Okay, first order of business. Since none of you guys decided you give me any input on new region name, I came up with one myself. Emerra is out and Saldara is in. I am trying to give you guys / girls a chance to have some input on this story. The least you could do is help me out some… Anyway, end of rant, back to announcements
Today is my birthday! *confetti* so as a party favor to all of you all, here is Chapter 14, now for presents, all I want is for you to click that review button. Please?
Lucario: I really hate you right now.
Osean: I can live with it. Now go away, you're supposed to be unconscious.
Lucario: Fine, but I better not wake up any different.
Osean: Oh, don't worry. No more physical changes for you.
Zorua: Wait, for him?
Osean: Yes, no more for him.
Zorua: I don't like were this is going.
Osean: Oh suck it up.
Act I: Revelation
Chapter 14: Transitions
Zorua watched in horror as Lucario fell backwards onto the ground, screaming in pain. The pink and grey energy was arcing all over his body. His scream died out after a few seconds but the strange energy kept up its sporadic jumping. By now the marines had taken notice of Lucario dire state and had rushed over.
"Okay, he is definitely not fine," Snow blurted out.
"No shit Sherlock," the Chief countered, "But I am not in any hurry to touch him."
"Well we need to do something," Johnson said worried as a large explosion echoed off in the distance.
"But what, all we have is a basic med kit. I don't think it's going to help much," Snow replied.
The marines continued their debate as Zorua watched in shock (no pun intended) as the surge intensified, prompting another scream from Lucario's unconscious body.
"Lucario…no," Zorua whimpered out, tears forming in her eyes, "You can't die on me."
"Look, we need to face reality here. There is nothing we can do for him. We know nothing about his internal structure and his body is covered in some weird electricity," the Chief said solemnly, "I think the best thing to do is…"
Suddenly there was a loud crack behind the marines that reminded them of thunder. They instantly turned around with their weapons raised at the source of the noise. Their jaws immediately hung open at the sight before them. Two large, swirling portals had opened in the sky. One was the same pinkish color as the energy afflicting Lucario and the other was the same grey color. There was another loud crack as the portals expanded, becoming well over twenty feet in diameter. By now the wind in the surrounding landscape was rivaling that of a hurricane as tree bent over and loose debris was flying about. There was one final thunder like crack as two beings began to immerge from the portals. Each was a towering height and very dragon like in appearance. The marines stood flabbergasted at the two being full emerged from their portals and landed on the ground about a dozen yards away. Zorua immediately recognized the two legendary Pokémon in front of her. Her jaw also dropped in awe of the controllers of space and dimensions. The being that exited the grey portal was taller than the other. Its body was mostly grey and black, with areas of red and gold on certain areas. The other being that exited the pink portal was almost entirely white with light pink lines running over its body. Zorua immediately recognized the two legendary Pokémon in front of her. Her jaw also dropped in awe of the controllers of space and dimensions.
There was a bit of an awkward silence as the portals closed up and the winds died down. The marines were looking up at the tall dragons before them, their rifles no longer raised all the way. The two dragons were in turn looking down at the group of humans with their harsh eyes.
"So this is the dimension our brethren were taken," a deep voice said to all the surrounding minds.
"It would appear so," another low voice said, "Now, let's get this over with. This dimension reeks of war."
The larger grey dragons head nodded in approval before both started radiate their respective colors. This continued for a bit before each was engulfed in an expanding energy field. The fields stopped growing when they completely overlapped, forming a single dome of swirling pink and grey. Without any warning, the dome shot out in all directions with unmatched speed.
When the light died down, Johnson looked around. The two large dragons were still present in front of him and nothing seemed to have changed. However, when he looked at where Lucario and Zorua had been, he noticed that they were no longer present. His next action was rather rash considering the power difference between himself and the large dragons he was about to confront.
"What did you do with Lucario and Zorua?!" Johnson yelled out, anger ever present in his voice, "Where are they?!"
"We have transported them back to their dimension. Along with everything else that originated from our world," the first voice said into the marine captain's mind, who guessed it was the large grey beast.
"What about Lucario, is he going to recover?"
"That was yet to be determined," the second voice replied calmly, "We will do everything in our power to ensure his survival, but the choice will ultimately be his own."
"Now, we must depart from your dimension. You have our thanks brave soldiers. May peace return to your dimension."
With that, the two dragons each opened their respective portals, once again creating loud thunder claps and gale force winds. After the portals finished opening, each stepped forward and disappeared into thin air, the portals closing seconds later. The three marines only stood there, not quite comprehending what had just happened.
"Well, now what?" Snow asked.
"We just wait for the choppers," Johnson replied a few seconds later.
"Think we will ever see either of them again?" the Chief chimed in.
"I doubt it, but you never know, especially after what we have seen these past two weeks."
