A Spirit's Journey

by PkmnMaster Rolf

A story, you say? Well, I know a few of those. Some of them are about me, and some of those are even true. This one's one of my favorites. It's how I came to be the Absol I am today. Of course, I didn't like it then, but that's how it always is with life. It's kind of funny that way. It starts with me running down the slopes of Mt. Coronet...

25. Chapter 25: Vengeful Ghost Giratina

Chapter 25:

Vengeful Ghost Giratina

"Hurry!"

"Get that gate closed again!"

"Work faster! We have to hold the fortress!"

The shades were, to put it bluntly, panicking. They were rushing around in every which direction doing any which thing that they thought needed doing. I would have expected that they would have fled from the imminent threat. However, if anything this made them work harder than ever before, desperately trying to get the fortress in shape in order to give them a chance to defend themselves.

Meanwhile, our group had taken up residence in the central tower. Seth was using the hog-tied Rotom's knowledge to bypass all the fortress's security systems, converting them to our control. We stood off to the side, watching him manipulate the controls and occasionally 'squeeze' a little information out of Rotom. As he turned the various defenses of the fortress against their masters, he explained several of the more important systems to us.

"The…the entire fortress has a shield that can be projected over it, the Over-shield, which only allows invaders to…to access it only at the four entrances to the c-causeways," he said, hands flying over the controls, which more resembled ancient runes inscribed on the wall and a series of mirrors that showed the fortress's main choke-points than a human computer. Syoran was amazed by it, that's for sure. Me, I was less impressed. There are only so many strange and bizarre things I can see before I stopped caring. I'd pretty much reached that limit.

"How does it work?" Syoran asked in awe.

"The s-shield?" Seth asked, confused.

"No, this," Syoran replied, pointing to the control system.

"Oh," Seth said with a shrug, "Magic, of course."

"Magic?" Syoran repeated, dubious.

"Yes, Magic," Seth assured him, "Now's not the time f-for that though…" He glanced down at the immobilized Rotom. "It's all set up. Now, how do I activate the shield?"

Rotom leered up at him. "Press Nute, then Sobek," he said, "And while you're at it, could you fill out a customer service card?"

"M-maybe later," Seth answered, pressing two runes on the wall. There was a ripple of light that spread across the wall from them and through the 'mirrors' we saw a transparent bubble slowly materialize around the fortress. "There," Seth said, satisfied, "That sh-should keep him from coming straight to the tower." He floated away from the contraption and addressed us. "S-so, what are you going to do? I could just activate the portal and get you out of here."

"Sounds like a wonderful idea to me!" Lady Glacier said brightly, "Who agrees?"

There was a stunning lack of response. It wasn't that we didn't want to leave. In fact, I think we were all leaning that way. But I, for one, did not like the idea of abandoning all the shades, including my family and Psi's mother, to be torn to shreds by Giratina. Sure, we didn't stand a much better chance, but at least we had a chance. And then, there was Pikablu, who's only response was to fold his arms and head for the stairs that led back down into the fortress. Lady Glacier watched him in alarm.

"Where are you going?" she demanded.

"If Mew is fighting that basilisk, then I will too," he said, growling a little under his breath and letting loose a few sparks, "I'm going to get out above the gate and summon the biggest thunderstorm this world has ever seen! Then, I'm going to use it to fry Giratina as he approaches!"

"You know that lightning won't be very effective against a dragon, right?" Syoran asked.

"Yes, I know that, thank you!" Pikablu snapped, "I am aware of my own limits! I just choose to ignore them!" He huffed and dashed away in a burst of speed. Lady Glacier stared after him for a moment before following reluctantly. That didn't stop her from insulting him though.

"Wait for me, you miserable mouse!" she yelled, trying to catch him.

"And while he's doing that," I said, "What should we do? I assume we aren't just going to run off with our tails between our legs. Except you, Syoran. You don't have a tail."

"Maybe Nine could spare one of hers…" Rio mused, until Nine glared at him and he gulped. "On second thought, never mind."

Syoran sighed and slumped against the wall. "I don't know…" he scoffed, "It's up to you all. I can come up with a strategy, but you would have to decide whether it's too dangerous or not..." He sighed forlornly. "I guess humans are pretty useless when it comes to something like this."

"Yes, you are," I said sharply, "So stay here! I'm going to see if I can find Latios! Then we can make a plan or something."

