Wow! There were so many reviews for the last chapter. Okay, so the winning Pokémon Christmas one-shot romance belongs to AbilityShipping, considering I counted those who had specific preferences toward the top two Shippings.
Felix the Eeveetrainer, DarkMagicianmon, and the Dimension Prince voted for AbilityShipping while Beta-ReaderADV and JAM requested FireRedShipping. But since B-RADV brought up the point that there was also a lack of FireRedShipping stories on and that this second poll was about to end up in another tie, there is a slight chance that I may also create a New Year's One-Shot of SatoNozo along with the Christmas' SatoLila. Aside from this still ongoing story, I will work on those side stories soon.
So now, please enjoy…
"Who the hell are you?" Ardos asked, furious at the interruption. The dark interloper sneered, visible to many of the soldiers surrounding him and his Torterra. "Talk!"
"I'm just a guy looking for answers," the intruder said, crossing his arms. His Honchkrow and Fearow flew back to his side, guarding him from both sides in the air.
"Not good enough, kid," Giovanni said, clapping his hands twice. Rocket Grunts and Cipher Peons began swarming him and his Torterra. Fearow and Honchkrow, as premeditated, used their Aerial Ace attacks to drive the soldiers back.
"I don't think that was such a good idea," he said, a taunting smirk forming on his face. "Unlike the rest of you, I was smart and came prepared with my strongest Pokémon and brilliant tactics." Giovanni fumed, searching his pockets for the first Poké Ball that came to his hand. Ardos held his arm out in front of him, halting his action.
"Your persistence is to be admired, boy, but it's pointless," Ardos said. "Tell me first; what is your name?" The fierce Trainer they were facing glowered at them before closing his eyes calmly.
"The name's Paul, see," Paul said. "And like I said, I'm here for answers and I don't care how I obtain them." His Pokémon grunted, poised to attack at his mark.
"You insolent brat!" Giovanni shouted. "How dare you barge in on my Rocket Headquarters and make a mess of everything we've worked hard for!" Paul looked around, only seeing an inactive, slightly purple-tinged Giratina strapped tightly in its iron restrains on the wall behind the two crime bosses.
"It only looks like you're trying to make a pathetic copy of a Giratina," Paul said, oblivious to the fact that the Giratina in front of him was real. "Giratina are not supposed to be purple, last I checked." Giovanni scowled, but Ardos and Stein were amused by his defiant attitude.
"Ah, so you did do your homework," Stein said, gingerly approaching the edgy Trainer. "Paul, is it?"
"That's right."
"You said you had questions needed to be answered by us," Stein said. Paul's Pokémon sensed an eerie threat from the calculating Cipher scientist, but Paul signaled them to stand down… for now. "Now's the time to ask them, assuming you still remember what they are after traveling all the way down here." Paul grimace, highly suspicious of this strange scientist.
What's he up to? Paul thought.
"I'm waiting," Stein said. Ardos and Giovanni stepped back, seeing as they were not involved in this conflict. They joined their soldiers surrounding the two figures, watching this confrontation unfold. Paul nodded.
"Right, so what is up with this Fearow?" Paul asked. A crooked grin formed on Stein's lips.
"Fearow? What Fearow? You're being vague, dear boy."
"FEEAAR! FEEAAR! FEEAAR!" Fearow screeched in anger, making the gesture of pecking and devouring Stein's lifeless carcass. Stein flinched back. Paul smirked.
"I think you know which Fearow I'm talking about," Paul said impatiently. "Now, why is it that, based off from the Pokédex, Fearow only has two regular moves while the last two attacks are unknown?"
"Unknown attacks?" Stein repeated.
"That's right. These last two moves seemed to be based off aura moves, but Fearow cannot use any of the known aura attacks: Dark Pulse, Aura Sphere, Dragon Pulse… What else is there within reason?"
"I see," Stein replied, having already determined Paul's question. "This goes beyond your understanding, boy. Your Fearow was our first successful test runs of a new viral strain called the ShadowPokérus."
"That sounds original," Paul commented dully. "And this Fearow had often gone out of control, whether in training or in battles. It either required all my Pokémon to calm it down or I had to call out to it in concern. However, it rarely enters that emotional state now since, according to my Pokédex, its Pokérus had disappeared."
