower, taken down earlier in the day while the attacks on Phenac and Pyrite were going on. While more than a few prisoners had been taken, there were also many new recruits from the Tower itself, mostly pokémon who had been on "reserve" for those who did not own pokémon of their own, but still wanted to participate in a real battle. Essentially, a function similar to the Battle Factory, but clearly different as you had to pay for the rentals.

Alongside the games and activity, serious business was also being conducted, including the exchange of loot and plunder, prisoners, information both factual and rumor in nature, and mere gentle conversation. Keeping the peace were self-appointed vigilantes, along with self-appointed guards who kept a watch out for danger. All of this being done within the lights of small fires that had been lit here and there to illuminate their going ons.

All of this could be observed from the top of the high dune that we rested upon, the starlight and the bonfires below revealing the gathering below. "So much for vicious," Meta joked, "they look rather friendly to me." "That is because they are among friendlies, " I pointed out, "if I were to poke my head out anymore I think a different scene would be seen below." "It doesn't appear as if they are aware of our presence," Agron stated, "although, I wonder where that oasis came from." "What I want to know is what they are using for fuel in those fires," Cambrai asked, wrinkling her nose, "whatever it is, it smells awful."

That was a good indication that they were not merely burning wood or grass, but I didn't want to go down and ask what exactly they were burning. "Alright, any ideas on how to snag their food?" I asked as I peered below, "because I'm starved." "Hm, well, I could always walk down and ask," Meta suggested, "considering my size, I am pretty sure they aren't going to mess with me." "Don't be too hasty," Agron warned, "considering your nature Meta, it would be best if you stayed here and kept an eye on Jack while the rest of us head down and investigate."

"Now hold on a second!" Meta exclaimed, "what about my nature means I should stay here and keep an eye on Jack?" "Keep your metallic voice down Meta!" hissed Katty, "do you want Jack to get strung up by his back?" An awkward silence followed the rhyme before Emperion said, "Alright, we can all go down except for Jack. Regardless, I'm going down to get me some before the night is over." "Emperion, you do realize that one or two of them may recognize you from Pyrite right?" Keniblaze interjected, "if they do, then there might be trouble."

As a small argument was about to erupt over who went and who stayed, I finally just exclaimed, "Alright then, here's the deal; Keniblaze will stay up here with me while the rest of you go down and get some action or whatever!" I decreed, "anyone who disagrees can go back into a pokéball." Emperion quickly launched himself from the dune, sliding down the dune on his stomach as if he were gliding through water instead of sand, not one to stick around to be condemned to the pokéball. Agron, Katty, and Cambrai followed more carefully behind, leaving Meta and Keniblaze behind.

Meta, apparently just wanting to irritate me, smiled smugly and stated, "I disagree with your arrangement." I blinked, smugly smiled back at it, and stated, "Well then, I guess that automatically delegates you to stick with me then." Meta frowned (trust me, the four legged metal pokémon looked quite creepy frowning when in the dark) and muttered something underneath its breath. As tempted as I was to return it to its pokéball, it was quite clear that by doing so, I would give him what he wanted; and if he wanted to irritate the crap out of me, then there was no need to give him what he wanted.

Keniblaze sighed as he gave one last look down the dune before he slid down into cover. "Well Jack, whether you like it or not, you can't just stay here; it is rather cold out here, and you don't exactly have a nice, comfortable pokéball to return to." As usual, he had a good point; if I did just stay up here in these Sinnoh clothes (there are no extensive deserts in the mainland of Sinnoh) I would certainly freeze to death within a few hours. Then again, I couldn't risk going down there, and our guide was getting his freak on next to a bonfire.

"Jack, if I may make a suggestion," Meta stated, "wouldn't it be better if you were captured? At least then they would ensure you do not become a Popsicle." "I think they would actually let him freeze so they could eat him," Keniblaze said, shaking his head, "seems like we are in quite the situation." "Hold on a second," I stated, "Meta has a point. When I was looking down there, I did not see any mass executions or genocide." "Take another look and tell me what you see," Keniblaze growled, "and then if you still want to go down, then so be it."

Kyogre opened his eyes, shaking, as he suddenly realized he was staring into a pair of yellow eyes. Very familiar yellow eyes. "Hello Kyogre," growled the eye's owners, "tell me, groudon is still okay right?" Kyogre couldn't immediately respond, and as a result, the eye's owners kicked him roughly in the stomach. "My partner had better be alive!" Groudon growled, "you had better had treated him better than you treated yours." Suddenly Kyogre realized who he was speaking with. "Groudon..." he muttered as he stared into the female groudon's fierce gaze.

