How dare you, you so-called omnipresent Ponyta.
Ok, with that off my chest, let me start by saying I don't hate you, no matter what the other legendaries gossip. It's just… You're going to let this, too, slip by your great all-seeing eyes, aren't you? I suppose I should know better. No matter how the others claim you make no mistakes, you do. I know because I was your first.
I can see your eye roll even now. Dramatic, you once called me. This said by the Pokémon that hid away in their little heaven after you banished me. I know you're not there out of weakness. You're hiding because you're lazy. This event unfolding is proof enough of that.
At the top of the world stands a blue-haired human. It claims to its loyal, foolish followers to have a soul made of stone. Perfect with no imperfections. It wishes for your power, and it might just get it at this rate. I watch this scene from my throne in the mirror world, all through the reflection of its follower's eyes. This stone human has two red chains, each made by brutalizing the lake spirits.
Why did you even allow humans? In all your great and glorious power, you never made humans. I used to ask repeatedly, back when we lived side by side, why you allowed such flawed beings in your world.
You would shrug.
You said every world you created, the humans would come. Sometimes they'd evolve from Pokémon, sometimes they traveled from the stars or other dimensions, and sometimes the Pokémon themselves wished them into being.
"Pokémon lives are all about growth and evolution. What better aid than these creatures?"
You found them intriguing, invigorating. I found it sickening.
I suppose that's when I first got the title of renegade Pokémon. The others called me that because I went against your orders and confronted these humans. It was to try and understand your leniency towards them, that's all. So what if I'm "intimidating?" Or "scary?" At the time, I didn't even understand those concepts! But I suppose the early humans quickly taught me those words. So if that's what you meant by humans evolving us, whoop-de-do.
Forced into the shadows, I would watch them for days and weeks, unmoving. Even after all that, the most I learned was that humans lived, and they died. I tried to bring up this major oversight in their structure. And in all your overweight Mudbray glory, you said that was the point.
"As grass fights water who fights fire, humans fight death which fights life."
You just never could give a straight answer, could you? Not even when you banished me soon after.
Do you know what true evolution is? Being trapped in the Distortion World for millennia and growing to become its ruler!
Erm… Ok…That thought is probably a little melodramatic; I'll give you that. It's hard to be a ruler of zero. But I'm at least more of a leader than this stone human. It seems to think it's the only one "perfect" enough to do what needs to be done for a better world. It isn't, and you would know this if you just came out. This scenario has happened many times over. An evil team rises, nearly destroying the world, but is stopped at the last minute by a legendary or two, and… a human hero.
In fact, here some come now.
I flipped upside down so I could see the two coming up the mountain better. A shudder then ran through both our worlds as the stone human activated its chains. I hurriedly calmed what I could on my side and returned to watch the scene. I shuddered too.
I recognize those eyes.
I…I haven't really looked at humans in thousands of years. But, this tall blonde one and the other childish dark-haired human make me tremble. I feel it building inside, a pressure of emotions not used in centuries.
I remember you once saying if we immortals didn't constantly refresh our memories, we'd lose them. Use it or lose it Dialga had named it. I never thought…
…
Before I was king of none, still fresh into my banishment, my first connection in years was a young human. It stumbled to me from the loss of everything but one Togekiss egg. Many had tried to reach me before, each with equally selfish reasons as this human, but its soul was different. It used its wounds to light a blazing fire until it was nothing but burning. It wanted everything, it wanted you, and it knew it could use me to do it.
And I let it.
Terrifying
Disgusting
Violent
Renegade
And you, who only ever called me dramatic.
How did that word hurt me more than anything else I had been called back then? I used to want you dead. Not dethroned, not knocked down a few pegs. Destroyed. Just to have even a chance at attacking the high and mighty was enough for me to be wielded by this burning human. It was an acidic, consuming feeling.
I… maybe I didn't forget these memories accidentally…
It's funny how the world repeats. The burning human was much like this stone-soul human, just in the opposite direction. That ancient human's hungry drive would only lead it to an ashy stub, no doubt taking me down with it. But we didn't get that far. All because of a pair of eyes.
You…You… you Cloyster with hair….
How could I have forgotten them?
Those childish eyes on the mountain top. I had seen their youthful yet determined shade before. The face of another child at another time. The one that stopped the burning human oh so long ago, the one that made me realize that despite everything, I liked my reverse home. No matter what I tried telling myself back then, the Distortion World had long ceased being a prison. And because everything made must have its equal, one world can not exist without the other. That one battle finally beat that truth into my young head.
I wanted to protect this world, if only for mine.
The Distortion World shuddered again and pulled me back into the present. The new hero was distracted by underlings as the stone human summoned Dialga and Palkia. This summoning pulled through time and space itself. Even you must have felt the harsh yank as the twins were dragged into place. Then their shackles clamped down.
I cringed as the two screamed. There was no noble roaring, just desperation that slowly tapered into moans.
This was wrong; the chains were made to calm, not nullify. What had this human made? Why did the other humans allow something like this? And where were you?!
