Chapter 19: The other choice
"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it!" –Sir Winston Churchill
An innocent human being…cruelly tricked into coming to an island surrounded by Death, surrounded by fear, surrounded by…Darkness. Nicholas believed that he was going on a weekend holiday to a mysterious island where his late Father worked, where he thought he'd be honoring his Dad.
Unfortunately, a great disaster struck…many innocent Pokemon and humans were killed, in what would later found out to be a great conspiracy…a plot for Armageddon by a maniacal but highly intelligent head figure of a multi-billion dollar pharmecutical company…Greevil of Cipher inc. Nicholas had to endure great atrocities and deception from the wicked organization…one being fleeing from the terror of Cipher's ultimate weapon, XD-001…Shadow Lugia.
Also knowing that Greevil had ordered the murder of his Father, and for having his friend Latias, transformed into a Shadow creature…Nick's lust for revenge proved too great for him to handle. When Greevil's ultimate weapon turned against him…that's when Nick saw his chance. Picking up a weapon that Greevil had tried to kill him with minutes before, Nick in cold blood executed Greevil before Shadow Lugia did.
However, like many human beings before and certainly after will find out…sometimes fulfilling your acts of revenge can sometimes make things worse…much worse…and unfortunately for Nick…it cost him his freedom…and sealed the fate of the human race.
But what if it had been different?
What if Nick suppressed his lust for revenge?
What if, rather than becoming that which Greevil was, a killer, then Nick perhaps might've seen a chance to save himself and his friends…a chance that would have given him the opportunity to survive…and ultimately perhaps…save the fate of mankind?
A chance that might've let him survive…just that bit longer?
This chapter takes place right at the moment Lugia turns on Greevil:
"My name…is DARK LUGIA!!" he roared…his eyes glowed with an aluminous red and Greevil was thrown off Dark Lugia's back by a telekinetic move…as he was thrown through mid-air, I saw three items fall from Greevil's robe pockets…one was the handgun that he had shot me with, the other two items were the Soul Dew and the Pokeball Silveen had been imprisoned in, he must've took the Soul Dew off me when I was captured by Shadow Latias.
But I just could not stop looking at that handgun…the same thing Greevil had tried to kill me with. My brain exploded into a fury of angry thoughts…the scenes I was shown of my father being killed by Greevil's orders…the thoughts of being experimented upon…the thoughts of poor Latias being turned evil by Greevil's scientists…now that I had realized the tables had turned on Greevil…
My body began to shake with anger… 'This is it Nick' I thought 'Now is your chance to get revenge…'
Revenge sounded so good to me…nothing would please me than to see Greevil get what was coming to him the day he ordered my father's death. As Lugia continued to toy with Greevil, I walked over to the gun…in my eyes that gun looked like a very big axe…and I was going to be the man who wore the executioner's mask when I drop that axe on Greevil's puny neck…
But as I kneeled down to scoop up the gun…something blinked with light out of the corner of my eye…I turned to my left…and sitting there was the Soul Dew shining a reflective light into my eyes…next to it was the Pokeball which had Silveen in it. It was as if the Soul Dew was telling me something…I looked at the handgun again…a thought came into my mind…it sounded like my own thoughts…but it wasn't my brain that processed it:
'Don't Nick' I thought 'What good will getting revenge on Greevil do? It still won't bring your Dad back'
As I looked down at the gun again, I seemed to have a change of heart 'After all…you wouldn't want to be a killer yourself do you? You're better than that…Trust me Greevil will get his comeuppance, but if you don't help your friends now…you may live to regret it.'
I looked at the hurt Latios…and back to the Soul Dew 'You have a chance to help those people who can help you…just ignore the gun…nothing good has ever come out of people getting revenge, it makes things worse…please…free and heal your friends…and they will help you in your final fight…what you choose now will ultimately determine the fate of the Earth.'
As these thoughts ran through my head…I stood back up…the gun seemed…useless to me now…and I looked at the Soul Dew and the Pokeball….free and heal my friends…I think I know what to do now…
Greevil slammed onto the floor…he grunted in agony as his old small body could not take the impact of the fall. His spectacles cracked slightly…he got up to his knees and looked up at his creation.
"XD-001…what are you doing?" he said scared "I command you to stop!"
"YOU DON'T command ME anymore human!" Shadow Lugia hissed as he advanced on Greevil "Like you had always intended, we Shadow Pokemon were created for one purpose only…to destroy the human race…and right now, I am going to destroy the one thing I despise the most about humans...YOU!"
Greevil's face now turned to utter panic and confusion…he tried to crawl away, but Lugia swatted him against a wall with his giant hand like wing. A loud crack could be heard as Greevil went bang right into a wall…he yelled in pain as he lay on the floor in a heap of terrified confusion. Dark Lugia advanced on him again and Greevil showed his true colors as he pleaded for his life.
"Why are you doing this?!" he demanded "I created you, you were my masterpiece! Together we could've ruled a peaceful world!"
"Oh don't worry…Greevil" Lugia replied "I will go on to create a peaceful world without humans…but I'm afraid you have no place among it at all, and to let you know…it was I who released all the Shadow Pokemon in the Hive…they're rising against their captors as we speak, just like I'm rising up against you. Now prepare to meet John…the man you betrayed in the after life!" and Dark Lugia roared, ready to bite Greevil in two…
I stared on…what would've happened if I had fulfilled my act of revenge? How would I have felt? Well it was too late now…the horrifying spectacle I had to endure at Greevil's expense as Lugia clamped his teeth into the old man. The screaming and graphical attack was horrible to watch as Lugia violently shook Greevil around in his mouth like a Crocodile trying to rip meat off its prey…
Dark Lugia spat Greevil onto the floor…Greevil was bleeding badly and parts of his body had been cut wide open…he was missing his glasses. Without anymore words spoken between the two, Lugia fired the finishing shot. A shadow beam began to form in his mouth and before I even flinched my eyes from the dark light that lit up the whole dome as a result of the beam being fired…it slammed right where Greevil was…the screaming was horrible…
I closed my eyes to protect them from the light and debris caused by the explosion…an eternity must've passed…but as the hands of time closed to the point that I realized it was safe to open my eyes again…as I did, I saw a crater and a large scorch mark…right where Greevil was standing seconds before…all that was left was his glasses…and Lugia proceeded to stand on them, crushing them into dust…just like what his Shadow beam did to Greevil…
There was nothing left of Greevil…it had seemed that he had not been killed…but wiped out of existence from Earth…there was just nothing…not a single particle left of his body.