"Interesting… Mind if we had a little demonstration of Fearow's attacks, Paul?"
"Gladly. Fearow, use that first strange shadowy attack you've shown to me!"
"Feeaar!" Fearow squawked, cloaking itself in a visible shadow aura. Having already seen this section of the Rocket Headquarters after the moment it and its flock was captured and experimented on, it deliberately tackled the main computer in charge of the Giratina. The crater it created caused a discharge explosion, affecting the Giratina as well.
"No! Stop that Fearow!" Ardos and Giovanni commanded their men. The Rocket Grunts and Cipher Peons marched towards the main computer, attempting to silence their former vengeful experiment one and for all. Neither Stein nor Paul moved from all the chaos.
"That move Fearow used is called 'Shadow Blitz,' Paul," Stein explained. "I believe you've already had enough visual aid to know what Shadow Blitz is now."
"Hmph, there's one more attack I still don't know the name to," Paul said, gazing at his Fearow evading the futile swipes of those lame henchmen. "But as you said, a visual aid is in order. Fearow, show your second Shadow attack!"
"Feeaar… ROW!" Fearow screeched, intensifying its dark aura. The darkness immediately shrouded the soldiers, blinding their sights and self-awareness. The darkness dissipated as quickly as it had engulfed them. The grunts and peons were disorientated, shuffling about in front of the main computer. Ardos and Giovanni fumed violently, shouting and swearing at their insubordinate mercenaries. Paul and Stein had still paid no mind to the actions outside their conversation.
"That, dear boy, is a Shadow attack called 'Shadow Panic,'" Stein explained. "As we've both seen, Fearow confuses all of those whom it considers its enemies. Such a beautiful, horror-inflicting attack, capable of creating the most delicious chaos and discord…" Paul raised an eyebrow in disbelief, his mouth agape from witnessing the scientist's surreal nature.
"You don't seem to be right in the head, do you?" Paul asked. What had become a simple quest for answers regarding his most recent capture, it had started to unfold into a war of hatred and condescension as he continued to confront two criminal organizations in their home base and laboratory.
"And you act as though a Sudowoodo is shoved into your hindquarters," Stein retorted. Paul scowled, wanting to allow aggressive impulses concerning Stein's face ripped off clean by his own hands to completely take control of his body. The Cipher scientist laughed at his disgruntled frustration. "We can stand here complementing each other all day while your birds attack every Rocket Grunt and Cipher Peon on sight or I can have you captured, imprisoned, and executed because of you knowing too much about our plans."
"World domination plans that involve stealing and creating false power of a Legendary Pokémon for you cowards to hide behind?!" Paul sneered, an expression of utter disgust and resentment on his harden face. The bangs of purple hair swayed quickly from his sudden burst of anger. "This is why I hate lame-o organizations like Team Galactic and you losers! I will not be called weak by another stupid organization like yours ever again!"
"Eh?" Stein asked, even more curious about Paul's rage
Memories of his father being brutalized by Galactic Boss Cyrus as a starting ten year-old Trainer resurfaced into his mind and heart. His confrontation with criminal organizations often had this effect on him, and he thought it was over when he personally defeated Cyrus at Mt. Coronet. He remembered how he and Reggie tried to find him in the building where he was said to work, under a veiled organization that proposed a change for the world as the best charity ever. Paul finally saw the worse memory within his mind. His Turtwig was given the title of the most pathetic weakness under Cyrus' cold tone. Cyrus' Golbat used Poison Fang on his father's bleeding chest while young Paul was subjected to an agonizing Night Shade attack. Paul figured out the truth why Cyrus attacked him and killed his father. Initially bitter and resentful towards others, displacing his anger and desire for vengeful, natural power upon his innocent Pokémon: they all shaped his personality from the onset of his Pokémon journey to now. Or it was, up to his last battle with Ash at the Battle Dimension…
"You cowards that pretend to have all the power in the universe… You underestimate me because of my age, but I will show you that I'm a greater force to be reckoned with than some fake Giratina!" Paul shouted. His own feelings of anger were represented by the once calm Torterra next to him. Torterra had roared, shaking the entire lab while various empty beakers and fragile devices fell off tables and shelves. A green aura emanated from the Continent Pokémon's body, having learned to access Overgrow anytime after more excessive training from a dedicated Trainer. "Torterra, blow this creep away with Leaf Storm!"
