Endgame Part 3:
Kneeling in the dirt, I stare ahead at the mysterious flames and the swirling vortex. Mark has vanished and his screaming has stopped. I would speculate about what has happened to him, but my mind just can't function properly. The ground rumbles and I barely manage to support myself on shaky arms. I spot movement coming from that vortex. A shadow grows, consuming all of the swirling colours and replacing them with an empty blackness.
Then it emerges. From the shadows rise an unbelievable creature. At first the rise is slow, then it shoots out and towers above me. It's bigger than anything I have ever seen. A giant serpentine monster with black tendrils growing from its back floats just above the ground and looms over me. Its piercing red eyes glare directly at me.
This is that moment in movies where the hero is on their knees yet is faced with their greatest challenge, a seemingly unstoppable enemy that they will stand up and fight against no matter what. I am no hero. The monster roars, creating a wind that blows me back and leaves my ears ringing. I quickly scramble to my feet and turn to run. I stumble several times, but keep going. My body is running on fear alone. I dare to look over my shoulder as a shadow closes in on me. The monster is following me.
I had no direction, just the desire to get away, but I find myself heading for the tunnel. Perhaps the monster might not be able to follow me inside. It must be far too big.
I find myself screaming. Fear, pain, determination. I push on. The darkness of the tunnel hits me, but I don't stop. I don't think I'll ever stop running. I glance back again. The monster's face is blocking the way I came. Its eyes shine through the darkness. It opens its mouth and begins charging some kind of energy based attack. Surely this is it now.
I turn back to look where I'm going only to run into someone. The person grabs me and stops me running with powerful arms. I try to shake free. I want to keep running. I don't want to die.
"Robin, now!" a familiar voice shouts and I look up to discover the person holding onto me is Shaw.
"Sylveon, Protect!" I hear Robin shout.
The tunnel fills with light. I turn to see Robin standing with one of his Pokémon. A wall of bright energy fills the tunnel. Everything shakes as the monster's attack seemingly collides with it. I don't see what happens next as Shaw suddenly drags me away and throws me through a door. He then follows me into whatever room it is.
The room feels familiar, but I can't say that I ever remember being in here. It looks like some kind of makeshift hospital room with a bed in the corner. The other thing that stands out is a machine for healing Pokémon. Robin and his Sylveon quickly dash into the room and close the door behind them.
"Holly, are you ok?" Robin asks.
I look around the room at the other two. I don't know how to respond to that. It just seems so out of place. I'm pretty sure he should be able to guess the answer.
"What the Hell is going on?" I suddenly shout.
"It's alright, just calm down," Shaw says, trying to reassure me.
"How can I be calm with that…. thing out there?" I ask and point vaguely in the direction of outside.
"We should be safe in here," Shaw says.
At that moment, the room shakes and a bottle falls from a shelf, shattering on the floor. That does not fill me with any kind of confidence.
"That's not like you," Robin laughs slightly.
"How so?" Shaw asks him.
"Oh, I just would have thought you'd be straight up honest with her about the fact she's expected to heal up quickly and get back out there to fight that thing," Robin says innocently, rubbing the back of his head.
"What?" I ask in disbelief.
"Dammit, I was trying to be subtle about that," Shaw shouts at Robin.
"No! I can't do that. I just…" I try to protest. My feelings from before come flooding back. The pain I felt, knowing it was like what my Pokémon experience every battle.
"…The machine's there," Shaw says, "We all have to do this. That drunken fool got us all together for this, knowing it was going to happen. But we need you to fight with us."
"No, I can't go through with it ever again!" I cry out.
"What are you talking about?" Shaw asks. His voice is raised. He seems serious about this.
"I'm done," I say with tears in my eyes, "I can't make my Pokémon battle anymore. I can't face that thing again."
"You can, one last time," Robin says enthusiastically. I don't get how he's so high spirited in this situation. I guess that's just how he is. "We all have to do it. For all we know, that thing could endanger the entire world. It needs to be stopped."
"I couldn't even save my sister, how can the entire world rely on me?" I weep.
"This time, you don't have to do it alone," Robin says and holds out a hand to me.
Something about him is so inspiring that I want to jump at his offer, but I can't. I am physically and emotionally exhausted. I have reached my limit. And even with the machine capable of healing my Pokémon, they won't be at one-hundred percent. There still needs to be some natural recovery over time.