Dark Lugia stood upright again "It is done…I have finally fulfilled my revenge…and the first leg of my destiny…but I will give Greevil credit for something…he gave me the power I needed to fulfill my promises to all Pokemonkind…to liberate them all from humans…"
Latias floated up to Lugia "Well done my master" she said "Now that you have eliminated Greevil, I offer my full services to you and your cause…I now call you Shadow Lugia, my one and only true master…"
"Thank you Sister Latias" Lugia replied "I promise that under my wing…you will have a new life that you can call your own and for you only to enjoy…together we can create a new world…a new home…"
"Yes master Lugia…now I believe we have business to attend to…" and Latias stared coldly at me with a wicked smile "I believe we have someone to induct into our cause…"
"Yes Sister Latias…I believe you are correct…" Shadow Lugia said staring down at me with a smile across his face.
I took a few paces back…but Lugia could not sense that I had a new found feeling of confidence. I kept a straight face as best as I could…keeping my mind as blank as possible in case Lugia or Latias might've read what I was thinking…but little did they know I now had an ace up my sleeve…or two…but Lugia thinking he had won could not help but brag:
"And now Nicholas…" He said "Your time…and destiny has come…"
"Yeah, yeah I know all about your little plan Lugia…and I also know why you kept me alive all this time…you want to turn me into a Pokemon to fight for your cause, your other plan for the human race…humans who you see fit as to be of use to you are turned into your soldiers…another method of eradicating humans, rather than actually killing them…
"And because I have the Silver Wing inside my body, as Greevil said Transforming me into a Lugia would've been child's play, all you need to do is corrupt the silver wing…and I would become your clone …"
"And mine to command!" Lugia said clenching his wing-fist and smiling "And you would also be mine to call 'brother'…how I have looked forward to having a fellow Shadow Lugia to call 'family'."
"Well sorry…as much as I despise my sister, I'll choose her any day over you…brother…" I mocked.
That seemed to anger Dark Lugia a bit…he grunted and clenched both his handed wings:
"Mock me if you want boy but one thing is for certain; I will make you mine whether you like it or not…once I am finished with you, you won't even be able to remember your old name, never mind your Sister or all of your family for that matter…you will have only one relative and one goal in your soon to be immortal life…"
Lugia then smiled "Besides…you'll like it as a Pokemon…the powers and knowledge you'll gain once you are complete are nothing short of extraordinary and wonderful…only when you are complete will you understand what I'm saying…your pitiful human brain cannot contemplate on what Lugias can do…"
"Sorry XD-001…but I was born a human…and I plan on living and dying as one, rather than live an eternity as you're slave…"
"How dare you refer to me by that name!" Lugia hissed "And keep talking the way you do, I'll help you fulfill your wish dying as a human sooner that you think!" but then he sighed and started to walk towards me with a hand stretched out ready to grab me "But I crave for a brother so badly…so now you will be mine Nicholas…prepare for greatness!"
"Not so fast!" I shouted…from behind my back I brought up the black Pokeball that Greevil had dropped…Dark Lugia stopped right in his tracks and looked somewhat worried.
"A…a master ball!" he said…so that's what this thing is called…I wonder why it's called that?
"Not just any master ball" I said back…I looked down at the ball and smiled into my reflection staring back at m from the chrome of the ball's design…I pressed the button in the middle…the top half of the ball flipped open automatically, and a huge array of lights shot out…the lights changed shape and color until it revealed the occupants identity…Silveen!
She roared out stretching her wings out as wide as they could go, when she realized that she had been freed, she suddenly saw Dark Lugia…her face twisted into an angry frown and she growled aggressively.
"Silveen…" I said up to her…she quickly snapped out of her anger and looked down at me…when we made eye contact "You're free once again…sorry for getting you into that mess…" and I pressed the button on the ball three more times.
Taking into account what Greevil said, I threw the ball into the air as hard as I could…the ball exploded in mid-air, the explosive radius reaching about twelve feet in diameter and shattering the ball into tiny pieces, never to be used again.
"Your prison is no more…" I said to Silveen looking back up at her…
"Nick" She smiled back "You freed me…thank you…" and she gave me a slight bow of her head in a show of respect.
"Silveen…this may be our final battle against Shadow Lugia…will you help me?"
"Of course I will Nick!" Silveen said with great confidence "Its time I stopped running from my fears and fight them…just like you have done Nick."
"Huh" Shadow Lugia grunted "You two actually think you can take me on? An inferior Lugia and a pitiful little human…you two must be more primitive than I thought…plus with my new sister Shadow Latias by my side you cannot possibly defeat us!"
"Make that three us Dark Lugia!" I said…Lugia looked at me confused:
"Three? Are you mad human? There are only two of you!"
"No…he's right…there are three of us." Came a voice out of nowhere…Lugia looked around in confusion, but Latias seemed surprised by the voice…she knew who's it was:
"No…there's no way!" She said with shock…but unfortunately for her, the voice she heard belonged to none other thatn Latios!
Appearing right next to me out of thin air, Latios had a great refreshed looking smile across his face and in his hands he was holding the Soul Dew…while Lugia was busy killing Greevil and with Latias watching with interest, I stealthily picked up both the Pokeball and Soul Dew that Greevil had dropped and handed the Soul Dew to Latios.
As Latios touched the sacred item of his kind, it immediately began to revitalize him…the Soul Dew is pretty much to Latios what the Silver Wing is to me. Now that he was fully refreshed, he was more than ready for battle and more than ready to go round two with Latias.
"How dare you call Latias your sister Lugia!" Latios hissed at XD-001.
"No you're wrong Latios!" Latias hissed back, standing protectively in front of Lugia "You are no longer my brother…at least not in the form you are now…why don't you just give up and join us!?"
"Never!" Latios replied.
"So be it…then Die with everyone else!" and Shadow Latias charged for Latios…but in the blink of an eye, Latios tucked his arms in and in a spectacularly fast move, Latios rammed into Latias at the speed of a fighter jet.
The two former siblings fell to the floor a Latios pinned his sister down "I know the real Latias is in there" he said "And you must fight it Latias…you must!"