"TOOOR!" Torterra roared, feeling its Trainer's own righteous fury coursing through its thick veins. It directed its power into the tree on its back. "… TERRA!!" A powerful gale originated from the branches, carrying green, radiant leaves within the tempest. Stein smirked, about to be engulfed within the Leaf Storm without even making an attempt to avoid the attack.
"Grr! No mercy, Torterra!" Paul commanded, sounding more vexed from seeing Stein's twisted smile.
"Terra!" Torterra growled, increasing the power of its Leaf Storm more. Stein showed no new reactions.
"You fight in vain!" Stein exclaimed, unobtrusively activating a small trigger tightly clenched in his hand, away from Torterra's range. The outline of the Cipher scientist's body radiated, allowing the Leaf Storm to harmlessly pass through his body.
"I normally respect elders, but what have you done old man?!" Paul asked, creating audible crackling noises from his tightening fists.
"I'm wearing a special Cipher reflect body suit of my own design underneath this cool lab coat," Stein said, flicking his two long bangs from his forehead. He held up the trigger. "All members of Cipher are given this special uniform, provided that we handled Shadow Pokémon carefully after their transformation and rebirth. Depending on the current setting, I am immune to a specific element. Right now, it's immune to Grass-type attacks because I'm smart. You didn't think I could not see that Torterra of yours, did you?"
"In that case, use Hyper Beam!"
"Switching to Normal mode," Stein sang, activating the trigger and setting his special reflect suit for protection from Hyper Beam. It had worked; Torterra's Hyper Beam came to an abrupt dead end as an invisible thin barrier protected Stein's chest from the powerful beam attack. The head of the Hyper Beam separated, streaming through Stein's body harmlessly. "Your persistence was indeed pointless—What?!"
"Take this!" Paul shouted, having sprinted towards the surprised Cipher scientist and sent a strong fist into the center of his nose. Both went down after Paul tackled Stein into the ground; the action following the halt of Torterra's body. No other subordinates noticed this as Fearow, joined by Honchkrow, resumed their destruction of the accursed lab. No longer would others like Fearow suffer from the artificial transformation of having the doors to their hearts closed.
"You… miserable," Stein hissed; his nose bled from Paul's jab. The Veilstone Trainer clutched Stein's throat, desiring to crush his voice box.
"I will end you!" Paul growled, tightening his fingers on Stein's neck. Stein grabbed Paul's wrist, but his hand did not budge. The lack of oxygen and proper circulation weakened his strength. Stein felt for his free hand, determining if it was numb from the blocked blood flow. There was still mobility in it. Stein formed a sadistic smile, followed with a wheezing chuckle.
"Give up yet?" Stein asked; his voice strained by Paul's grasp.
"What?!"
Stein used his free hand and backslapped Paul's face with decent power. Paul fell back, placing a hand on his vulnerable face. His captive easily broke from him once his hand was away from his throat. Stein shoved the struggling Trainer off, running towards the machine restraining Giratina.
"Pathetic… coward," Paul grunted, standing back on his feet after recovering from Stein's back hand.
"Tor?" Torterra asked, stomping towards his Trainer in concern.
"I'm fine," he answered, observing the cruel scientist that got away from him salvaging broken gadgets around Giratina. "We're going to stop these two organizations ourselves, Torterra. To tell you the truth, I couldn't care less what their plans were from the beginning, but this I know. Starting from that trio of losers that followed Ash and his friends around Sinnoh, it's becoming a bigger nuisance to me since they basically lack the common sense on finding strong Pokémon."
"Terra Torterra," Torterra grumbled.
"Hmph, I did not care if they were up to no good, but when they crossed me by denying my right for answers, it was then I sent these losers in their place," Paul said, eyeing the progress of Fearow and Honchkrow. The two Flying-types slowly destroyed every monitor, keyboard, and other equipment supporting the blackened Giratina. The inactive Renegade Pokémon groaned, suffering form the effects of the malfunctions Fearow and Honchkrow had created.