"I know what you're thinking," Robin says, "Don't worry, we'll help you get through it. Any help you can give us is going to be crucial in defeating that thing."
I sigh. I guess I'm giving in to them. One last fight. I don't really understand what I'll be fighting for or even against. I just have to stand by these friends I've made and give it my all.
"What even is that thing though?" I ask. I at least want some idea of what we're up against.
"I have no idea, but I reckon at least one of the others should have some sort of clue," Shaw says.
It's not the answer I was hoping for, but I'll just have to believe in the others and hope they know what they're doing. I reluctantly trudge over to the healing machine and put my Poké Balls in the provided slots. It's fairly simple to operate and I can even take a short rest of my own while it works.
My brief respite does me no good and Robin has to support me as we leave the room. Shaw runs off ahead, ready to jump straight into battle. Every time I've walked through this tunnel has been more nerve wracking than the last. Each time the pressure has grown. The occasion has grown. The time, I might just crumble under the weight of what I'm about to get myself into.
I emerge from the tunnel and take a moment to adjust to the light and the situation. The stadium has transformed to a total warzone. Rubble and small fires are scattered around. People are still scrambling for the exits of the stands, desperately trying to get away. The monster has just blown a massive hole in the main stand.
Down below in the arena, there is less resistance than I had expected. Thomas, Daedalus, Rhianne, Flourette and Elin are already out with their Pokémon, launching a barrage of attacks that barely seem to be scratching the monster.
"Flygon, Dragon Tail!" Rhianne shouts.
I'm surprised to see Rhianne being so confident and proactive. Her Flygon charges across the arena and swings its tail to slam into the monster. The creature twists to face our group and roars. Energy builds up insides its mouth. The mass of Pokémon gathered scatter as the attack is unleashed. The ground shakes on impact and I grab onto Robin for further support.
"Is this everyone?" Daedalus asks as he looks back to those of us who have just arrived.
"It's more than you'd have got together," Thomas says.
"Yes would have sufficed," Daedalus scoffs, "Anyway, this thing we're facing, the closest thing I can think of is an old Sinnoh legend by the name of Giratina."
"Yes, that's it, Lancelot mentioned that name," I say suddenly.
"Correct," I hear Lancelot say.
We all suddenly look around to spot him stood next to Giratina facing us. He holds up his staff wielding that orb and the monster next to him appears to calm its rage. It stares down at us.
"The legendary Pokémon Giratina, a beast from the dawn of the universe under my control," Lancelot laughs, "I was always a very influential man, but it was never enough. This should solve that."
"You're mad," Elin says.
"What happened to Mark?" Rhianne asks. That's a good question. He disappeared while I was in pain.
"The same place all food goes, of course," Lancelot laughs.
The reactions of our group vary, but all express shock and disbelief. Some people possibly suspected this outcome. While Rhianne is completely surprised and horrified with all of the colour draining from her face.
"Ok, legendary Pokémon Giratina, how do we beat it?" Shaw asks, trying to get things back on track.
"You don't," Lancelot says, "You have a choice, submit to my whim… or be destroyed."
"I choose option three, none of the above!" Flourette shouts.
"Any ideas, Daedalus?" I ask.
"It's kind of hard to know what to do against something no one was sure existed, but the best guesses seem to be Ghost or Dragon, maybe both," Daedalus explains.
"That'll do," Thomas says, "Now, Mr Elderidge, I may be a little drunk, but I can tell you that you've made a massive mistake. To find the one you wanted, you had to bring together all the people most qualified to stop you."
"As if you could all work as a cohesive unit, especially when led by a drunk," Lancelot laughs.
Giratina lowers its head and Lancelot quickly climbs onto it. He's going to ride it and command it from there. The sight of it just makes me want to turn and run even more. Giratina was a monster that could easily destroy us all from first glance. Under the control of someone like this could be even more deadly. From what I saw before, the attacks being launched were doing very little to it. What are we supposed to do?
Lancelot Elderidge is a power-hungry madman who has sacrificed someone who tried to convince me that he was my friend to summon a monster of legend and intends to use its power for his own gain. This is the justification I need to use to motivate myself. This is how I force myself to bring my Pokémon to battle one final time after my epiphany.
