Once I was inside, the Triad vanished and the door slammed shut. There was no turning back.
I was standing on an expansive platform that was positioned on top of a pool of water. The platform was very stable and was probably as long as two sports arenas placed side-by-side. There were decrepit pillars everywhere.
The platform thinned out into a small passageway, which lead to another platform the same size as mine. That's where N and a massive, white-colored Pokemon were standing. I carefully ran over to N and gave him a hug. As we did so, Zorua hopped off of my head and onto N's. After our hug had finished, N picked the Pokemon up and held her in his hands. "Zora," N said happily, "I can't believe that it's you—and after all these years!" He hugged the Pokemon tightly.
After that, Zora crawled back onto N's head, and he let her stay there. "So it appears that you've made it just in time," N told me. "Come. I'll bring you to Ghetsis and your sister."
The enormous Pokemon flew up into the air so N and I could pass, then it rested back on the platform again, waiting for N to finish what he had to do.
At the far end of the platform was a throne—N's, I assumed. Ghetsis was sitting in it, acting relaxed, as if everything was going to go his way without a doubt. Next to the throne was my sister, who was locked in a cage barely large enough to fit her petite body. "You have someone of mine," I told Ghetsis.
"Ah, but in order to set your sister free, you must prove that you are indeed the Chosen One," Ghetsis bartered. "Of course, the Dark Stone hasn't changed yet, has it? Hah! Proof that you're nothing but a lowly foreigner who is lost in a whole hell of a lot of trouble."
My hands formed fists. I wanted to punch Ghetsis, but I figured that, if I did, he'd either kill me or my sister. "At least I'm something," was my comeback response.
"Oh snap," Candice said. "You've been bu—"
"SHUT UP!" Ghetsis yelled. "You're lucky I haven't wasted you or your sister yet. Now, let's see that Zekrom of yours. Shall we?"
A few more moments, and nothing happened.
"I knew it," Ghetsis said with hubris. "You were never the Chosen One to begin with. Maybe Reshiram's a bit hungry from being curled up into a ball for all of those years. Oh, Resh—"
I felt something vibrating from my backpack. I ripped it off of my back and rummaged through it until I found my Dark Stone. It was shining brightly and was vibrating. I felt it begin to tug upward, as if an invisible thread were dragging it into the sky, so I let go of it. Light then radiated from every crack and dent of the stone, and it began to vibrate even more violently this time. There was an explosion that eradicated all of the water from the arena. Then Zekrom landed in front of me on the large, empty portion of the platform. "Incredible..." I mused as I stared at the Pokemon with awe.
"Shit," Ghetsis murmured under his breath.
I got closer to the legendary dragon and touched its foot. "You really did choose me," I noted, directing my voice to Zekrom.
Zekrom said to me in a deep, noble voice, "Your ideals are favorable. You enjoy the world we live in now, where people and Pokemon live in unison. It has its flaws, but you are unaffected by that fact. You have found the beauty in an imperfect world. You welcome troubled, wayward, and stray Pokemon into your life because you find the beauty inside of their hearts. For that, I chose you over all the world's people." A smile came across my face.
Zekrom looked across the venue at Reshiram. "We meet again," Zekrom said.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Reshiram remarked.
"Okay," Candice interjected, "can someone please tell me what's going on? I'm still lost."
Ghetsis explained, "Now Zekrom and Reshiram must battle it out. The winner will choose this story's ending."
"Excuse me?" I asked in outrage. "You really expect me to bark commands at Zekrom?"
"Yes," Ghetsis said. "Yes I do."
"I'm not fighting."
"Oh, but you have to. If you don't, then you'll surrender to Team Plasma, and N will convince the world to release their Pokemon. Give up, and I—pardon, we—will mold the world into our image."
"But fighting Reshiram would be fighting N. And you haven't released my sister yet."
"All's fair in love and war. Choose one or the other."
I turned around and looked at my sister. "Release her."
"Not until you fight."
N commanded, "Release her, or I won't fight either."
"Fine," Ghetsis (finally) agreed.
He pulled a key out from a pocket in his oversized shawl and used it to unlock the cage. Candice jumped out and stretched her arms and legs. "FREEDOM!" she cheered. "Now can someone fill me in on the details?"
"If we live," I told her, "then I'll explain everything later."
"Oh. That sounds...pleasant."
I focused my attention on N and Reshiram. Zekrom flew in front of me, as if he was shielding me. Reshiram did the same for N. I took a deep breath, then whipped out my Pokedex. Please have some info on its moves in here somewhere... I prayed.
Then the options popped up on screen: Fusion Bolt, Zen Headbutt, Giga Impact, Light Screen. Fusion Bolt sounds promising, I assumed.
N said, "Take the first move. Ladies first."
I reluctantly called out, "Zekrom, use Fusion Bolt!"
Electricity pulsed from Zekrom. The shockwaves attacked Reshiram spot on. I could feel the fury building up inside of my opponent's Pokemon. N calmly counteracted with, "My friend Reshiram, use Fusion Flare."
The arena's temperature quickly went up about 50 degrees as fire emanated from Reshiram and attacked Zekrom. From there, N and I no longer needed to make commands. The two legendary Pokemon took matters into their own hands, rising up to continue their battle in the space above us. N and I took careful watch of the battle in front of us. I couldn't see where this battle was going; each Pokemon was weakening at the same steady rate, and a winner was uncertain. They both seemed to be in pain. I couldn't bear it. Then I started thinking about what Anthea told me: "But you proved that his youthful self is still in there somewhere. Only love can cure corruption...Your friendship alone was enough to change him."
The words friendship and love stuck in my mind, and the phrase "Only love can cure corruption," played in my mind on repeat.
Love, I thought. That's it.
I bravely yelled out, "ENOUGH!"
Reshiram and Zekrom stopped fighting. N asked me, "Why have you halted the battle?"
"Because," I told him, "I have a better solution."
"There is no other solution," Ghetsis stated.
I turned around and yelled at him, "Yes, there is! It's this thing called love: something you never showed to your own son."
N blinked with disbelief a few times. "How did you know that he is my father?"
"Anthea and Concordia told me everything—including some things that you might not even know. Ghetsis took you in as his own, but not out of love. He surrounded you with abused Pokemon to make you think the way you do. Like I've been trying to tell you this whole time, he's been using you. We don't need to wage a war. War tears the world apart. If either of us wins, the results could still be catastrophic. If you win, Ghetsis will use Pokemon liberation to his advantage. He'll rise to power as the only person with the power over Pokemon. If we make a truce, we can preserve the world as it is. There will be no need for Team Plasma. You could spend more time bonding with Pokemon rather than separating them from humans. You can experience the love and friendship that Ghetsis never showed you by going out into the world and experiencing it for yourself."
N pondered my words for a few moments. "Your solution entices me."
Zekrom reflected on my words also, saying, "It reflects the ideals that brought me to you, Cecilia. I'm not against it."
"Neither am I," Reshiram agreed, "but I'm letting N decide what he feels is the best for all of us."
"N," Ghetsis advised convincingly, "don't fall for her ploy! You and I can create a truly better world if you win this final fight. Disregard her mudslinging towards me!"
Before N could call the final verdict, I implored, "Please. I have our best interests in mind. I—I love you, N. Honestly."