"Grrr, no!" Stein shouted, typing upon the keyboard of the main computer in hopes to preserve and continue restraining Giratina until the process for the next phase can reboot.
"Stein!" Ardos yelled, running up to him along with Giovanni.
"Master Ardos, what is it?"
"What's going on with our beast?" Ardos asked.
"According to the readings before Honchkrow and Fearow destroyed them, the Ankoku-ShadowPokérus has become unstable within Giratina," Stein explained. Ardos suddenly seized the scientist's collar, seething in burning anger. The blood running down Stein's nose sped up as his heart rate increased from his increasing fear of his leader.
"At this rate, the virus would experience a cataclysmic breakdown and dissolve into nothing," Ardos muttered harshly. "Giratina would then gain the strength to break free from our control while the door to its heart reopens itself overtime until it's back to normal."
"So we're going to lose everything we worked hard for because of this one kid?!" Giovanni shouted, leering at the two heads of Cipher. "If you two don't do anything to stop this, this partnership between Team Rocket and Cipher WILL be kaput! Capiche?!" Giovanni and Ardos glared at each other, finding the other to blame for allowing Paul, his Pokémon, and their former Shadow Fearow leading them to destroy the Rocket lab and the rest of the headquarters. Stein coughed, experiencing another suffocating hold while trying to speak.
"What is it, Stein?" Ardos asked, releasing his grip on the coughing scientist.
"There… ahem… maybe a way to save our hard work," Stein said, fixing his collar. "If we had a Pokémon whose life energy can bond the properties of the Ankoku-ShadowPokérus into Giratina's structure, then not only will our work be saved but we'll all be one step closer to world domination." Ardos and Giovanni glanced at each other, believing that Stein's plan might work. "But we'll have to do the transfer fast."
"What Pokémon do we have here that can match Giratina's power?" Ardos asked. Giovanni grinned, knowing the perfect Pokémon to offer up to Renegade Pokémon.
"Use the Rayquaza that Sebastian's agents, Attila and Hun, captured in the skies," Giovanni said. Both Ardos and Stein nodded, immediately imputing the commands while their remaining soldiers fended Paul off.
"Stay out of my way!" Paul shouted, commanding his Torterra to take more of them down. The fight was on…
It had been captured for over a year now. Separated from its sparse species living in separate sections of the ozone around the world, it was held up by metallic clamps large and wide enough to grip each section of its green serpentine body within its own containment unit. The clamps had served two purposes since its capture by two shady agents; one agent was large, blond, and burly while the other agent was short and had long silver hair.
The clamps made sure it could not escape, even if it was restored at full strength. If it was indeed restored to full strength, the clamps would electrocute and drain its power away, thereby repeating the process for every experiment it was subjected to and suffered through. Its captors, however, made sure it remained healthy until the day they found its true purpose. That day was to happen… now.
The metal clamps had activated from a typed command nearby. They electrocuted it for the umpteenth time, awakening it from its inactive state. It struggled to free its body again, but it felt its stored energy fading away again and sending it back to slumber. But something worse awaited it. The large prisoner saw the same darkness every time it went back to unconsciousness, but for a strange reason, the darkness before its eyes grew thicker and thicker. It no longer had the strength and will to fight back and be free to fly in the ozone again. The clamps had not only drained it of its resistance energy, but it was sapping away its life force, its aura…
Rayquaza was gone…
"You're finished," Paul said, surrounding the heads of Team Rocket and Cipher with his unrelenting Pokémon.
All the Team Rocket Grunts and Cipher Peons were laying on the cold floor all around the laboratory in defeat and in agony. Their subjugator showed no mercy, venting out all his anger and sorrow with every Pokémon attack he commanded. The laboratory was in no better shape than the people who worked in it. Every object was jumbled around and shattered to pieces. Several holes had formed from Paul's attacks, allowing large amounts of sunlight from the outside to shine into the dark lab and upon the young Veilstone Trainer.
"Defeated by a lone child is beyond humiliation," Giovanni said. Paul scowled, snapping his fingers. Fearow repeatedly pecked Giovanni's head. "Ow! Ow! OW! You stupid birdbrain! Whose idea was it to turn you and your flock into ShadowPokérus-infected Shadow Pokémon?!"
"Not us," Ardos and Stein said.