"Where are you going to look?" Nine demanded, "Where is Latios?"

"I don't know! That's why I'm going to find him!" I replied with an edge of snappishness in my tone. It was a high-stress situation, very understandable, even to Nine…why am I justifying myself? "I'm the fastest, unless Psi wants to teleport all over the place!"

"Not really…" Psi mumbled, "It's too tiring…"

"See?" I said triumphantly, "I'll be back in a flash!"

"Spirit! Wait! Don't you think we should talk about…" Nine called as I ran for the door.

"No time for that!" I called back, "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine!"

"Spirit!" they chorused, but I was already gone. I heard Seth shouting something about an intercom, but I had no idea what that was so I kept going. Maybe it was stupid to run off by myself like that. In fact, in hind sight, it probably was. But, I didn't think we had time to waste. As it turned out, we had even less than I thought.

I ran as fast as I could, quickly making my down the spiraling staircase that wrapped around the inside of the tower's outer wall, out through the ruined courtyard where Rotom's mech lay ruined, and straight down the causeway. I moved with all the speed I could muster, heading directly for the outer walls of the fortress. It was as good a place as any to start looking, after all. It seemed that luck was with me that day, because I found him at one of the outer gates with a group of shades, staring out over the abyss surrounding the fortress.

"Latios!" I called, skidding to a halt in the courtyard below, "We need you in the tower! We need to make a plan for when Giratina arrives!" The dragon's shade turned to me with a somber expression and I froze. He didn't even have to say anything. I knew. I knew what he was going to say next.

"Too late for that…" Latios said grimly, motioning me to come up to the wall, "He's practically here already."

I cursed under my breath and climbed up to a position that allowed me to look over the wall. Sure enough, I could see him not too far off. He was a quickly growing speck of gold and grey with shadows trailing like a cape behind him, writhing and twisting like the tentacles of an enraged sea-beast. Even from here, I could feel his red eyes glaring, filled with hate and malevolence as he bore down on the rebellious fortress. Behind him, I thought I could spot two pinpricks of light, one pink and one blue, but the shadows trailing behind him frequently obscured them from sight.

"What are we going to do?" I asked solemnly.

"Hmm…" Latios sighed. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Then, moving like one who has just received a jolt of electricity, he bolted into action. "Everyone! Man the walls! The Over-shield should keep him from coming in from above! If we can hold the gates, he can't get in! Quickly! It will take all our power to fend him off!"

The surrounding shades leapt into action at his command, but Giratina did not slow his approach. In less than a minute, he would be upon us. I gazed at all the shades around me. Some were absolutely filled with terror, others had expressions of resignation on their faces. But before I could really get a handle on any of them, our time was up. He drew near and we all expected to hear his deafening roar shake the very foundations of the fortress. But instead, his eyes swept the ranks of shades coldly, freezing them in their tracks. He did not slow either, barreling straight for the fortress.

"He's…he's coming in right through the main gate!" one of the shades gasped in horror. Giratina heard this and smiled cruelly.

"But of course," he hissed in a cruel, sibilant voice that echoed off of every rock and stone in the fortress, "Why should I not enter the front door of my fortress?"

"FIRE!" Latios shouted, but it was no use. Giratina swatted the shade's attacks aside with barely a glance. Then, he roared and the gate crumbled before him and under many of the shades. Even I had to scramble to the side to avoid being buried in the collapse. With a triumphant screech, Giratina entered into his home.

The shades attempted to charge him, proving that they were much braver than I was, and Giratina's eyes flashed in anger. "So? You choose to rebel against me? Fools! You cannot challenge me in my own realm! I am the law here! You will face the punishment you deserve!" The shadows behind him writhed and wriggled, forming into six, dark columns of absolute black. Down they plunged in unison, sweeping the shades to the side like toys in the hands of some monstrous child. Then, he reared back over them, taking on the resemblance of a giant viper ready to strike. "It begins right now!"

"Giratina!" Latios called. The great Lord of Death swung around toward him, eyes burning with rage and malice. Latios flinched slightly, not that anyone would have noticed. In fact, the only reason I saw it was because I was right beside him. "Leave them alone! I led them!"

"Are you offering yourself for punishment, then?" Giratina hissed, seething with explosive wrath.

"No," Latios said defiantly, narrowing his eyes. Without any warning, he shot forward, accelerating straight for Giratina's head. "I am challenging you instead!"

