Chapter 42 – The Distortion World: Part II
"No!" Cyrus was stunned. Three of his Pokemon had been brought down. "Your ideals cannot be stronger than mine! I have had enough of this interference!" Jill noticed Urim breathing heavily, and barely able to stay afloat, so she called him back, bringing out Chase instead.
"Chase be careful. He's in a dangerous spot now." Chase regarded the young woman.
"Don't worry blue. I got this." Jill nodded to her Pokemon, watching as Cyrus sent out his Honchkrow. The big boss avian immediately went into the attack, screeching at Chase as it attacked. Jill winced as they collided.
"Why do you continue to defy me?" Cyrus called across the platform as the bird broke off the attack, wheeling around.
"Because you're looking to destroy the world. And I'm sick of people like you trying to ruin everyone's lives!" Jill answered back. Cyrus frowned.
"All you're doing is enabling the filth, the corruption and the spirit that is already destroying our world."
"There are better ways to change the world than killing everyone!" Jill called out for Chase to finish off the bird with one last spark attack. As the avian fell, Cyrus felt the emptiness inside of himself. He was down to his final Pokemon. This young woman had all but bested him, and he had no idea how. After a moment, with all of his tools laid out before him, Cyrus sent out a Crobat.
Jill still couldn't get over the cold way Cyrus was discarding his Pokemon. Anger and sadness were still warring within the young woman, fueling her desire to win. This battle wasn't just for a badge or bragging rights. This time, Jill was pitting herself against a force to change the world. It almost felt like a fairy tell, a story parents tell their children. Good versus evil, light versus dark. But it wasn't that simple this time. Cyrus believed in his convictions as much as Jill disagreed with him. And yet, because of this, their battle had become a thing of life and death. If Cyrus won, it would empower him. If he gained control of Giratina, everything could be lost. Jill didn't know if Cynthia would be powerful enough to face a god.
The bat moved faster than Chase who was still charged up from his previous fight. Neither Jill nor her Pokemon noticed it, but Cynthia saw what was going to happen. Cyrus knew it too. Something broke inside of him. Chase had to close once more with the poison type to finish the fight. As his final Pokemon fell, so to did the Galactic leader.
"After everything I've sacrificed, this cannot be…" Cyrus said so low, only he could hear what was said. Jill wanted to sag in relief, but she knew this wasn't over yet.
"You've lost Cyrus" Jill said. Tears were rolling down her eyes as she looked at what she had done to the Pokemon who followed this insane man's orders.
"I will not accept this. I've sacrificed too much to have it simply swept away by whatever it is that you believe!" Rage was pouring out of the Galactic commander. Both Jill and Cynthia went on edge at this complete reversal of personality. What no one present was prepared for was the shadow to descend once more, its piercing shriek casuing Jill to clap her hands to her ears and making Cythia wince. Glowing red orbs surveyed the three humans, and the carnage on the battlefield.
"Giratina" Cynthia breathed softly. The shadow was massive, dwarfing all of them.
"That Pokemon…" Cyrus began. He turned back to the two women, staring directly at Jill. "You may have stopped me, but that Pokemon is this world. By capturing it, or defeating it, you destroy this world. By losing, you destroy the world you left behind." A crazed smile came across Cyrus' face. "Very well, you will inherit my legacy!" Jill felt a chill trickle down her spine and looked at Cynthia who's narrowed eyes were only on the Galactic CEO.
"Ignore his lies Jill." The champion finally looked down at her cousin. "Giratina is of this world yes, but its defeat will not cause the destruction of it."
"How can you be sure?" Jill asked nervously.
"Because, everything needs balance. Giratina's rage comes from Cyrus attempting to upset that balance. This convergance…"
"Giratina has joined our two worlds. They are becoming inseperable." Cyrus spoke staring at the massive shadow. Cynthia stepped forward to meet the ruler of this plane. But again, the screech sounded, driving everyone to their knees. And then the massive pressure, a feeling Jill had felt before.
Mortal. You break through that which you do not understand and claim godhood. You are no god. The anger in the voice was palpable. Jill was scared beyond reason. You maim those who were at peace. Your sacrifices will not save you now! Red tipped arms reached forward but both Cynthia and Jill stepped in front of the man who held Giratina's ire. The beast shrieked and lashed forward causing Vervada to launch herself forward. Arms crashed into the dragon sending her flying.
"Vervada!" Cynthia yelled before also being knocked back. Jill reached down and quickly threw out her Pokemon. Icarium appeared alongside Caladan. Giratina looked down. Jill looked around, realizing that the three lake spirits had also appeared. They pushed the shadow back a way, at the same time creating a bridge to another platform a short way from where Jill was standing close to the edge. Hesitating, Jill rushed to her cousin. Vervada was lying on the ground, still stunned from the attack.
"Will she be alright?" Jill asked. Cynthia nodded, helping her dragon rise.
"I think the spirits want us to meet Giratina." Cynthia was looking out to where the black mass was waiting.