"I've heard enough out of all of you!" Paul shouted, silencing the three villains. He stared daggers into their corrupted souls. "I've had it with cowards like you flaunting your faux power. THIS is what it's like to have real strength. Finding Pokémon with true potential and training them to unlock even more abilities, these have been the guidelines I've lived by since I started my journey. Lame organizations like yours don't deserve anything." Giovanni and Ardos boiled in anger, being lectured by a defiant young Trainer who annihilated all of their men and almost ruined their creation.
"Touching," Stein said, strangely confident. Paul quickly picked up on it, confused on why Stein did not give in to his ruthless words. "… But we're not over yet!" Paul's mouth fell open. Something was not right in the air.
A fell wind blew…
A short radius of the earth started to tremble…
The sunlight slowly faded away…
And Shadow Giratina had awakened and been freed from its mechanical restraints, setting foot in front of all of them for the first time…
"What in the world?!" Paul gasped, feeling the tremendous power emanating from the corrupted creature before him. Giovanni, Ardos, and Stein smirked at his stunned reactions. "That's no Giratina! W-What is that thing?!"
"Meet our ultimate Pokémon, reborn into the shadows!" Giovanni proclaimed.
"Giratina is fully operational!" Ardos exclaimed.
"XD00∞, show this Trainer your ultimate power!" Stein commanded.
"GRYUUOO!!" Shadow Giratina roared; the features of its jet-black and silver body were well-defined in the darkness it summoned upon its awakening. Honchkrow and Fearow flew close to Paul; Torterra was behind them.
"I don't understand this," Paul said, examining the terrible creature and not finding one imperfection on it. "Honchkrow and Fearow destroyed all your machinery supporting your creature."
"Your Pokémon were too slow in dismantling our finest machinery," Giovanni sneered.
"And if you thought our technology was bad, wait until you see this baby in action," Ardos said, unveiling a silvery-white, yellow-tinted, and lustrous sphere from his back. Despite looking like an orb, it was not as round as perceived. "In fact, it was thanks to this as the main power source for this machine that ensured Giratina's survival." Paul gaped from seeing that familiar sphere in his hands.
"How did you get your hands on the Platinum Orb?" Paul asked. "I thought it was lost forever after it fell though a portal to the Ruined World from Team Galactic's hands."
"Let's just say a new portal opened up for us to enter," Ardos said, polishing the Platinum Orb he held on his left arm.
"You must be from the Sinnoh region if you know so much about the Platinum Orb, Paul," Stein said. "You must then know the myths of the relationship between it and Giratina." Paul grudgingly nodded. "It can keep Giratina in its Origin Forme when traversing outside its home world. But with our Giratina amplified with even more power from the Ankoku-ShadowPokérus, I wonder how the Platinum Orb will affect its form."
He nodded to Ardos, who then threw the heavy orb with all his might. It made contact with Shadow Giratina and was assimilated into its being. Shadow Giratina started to react to the equipping of the Platinum Orb. A dark, murky mist engulfed its entire body. Paul gazed in silent apprehension along with his Pokémon. The three villains eagerly await the result. When the mist had finally cleared, Shadow Giratina had transformed its body into its centipede-like Origin Forme as predicted.
"This is unnatural," Paul muttered, amazed by the process that unfold. "To think that these cowards desperately searched for this kind of artificial power… I never knew they would go this low. Pure, natural power and talent are for me."
"XD00∞, time to show off some of your abilities," Stein said. "Let's start off with a Shadow attack. Use Shadow Storm!"
"GRYUUOO!" Shadow Giratina roared, its black aura becoming visible. The aura whirled around its body, forming a jet-black tornado. It unleashed the tornado towards Paul and his team.
"Move!" Paul commanded. He and his Pokémon quickly jumped aside, avoiding the vicious tornado that destroyed even more of the lab and sending the grounded soldiers right out of the lab and outside. "Time for a counterattack. Honchkrow, Sky Attack! Fearow, use Shadow Panic! Torterra, Leaf Storm!"