Spawn of the Dragon, The Best Brand X Music, Brand X Music
(Song start)
'Ugh, where am I?' Lucario thought as he rubbed his splitting head with one of his paws. He opened his eyes and looked around only to see a black void, bringing back memories of a certain prank. "Zorua, this better not be another one of your tricks," Lucario called out frantically, hoping for some sort of response. A few seconds passed with no reply before Lucario let out a low sigh, wondering what to do next. His body was still giving off a continuous stream of energy that was arcing all around his body, yet he did not feel any pain at the current moment. There were a few weird lights swirling around in the void he was in, but not much of anything else. However, a few seconds later, there was a loud, thunderous crack as two new sources of light appeared a bit in front of him. The crack sounded again as the light sources grew in size. This continued for a few seconds before two easily recognizable Pokémon exited from the lights, Palkia and Giratina.
"Well, you have gotten yourself into quite the predicament," Giratina started, "Never before have we had to deal with this type of problem."
"What are you talking about," Lucario replied, confused to no ends why he was before two legendary Pokémon.
"We are not entirely sure ourselves, but you have somehow managed to absorb large amounts of the energy the two of us use and manipulate," Palkia replied with noticeable amounts of interest its voice, "Care to explain?
"Well," Lucario said before thinking back to his recent actions, only one sticking out as the possible reason, "It might be from when I destroyed the device that brought me to that dimension."
"And how exactly did you go about destroying said devise?" Giratina questioned, interested at how this situation developed.
"I ran up to it and dug my metal claws into it," Lucario answered somewhat sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"I see. In all practicality, why did you not use a more reasonable attack, such as an aura sphere?"
"Well…" Lucario thought for a second, retracing his actions before he destroyed the large, metal cylinder, "I guess there are three reasons. One: I was still somewhat disoriented from a certain weapon that was used against me. Two: I am pretty sure I was on an adrenaline high. Three: I had already used up large amounts of my aura and using anymore put my life at great risk."
"Very well," Palkia stated plainly, "Ironically, in your effort not to endanger life, you have done just that."
"I assume you're talking about this electricity that is surrounding my body," Lucario said as he gestured toward himself, "Speaking of which, why isn't it causing me pain like it was before?"
"Palkia and I have temporarily dampened its potency."
"Now, we have brought you here to discuss your options about resolving this issue," Palkia started in a serious tone, "While we may not have encountered his issue before, we can easily fix it."
"We have come up with three possible solutions for you to choose from," Giratina continued, "Option one is we can do nothing and let the energy contained in you continue its natural release. This is extremely painful, as you know, and most likely fatal. Option two involves Palkia and me forcibly removing the energy from you. While it won't be painful, death is almost certain."
By now, Lucario was in a cold sweat. The two options laid out before him involved him dying, which didn't seem like a really good way to save his life. He was praying to Arceus that the third option didn't involve an almost certain death.
"Finally, we can transfer some of our power to you, stabilizing the energy that is trapped in your body and involves almost no risk to your life."
Lucario blinked a few times after he heard the final option. Two legendary Pokémon just offered to give him some of their power to save his life. To say that he was flabbergasted would be the understatement of the millennium.
"Why would you do that?" Lucario asked in confusion, "Why would you give me some of your power just to save me life. I mean, I'm just some normal Pokémon hardly worthy to be in your presence."
Lucario could see smiles form on both the dragons' faces, which was slightly unnerving.
"You do not give yourself enough credit Azorian," Giratina said proudly, "You are of a rare bloodline after all. It would be a shame to let you die as there are only a handful of pure Azorians left in the world. On the contrary, we should be the ones honored by your presence."
If it were physically possible, Lucario's jaw would have hit the ground. His most guarded secret was known by two Pokémon that he had just met. Then again, the whole legendary thing might have played a role in it.
"How…how did you know that? How did you know that I am of Azorian decent," Lucario asked in absolute disbelief.
"We legendries tend to know things others wouldn't," Palkia said smugly, "Now, do you accept our offer? Are you willing to take on the power and responsibility of being a legendary Pokémon?"
At this point, nothing short of Arceus appearing would surprise Lucario anymore. He was just offered the chance to become a legendary Pokémon. That doesn't happen, period. Yet, he just heard the offer and had to replay the scene several times in his head before replying.
"HELL YES!" Lucario screamed out at the top of his lungs before realizing what he just did, "I mean, I am honored by your offer and humbly accept."
Both Palkia and Giratina let out a low laugh at the Aura Pokémon's enthusiastic response then attempted salvage. Both moved so that they were flanking Lucario and began forming energy spheres in front of their massive bodies. Before Lucario could question what exactly was happening, he found himself in the center of the orbs, surrounded by the swirling pink and grey energy. At first he expected it to be painful, but the pain never came. Instead he felt very relaxed as the energy washed over him. He could see the energy that had been sparking all over his body begin to recede into his body. It was one of the most peaceful feelings Lucario had ever experienced. However, as suddenly has the feeling had come, it left. Lucario looked around, slightly sad of having his normal senses back.
"That's it?" Lucario asked curiously, thinking there had to be more.
"Yes, that is it," Palkia replied with a nod of the head.
"So, what happens now?"