Right! The hero! You no doubt pulled them from their home to fix this too. It would defeat the stone human and…It can't move. No human could. Time and space were too twisted. All felt the pressure as everything was slowly pulled apart atom by atom.
Everyone but me...
Then the lake spirits came.
Ignore the sigh of relief I absolutely did not breathe. The lake spirits would fix this. They could easily balance out the chain and…. They were weak, still injured from all the stone human had done to them. And even at their strongest, they could only balance one of the twins.
I desperately waited for the hero to come up with something, maybe the red ball like before, but the child was still frozen under the pressure of the world collapsing on it.
"All spirit will disappear. It will be ripped away… From you, from your Pokémon, from those precious to you…." The stone human said, not in a yell but a whisper.
And I laughed. A shuddering mad cackle that echoed around my kingdom of nil.
You tiptoeing Rapidash.
You knew.
Who would be in a better position to fight this than from the Distortion World?
Time and space are too flexible, too distorted for me not to come out. And this is going to hurt, really, really hurt. There are no seventeen plates to cushion my accent into your domain.
And I continue to laugh as I rip my way to the surface.
I hear Dialga's and Palkia's fearful howls as I rise. I can't pretend it didn't feel good to be the one saving them from the attacking humans this time. But everything else was drowned out by the other senses that hit me. Overwhelmed me. Light was suddenly too bright, blanching and hot. Smells of a million different souls made my breath hitch and never quite find a rhythm. And then the feelings, oh so many wide and fearful eyes crawling along my spine.
I had to focus. I found the now crumbling stone human. It put on a brave face, but I felt its change.
My wings stretched forth, cracking in pain and excitement, ready to rend this human just as it had done to the fabric of this world.
And then those childish eyes met mine.
I couldn't, not with a million feelings standing right there.
And so I retreated with my prey.
Things must always be in balance. Anything created has its opposite equal. Is that why you let me fall so far? I was never the opposite of Dialga or Palkia. I was supposed to be the opposite of you.
No wonder you only ever looked disappointed, even in my gravest sins.
If you don't use it, you lose it. Memories that have no use to me are lost in this twisted plane. And yet, these memories came surging back to me all the same. Reminiscing, really such a good use of my time as I writhe with anger and agony in the Distortion World.
I was powerless. I even had to drop the cracked stone human somewhere far from the surface and run.
I didn't get far. How was I expected to when I didn't even have the power to close my own portal?
I could barely move as our two worlds collided, my body crumbling with every crash. Space had been too warped, too weak for the clawing I had to do. Dialga and Palkia would be unable to fight my out-of-control power either as it crashed through the realms. Now, everything was falling apart, with or without the humans. Vaguely, I think that maybe you would step in? But it was nothing more than a crying child's dream. If you didn't step in before, you wouldn't now.
Th-this was all part of the plan, right? Right?! What a perfect way to get rid of me without lifting one of your manicured hooves! Once I've destroyed myself, I'm sure there will be another hero to pull everything back together. I should be congratulating you. Well played. You truly are the master of the long game. You… you-
Argh! No time for name-calling! I refuse to let you win. I'm attempting to be the glue that keeps our dimensions together. But it would be a lot easier if my breath didn't keep stuttering because of these cursed memories.
Why couldn't I keep my big spiky head out of this? Because that child just had to look like…
…
It seems so long ago...
After that blazing soul was blown out by the ancient hero, I ran. I was in your domain, unbidden.
You know, I could've wreaked havoc. Given something for the other legendaries to pray to you about before I was banished again. But… At that time and every moment forward, I didn't want that. I was tired of being consumed by my own poison. And that thought had terrified me. My one goal, my reason for existing after my exile, was so suddenly turned away from me. Alone I tried to rearrange my thoughts in a cave when the ancient hero came.
I thought it was for revenge, for the human and its team to beat the horrid monster that had first started all its troubles.
The hero battled me, though it wasn't much of one. One crafted ball was all it took
To be mocked or feared, that's what I expected, just like in the beginning.
The hero's soul glinted as I had never seen before.
It gave… it… They- They gave me a nice pasture and all the mushroom cakes I could have ever wanted. There was no hate, just comfortable acceptance as the hero and their team explored your world. And I found some sort of peace.
The memories made the Distortion World swirl violently around me. The glue I was trying to be was quickly was coming undone. That happiness hadn't lasted just as that hero had not.
Humans fight life which fights death. And no matter what you say, I've only ever seen death win.
When that hero moved on. All their immortal Pokémon were let go. I stood amongst other legendaries, each now eyeing me. I knew what they wished. I left before they could speak a word.
And after all this time, all their eyeing looks were right. I can't control this chilling collapse. The shattered world was going to be genuinely shattered, taking me with it.
And then the modern hero arrived.
Well, first the stone soul came, a madness in its eyes. It sure was fuming for someone who claimed to be void of all emotions. I knew what it really was then. A glass human that pretended to be stone. But now, it was just as cracked as me, leaving us both hollow and open. I think we were going to attack each other? Each of us could barely stand, but attempts were made. And then the two pairs of familiar eyes appeared in the gloom of distortion. A tall blonde one and a childish hero.