Honchkrow was the first to oppose Shadow Giratina's wrath. With a loud cry, the Big Boss Pokémon flew towards XD00∞ cloaked in a powerful white light. Shadow Giratina simply floated without doing anything, observing the Dark and Flying-type making an attempt to hurt it. Despite making a powerful collision at the center, Honchkrow merely bounced off the darkness of Shadow Giratina. Paul recalled it, knowing that Honchkrow does not stand a chance.
Fearow was next, wanting to avenge its comrade for putting up a decent fight. Utilizing its remaining shadow aura, Fearow sent a strong wave against Shadow Giratina. The wave was somehow dispelled a few inches before having reached the Shadow Renegade Pokémon. It turned out that the shadow aura of XD00∞ was Fearow's cursed power increased tenfold. One of its six streamer appendages effortless brushed Fearow away into the ground. The impact created a large crater in front of Paul. He reluctantly recalled Fearow into its Poké Ball as well.
"Torterra, it's up to you," he said, trying to maintain his cool.
"Tor!" Torterra grunted, using the power of its Overgrow. "Terraaa!" Torterra released a powerful Leaf Storm into Shadow Giratina's face. XD00∞ was affected by its power, actually being budged from its space in the air. It regained control and with one deafening roar, it dispelled the Leaf Storm. Paul and Torterra growled at their failure.
"As much as I enjoy playing these games, I'm afraid that play time is over," Stein said arrogantly. "XD00∞, Shadow Down!"
"GYUUOO!" Shadow Giratina roared, having its black aura seize and weaken Torterra's defenses. Paul could do nothing but fume that he was now losing to the cowards he swore to end permanently.
"With your Torterra's defenses down, it's time to hit you sky high and dry," Stein said. "XD00∞, show us your true power! Unlock the powers of the darkness and the Platinum Orb imbued within you and transform!"
"GRAAAYUUUOOO!!!" Shadow Giratina roared; the very intensity of its increasing shadow powers caused an earthquake. The rest of the laboratory was falling apart. Places nearby the Rocket headquarters were starting to be affected by the looming terror. Shadow Giratina's body started to glow again, becoming enveloped in a shadowy haze once again. Paul remained as stable as he could, but noticed that his own Torterra was trembling to the power of XD00∞. He noticed that Ardos and Giovanni were also amazed by dark powers that they granted into this Legendary Pokémon.
"Don't throw in the towel yet, Torterra," Paul said. Torterra looked at him questioningly. "If we can't stop this monstrosity, then no one can. These pathetic cowards will have total control over any place they went with this fake power. But this shadow power just seems so convincing."
"Tor… Tor! Terra Torterra!" Torterra grumbled. Paul nodded.
"Ready when you are… friend…"
The dark mist vanished from Shadow Giratina's body. The form everyone had witnessed was neither Origin Forme nor Another Forme. Shadow Giratina's body had completely altered altogether form the transformation. Its body was longer and slimmer than that of the Origin Forme, still adorned in alternating red, silver, and jet-black bands. The new form a long tail divided into six sections, resembling the legs of the Another Forme and the spikes on the Origin Forme. It had four streamer appendages on its narrowed back spread out in the form of a cross. Around the midsection of its body, it had two jet-black arms with three silver claws in each hand. The silver head plates had grown larger and longer, giving it a draconic look. This was because Shadow Giratina resembled the Pokémon whose life force and aura it had absorbed to permanently cement the Ankoku-ShadowPokérus into its being: Rayquaza…
Its shadow powers radiated, instilling palpable fear into the weak-hearted. Paul and the villains felt its power, but could barely say anything about this new dark creature floating before them ominously.
"What a… beast!" Giovanni exclaimed breathlessly.
"This Forme must be its ultimate Forme to date, thanks to us," Ardos commented; his breath also leaving him from the sight of the chimera they created.
"I officially name this Forme as the most powerful 'Dark Giraquazar Forme,'" Stein said, regaining authority in his voice. "A powerful form like this should be preserved, so less time using it would be beneficial. But I believe it does not need to be in full strength to conquer every region we find."
"I don't care what it is; it's still going to fall by my hand!" Paul shouted, sounding more determined to shut down the two criminal organizations and their XD00∞ for good. "Torterra, take that thing down with your strongest Frenzy Plant!"