"He had better be okay!" she growled, "because if not, when I get out of here, you are going to die by my claws!" "Listen, I know this seems bad..." Kyogre stuttered as he realized he was pretty much strung up by some invisible restraints by his flippers, stretched out like a clothes line, "but I am pretty sure he is safe..." "Can you guarantee it?" she hissed, "can you guarantee that he hasn't been tossed away like trash?" "Calm down Groudon," a soothing voice cooed, "Groudon is still under care by Giratina, err, I mean Rita; she will not harm him, and chances are will not allow further harm to his person."

The red and black groudon, the primary coloring being red, seemed to calm down at this reassurance, but threatened, "When I get the chance to tell Arceus what you have done Kyogre..." "Trust me, Arceus already knows," the voice cackled, a ghostly figure appearing, "not only that, but it seems he is aware of Mewtwo as well. I must find out his entire plan, seeing as you have been told only what I already knew." Kyogre cringed, not even realizing that he had spilled what he had known while he was unconscious.

"Now Kyogre, there is one more thing I need for you to do, seeing as you are so willing to sell out your own rare species," the voice snickered, "and you aren't going to like it." A glowing pair of blue eyes suddenly appeared, only to be replaced by the figure of a familiar lugia. "Lugia!" Kyogre screeched in terror, "but, we had a deal!" "The deal's 'fine print' was that you tell my mother what she wanted to know as an informant," the lugia snarled, "she wanted to know what she didn't know, not what she already knew!" Kyogre, confused for a moment about this, was about to ask for an explanation when suddenly it became clear that either way he was near doomed to the a failure beyond his own control.

"Can I watch?" Groudon inquired, "I really want to see this." "Oh, don't worry, I will not bother moving him from where he is," the ghostly figure cackled once more, "would you rather die seeing darkness, or would you want the face of your beloved, betrayed one being the last thing you see?" "Neither!" Kyogre screeched, struggling to break free, "You will not get away with this!" Gislea chuckled as her ghostly form appeared, a mere silhouette of a large, red and white lugia with a sinister, sadistic grin. "If Mewtwo finds Razi first, then I guess I won't," she snarled as she twisted Kyogre's wings wish psychic power, her grin widening as he screamed out in pain, "however, if I find it first, then I will not only get away with this, but make sure that things happen properly!"

Kyogre continued to writhe and scream, much to the dismay of Groudon. "Can't you just finish him already?" Groudon screeched, "I want to see him suffer for what he did, but come on... Right next to my ear?" Gislea shrugged, then waved a wing in his direction as she ceased the twisting, a single tear being shed from the disgraced king of the sea. "Very well then; I want his 'friend' to be the last thing he sees." Lugia nodded, then slinked behind Kyogre as he looked up one last time at Gislea, knowing that his fate was sealed.

"He is sort of large though," Lugia muttered, "this is going to be a challenge..." "Don't worry, take your time, piece by pitiful piece!" spat Gislea, her pleasure at the thought evident, "you will choke if you try to eat him whole. He is a fully grown Kyogre." Personally, Lugia hesitated because she didn't want to take him piece by piece; she knew the outright pain that the other kyogre had went through, and she wasn't eager to cause such turmoil again, especially with her conscious pricking at her mind.

Gislea was not oblivious to this. "Very well then Lugia, return to your room," she said, practically reading her daughter's mind, "and as for you Kyogre... I suppose you will live another few minutes." Lugia shuffled towards her room, taking one last look at Kyogre before slinking out of an open slit of light. The light was shut out the second she left, however, and darkness soon enveloped the rulers of the sea and land. "Now, I will make this as painful as possible!" Gislea shouted, her figure suddenly becoming brighter even in the darkness, "do you realize what happens when the mind becomes severely traumatized?"

"I don't know," Kyogre innocently claimed, "what happens when the mind is traumatized?" "Well, I guess you are going to find out," Gislea snickered, "Groudon, pay close attention; you shall see why I trusted Darkrai so much to pleasure me with torturing those who decided to cross my rule!" Gislea rushed towards Kyogre, and as she vanished from view, Groudon looked around in confusion. She was about to ask where Gislea went when suddenly Kyogre began shouting, and writhing out, flapping in a vain attempt to escape some unseen attacker.