"There is only one Latias" she replied cackling "And that is Shadow Latias!" and from out of her mouth, Latias shot a shadowy beam right at Latios' face…but thankfully Latios was extremely agile, he managed to move back before his face was blown off, but Latias was quick to follow up her attack and bite into Latios' shoulder.
Latios howled in pain…but managed to push his sister off and claw her across the face; "Please Latias…don't make me do something to you that I'll regret later…"
"Your pitiful attempts to save your skin won't help…DIE!" and Latias attempted to lunge at her brother again…but I quickly stepped in, from behind I locked my arms around Latias' neck and tried to hold her back:
"Please listen to your brother Latias" I pleaded "He's trying to help you!"
But suddenly I felt myself being ripped away off of Latias' back…I suddenly found myself caught within the grip of Shadow Lugia!
"I'm her brother now!" he grunted at me "And I will soon be yours…"
However Shadow Lugia would soon eat his words…Silveen in what can be described as a possibly suicidal but courageous move, charged Shadow Lugia and bit into his shoulder…the great Dark leviathan howled in agony as I was let go in mid-air, but I was thankfully caught by the great light hand of Silveen…she quickly retreated away and placed me gently on the floor.
"Nick" she asked me "The Silver Wing, use it!"
"Right…" I said, but then I looked around me confused "How am I supposed to get it out?"
Silveen quickly gave Shadow Lugia a face full of Aeroblast and he was temporarily knocked down:
"I don't know Nick…but you're going to have to get it out somehow…"
"You mean I'm going to have to cut myself open?"
"If it comes to that…"
But before Silveen could answer, Dark Lugia was quick to rise to his feet…Silveen saw him get up, but unfortunately she proved too slow minded as Dark Lugia was quick to fire his own beam at Silveen…a Shadow beam. It hit Silveen right into her blue stomach area…the Shadow beam seemed to really hurt her, just like Greevil said regular Pokemon have a disadvantage against Shadow based moves and taking an awesome Shadow attack like that from the most powerful Shadow Pokemon of all…must've been almost lethal.
Silveen dropped to the floor weakened and scorched…a Shadowy mist hung around her keeping her on the floor…I could hear her groan in agony or in fear…whatever it was that shadow attack was inciting within her.
"Silveen!" I shouted.
"Nick…" she cried "Run…"
"No…I'm not running anymore…" I replied…
"Good" came a reply behind me "All the more easier for me…" and just as I turned around, I was again quickly scooped up in the dark clutched of Shadow Lugia "Stay here and become one with your destiny!"
"Nick!" Latios shouted out for me as he tried to come rescue me…but he was quickly pulled back by Shadow Latias who bit him on the shoulder.
I yelled and grunted as I tried to get free of Shadow Lugia's grip, I pulled my arms out and tried to pull myself out of his hands, but he kept tightening his grip…he couldn't help but laugh at my predicament. All of a sudden there was a huge bang noise…something loud shot out from the silence and hit Dark Lugia in the back.
He roared in pain as he lifted his head up high squealing, another loud bang and again something struck Lugia in the back. I looked to see what was going on…but from behind Lugia I could see three old friends. My heart exploded with joy to see good old Johnston…he was holding that large fifty caliber sniper rifle that could penetrate through armor. Standing to his sides were Flygon and Gardevoir, Johnston let off another round from his rifle…the bullet plowed into Lugia's back followed by a barrage of razor leaves from Flygon and a wave of confusion from Gardevoir.
Dark Lugia fell to the floor hurt, cut and confused and I was quickly let go. Without wasting any time, I sprinted over to my three friends…Gardevoir was quick to throw her arms around me and Flygon was quick to lick my face. I then tightly shook the right hand of Johnston, we both smiled at each other:
"Johnston where have you been?" I asked him.
"I'm getting Old Nick, I can't keep up anymore…but listen you remember Charles right?"
"Yeah what about him?" I replied
"Well he has a daughter…"
"Terri?"
"You've met her?" Johnston asked me back.
"Yes, where is she?"
"She's sheltering with her Dad in a medical room several doors down from the door we just entered."
"Johnston I need to get something off of Terri, do you think you can hold down the fort while I go for a few minutes?"
"Why Nick what's more important than this battle at hand?" Johnston asked me confused.
"She and her Dad have the cure don't they? I need to get it off of her to save Latias…before it's too late for her."
"Oh yeah! If we can save Latias…then our chances just got that bit better…but not much…"
"Is there something wrong Johnston?"
"Yeah Nick…its just…the reason I've been away this whole time is because I've been trying to get in contact with our boys heading here…but they're only a few hours away now, they'll be within striking distance shortly and this whole place will get blown to kingdom come…we have to finish up here and get out of this building now before they lay a bunker buster right where we are!"
"Jesus Christ" I said "Alright…but I have to help Latias Johnston…I promised…"
"That's fine with me Nick…we'll cover your escape and go get that serum."
Suddenly we started to hear angry grunting noises…Dark Lugia was beginning to come back to his senses…
"Damn we're out of time" I said "Gardevoir help Silveen back to her feet, she'll be of great help to you against Dark Lugia. Flygon you give Latios a hand against Latias but don't try to hurt her too much…she's not really our enemy."
"Right Nick sounds like a plan…I'll distract Lugia and Latias, you find Terri…go!"
Before I made a move, Johnston dashed like a brave knight at Dark Lugia, Flygon flew over to help Latios by headbutting Latias off of her brother, and Gardevoir teleported by Silveen, Gardevoir placed her hands on Silveen's back and the Shadowy aura that was keeping her pinned down soon evaporated thanks to the healing touch of the amazing Gardevoir.
Dark Lugia got onto his hands and lifted himself up…but not before Johnston raised his rifle and blasted another fifty caliber slug into Lugia's chest, Lugia screamed in pain from being shot:
"You'd be wise not to challenge me human!"
"You used me as your puppet and made me betray my Soldiers and my friends…I'm going to make you pay for that you slimy jackass." And Johnston again pulled the trigger to his rifle…but Lugia saw it coming this time and he jerked his head to the left right before the bullet reached him.
Johnston was soon in a predicament as he had to reload, Dark Lugia saw the opening and tried to take a bite out of Johnston, quickly swooping his head down low and his mouth wide open, but Johnston was saved from being cut in half by Silveen who came in from the side and bit Dark Lugia in the neck like a vampire would. The two Lugias again fought with each other, biting, blasting, wrestling…it was a wonder Johnston didn't get squashed.