Giratina twisted aside as Latios shot by, barely grazing the dark emperor with the tip of his wing. Shadows spun in a great vortex, forming a deadly sphere in Giratina's maw. He fired it with a roar, sending it chasing after Latios, but the legendary hero was already outmaneuvering it. He spun in the air, diving below it and coming up to ram Giratina's jaw at full-speed.

"INSOLENT WRETCH!" Giratina bellowed, rising up into the air in a futile attempt to catch him. Latios flashed me a grin as he shot over my head, easily out-speeding the tremendous Legendary. I was kind of impressed. He was holding his own against Giratina, no help from anyone or anything. I had to think that maybe he had let me win in order to impress the shades. Otherwise I never would have been able to handle his speed.

"Cease this foolish game, Latios! You are only increasing my rage!" Giratina roared.

Latios scoffed. "Is that supposed to scare me? You've done so many terrible things already, it no longer matters!" he challenged, knocking Giratina back with a powerful impact.

"You dare not only to challenge me but you question me too?" Giratina snapped, summoning more shadows to attack him, "You should know your place, Latios, former Hero of Alto Mare!"

"My place?" Latios scoffed, performing some very fancy mid-air evasions as burst of shadow shot by him on either side, "You first! You're supposed to rule the land of the dead and send the spirits on to the afterlife! Not use them to conquer the world of the living!"

"I do not wish to rule the land of the living!" Giratina corrected, "But I cannot allow even one soul to escape its appointed hour or the world will be flung into chaos!"

"Who gave you the authority to decide that?" Latios raged, moving so quickly that I could barely keep my eyes on him. "That is not your role! Will you add the name 'usurper' to your long list of crimes?"

"You DARE question me? ME?" Giratina roared, irate and out of control, "My power far surpasses yours! I am older than you by millennia! My knowledge extends all the way back to the beginning of time and space itself! I am the ruler of the dead! Why should I not decide the fate of mortals? My power dictates it! And you shall feel that power!"

"You first!" Latios growled. Performing an incredibly tight turn, he shot back towards Giratina, a golden-white aura sparking to life and growing until it surrounded him. "Feel my power, tyrant!" he shouted, slamming into Giratina's chest and driving the basilisk to the ground. In an instant, they were both up and flying again, circling each other. Giratina seemed relatively unscathed, but Latios was already beginning to show signs of fatigue too.

"If only you still had your full power, this might stretch on for some time," Giratina said with a condescending sigh, "As it is, you have already used the majority of it up. You are a fool."

"He's not a fool!" I snarled, deciding I'd been on the sidelines enough and calling upon my powers over darkness. "Don't you know who we are?" I asked, crouching and channeling energy to my legs for a burst of strength and speed.

He glared down at me. "Enlighten me," he hissed.

I grinned cockily up at him. "We're the ones who are going to tear that golden mask right off your ghastly face!" With that, I leapt into the air, dark energy charging up in my body and giving me increased strength for the leap. Giratina roared and swooped down toward me, blue flames leaking from his mouth. Just as we were about to come together, I released all my stored darkness in the biggest 'Dark Pulse', as the humans call it, I'd ever made and was rewarded with an enraged and pained roar from the Lord of the Dead. Latios instantly followed up with another heavy strike and Giratina roared louder.

He began to plummet toward the floor, blinded and bellowing in rage. My feet found uneasy purchase on his armor and I held on for dear life as he fell toward the ground, disappearing into it and depositing me on the surface.

"Um…what now?" I asked Latios. Suddenly, shadowy tentacles erupted from the ground and seized the two of us, wrapping around our bodies and immobilizing us. I tried to cut and blast the one holding me apart, but neither made much of an impression. Giratina slowly rose from the floor, eyes ablaze and even seeming to glow with anger and mighty power.

"You…You little worms…" he growled, "You dared to face me in combat. Now, you shall…what's that noise?"

We listened. It was some sort of machine, a vehicle by the sound of it, and it was coming this way from the center of the fortress. I craned my head in that direction and nearly froze in shock. It was Syoran, riding some sort of human invention that looked like a motorized bike with his spear leveled directly at Giratina. And he was charging. Down the causeway.

"Syoran!" Latios and I shouted at him. With a flick of annoyance, Giratina tossed us aside and turned to face Syoran.

"Giratina!" Syoran challenged, "Face judgment from the sky!"