"How do we stop something that powerful?" Jill wondered quietly. She looked to where Cyrus still stood somewhat shocked. Vervada was considered the most powerful Pokemon in the region, and Giratina had thrown her effortlessly.
"We'll stop him" came the low voice. Caladan was also staring at Giratina. The confidence was helpful in soothing Jill's shot nerves, but not enough to feel confident herself. Taking a deep breath, Jill began her walk over the bridge. As she got closer, the black encasing Giratina seemed to disapper. Its real form took shape. A serpentine body with six wings, tipped with blood red claws. Yellow banded armour created almost closed rings the length of its body. Multiple spikes were jutting out laterally, these ones yellow tipped. But what really held Jill's attention was the crest on its head, and those blood red eyes with vertical slits of endless black for pupils. Jill stopped as she stepped onto the platform, Caladan and Icarium to either side. As soon as they had stepped off the bridge though, the platform moved away, separating Cynthia from her cousin.
"Jill!" The champion yelled, but both women realized there was nothing they could do now. Jill turned back around to regard Giratina.
You should not be here mortal. The power in the voice made Jill wince slightly, but the pressure was not nearly as bad as she remembered from her dreams.
"You're the one from my dreams, aren't you?" She asked. The young woman's voice sounded small compared to the god before her. Giratina did not answer her however, and after a moment, Jill pressed on. "Why are you doing this?"
You would not understand.
"Try me!"
It is not a notion you can comprehend. You stand in a realm beyond your imagining, fumbling in ignorance.
"Then help me understand!" Jill pleaded. Something in her voice made Giratina pause.
The three I set upon your plane, they seek to stop me. They guided you to me. Your bonded partners believe you worthy. And now here you stand before me, seeking to prevent my consequence. Do you believe yourself worthy? Do you seek to champion balance? Are your ideals more powerful than those I argued an eternity ago?
"I don't know about any of this" Jill stated quietly. "I just wanted to become a champion, like Cynthia. I wanted to explore the world, to have adventures. To do it with the Pokemon I love, that's made it amazing. But I couldn't just stand by while people tried to hurt others. Team Galactic had to be stopped. But killing them… That's not right."
Actions have consequnces. I told him there would be those to over reach. I am that consequence.
"Please Giratina. Don't do this."
Will you be the one to stop me?
"I don't want to fight you. But I will stand for what is right." Silence enveloped the small group. Jill stared at Giratina waiting.
I have watched for a long time. I have stayed away even longer. Perhaps there are mortals who are worthy. I will not fight you Jillian Heart. Jill couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief. Slowly the young woman walked forward. Giratina lowered its head, coming to Jill's eye level. As Jill stared into its eyes, she saw the anger die out from the god.
"I can't promise I can fix anything. But I'll try."
"As will we" Caladan echoed. The grass type stood beside his trainer, facing the massive shadow beast.
You are not alone.
Cynthia was astounded. Jill had done the impossible. The champion had been at a loss a moment ago, separated by a gap and unable to help. But here was the proof that Jill was truly the chosen one. The platform holding Giratina moved once more, bringing it back to Cynthia, and more importantly, Cyrus behind the champion.
"How is this possible?" Cyrus wondered aloud. He was as shocked as Cynthia. Jill approached the two. "You quelled its rage without battling it?" Giratina was still looking down upon the man.
"You're done Cyrus" Jill said.
"You will simply let the world remain?" Cyrus felt an emotion he thought lost finally bubbling to the surface. "You've prevented my world, my vision from becoming a reality. You've made it impossible. Why?! All to keep the vague notion of spirit alive? All to save the millions of worthless scavengers, the greedy and corrupt? You allow this irrational world to survive and for what? For that?" Cyrus gestured towards Giratina. It was Cynthia who responded.
"The places we're born, where we live, the languages we speak. All of these things create the differences between individuals. But that is what keeps us unique. You sought to impose the same upon everyone, and that is not the way we were meant to be. Even where there is sadness you can find joy. Anger can beget compassion." Cynthia was looking at Jill the entire time. The champion knew her cousin was the embodiment of these ideals.
"Silence!" Cyrus shouted. "I've heard enough of your blathering. If that is truly how you justify the human spirit as worthwhile, then you are deluded. All humans are deluded, believing themselves to be safe and happy. You have seen what the few can do."
"And you've seen what we're prepared to do to stop you" Cynthia countered. Cyrus shook his head and turned away looking over the edge of the cliff.
"These emotions roiling inside of me. I thought I had rid myself of them, rid myself of this incomplete spirit."
"You don't get it do you Cyrus?" Cynthia said in a lower tone. "These emotions are what make us who we are. They are what help us create our bonds. Look at Jill and her Pokemon. They are an example for the rest of us."
"Enough" the Galactic CEO said in a tired, hollowed out voice. "We will never see eye to eye." He sighed. "I cannot stand these emotions. I will break the secrets of them, and when I do, when I find that knowledge, I will create my own perfect world. Some day, you will awaken to find my creation. A world without spirit." And with that final statement, Cyrus walked off the cliff face.