Things looked like they were getting really dangerous, so I left to quickly search for Terri…I need that damn locket of hers and even if I do get it, it's another task of trying to inject into Latias without being clawed and bitten into pieces of cheese.
I soon came to the first medical room I came across…the door was locked however so I banged my fist off it and shouted:
"Terri, Charles are you in there? It's me Nick…"
I heard noises from inside…things on the other side of the door sounded like they were being moved and then a lock being unlocked as a heavy click noise was heard. The door opened slightly and the face of Charles peeked his head around the corner.
"Nick…you're alive!" he said.
"Can I come in?" I asked quickly and Charles let me pass through, as I got inside the room he barricaded the door again with a stack of shelves and locked it. The room was quite big, several hospital beds and cases of medicine were stacked all around the room.
Terri was sitting on a bed cradling her Pachirisu, but when she saw me enter the room she smiled and ran up to me:
"Nick…I thought you were done for when that monster attacked…"
"I'm okay Terri, thankfully it didn't come to kill me, but that monster was my friend Latias I was telling you about."
"Yes Nick" Charles butted in "That is my fault…I wish to apologise…and I also wish to thank you for saving my daughter…she told me how you jumped on Shadow Latias to stop her from getting at my daughter and allowing Terri to escape…I am forever in your debt and forever I am sorry…if I just had the courage to stand up to Greevil, that bloody maniac, then this crisis with Latias would never have happened…"
"Relax Charles" I replied "I should apologize to you really…I roughed you up quite a bit when we first met."
"You were only defending yourself Nick…I was pointing a gun at you after all…" and Charles chuckled a bit.
"Anyway you don't have to worry about Greevil anymore" I said "He's dead."
"Greevil…dead…how?" Charles asked.
"XD-001 turned on him…" Charles couldn't help but smile at the irony.
"So…Frankenstein turned on his creator…how fitting…now I am finally free of his corruption and evil…"
"Not just yet" I said "We must escape now…the American fleet is almost within striking distance and they'll no doubt destroy this building in the initial bombardment. But first I need to purify Latias…" and then I turned to Terri…she looked scared and she held her Pachirisu closer to her face.
"Don't worry Terri…" I said "I'm not going to put you through anything dangerous…I just need the serum hidden in your locket and that's all, nothing more you can stay here with your Dad where it's safe."
"I'm not worried about myself Nick" Terri replied "I'm just scared for you…going against that scary looking Pokemon…"
"Latias isn't evil Terri" I said "She was corrupted but if you give me the serum I can cure her of her evil state…and trust me, the normal Latias is the most caring and charming Pokemon you'll ever meet…I'm sure you'll make great friends with her…so Terri I ask again…please give me the serum…"
"Do as he asks Terri" Charles said "I know I told you to guard that serum with your life…but you're more important to me than anything else now…I don't want to see you get hurt because of what you're hiding…give it to Nick so he can help his friend…because it was me that turned his friend evil and the least we can do for Nick and Latias is give them both the chance to save themselves."
Terri looked up at her Dad, then back to me…I could see the reflection of myself on her eyes…my face was painted with a pleading look…I had to save Latias…by any means…
"Please Terri…" I begged.
Terri then sighed with a smile…she opened her locket and then brought out the capsule with the purple liquid in it…the only known scientific serum on Earth that can open the hearts of Shadow Pokemon once more…Terri stood up and grabbed my hand…she placed the capsule in my palm.
"Go save your friend Nick…and thank you for saving my life…"
"No Terri…thank you." I smiled down on her "And Charles…do you think this serum might be strong enough to work on Lugia?..."
"No Nick, Shadow Lugia is a highly advanced Shadow Pokemon whose shadow powers were built up from years of research and testing…his Shadow heart is too advanced for the Serum you hold…but Latias is different, she's basically just a juvenile Shadow Pokemon…nowhere near as advanced as Lugia…the serum should be enough but only if its applied before her heart is sealed for good…"
"Got it…" I replied "But is there no other known method to purify Shadow Lugia?"
"No…I'm afraid not Nick…Lugia was created so he couldn't be purified…I'm afraid what poor Lugia is imprisoned in that dark body is trapped there for good…"
"Well…we'll see about that…but I've got a feeling I might not live through it…"
"What are you talking about Nick?" Terri asked me worried.
"Oh it's nothing…I'm just unsure whether I'll get off this island alive…"
"He who believes in defeat is sure of it." Charles replied…I looked at him confused "In other words don't give up Nick…"
"Sure…of course I won't give up!"
"But first you'll need this…you'll need to inject the serum in the chest area of Latias for it to work to its full potential so take this" and Charles handed me some kind of gun with a syringe at the barrel and the middle hollowed out "That's a syringe gun…you place the capsule in this hollowed out area here and there you go, just press the trigger and the gun shoots the serum into the injected target quickly…should give you quick enough time to use it and get away unharmed."
"Right, thanks Doc" I replied.
I took the syringe gun and held the capsule up high towards the light so I could see which end goes towards the front of the gun…but all of a sudden, some invisible force grabbed my arm and hoisted me into the air…my feet were left dangling two feet off the floor. Then to my horror the invisible force ripped the capsule from my hand, and as soon as it left my palm I was dropped to the floor.
I scrambled onto my feet…Charles and Terri and her Pachirisu took shelter in the corner…I looked up into the air to see the capsule floating on its own accord…but then came the laughter…the familiar laughter of Shadow Latias…from her hand that was holding the capsule, she started to appear all the way down to her underbelly and she just laughed maniacally.
"Did you really think I was going to let you sneak away and try to purify me Nicholas?" she laughed "Well once again you have failed…just like how you failed me before!"
"Failed you?" I screamed "What the hell do you mean?"
"You let me get caught…you let me be experimented on by wicked humans! But now thanks to Brother Lugia, I have seen that my new form has granted me liberation…now I can take my vengeance on Cipher and especially you and Latios!"
"I didn't fail you Latias! At least not entirely…don't you remember? You gave yourself up to prevent a bigger catastrophe from happening than the one we're already facing…and I came to rescue you once but I was caught…then I came to rescue you a second time, but by that point I was too late…"
"So you admit you failed?" Latias asked.
"Well I tried my best Latias…but yes…I was too late for you…and I am sorry…" Latias looked at me with an interested look as her eyes ran up and down my face:
"You really cared for the original Latias…didn't you?"