"Tor-TERRA!" Torterra roared, destroying the ground it stomped on while summoning the thorny tree roots of its most powerful attack. Nearly one hundred roots were brought up by Torterra's power, all for one purpose. The purpose… It was to take down Shadow Giratina with one explosive move, whether it was in Dark Giraquazar Forme or not. "TOR!"
"This is it!" Paul shouted. He and the villains observed in suspense. The thorny roots went up and surrounded the beast. Torterra sent them all at once to pierce the hide of Shadow Giratina. On contact, a powerful wind created by the resulting explosion swept on all sides. Paul struggled to stand while Giovanni, Ardos, and Stein were sent into the wall.
"GRAAYUUOO!!" Shadow Giratina roared, changing into thick black smoke reminiscent of its own dark aura. The disappearance of its body allowed the thorny roots of the Frenzy Plant to fall upon each other.
"… I-Is it gone?" Paul asked, recovering his breath from the aftermath of Frenzy Plant. He thoroughly scanned the entire lab. If Shadow Giratina was still here, he would have seen it by now. So with no sign of the chimera of shadows, a triumphant smirk formed on his hardened face. "Hmph. I guess that I'm the ultimate now." He heard cruel, derisive laughter coming from Stein, who was soon accompanied by Ardos and Giovanni. "What's so funny? I defeated your 'ultimate Shadow Pokémon!'" The tempo of their scornful laughter increased. Paul clenched his fists; blood oozed from the extreme tightness.
"That joke is on you, kid," Ardos said.
"You think it's over?" Stein asked contemptuously. Paul and his Torterra were on full guard, alert to their surroundings. A powerful gale of cold wrath blew in from behind Paul and his Torterra.
Oh, no! Paul thought, apprehensive of Shadow Giratina's reemergence.
"Terra!" Torterra shouted. Paul turned around and saw no Torterra behind him. His Torterra was flung sky high. The only other thing he saw behind him was a familiar black smoke, reforming itself into the Pokémon he thought he defeated.
"H-How?" Paul asked, angered by Shadow Giratina's resilience. He saw his Torterra falling back to earth, noticing a large gash on its underbelly. Torterra landed with a loud thud, rendered unconscious and weak from the ambush. "It must have attacked Torterra underneath. That's no ordinary Shadow Force attack."
"Here's your final lesson on why you should have never messed with us in the first place, kid," Giovanni said. "Stein, if you please?"
"With great pleasure," he answered, rubbing his hands together in remorseless glee. "At another time, Paul, you could have been one of us." Paul immediately faced them, glaring with burning anger and hatred in his piercing eyes.
"I fight by my own terms," Paul said, showing no fear. "If I am defeated here, I swear on my mother's grave that I will come back stronger and finish you and your Giratina!"
"Not if Torterra is gone for good," Stein sang. Horror struck Paul hard; his eyes were wide and he had trouble breathing through his own mouth.
"You… wouldn't!"
"XD00∞, make an example out of his Torterra! Finish it!"
"NO!!!" Paul shouted, falling to the ground in humiliating shame. He pounded his fist on the ground, fracturing it and losing blood at the same time. The physical pain he felt was nothing compared to the thought that he finally acknowledge his failure to properly tend to his Pokémon's needs. He was going to lose the one Pokémon that had the patience to tolerate his every action throughout his long, rough journey. "Torterra… I'm sorry… to you and the others… I'm… I'm… I'm truly sorry…"
"Salamence, Hyper Beam!"
"Zippo, use Flamethrower!"
Two high-caliber attacks blasted Shadow Giratina from the back, before it could do irreversible physical damage on Torterra and more psychological damage to Paul. Shadow Giratina momentarily fell onto the ground; its only flaw was that such power it contained was still too new for it to control properly. Two new Dragon Pokémon, as well as their Trainers, landed beside the injured Torterra. The burly man from the Salamence examined Torterra.
"It's in critical condition," the man said. "It needs treatment quickly. Where's its Trainer?"
"Over there," his friend said, pointing to the angst-ridden Trainer pounding his bloodied fist into the ground.
"Get him off the ground and we'll all leave," he said.
"What should I do about those guys?" his friend said, motioning to the three villains.
"Ignore them!" he immediately commanded, turning his attention back to Torterra. "At least my assumption was right. Team Rocket was definitely up to no good, but I didn't actually think they teamed up with another organization outside of Kanto. It would be smart to flee since we currently don't have a chance right now against that monstrosity."