"Oh? You are Heaven's messenger now?" Giratina growled, preparing to crush him. A crackle of thunder shot across the fortress. In surprise, I looked up from where I had landed. There were a lot more clouds than there had been and they were all buzzing with electricity. With a bright flash, a brilliant bolt of lightning fell like a landslide on top of Giratina and he roared loudly, shaking the ground again. Then, just as the electricity dissipated into sparks, Syoran plunged his spear into a chink in the Lord of the Dead's armor, the sheer force of his down-hill charge shoving Giratina back and embedding the weapon deep in his body.

Syoran let the spear go and quickly rode away, nearly getting blasted by a spiteful and poorly aimed burst of shadow. I looked askance at my trainer as he pulled to a halt beside me. "Well, where did that come from?" I asked, a bit impressed.

"My back-pack. It was in a storage ball," he said with a grin, "Some trainers carry bikes, I do motor-cross."

"That's nice," I said, "but we might want to run now…"

Syoran glanced sideways at me. "Why's that?"

"Because," I replied, "Giratina is quite ticked right now and as soon as he pulls that spear out…"

Syoran gulped. "Good point," he said, gunning the engine of his bike and wheeling around, "Let's get out of here!"

"Hey! I was going to say that!" I growled, chasing after him. We had just gained the safety of an off-shooting passageway when I heard a loud snap behind me and Giratina roar in pain.

"Curse you, human! When I catch you, I will damn you to eternal torment for that wound!" he bellowed.

"You'll have to go through me first! Run, Syoran!" Latios shouted defiantly. I hesitated and almost turned back to help, but one more feral shriek from Giratina was enough to convince me to turn tail and run like all hell was after me. A tremor shook the fortress and threw me off balance. Syoran was not so fortunate. He toppled off his bike and slid into the wall.

"Ow…" he moaned, "glad I'm wearing this helmet…"

I scoffed. He was fine. The armor had completely shielded him from harm. The only reason he had for moaning was because he was just being a bit of a wimp. "Looks like that tin shell actually does help a bit," I muttered, walking over to him. I nudged him with my paw. "Get up already. You're supposed to be the leader. Besides, I don't know the plan. What do you think we should do now?"

He rose with a groan. "Well…the plan was to distract Giratina long enough for Pikablu to zap him. That worked, but…not as well as we had hoped."

I stared at him in utter amazement at the complete idiocy that had just come out of his mouth. "You mean to say," I said, "that your entire plan was to have Pikablu zap him? He's a dragon, you moron! You pointed that out, even!"

Syoran winced. "Yeah, but since Pikablu ran off without a plan, we kind of had to work around that…"

"Right…" I said grudgingly. After all, I guess it would be hard to do some planning with three members of your group absent. I sighed. "So…what happens now?"

Syoran sighed heavily. "Well, we can't just abandon the others. We have to go back into battle." He seemed a bit concerned about this, and I was too. But I saw no other option. I wasn't going to let my second family die. Not when I could do something about it. I set my jaw and turned back the way we had come.

"Then let's go," I said. I heard Syoran's footsteps hesitate for a moment, then run to catch up.

"I lost my spear," he complained, "I'll be even more useless now."

"Then stay back and try to think of a strategy," I growled, "Because I really didn't like getting hit by that attack last time you were in danger."

"I will," he said, slipping back into the cool confidence he usually exuded when we went into a fight.

The courtyard was a mess by the time we returned. Lightning crackled and writhed across the sky, lancing down into the fortress with resounding claps of thunder. Giratina's roar echoed across the entire structure, making me slow in hesitation. I looked up and saw him hovering high in the air, calling the shadows down to rain upon his own tower. In return, ice, electricity, Confuse Rays, and Aura Spheres showed that our friends were fighting back and I could just make out the form of Latios flying amongst the clouds. The Over-Shield was gone. I guess either something hit it too hard or Seth had deactivated it now that Giratina was inside. Either way, it was useless now.

"This ends here, Pikablu!" Giratina declared as blue and red energy began crackling between his shadowy tentacles. "Face my Judgment! The ultimate power of the dragons!"

"No…" Syoran said in horror, "Draco Meteor? But…that will kill them if he uses one that size!"

"I think that's the point," I said grimly. I wanted to turn away, but I couldn't. Even if I ran with all my might, I would never make it to them in time. Even if I did, I wouldn't be able to help any. The energy grew and grew, despite the frantic attempts to stop it. Giratina laughed, preparing to strike.