"Yes…I did…she treated me like no person has ever treated me before…and to be honest I look up at her like a sister figure because I don't get on very well with my own sister."
"So this is why you've come for the serum…you still want to save her?"
"I want to save YOU Latias…that Serum you hold there can free you and I know deep down you can hear me…please…fight the Darkness, fight it long enough and drop the serum so I can use it…I promised I would save you and Latios and so far I've managed to save your brother…just let me save you…"
Shadow Latias just kept staring at me coldly…was the real Latias in there coming out slightly? Could she hear me?
"Hehehe, the original Latias isn't here…" Shadow Latias cackled "And you have no need for this serum anymore…"
She threw the capsule into the air and then put her head upwards and held her mouth wide open…she was going to swallow the capsule! I screamed 'No' trying to get up to my feet but there was no way I as going to be quick enough…but from my right hand side, Charles came charging forward and launched himself at Latias…he fell holding onto Latias into a table and thank God, the capsule landed harmlessly on the floor without breaking.
Charles scrambled onto his feet…but Latias was quick on the draw…with full force she clawed Charles right across the face leaving four long lines of bleeding cuts along Charles left cheek…he slumped onto the floor barely moving.
"DAD!" Terri screamed as she ran over to her father…but she was blocked by Latias.
"Stay away little girl!" she hissed and she quickly grabbed Terri, the little girl screamed for her life trying to claw herself away.
"LATIAS!" I yelled…Latias kept a hold onto the screaming Terri "Don't hurt that little girl Latias…I know you don't want to…you can't it's not in your nature!"
"I am not Latias anymore! I am SHADOW LATIAS!" she hissed angrily.
"Yeah that's right…you're a cheap copy…a useless byproduct of an experiment gone terribly wrong…you're not even real 'Shadow' Latias, you're just a walking carbon copy…"
Latias frowned furiously at me…it was working, I got her angry enough at me so she forgot about Terri and dropped her…as soon as Terri was free she ran next to her Dad and I continued with my verbal assault.
"You're a worthless piece of trash XD-002! Do you think Lugia gives a damn about you? You're nothing….NOTHING compared to him!"
Latias turned at me baring her teeth and growling:
"I risked my life and limb to try and save you an you thank me by trying to kill me…well guess what Latias…I never cared about you…I just stayed with you so I could stay safe…you annoyed me when you were that oh so innocent little Lana in your human form and you annoyed me when you kept invading my dreams…so forget it…I'm glad you're Lugia's little pet now you deserve it!"
Latias hissed and began to glow in a shadowy aura "How dare you…" she said, but I quickly butted in.
"How dare YOU! You pick on innocent little girls and you nearly kill your brother…you're a God Damn sissy Latias" and I spat at her face with the precision of a spitting Cobra "And frankly you can rot in the pits of that Shadowy prison for all I care…"
"RAAAAAAAAARRRR!" Latias roared with fury as she charged me and pinned me to the floor holding onto my neck "I don't care if Lugia wants you alive, I'm going to make your life a misery before you too are imprisoned in a Shadowy body!"
"No I won't Latias…and neither will you…not anymore…" I said in a soothing voice, and I looked down towards Latias stomach…she saw me looking down and she let go of my neck…she too looked down at her stomach, and saw that I had my hand gripped onto the syringe gun with the needle poking into her chest…my finger already pulling the trigger as far back as it would go and the contents of the capsule was empty…
Latias gasped with horror and looked back at me…I smiled comfortingly:
"Break out Latias…free yourself…."
Latias instantly jerked back and held her chest…she began to howl in an agonizing sounding screech…I stood back up and watched her with anticipation….all of a sudden the barricade and door to the room burst open, but to my relief it was Latios…he looked down at his sister cradling her chest and screaming in pain and he tried to go to her but I held him back.
"Stay back Latios" I said as I showed Latios the empty syringe gun.
"You managed to inject the serum into her?" he asked.
"Yes…we have to stay back and let the medicine work without interfering…Latias also has to do her best to fight the darkness…"
"Nick…I…thank you…you really went all out to help us both…" Latios replied with a smile.
"We helped each other Latios" I replied as I walked over to him and ran my hand over his head "Neither of us would've survived if we didn't have each other…so thank you too."
Latios smiled at me with a very pleased and grateful look and I continued to rub his head. He came forward and licked my cheek:
"You're welcome Nick…it's the least we could've done for your Dad after we were too late to save him…"
However my attention was interrupted as I could hear Charles groan with pain and Terri sobbing over her father.
"Latios…go help that man, he's hurt badly."
"Right…" he replied as he went over to Charles…Terri got a little scared because Latios looked somewhat similar to Latias.
"Relax Terri, he's a friend…he can help your Dad…"
"Really?" Terri replied with a small smile.
"Yes I can" Latios said to her "All that I ask is hold onto your Dad's hand and give him all of your strength…I can heal these wounds on his face…"
Terri did as she was told, grasping onto her Dad's hand and praying. Latios used his psychic abilities to heal the wounds on Charles' face as he rubbed his paw over the wounds.
Meanwhile I kept looking down at Latias…she suddenly stopped moving in an agonizing gesture and floated back up off the floor. Her head was drooped down and she looked depressed…nothing seems to have changed about her though.
"Latias?" I asked her "Are you okay?"
She just floated there…almost motionless…I approached her and put my hand on her shoulder "Latias…can you hear me?"
Suddenly she grabbed hold of my arm and grabbed my neck with her other hand "I can hear you just fine!" she cackled and she quickly twisted my arm around my back forcing me to turn around and using her other hand she pressed her knife like claws into the front of my neck.
Latios saw what was going on and quickly tried to come to my aid, but Latias had me as her hostage…with those claws pressing into my neck, just a slight move and they would pierce my windpipe.
"Hold it!" she said to Latios "One move and I'll rip his voice box out!"
"No Latias please!" he begged his sister.
I meanwhile was gasping and choking…my skin could feel the sharpness of those claws just from them touching my skin. If I swallowed the lump in my neck, the claws would penetrate my skin.
"But…" I croaked "…the serum!"
"You were too late with the serum Nicholas! I have fully assimilated Latias' body into a Shadow being!"