"Kyogre?" Groudon exclaimed in confusion and alarm as he cried out. "Please, stop!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, "please, I did what I could!" "No, you didn't!" Gislea'se voice rang out, "poor Kyogre... She trusted you so much when you lead her astray..." Kyogre screamed, and as Groudon suddenly began connecting the dots, she realized that Kyogre had been placed in a semi-awake state, half asleep and half awake, being tortured by Gislea's nightmare technique, Darkrai's personal specialty. "Arceus, Mewtwo, Latios, someone!" Kyogre screamed as he continued to vainly struggle, deep depressions appearing all over his body in the shape of teeth marks, "HELP ME!"

Groudon shut her eyes as she heard one final ear splitting scream, then silence, only the sound of dripping heard. Groudon, shaking herself, recoiled from the cruel method used to put him down. "Humph, I told you to pay close attention," Gislea growled, forcing Groudon to fearfully open her eyes, "it seems Kyogre was correct; neither you or her counterpart understand the meaning of nightmare." Groudon risked a look towards Kyogre, who, aside from small cuts, wounds, and a look of exhaustion and defeat seemed okay, looked towards Gislea's glowing figure.

"It isn't over," Gislea snickered, "he passed out far too early this time. I'll continue to make it more and more real until eventually... My daughter has the gusto to make my fantasy become reality!" Groudon relaxed her tense body, dangling by her own set of arm restrains, although she had been strung up like a puppet rather than a shirt on a clothesline. A ghastly touch caused her to shiver as Gislea whispered, "When I get back, I'm going to have a little fun with you too; don't worry, sadism is merely a powerful turn on." Groudon shivered once again as the presence seemingly left the room with a ghostly laugh, and upon glancing at Kyogre once again, she then muttered, "No wonder Shade made her his mate..."

Enough had been said. Arctic managed to locate Suicune with relative ease, since apparently she had been looking for him too. At Gateon Port, the two linked up rather quickly, though now Arctic was lost on what to do next. "Hm, that is weird," Arctic muttered, "Molten made it seem like the human would be waiting for us here on the lighthouse." "Doesn't matter," Suicune dully retorted, "either way, Arceus is probably just going to reverse all of this." "Then why is he letting it go on?" Arctic demanded, "if he could just end it all now and put things as they were, why can't he do that now?"

"I don't know, but that is what Ho-Oh told me to cheer me up," Suicune admitted, "is it just me, or are there things we lesser trios haven't been told?" "I already know that what is going on is far beyond the knowledge of the dog or bird trios," a voice said, "in fact, I am entirely aware of what is going on." Both legendries turned to meet a man in a rather long, burgundy colored coat with a set of desert goggles with rectangular "lenses" reflecting the starlight above with stunning accuracy. A smile crossed his tan, mustached face as he placed the goggles upon his forehead, revealing a set of bright brown eyes twinkling with light.

"Who are you?" Suicune inquired, "and how is it you know..." "All will be explained within due time," the man explained, "what needs to be done now is that you need to help me find the key to winning this." "This conflict?" Arctic chuckled, "I wouldn't really call it a war by any means..." "Ah, but it is an ongoing war," the man explained, "this started long before your trio was created, and supposedly ended near the creation of it." "How do you know so much?" Suicune asked suspiciously, "what makes you such a reliable source?"

The man smiled again, then merely muttered, "My name is Razi, and I need to find a very important fossil." "Razi... Why does it sound so... Familiar..." Arctic murmured, "hm, have we heard of you somewhere before?" "By another name, probably," Razi explained, "but that is irrelevant right now. I need to find a special fossil that is buried here in Orre." "Orre is a giant desert!" Suicune explained, "finding it is like finding a needle within a haystack!" "Don't be so sure," Razi corrected, "Orre is mostly a desert; it is not all desert, and a shrine dedicated to said fossil is where we need to start looking." "Why do you need our help?" Suicune demanded to know, "surely you can just fly to wherever you are trying to go?" "If I were to attempt such a thing, then like my colleague, I will end up missing for thirty years, never to be found," Razi explained, "and I need someone who can find pure water to find its approximate location within Orre."

"That explains Suicune, but why me?" Arctic interrupted before Suicune could ask another question, "why am I needed?" "This shrine is designed to destroy Suicune and anyone within its trio," Razi answered, "it is not designed to destroy the bird trio, and since you were the only one Molten insisted was available, I will have to go with the frosty one." "Who can say that we can even trust you?" Suicune spat, approaching the human in a threatening manner, "how do we know you are just trying to lure us into a trap!"