"Now you must let your new powers develop. Your powers are in the infancy, in time they will grow and you will be able to control them," Giratina responded.
"And what exactly are my 'new powers'?"
"You will be able to open portals through space and dimensions, just like Palkia and myself."
"Now we will return you to our realm, back to your friend. It is up to you to decide if she knows of these events and your new status," Palkia said plainly.
Before Lucario could ask anything else, there was a bright flash of light and his surroundings melted away. The next thing he knew, he was in a forest and it was night outside. He could sense all the life around him, plant and animal, or more specifically, Pokémon and there was one aura in particular that he set off toward.
(End song)
Into the Dusk, Ace Combat 5 OST, Namco Sounds
(Song start)
Zorua was having trouble understanding what just happened. First Lucario goes into some uncontrollable, electrical spasm. Then Palkia and Giratina appear out of nowhere. Finally she somehow ended up in a forest, alone. No Lucario. No marines. No one…
"LUCARIO," Zorua yelled out at the top of her lungs. Listening, hoping, for a reply. Hoping to see her only friend come out from the trees and comfort her. Hoping that her only friend was still alive and had not passed on to the next life. However, there was no reply. Only the continued sound of the nocturnal Pokémon could be heard through the calm, night air.
"LUCARIO," she cried out again in desperation, her voice trembling. She waited a few minutes in silence, her legs trembling. Defeated, saddened, Zorua fell onto her stomach, her legs no longer capable of supporting her. A few more seconds passed before Zorua was reduced to a crying wreck. Tears flowed from her eyes as she cried out of emotional pain. Her only friend was gone, she was once again alone. She didn't know where to go, what to do, or who to trust. She was lost, both physically and emotionally. Zorua continued to sob; the fur on her face was now damp from the amount of tears that had fallen from her eyes. She was so far gone from her surroundings that she failed to notice a Pokémon approaching behind her.
"No, no, no," Zorua whispered to herself, unaware of the Pokémon silently watching her, "You can't be gone. You just can't…"
"Ahem," the Pokémon coughed when it was a few yards behind the emotionally distressed fox.
Zorua normally would have immediately attacked anyone who snuck up behind her, but she was too depressed. She only turned her saddened head to see who was interrupting her mourning. Her teary eyes only made out the rough out outline of the Pokémon. It was bipedal and mostly white and grey with areas of purple. Zorua blinked a few times between her sobs to help clear her eyes from the salty water that obscured her vision. When she opened her eyes after the final blink, her crying all but stopped as she saw the Pokémon in front of her eyes.
(Song end)
Icarus, Skyworld, Two Steps from Hell
(Song start)
"Geez, I didn't know I couldn't leave you for a few minutes without you breaking down into a nervous wreck," Lucario taunted his companion with a comforting smile across his canine face and arms crossed under his chest spike, his newly acquired blades facing outward. Zorua looked up at his friend in utter shock. Not only did he appear to be completely fine, he seemed better. There was something different about him that she couldn't quite put together. He looked the no different than when she saw him last, yet at the same time, more powerful. His sleek, white fur almost glistening in the moon light while his piercing, purple eyes gazed down at her. As powerful as his eyes appeared, they were full of comfort as she looked into them.
Her next action took Lucario completely by surprise as Zorua tackled Lucario, impacting his stomach and forcing him to fall back onto the grass. She stayed on top of him and buried her head in his fur as a new round of tears started up, but this time they were tears of joy.
"Don't you ever do that again!" Zorua cried out, finally removing her head from Lucario's grey fur, "I don't know what I would do without you."
"Not making any promises," Lucario replied with a small laugh as he playfully rubbed Zorua's head.
"So what happened? Why aren't you all sparky?" Zorua asked as she hopped off Lucario's stomach, finally allowing him to stand up again.
"I would be tempted to say you wouldn't believe me if I told you, but I know otherwise," Lucario replied with a smirk, "Now come on, I'll tell you on the way. I am guessing it will take us a while to get there."
"Huh, what do you mean?" Zorua questioned, ears perking up slightly, "Where are we going?"
Lucario's smiled softened as he looked up at the stars, "Home."
(End song)
Osean: See, I told you, no more physical changes for you.
Lucario: I suppose this is true, though I am not quite sure if I should be thanking you for my new status, or hunting you down for all the new responsibilities.
Zorua: Why do you keep saying for him? What about me?!
Osean: Can't you just be happy you're back in Saldara?
Zorua: NO!
Lucario: I am glad to be back.
Osean: See, why can't you be more like Lucario? *Rubs Lucario's head*
Ta dah! Well, what do you think? Also, what do you think of Lucario's new powers and legendary status? And new region name, Saldara, good, meh, bad? Please leave a review for this chapter. It's not like any of my other chapters save maybe Chapter 4. I am dying to know how I did, and would like more feedback than from my normal two reviewers, many thanks to GameManiac and Rikilucario7. It honestly doesn't take much effort or time. I really cannot find a reason not to and it hurts my soul…