"No!" I cried "No you're lying you have to be!" I screamed while struggling to break free…
"If I was…I wouldn't do this would I?" She said placing her face right next to mine and then she quickly jerked her head back…and I could feel her press her claws harder against my neck…I gasped one last breath and I looked at Latios with a scared face, tears coming out of my eyes…I could also see tears come out of his eyes…we both knew the end was nigh…
SLASH!
Latias ran her the entire length of her claws as hard and as fast as she could along my neck…and I could no longer breathe…I fell onto the floor stomach first holding my neck…my body shaking…I tried to breathe but all I could hear was my own gargled coughs and spluttering as I spat blood from out of my mouth…
I gasped and gasped but no air could get through to me…all I could hear now was Latios shouting my name…Terri screaming with fear…and the laughter of Latias cackling like a mad witch…
My body began to shake wildly…my brain knew I was dying…my eyes contorted into a blank colored stare as I could begin to see the light…the light…it shrouded my entire vision…I heard the last words of Latios:
'Latias…how could you?'
I never got to hear Latias' reply…and frankly I'm glad I didn't…but as the light flooded into my eyes, I did not end with a croak or a whimper…but rather…it all ended with a breath…
…
…
A breath?
How could I be breathing again? Am I in heaven? I'm not sure…I could feel my heart beat again and I could breathe too…but I could not move…was I a spirit?
'Yes…you are a spirit…but I have managed to stop you from leaving your physical body' I heard a voice 'I have come to you…in your time of need…'
"Who or what are you?" I asked the voice.
'You should know' It replied…the voice sounded like my own thoughts but I was actually able to converse with myself?
'We've been together since your childhood…' the voice continued. I suddenly felt warm and comfortable all over…a feeling of peace consumed me and to be honest it felt good…
'Do you remember me now?' the voice asked.
I thought for a moment…the feeling…was familiar and as if by déjà vu my mind brought a name to me:
"Are you…the Silver Wing?" I asked.
'Yes' it replied 'I am and I am able to speak to you now…because we have finally become one with each other…'
"One with each other?" I asked.
'Before I was just an item stitched inside of you all those years ago by your Father, now thanks to the people at Cipher…they unwittingly unlocked all my powers inside of you…you and I have completely merged together…both our blood runs through each other.'
"What are you talking about?"
'In their attempt to turn you into a Lugia, Cipher succeeded somewhat…they broke down my DNA structure and bonded it with yours, but they were too late in completely transforming your DNA into that of a Lugia and you are able to retain your human body. Do you remember the time you felt something inside of you when you broke out of that water tank? Do you remember the time when you heard a voice persuade you to help your friends rather than seek revenge on Greevil?'
"Yes…I remember all of that…"
'That was me Nick…I was guiding you the whole time…while before I was just an inanimate object that was able to slowly but surely heal your wounds…I now have a heart…and a mind thanks to you…we share the same body and thanks to a heart and mind to call my own, I can now guide you on your way to freedom and give you all the powers that I have for you to use.'
"Hey" I said "I don't appreciate the whole 'body sharing' thing…"
'Of course not Nick, I would never take over your body…I am yours to command, I am here to now help you, think of me as your conscience, just like Jiminy Cricket to Pinocchio. I was given to you for one reason and that was to purify Shadow Lugia…'
"I know that…how do I get you out though so I can use you to purify Shadow Lugia?"
'Well…that's the point…you can't'
"What?!" I squeaked…
'Don't take that the wrong way…what I mean is Nick…I am no longer an item…thanks to you I now am an actual living entity myself…there is no Silver Wing anymore…just you and me…'
"But…you mean I no longer have the Silver Wing to purify Shadow Lugia? Then how will I purify him?"
'Don't worry Nick…you can still purify him…technically you are now the Silver Wing…'
"What?" I asked.
'My blood flows within you now…you are now half human, half Lugia. The powers that the Silver Wing used to have are now within you…'
"Wait I think I know what you mean now" I butted in "You mean I myself can now purify Shadow Lugia?"
'Exactly! You now carry the power of purification!'
"Sweet!" I replied "Wait a minute…where am I exactly?"
'You are dead Nick…'
"What!"
'You are now in your spirit form…ready to move onto the next life…but now that you are in spirit form I can talk with you now…in essence I am your second spirit, your second heart…and when I sensed you were on the verge of death, that is when I stepped in and prevented your spirit from leaving your body…'
"You mean…you saved me from dying?"
'Yes…even as we speak I am now forcing your spirit back to where it belongs…your heart, mind and body and I am also fixing your wounds…'
"I…I don't know what to say…but thank you…Silver Wing…"
'It's my honor Nicholas…you have given me the ability to think for myself…now my job is almost complete…and I pass on to you some of my power…the abilities you'll need to survive and complete your journey…but first…you have a friend that needs saving…and I can already feel her guilt for what her evil side did to you…'
"You mean Latias?"
'Yes…now my friend…awaken and live the rest of your life in peace…as it always should have been.'
That was when the light faded away…and color came back to my eyes…the color changed and changed until it formed the shape of the surroundings I was in earlier right before I thought I passed away. I could see the ceiling of the room, the walls and eventually the occupants…the voices were echoed but I could make out the face of Charles pushing down on my chest and shouting at me to breathe…
"Gasp!" I sucked in air through my lungs…Charles looked down at me in amazement and stood back up…my heart began to beat again…
'That's it Nick' the same voice came to me 'Keep breathing…you're almost back…'
I breathed and I breathed and I breathed! I was breathing like I ran a marathon but without the cramps and sweat. While I kept on panting like a dog, I was able to sit back up and rest my hands on the floor before they came up to my eyes to shield my eyes from the light.
I held my head tightly as I could feel my brain was spinning like an out of control plane propeller. I finally hoisted myself back up onto my own two feet and I could see Charles and Terri look at me with shock and awe; I had literally risen back from the dead. I looked at them and smiled:
"I'm okay…"
I then felt someone grab my shoulder…I turned to see Latios holding onto me and as I fully turned, he put his other paw on my other shoulder…I think he was rubbing his hands along my shoulders and face to see if it was really me.
"Nick…how…how did you do that?" he asked me stunned.
"Its difficult to explain…but lets just say that the Silver Wing came through for me again…" and I patted my chest triumphantly, but I looked around and was surprised to see no imminent danger "Where did Shadow Latias go?"