Razi shrugged, then shook his head. "Suicune, you wished that you could find some way to make your trio work; well, I assure you, I am skilled in the wish granting field." Arctic's eyes suddenly widened as she stared down at Razi. "You're partner pokémon was a jirachi wasn't it?" Arctic exclaimed, "the wishmaker!" "Precisely." "But Jirachi has been gone for a long time... That is one pokémon even Arceus cannot bring back to life!" Suicune insisted, "you can't utilize a dead pokémon's power!" "Yes... I can," Razi reassured Suicune, "and if you do not trust me, then that is your business; but time is of the essence, and it is only a matter of time before your... Our, enemies, find me." "What is so special about you?" Arctic scoffed, "what makes you so special?" "I can use Jirachi's power to its fullest," Razi said, "you can say I am the successor of Jirachi. Your enemies have had a long time to uncover the location of the temple, and I fear they may have been more successful than I."

"If you can utilize that power, then why do you need the fossil?" Suicune questioned, at this point a mere pikachu's length away from the man, "what is so important about the fossil?" "Jirachi died without passing on the power," Razi impatiently elaborated, "so obviously it will need to be extracted." "I still do not trust you," Suicune growled, "you wear the outfit of a snagger."

Clearly Razi was somewhat taken aback by the thought that Suicune knew well enough of the snagger's status, but quickly remembered that Suicune had been on the continent before. "Indeed, I wear the outfit because that has been my alibi for ten years," Razi admitted, "I am technically a member." "Then why should we trust you?" Arctic asked once again, now warily looking around for any signs of pokéballs, "you could very well be leading us to a trap." "You don't have to trust me," Razi spat, actually making Suicune take a few steps back to avoid the spittle, "or even believe me for that matter! But quite frankly, I'd say that one way or another, you are going to need me!"

The stare down went on for a few moments, before the snagger snorted, then turned on a single heel. "Alright then, if that is the way it must be..." Suddenly, since he couldn't even finish his sentence, a blur came from nowhere and snatched up the startled human, alarming Arctic and Suicune. "Where..." Suicune began until she saw a dominantly red latios with white mixed in as a secondary color.

Arctic screeched and began flapping his wings to head off into pursuit, but a black sphere of energy suddenly was launched straight into the bird's feathery chest, knocking the breath out of Arctic and causing him to fall to the ground. Suicune managed to dodge one headed for her head and quickly fired an aura beam in the direction of the attack. The beam hit, and a stunned, dominantly blue latias with white mixed in suddenly fell towards the ground. Suicune rushed over to the surprised Arctic as the latios flew off with Razi...

Arceus shivered as a chilly wind blew past as he stepped foot on Citidark Island. Reshiram and Zekrom silently followed, and the three advanced towards the cave entrance. They slowed, and from a telepathic signal quickly rushed the cave as one, only to find that it was empty. Arceus scowled, then saw a single glowing orb. "The Griseous Orb?" Zekrom said in confusion, "why would Giratina leave this behind?" Arceus carefully approached, and upon getting near it, it suddenly glowed brightly, flashing brilliantly. "Zekrom, Reshiram!" Arceus shouted as he whirled around, "get out!" Too stunned to react, the two were instead teleported by Arceus from the cave as the orb suddenly flashed again.

When the flash of light ended, both the orb and Arceus was gone, and as Dialga and Palkia peered into the cave entrance, they noticed a black and red groudon approaching. "Wow, you are looking good Groudon!" Dialga greeted, "although, you are a bit blacker than usual..." "Humph, I think you are referring to my co-ruler," Groudon corrected. Both Dialga and Palkia opened their eyes wide, but as they did, they were suddenly forced to the ground.

"Well, look what the Arceus dragged in," Shade snickered, his black coloring restored as he descended upon the duo, "tell me, you didn't actually think you could sneak up on us as long as you are near Arceus did you?" "Well obviously we did if we actually came here in a sneaky manner," Palkia retorted, "your psychic strength sure has gotten powerful." "Indeed it has," Shade snickered, "although, I've been getting a little more accustomed to the ghostly arts lately." "Compliments of Giratina?" Dialga asked, "or have you been messing around with Mewtwo lately?" "Actually, Giratina being a ghost helped quite a bit," Shade answered, "and to be honest, I haven't had any contact with Mewtwo in a long time." "So where did you send Arceus?" Palkia demanded to know, "tell us now before Zekrom and Reshiram return." "He is in a special place," Shade cackled, "where he cannot intervene in our affairs any longer." "He's dead?" exclaimed Dialga, "impossible!" "Not dead, merely not in this world any longer."