"Go, Crobat and Magcargo!" I say and throw the two Poké Balls forward.
Everyone else seems to be using two Pokémon at a time. It's easier for us to make sure we're in control of the situation while still having multiple Pokémon at our disposal to help in the fight. Shaw looks at a loss deciding on which Pokémon to use. As far as I'm aware, all of his Pokémon are Fighting types that do well in hand to hand combat. They don't seem at all suited to our situation. Ultimately, his choice is Hitmonchan and Throh.
"Crobat, use Toxic. Magcargo, Will-o-Wisp!" I order.
This is what I do best. I'm going to try and poison and burn Giratina as much as possible so that it can weaken more easily and to create vulnerable spots.
Robin has Sylveon and Mawile out. He's mixing up his attacking options. Sylveon hits from range and then Mawile moves in to strike. The strategy seems to compliment the two Pokémon together, allowing one to recharge itself briefly while the other attacks.
Daedalus has picked up on my strategy and is following it up. Scizor and Greninja are striking the parts of Giratina's body that I have made sensitive by inflicting burns.
Thomas' own Greninja is trying to reach the higher up parts of Giratina's body, including its head. Lancelot actually has to try and use his staff to swat it away at one point. His other Pokémon, Heatmor, is pouring out as much fire as it can onto Giratina.
Elin, Flourette and Rhianne are launching a full frontal assault of attacks at the underside of Giratina. It actually seems to be working as Giratina is roaring, seemingly out of discomfort and is unable to attack us. It's going to take more than this to fell a beast of legend and Lancelot knows it. He is in no panic to ward us off. In fact, he appears to be laughing at our attempts.
"Giratina, end them! End them all!" he shouts.
Giratina endures the onslaught enough to concentrate on an attack. Once again, energy builds up inside its mouth and fires with ferocious power. Our formation is shattered as our Pokémon try to flee from the blast. As the commotion dies down, it reveals several of our Pokémon have been taken out in a single hit. Magcargo is down for me, but Crobat was safe up in the sky and continues to rain down poison from above.
"Anyone got any bright ideas?" Elin asks as he switches his defeated Pokémon.
I might have one actually. The impossible enemy. I have faced a situation like this. Perhaps not exactly like this, but similar enough that the solution I came up with then might do the trick here.
"Mark Young won't have died in vain," I say. What I said quickly hits home. The idea that Mark is actually gone hits me as I throw my next Poké Ball. "Go, Clefable!"
"Could it be…" Daedalus says cautiously, "Did you figure the solution to your battle?"
"I see what you're planning, but it won't be enough," Thomas says, "But there is a way."
Our brief discussion has distracted us. The main assault from everyone else isn't enough to stop Giratina from charging its next attack.
"Everyone, dodge then bring out all of your Pokémon!" Thomas shouts.
Sure enough, I think we are on the same wavelength about my idea. Our Pokémon scatter quickly and we take minimal casualties from the latest blast. Now, it is time.
"Clefable, Mimic!" I call out.
As everyone else is busy complying with Thomas and bringing out the full force of their teams, Clefable raises its index fingers which begin glowing. Clefable begins charging a powerful energy. It is copying the attack Giratina been launching at us. It might just be the one thing we have powerful enough to deal a significant blow.
"Greninja, get that orb!" Thomas and Daedalus shout simultaneously.
"Give 'em Hell!" Shaw shouts.
"Attack!"
Clefable fires its attack. It isn't nearly as powerful as when Giratina uses it, but it is still a massive blast. It strikes Giratina directly in what I assume is its chest. The monster is thrown backwards by the fore of the hit. This is where the others step in. An onslaught of attacks from all of the gathered Pokémon rain down on the vulnerable monster.
Amongst it all, one Greninja gives the other a boost to launch directly at Giratina's head where Lancelot is clinging desperately. Greninja swipes the staff from the cowering clutches of Lancelot Elderidge. It then takes off to avoid the final blows being dealt below.
The end is now. The stadium is filled with a deafening roar as Giratina cries out in despair. Whether or not it is truly defeated is unclear. What is clear is that it has lost its will to fight us. It keels over and falls to the floor, shaking Lancelot Elderidge from its head in the process. It is no longer being controlled and we have shown that we are a match for it. Giratina groans as it lies still on the floor.