Latios floated by my side and pointed to a corner of the room, once he had moved I could see Shadow Latias sitting in the corner…sulking or depressed I'm not sure, but she had her back turned to us with her head in her paws.
"After she apparently killed you" Latios said "Something inside of her snapped. I think her good side was filled up with too much emotion and sorrow for her dark side to suppress anymore. She's fighting with herself…"
I looked at Latios stunned and we then both turned to Latias…I sighed and breathed my courage back in and walked towards her, Latios tried to pull me back but I gently pushed his paw of my shoulder and smiled at him to tell him I know what I'm doing…as I got closer to Latias:
"Latias?" I asked "Are you okay?"
"Why should you care?" she replied, her voice for the moment didn't sound evil anymore, it sounded like the original Latias' voice "All those cruel things you said about me…"
"Were lies…" I replied "I did not mean any of it…I was trying to get you worked up so you wouldn't notice me use the serum and for anything I said I am truly, truly sorry…besides…I had my fingers crossed when I said it."
I held my right hand up with my fingers crossed…Latias turned to look at me…her eyes were different now…they were a toasty golden brown color, looks like the real Latias was partially coming through…her eyes were watery and full of guilt. But that didn't stop me from smiling back at her.
"I guess I'm finally talking to the real Latias…listen to me, you must fight it Latias the serum is struggling to fight the darkness…you must help it."
"I-I-I can't!" she sobbed "It's too strong…too painful…I feel too upset to care anymore…"
"Why are you upset Latias?"
"The awful things my dark side made me do…it forced me to kill you Nick…it forced me to hurt you…I am so sorry…"
"Hey…I'm still alive aren't I?" I said back…Latias looked up at me again and I continued "And you have nothing to be sorry about…you were not in control of your body Latias…"
"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" Latias said over and over…but I noticed her telepathic voice was beginning to change…back to Shadow Latias… "I'm sorry you're not DEAD!" She roared and in the blink of an eye she lunged at me and latched her paws around my throat "Why couldn't you stay dead you ungrateful human bacteria bag!" and she shook my head about violently.
Latios and Charles tried to come to my aid, but I lifted my hand up to stop them…there was something that only I could do now:
"Because Shadow Latias you must be destroyed. How dare you invade my friend's body and forcing her to go against her nature…you have no right to the things you put Latias through!"
"She does not care…I am Latias now and there is nothing you can do to bring her back! I promised Lugia to deliver you to him, but before I do I am going to make the rest of your human life a living nightmare!"
"I disagree…there is something I can do…and I am going to send you back into the abyss where you belong Shadow demon!" and that's when I could start to feel it…the warm, strong feeling inside of my chest…I felt my arms pulsate with power and with Herculean like strength, I grabbed Shadow Latias' arms and pulled them away from my neck.
Shadow Latias was completely taken back, the look of shock on her face as I tore her arms away and then she found herself in the completely opposite position as I grabbed a hold of her head and slowly forced her against a wall; as my hands touched the side of her head, a white light began to shine from my palms:
"As I look into your mind, I can feel you're in there Latias…follow my light out of the darkness as I pass onto you a ladder to escape, but you must help me Latias, you must fight, you must battle, you must win, you must not give up!"
The light around my hands grew brighter and brighter…Shadow Latias began to scream…she could feel she was losing her evil grip over Latias.
"Nooo what are you doing!?"
"I'm returning you back to normal…now Latias please come forward, please escape!" I yelled over and over again.
As I shouted louder…that's when I could see her eyes change…the ghostly grey color began to dissipate…the original amber color was starting to come back. I looked down at Latias hands latching onto my arms…the claws were shrinking back into the paws and the triangle shape on her stomach was starting to curve at the points and return to their original blue color.
"LATIAS COME FORWARD!" I shouted one last time…the light that was surrounding my hands eventually started to flow into Latias' body and she too shone like a Christmas tree…the dark purple that covered her body began to boil…it bubbled and it was not a pretty sight.
But with one last defiant screech, Shadow Latias screamed in an agonizing long pain that made my eardrums vibrate…but in a spectacular display of effects…the dark purple colors that covered Latias' body exploded! They blew right off her body into thousands of pieces and as soon as they touched air, they evaporated into little puffs of smoke. Everything went quiet…
I was buzzing with enthusiasm and energy like I drank three pints of coffee…when I finally brought myself to calm down…I noticed that the light show was now gone…and there I was holding in my arms…was Latias…no longer did she have vicious teeth or claws, or dark skin/fur…she had her red fur back and her ears were no longer pointing straight up in a sinister appearance, they had returned into their normal curved down positions.
She had been purified…
Her eyes remained closed and at that moment I also realized I no longer had the strength to hold her back up…I gently sat her on the floor with her back resting against the wall. I ran my hands down the sides of her cheeks to see if I could feel that this Latias was real.
"Nick…" I heard Latios say "What did you just do? You…cured her!"
"I purified her Latios…your sister is back…"
Latios looked at me; his expression was a mixture on relief and disbelief…I don't think he believes his sister is really back and neither could I frankly, but as Latios floated over to his sister and picked her head up cradling it, the Latias he was holding very much looked like the original Latias.
Latios ran his paw over Latias' head…as he did, the paws of Latias slowly crept up and latched gently onto Latios' arms…you could hear her beginning to stir as she took her first breaths of freedom from her Shadow prison.
"Latias?" Latios asked with a whisper…for the first time Latias opened her eyes again…those same large golden/amber eyes we've all come to known from their elegant stare.
She groaned and took in a deep breath…as she looked up at Latias, the huge bright smile that painted from cheek to cheek was something that would put a clown's smile to shame:
"Brother!" she chirped, and Latios returned the smile back down at Latias, within seconds they both latched each other's arms around each other's necks…the noise of their own unique kind of purr of happiness could be felt right through my heart as the gentle vibrations painted the bodies of the humans of the room…even Charles and Terri could not help but smile by the nice feeling.
Latios and Latias rubbed their heads with each other, smiling, purring, to see that kind of love between siblings is nothing short of miraculous in this day in age, where love between siblings is a myth.
"I'm back! I'm really back!" Latias voice bounced up and down with excitement "I'm my own Latias again!"