Arceus quickly prepared for landing as he reappeared in a darkened world. A platform rose from seemingly nowhere to meet his feet as he stood and took a look around. Dark, purple coloring dominated the place, although the ghostly 'plants' and odd water radiated both danger and invitation at the same time. The platform seemed to be made of earth, although Arceus knew fully well that it was far more than just dirt and soil. "Hm, it seems I am in the Distortion World," Arceus said aloud, "and assuming that Giratina hasn't changed much, that means I will soon be having some company."

"It's Rita now Arceus," said Rita as suddenly she appeared from above Arceus in Origin Forme with a wary smile, "and yes, welcome back to the Distortion World." "Sure is rather grim," Arceus joked, "I suppose that would fit the place I will banish you to for starting all of this madness!" "I didn't start this at all!" Rita argued, "Dialga and Palkia opened a rift to this world; now why precisely they did so is beyond me, and I really don't care, but it is not my fault that your idiot minions released me." "You didn't bring me here to talk about that now did you?" Arceus concluded, "and since fighting here would only result in a temporary death, you certainly didn't bring me here to fight either. So why am I here?"

"Arceus, you are here because I want you right here when everything goes down," Rita answered, "here, whatever happens in the other world will not affect us." "But Rita, I need to save the world from the threats that threaten to unbalance it!" Arceus argued, "and if you think you can keep me here for that long, then you are wrong." "Actually, you are the wrong one Arceus," Rita snarled, "in case you forgot; I know how to work everything in here from gravity to anti-matter. Do not think I will just let you leave."

"Then I suppose I may have to beat the smart out of you in order for you to get the idea!" Arceus spat as he rushed upwards towards Rita, "and don't even think of using your signature move on me!" Rita roared in response, and dove towards Arceus almost in a nose-dive status. "Alright you stubborn fool, it is time someone knocked you back down a few notches!"

When the two clashed, a powerful shockwave shook the entire dimension, and the two were pushed back from each other in recoil from their own charge. They then went at it again, and again, and again, constantly striking each other in various different ways, Arceus eventually shifting his type using the various plates that he had kept on his person. Unfortunately for Arceus, as long as he was in the Distortion World, the cards were most in Rita's favor, as she was more than capable of creating various different type moves from literally thin air and binding it with her own charge attack, forcing Arceus to switch types constantly, even if it was an advantageous type against Rita.

Each impact resulted in a powerful shockwave that rocked the solid parts of the realm, and slowly, yet surely, an odd gathering of shades began to appear on the outskirts of the battlefield. The two, mostly oblivious to their gathering audience, continued at an increased speed their relatively simple conflict, attempting to outlast the other in an attritional battle. Eventually, the spectors began jeering and cheering their own sides, adding a somewhat crowd-like effect to this battle, their ghostly roars almost as loud as the impact from each attack the two made on each other.

Finally, the attacks began slowing, as it became clear that Arceus was beginning to wear down. Producing the plates cost energy, as well as replacing them and since he was doing it so frequently, his energy was draining, even as he attempted to restore it using his own aura. However, the physical stress was still weakening his overall offensive power, and since Rita was literally in her playing field, she was wearing down at a much slower rate.

Finally, after one final impact, Rita remained near the impact zone as Arceus was sent flying into a solid platform, most of it shattering into pieces, sending the debris all over. Sensing the fight's end, the specters slowly dispersed from their places as Rita slowly floated down to the fallen deity. Panting heavily, she floated above the injured Arceus as he slowly raised his head. "Grr... Don't think that I'm beaten yet!" he grunted as he attempted to rise, only resulting in him falling back down to the platform, "I'm not done yet!" Rita shook her head; there was no beating the guy's will that was clear.

if it seems that Arceus and Rita's scene was cut, then well... It was. The rest of it started dragging on, and I figured I already had enough stuff in this chapter, so I decided to branch if off into another chapter. For the sake of convenience, I am also going to start out with them next chapter, so getting back to me and the gang might take a while. :/

Nonetheless, read and review! I'm starting to wonder if the story is being read at all...