"Is… Is it over?" Rhianne asks.
"Looks that way," Flourette says.
"What do we do about it now though?" Elin asks, "We can't just leave it here. It… doesn't belong in this world."
Elin seemed unsure in what he was saying. He was right, but he was clearly struggling to come to terms with the concept. I feel the same way. Everything that has just unfolded has been beyond anything we could have imagined, but we were in too much danger to actually take a moment to process it all. Now that Giratina has fallen, we stand and look at what we have done. To conquer a beast from the legends of a faraway land is a legend in itself.
"Well, that's disappointing," Robin says.
"What is?" I ask and turn to see him picking up the charred remains of something.
"Looks like all the TV cameras got taken out, no one saw our finest moment," he says.
"I'd rather it be that way," Daedalus says, "I couldn't live with that kind of public attention for the rest of my life."
"Can you guys stop worrying about your TV careers and focus?" Flourette asks, "We have a giant thing still to dispose of."
I look around again and Thomas' Greninja has returned to him carrying Lancelot's staff. Thomas takes it and immediately removes the orb with relative ease. He holds the orb in one hand and looks at it. We all move in closer to get a good look for ourselves. It seems to be made of some kind of purple glass with smoke swirling around inside. There is a collective uneasiness about it as though it is emitting some kind of dark aura.
"What do we do with it?" Elin asks.
"It brought Giratina here, it should be able to send it back," Daedalus says.
"Any idea how it works?" Shaw asks.
"Maybe it works with magic, if we know the right spell…" Robin begins. Daedalus simply raises a hand to cover Robin's mouth.
"We should break it," Thomas says after staying silent for a surprisingly long time.
Thomas gets various confused looks for this. I am amongst them. That seems like a reckless idea.
"Don't be stupid, if we break it then we might not be able to send it back to wherever it came from," Flourette says.
"Even then, it's the key to harnessing Giratina's power. That's something no one should be able to do," Thomas replies.
"Maybe he could tell us how to use it?" Rhianne suggests.
We are briefly confused, but then follow Rhianne's gaze to where Lancelot lies unconscious on the ground not far from Giratina.
"I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him," Shaw says.
"Perhaps Giratina could show us?" I say.
"If you can suddenly speak to Pokémon, be my guest," Thomas says and shoves the orb into my hand.
Holding the orb is even more unsettling than looking at it. Being around it for a long time would surely drive anyone insane. I'm not even sure what I meant by my suggestion, but it might be worth a go. Slowly, I approach the fallen Giratina. It groans as I approach and weakly opens its eyes. When I first saw those glowing red eyes, all I could do was fear for my life. Now I sense there is a living being beyond them and I feel sorry for it. This only solidifies my feelings more. I am done with Pokémon battling. I am done causing this suffering.
I stop in front of Giratina's face and we look at each other for a moment. I hold the orb out to it and it responds with some sort of groaning. I can't understand what that response was. I kneel down and carefully place the orb on the floor in front of Giratina.
"I'm sorry, we all are. We just wanted to protect ourselves and all we care about," I say to it, "We understand that you don't belong here. If you can even understand what I'm saying, please forgive us and hear our warning. This world is not safe for you. Please return to where you came from, both for us and yourself. There are people who will hurt you in this world, but we want to give you the chance to return and be safe from that."
I take a step back from the orb and Giratina and wait for a response. Giratina moans quietly. The moan is an innocent sound, a warm one. I feel like Giratina has maybe understood me in some form or another and has found it in its heart to forgive or thank us.
Giratina slowly moves, lifting its head slightly and leaning towards the orb. It opens its mouth and closes it on the orb. The glass shatters and the smoke pours out. With it, comes the same purple fire that consumed Mark. It circles Giratina's body. Gradually, Giratina disappears into the ground until it has completely vanished. The fire then dies down. It is over.
I turn back to the others. They are racing towards me, singing my praises. I can't take it all in. I can barely stand at all. This ordeal has taken it out of me. I am actually relieved to be tackled to the ground by Robin in what I assume is a hug. Despite now being crushed under the weight of my friends, I feel all of the weight has been lifted from me. It really is over.