The hero and glass human battle each other. Once again, for a human that claims to use Pokémon as tools, that Crobat sure seems to love their glass human. And of course, the hero's Pokémon absolutely loved their human.
That old ache returned, watching them fight as a team.
A long-gone Togekiss flew through my scattered head.
It was too much.
Much too much.
I pulled back, desperately trying to find my breath and mind. But each was strewed through this dissolving world.
Then the child strode towards me, that same determination in its eyes.
This hero's soul wasn't fire or stone or even steel. It was a shining, brilliant light.
Platinum.
I won't. I'm not… I refuse to be given something so fleeting again.
I can't...
Oh Arceus, please.
And then the purple ball was chucked.
You called me dramatic. You also called me other things: curious, resilient, witty, and hopeful. A maturing deity.
I had forgotten those words.
Even as they were the last things you ever said to me.
So…
Who knew being turned into pure energy and stored in a poké ball would be so calming?
Well, in my defense, it sounds a lot more uncomfortable than it actually is!
Something about this modern-day storage system makes worries and pain fall away. And! And! It leaves only the essential things like how I'm not actually falling apart and can easily fix the Distortion World, even from this ball. I just needed to take some (many) deep, safe breaths.
Dramatic….
Ok, you may have been on to something.
And the world was saved, no need for more theatrics. I didn't even need to try and contort my body in some mockery of yours like some legendaries that won't be named tried.
But this peace was broken when I was let out of my poké ball. I faced this little hero and its team of companions. I shied away, but I didn't get far. The hero wanted me on its team. I even suggested being put into the pastures, so I stayed out of its… their way. The human looked at me like I was growing Paras from my head. They thought me weird, but there was no suspicion as they laughed.
I missed that sound, even from you. If I remember right, a good pun could always get you chortling, especially when you were trying so hard to appear godly. I remember this one time I got you to snort right in Xerneas's stuck up snout-
Anyway…
I'll have you know I could have run. Jumped into the nearest reflective surface and dove so deep the humans could never touch me again. But… that would be letting you win, wouldn't it? You want me to disappear and let your world return to perfection. Well, if you can let the humans remain, you'll just have to settle with me being here too.
Or you can come and make me leave yourself. Your choice.
The hero needs me for something called a gym. They said my move, Earth Power, would help absolutely decimate someone.
Their words, not mine.
And before you worry, there is never any malice in the hero's voice as they talk about "decimation," just excitement. Their team gets just as excited as them, and how can I not join in? But that gym is something they're doing later. The hero's been feeding the team something called poffins. It's no mushroom cake, but it'll have to do.
(I may have eaten every poffin in their case and gotten scolded for it.)
The hero said they'll be doing something called contests, and I could join if I wanted. I just might. I know I could rock that stage with three tutus (one for each pair of legs). But for now, since they don't explicitly need me, I returned to my upsidedown domain.
Lately, there's been a niggle in the back of my brain. That glass-soul human, it's still here. I've given it many portals out, each in front of human authorities, but a way out nonetheless. All it's done is release its Pokémon and grab food before rushing back in right as I close the gateway.
I'm starting to get real tired of it. I don't know how you learned to shrug when humans appeared where you didn't put them.
I keep my distance, but still, I monitor the glass human. It can't traverse this land well. I can tell that gravity changing every few minutes is not to its liking. For claiming it has no emotions, its colorful language is quite intricate.
I've been kind enough. If this thing doesn't leave the next time I open a portal, I'm throwing it out! I'm-
It's dying.
Its chest heaves while on its hands and knees as it tries to center itself in a world with no center. A wound, I see it now. Did I accidentally cause it? The injury seems about as old as when I grabbed it. Why didn't it get help earlier? Why didn't it say anything? When it fought the hero, it must have been in excruciating pain.
Life fights death fights life.
It probably didn't say anything to stop it from looking weak. So its 'Team Galactic' wouldn't know how it failed. So it's Pokémon wouldn't focus on it as they fought the hero.
Then again… perhaps this is that hope you once said I had so much of. But I think it didn't want its death on the hero's conscience. Perhaps.
It's still fighting; even as its glass cracks and nearly shatters, it fights. Shuddering as I'm sure its own memories flood its mind.
I've heard a Pokémon nonstop praying to me the last few days. That Crobat it released. Its other Pokémon went running once they were out, but the Crobat is still by the lake, praying to me for the safety of this worthless human.
Why did you even allow us to hear mortals' prayers? It's nothing but distracting. I can't take the contest stage or fight a gym with that in the back of my mind.
I don't have healing moves, and the glass human won't leave. But I suppose I can do something. The land shifts at the flick of my tail, twisting until some normalcy surrounds the human. I make a small place of calm, to breathe safely.
"Oh thank god." It says as it collapses.
…how dare you, you llama stuck in a wagon wheel.
How dare you make a world where a creature as twisted as I
can become a deity.