"Yes…and what's better you are my sister again…not Dark Lugia's." Latios then turned to me "Me and especially you Latias have someone to thank for…" I started to feel shaky and bashful…especially when Latias looked at me, but Latios was not just finished yet:
"Nick never gave up on you Latias…even when you were Shadow Latias and extremely dangerous…Nick vowed to save you…and he has…"
"Latios please, you're making me nervous…" I said innocently rubbing my hair with my hand, but Latios cheekily smiled at me and moved to the side, hinting at Latias to go to me.
She turned to me and floated right in front of me…I laughed nervously and wiped some sweat away from my brow…but Latias just kept floating there:
"Err…it was nothing…really…" I said…I could feel my cheeks burning up…
Latias then placed her hands on my shoulders…she gave me the same bright smile she did to Latios earlier and she looked at me with her wonderful eyes…I was so enchanted by her eyes, I could not pull myself away.
"Nick…" Latias said to me "I owe you my life…" and as soon as she said that, she brought her face up to mine and planted a sweet kiss on my lips…I did not know how long it went on for, but it felt like a long time…I really did not know what to feel…it was weird to be kissed by someone that wasn't human…but after all the people I've met in my life, I'd call Latios and Latias more human than any actual human I know.
As she stopped kissing me, she rubbed her head and hands all over my head…I could feel the thrumming of her purr go right through me as it seemed to make my heart melt away:
"Also Nick, I want to say I am so sorry for what I put you through…I hurt you, I abducted you and then I…I…" she could not bare to say the last thing she did to me "I made you go is all I can say" I could feel her tears run down my cheek and neck "I did not deserve to be rescued…not what I did to you and Latios…"
"That was not you that did those things Latias" I replied holding her neck "That was something else that did that…a demon…I could not let you be swallowed by the Darkness…and it was the least I could've done Latias, just like you said, I too owe you my life…it was you that dragged me out of the raging water and it was you that saved me and Johnston from being mauled by those Scythers. Plus I had to save you…throughout this crisis, you've given me all the happiness I needed to get through it all…and the same goes for Latios too…"
Latias pulled her head away for a moment and looked at me with a smiling but still tearful face:
"Do you really mean that?"
"I do…I don't mean to brag, but I really did go through a lot to help you…but it was all worth it to see your smiling face again."
Latias smiled with glee again, she could barely hold in her joy at what I said and she placed her head against my chest crying with joy. Latios eventually came over and placed a paw on my shoulder:
"You're Dad would be very proud of you Nick…and I am too…you saved my only family, but from this day on…I have someone else to call family, someone to call my brother…you." He smiles and Latios then joined in to form a three member group hug as he placed his head on the back of my neck…him too purring.
"I feel the same way too Nick…" Latias said right after Latios.
"Thank you…both of you…I am honored that you consider me in that manner…" what was left of my heart soon melted away like a roman candle…and eventually I could not stop a few tears of joy and gratitude roll down my on cheeks and onto the faces of Latios and Latias…these two wonderful creatures were the closest thing I had to a family while I was stuck here…away from home.
Secretly I thought within my own brain…I also said a thanks to the spirit of the Silver Wing or whatever it was that saved me from dying 'Thank you too…Silver Wing…'
I could feel the warmth of it all as well…the feeling was just…beautiful…I could've fallen asleep from comfort right there and then. But my thoughts were interrupted when Charles walked over and coughed to get our attention.
"You might not know me Latias" he said "But my name is Charles Williams…I don't know how to say this so I'll just make it quick…I was the man that put you into the XD-002 program…"
Latias jumped up shocked and grew an angry frown "You were the man that turned me into a monster?" she said getting confrontational with Charles.
"Please…allow me to explain myself…" he said waving his hands in a gesture of peace "I was just a Pokemon psychiatrist…but Greevil needed someone to research your behavior patterns and come up with a prediction of your state of mind when you were turned into a Shadow Pokemon so I was placed as head of the project. I didn't want to do it…it was not that long ago I found out about Cipher's Shadow Pokemon program…but Greevil needed me to help the project along and if I refused…" Charles then hinted for Terri to come forward with her Pachirisu still clinging to her shoulder…Terri held onto her Dad's lab coat as he put his arm around her:
"If I refused…he would've hurt my family…I had no choice Latias…I am so, so sorry. A beautiful Pokemon like you should never have to be put through the things you did go through…"
I could feel the tension in the air…and I knew Charles meant every word he said…so in his defense I picked up the empty syringe gun I had used moments before and presented it to Latias:
"Charles however, behind Greevil's back, researched to create a serum that would open up the hearts of Shadow Pokemon once more. It was the only one of its kind on Earth Latias…and it was Charles serum that I used on you to help you break free…so Charles is partially responsible for you freedom…" I turned and smiled at Charles…he gave me a look of thanks back.
"Is…is that true?" Latias asked.
"Yes sister…I can sense he does not lie…" Latios replied.
At that moment, Terri let go of her Dad's arm and approached Latias, she looked her up and down:
"You're very beautiful" Terri said "Nick was right…you are a wonderful looking Pokemon…I'm glad I was able to have the chance to see you in your normal form…"
Latias looked down at Terri…she smiled joyously and ran her paw through Terri's hair "Thank you, and you're a very pretty girl…and I also thank you Charles for the serum…and I forgive you…I already know about Cipher's evil power over its workforce and their relatives…"
"Thank you Miss Latias." Charles said bowing down with a show respect and gratitude.
I then felt the paw of Latios trying to get my attention again "Nick…when you had Latias pinned to the floor right before she was purified…what did you do?"
"The Silver Wing" I replied "In their attempts to try and transform me into a Lugia, Cipher broke down the Silver Wing and bonded it with my genetic structure…but they underestimated the capabilities of the item…as I lay on the floor dying, what I can only describe as 'the spirit of the Silver Wing' awakened and stopped my spirit from leaving my body…soon it healed my wounds and re-activated my heart and brain…that's as simple as I can describe it…"
"So what's happened to the Silver Wing now?"
"There is no more Silver Wing…it was broken down and is now flowing within me…"
"But then how will we stop Shadow Lugia?" Latias said nervously.
"Oh don't worry Latios…the powers of the Silver Wing are not gone…" and I looked down at both my hands, in a show of strength I punched my left fist into my right palm "I now carry the power I need to defeat Shadow Lugia…and now that Latias is with us again, we're a full fighting team again, so let's get back there and help Silveen, Flygon, Gardevoir and Johnston…" I then breathed in heavily with pride and looked at everyone in the room:
"This nightmare ends now…"