"Die!" he screamed, firing.

Like a demon cast down into Hell, screaming in absolute pain and all-consuming rage, the mass of energy fell, spelling doom and damnation for any in its way. Time seemed to slow down and yet go horribly quickly at the same time. I felt rather than heard myself scream.

Then, in a brilliant flash of pink and blue, two streaks of light shot into the space between the fortress and the attack, catching it and deflecting it so it went screaming harmlessly over the fortress. I gaped in shock, not even bothering to turn to see if Syoran was in a similar state. Giratina hissed venomously.

"Mew," he spat, "You and your pet monster are always getting between me and my prey."

"Giratina," the pink Legend said coldly, "I thought I had three weeks. It hasn't been that long yet, has it Twosie?"

The other one, the creature called Mewtwo, ground his teeth. "Original…" he said evenly, "I told you, never call me that." Mew stared at him expectantly. "Yes…" Mewtwo said with a sigh, "He said three weeks. And no, it has not been that long."

Mew flashed him a grin. "Yeah, three weeks. So…why are you trying to kill them now?"

Giratina glowered. "Am I not allowed to kill rebels, you insolent little twit!" he said venomously.

"No," Mew said with a dangerous but somehow still carefree smile, "I meant, why are you trying to kill them now when you should be fighting me?" Power erupted out of his tiny body and he shot toward the Lord of Death like a bullet from one of those infernal guns. He struck Giratina with enough force to shatter a mountain and the ghostly dragon roared in pain, losing the ability to stay in the air for a moment. A ragged cheer rose from further up in the fortress and Syoran and I joined in.

"Pathetic worm!" Giratina screamed, darkness gathering behind him like two wings, "I will crush you once and for all and your race will finally be ended!"

"You're going to have to catch me first!" Mew taunted, doing a somersault and giggling. A pink aura surrounded Giratina and he was slammed into the ground. "Oh dear…" Mew said in mock concern, "Did I do that? Here, I'll make it better."

"I WILL CRUSH YOUR BONES INTO…" Giratina was cut off when a giant peach cobbler appeared out of nowhere and landed on his head. "You…you little BASTARD!"

"That's not very nice…" Mew pouted, "And here I brought you a nice treat and everything…"

Behind him, Mewtwo sighed and massaged his temples. "I am beginning to feel pity for our adversary. Being the subject of your…insanity is never pleasant."

"You know it!" Mew cheered. Giratina roared, rising into the air once again. Mewtwo immediately assumed a combat position while Mew just did another somersault. And then, the fight began in earnest.

"Let's go!" Syoran said as Giratina engaged the two psychics in battle, "We can really win this now!" He took off up the causeway, running surprisingly fast. I didn't follow immediately, preferring to watch the astonishing battle in the sky for a moment to make sure we wouldn't be in any danger as we retreated. The three legends were fighting a good ways off, so I decided we should be safe and set off, only to be pulled up short by a malicious cackle.

"Well hello, Absol. How are you doing?" Hecate said smugly. I whirled around and, to my dismay, saw the four that had captured us along with several other powerful ghosts just coming in through the gate. "We may be a little late, but we're in plenty of time to kill you all!"

I glanced over my shoulder at Syoran. Call it stupidity, but I really didn't want them to catch him and tear his weak human body to shreds. He hadn't noticed their arrival, too set on his goal and the clash overhead to look back. Not even to notice I wasn't following. At that moment, a bit of distrust re-awoke within me and I considered running and letting them pass by me without a fight. I didn't consider it long though. For better or worse, he was my trainer and my friend. I wasn't going to let these undead monsters get to him if I could help it. I growled and crouched to leap at her.

"Then I guess I'm up first," I replied with a snarl, "Care to try your luck, or are you going to have all your minions swarm me at once?"

"You're a waste of time. In fact, I think you're trying to waste our time," she said coolly, "Reaper!" The possessed doll jerked upright at the mention of his name. "Kill him. We're going on ahead." They began to move past me, ignoring me completely. Such disregard enraged me and sent me a bit over the edge. I'd show them! I'd take them all on at once!

"Over my dead body!" I snarled. With a howl, I ran straight for Hecate, only to pull to an abrupt halt when Reaper's scythe came whistling down in front of my face. I turned to growl at the ghost, but as usual he didn't show any emotion. The only thing he said was…

"Me…Spirit…kill…"