"You're right, Silver," his friend said. "Anyway, something as bad as this, I'm glad I came along and helped. But why me?"
"You're one of the few powerful Trainers I know and can find at such a short notice," Silver said, a contemplating expression on his face. "We both had problems dealing with Team Rocket in the past and the rumors I eavesdropped from a pair of Rocket guards worried me. And now, the rumors of such a Pokémon are true. So stop worrying, kid. Wake up the other kid and we'll leave straight away!"
"Right!"
Silver's young friend ran to Paul, getting his attention with a tap on the shoulder. Paul bitterly looked up; he thought that he was his life was the next to go. What he saw completely caught him by surprise, especially the person who tapped him.
"A… Ash?" Paul asked weakly, finally collapsing to the ground from loss of energy. His entire confrontation wore him out completely, but he still heard the last words of the young Trainer and the man standing before him.
"I'm not Ash… Oh! Silver, what should I do?"
"… Find… Torterra's Poké Ball… and I'll… carry him with… me back to… Salamence… Ritchie…"
Feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment from the battles five days ago, Ash eagerly rested for the night early. His Charizard, along with Lance's Charizard, made a safe recovery. However, they were currently under quarantine since they were diagnosed for still having the new viral strain. Ash felt at peace, but secretly worried about his Charizard's health. While Lance continued investigating similar situations in Johto and Kanto, he stayed home and focused on the training for the Elite Four battles in Hoenn.
Ash was home at Pallet Town after a day of fulfilled training. There was no time for him feeling sorry for himself since his Pokémon were so eager to make up for Charizard's absense. What made the day even more enjoyable for him was that Anabel came in on a surprise visit since Scott allowed her a few days off from the Battle Tower. Her guidance and intuitiveness of the emotions of Pokémon guaranteed an even greater improvement in his Pokémon's abilities. And their mutual love grew even more as they spent an hour under a tree relaxing and observing the Pokémon at hard work and play.
"Man, such a great day," Ash commented. "But all my days have been so awesome whenever Anabel was around. She knows how to spend her time having fun." He heard a scream coming from next to his room. Pikachu tensed, sensing a threat. "Oh, no! Anabel! Pikachu, let's go!"
"Pika!" Pikachu agreed. He and Ash left their bedroom, bumping into Ash's mother in the hallway as well.
"Ash, honey!" Delia exclaimed. "Did you hear Anabel?" They heard Anabel's scream for help cut off abruptly.
"She's in trouble, Mom," Ash said, rushing to the guest room. "I don't know how anyone was able to break into out house, but they'll live to regret it!"
"Pika!" Pikachu shouted, tackling the door along with Ash's kick. The guest room was dark, save it for the moonlight from the window. The situation revealed Anabel being held by her neck, along with her attacker hiding in the shadows.
"Who are you?!" Ash demanded.
The interloper made no attempt to flee, but instead released Anabel from its hold and went into the moonlight to reveal its form. Its silhouette was shown to have something flowing at the top of its head, having an hourglass-shaped body with tattered appendages flowing as well, and two stilt appendages connected from the bottom of its body stood upon the floor.
"What is that thing?!" Delia asked, cowering behind her son. Ash immediately recognized the figure. Pikachu waited for his command to attack at will.
"Darkrai! What have you done to her?!" Ash shouted, referring to the cowering Salon Maiden in the corner. Static discharge emitted furiously from Pikachu's cheeks.
"I warned her," Darkrai said, its voice having an ominous tone. It formed Dark Void in its hands and threw it at the Ketchum family.
"Get down!" Ash shouted, commanding his mother and Pikachu to duck as the Dark Void passed overhead. "What do you want from us, Darkrai?!" The Pitch-Black Pokémon made no response but to stare at him with its creepy, uncovered, blue eye. Darkrai hovered closer at a slow pace. Ash, Delia, and Pikachu stepped back.
"… I have a message…"
Dark and scary chapter, eh? Heh… Anyway, I have not much to say now since I've already stated everything in the beginning. So now…
If you would please review this chapter, it will be much appreciated. I want to hear your thoughts about this chapter.
Ciao!