Final Chapter
Revelations
(Pokémon Zack's point of view)
(A/N: Here it is, the final chapter of my third story. After this chapter, I'm going to take a break from my dual Zacks and work on my LOZ/FMA crossover. So, above all else, please enjoy this final chapter. ~Nano)
The Hall of Origin was as white and blinding as I remembered it. Giratina crashed into the room, landing almost perfectly next to Arceus, who was thrown back in shock. "My son Giratina! You have returned!" He cried out in happiness, the rest of the room celebrating as well.
"Yes, father. However, if it were not for these four, I would not have returned. I doubt I'd still be alive." We slid off of the dragon's back, onto the table in the room, standing at attention to Arceus.
"Really? I seem to have underestimated you, human. You have accomplished that which I was too afraid to do. Even if you did receive assistance; for the life of my son, I am forever in your debt." Arceus, the bringer of life, then did something most unexpected. He bowed.
The rest of the room followed suit, ending their bow as soon as Arceus did. "My Lord Arceus, I require only that which was promised to me, nothing more or less."
"Of course, I had almost forgotten. Your love, the Gardevoir known as Kiara. I will bring her back, as with our agreement." He turned to Giratina. "My son, can you assist me? You are the guardian of spirits. Your power will be of great importance."
"Of course, father." Giratina turned to me, and spoke. "Have you anything of her, or of her possession? It would be easier to lock onto her Aura if you did."
Zack, Xion, and Rex looked at me, and I stepped forward, opening up the compartment on my arm for Pokéballs. Taped to the underside of the lid was the strands of Kaira's hair that were salvaged by Aelita and my mother. "Here," I said, holding the strands up to the gods, "This was part of her hair. It was of the little that could be found of her."
Arceus took the hair, levitating it up to him and his son. Meanwhile, I looked at Zack, who had created another one of those green circles on the ground. "I guess you're leaving?"
"Yeah, other worlds, other heart shards call for us." He said. "If Xion is to have a heart, or what you call a soul, I ned to hurry up and gather the rest of the shards."
"Feel free to drop by anytime, my friend. Fighting alongside you was enjoyable. I still owe you for helping me."
"I'll take you up on that offer later. For now, farewell." The two of us shook hands, and he stepped into the circle after Xion did, vanishing in an instant. I waved good-bye to the empty space, and I knew I wouldn't forget him anytime soon. However, my attention re-focused on the gods above me, who were concentrating hard on their task.
A few minutes went by. Half an hour. A full hour. I was sitting down, playing with a deck of cards I had in my bag with Rex and two of the other legendaries (Dialga and Jirachi). "Zack, come here," I heard Arceus's voice call out. I jumped up and ran to him, eager to see Kiara again.
"I'm afraid I cannot keep my promise to you, Zack." Was what he said. Anger filled my vision- after all I did for him, after all I risked for his son- he couldn't keep his end of the bargain? I unsheathed my blade, murder in my eyes.
"Calm down, Zack. Please keep in mind we do have the ability to see Aura and sense them over vast distances and dimensions." Giratina said.
"Then explain to me why you can't bring Kiara back." I growled, anger creating a gravel-like undertone to my voice.
"We did sense her Aura, Zack, but there is one problem." Giratina spoke.
"What problem would that be?"
Arceus responded, "Because, Zack. Out of all my powers, it is still beyond me to bring someone back from the dead, when they have not perished in the first place."
"Wh-What? She's Alive?!" I said in shock and surprise. All this time… "Where is she?" I demanded.
"I cannot place her Aura exactly, but I can teleport you there. It is all I can do to help you." Arceus created such a portal, but one I couldn't see through.
"Rex, return," I said, pulling out his Pokéball. "Thank you, Lord Arceus. For everything." I ran into the portal, jumping headfirst into it.
(T-T-T-T-T-Time Warp! Well, sort of.)
I popped out in sand. Lots of sand. But that didn't surprise me- Kiara was injured in the desert of Orre, after all. What did surprise me was that my mom's workplace, the Pokémon HQ Lab, was in front of me. I touched Kiara's hair, invoking my newfound powers of Aura. Maybe I could track her. What I found, however, was that the entire building was painted with her Aura signature.
"What the hell..?" I muttered, walking in the front door. My mother was the first to greet me, having been in the hall at the same time.
"Zack! You should have told me you were coming here, I would have tidied up a little!" she said. She sounded surprised, but I wasn't sure.
"Mom, you know I left to bring Kiara back to life, right?"
"Yes, honey, you made that all too apparent."
"Well, I met up with Arceus, and he told me something shocking. He told me she was still alive."
"That's great news, honey! So, I assume that-" I had to cut her off right here.
"That she's in the building? Yeah, I can tell with an Aura sense I picked up in the reverse world." I looked around. "So, where is she?"
"I guess I should drop the child act, then. You are a grown man, or close to it, anyway. I'll tell you right now; she is here, and she's alive."
I was stunned again, but not for as long or as apparent as last time. "Why did you lie to me, and say she died?"
"Bait, plain and simple. I needed a way to get to the Hall of Origin, and you offered the perfect opportunity to get there, son."
"What?"
"You were, from your birth, designed for this. You are the pinnacle of seven generations of research! You are the future!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Your powers. Your ability to talk to Pokémon, your control over Pokémon moves- I knew you could do all of it from th start. Since before you were born."
"How? How did you know I would have these abilities?"
"We know you met up with Abita, a failed test subject. He told you that we fused DNA of Pokémon with him. He wasn't the only one. Many other people suffered the same fate as he, transforming into other Pokémon, living new lives. Until I had an ingenious idea."
My mother walked over to my other side, and continued. "I was two monthe pregnant at the time with you. I had an idea- the people were rejecting the DNA because their own was already developed. You, on the other hand, had a while until that happened. I injected the DNA of a Gallade into you when you were just two months in my womb, and look at the results- a perfect blend of Pokémon and human!"
"I'm a test subject? A science project?"
"Yes, my son. You belong to Cipher, since you are the fruit of our research. Your plan to resurrect your "love?" I planted those books in the library, to get the idea in your head. You went to the Hall of origin, and you gave us the location. For that, you have benefitted us greatly."
"I'm just a pawn… I'm just a tool? Does Dad even know?"
"No."
"If I'm a tool of Cipher, can I at least see Kiara?"
"I thought you'd be more surprised by all of this, Zack."
"I am surprised. You've flipped my world, and shattered it. All I ask is that I get to see, to talk to, my love again. Where is Kiara?"
"This way." She led me deep into the confines of the basement of the facility, far beyond where I thought it to end. She led me down a series of rooms, all locked and all with one small window. She stopped at room forty-seven. I peered inside the room, and indeed, I saw Kiara for the first time in months, as she sat on the bed in the room.
She was sad and depressed, I could tell. From looking at her, she was also underfed, her ribs showing from under her dress and skin. But most of all, it was the puddle of tears at her feet and the stains from her tears on the bed that got me. I banged on the window, to get her attention. She looked up at me, and ran over to the door, looking at me with sheer joy in her eyes. She mouthed something, but the door was soundproofed, and I couldn't hear her. I just stood there, loking into her eyes.
"Let me in."
"No. you still serve an important cause to us."
"I said, LET ME IN!" I yelled, brandishing my blade outward. I felt an electric jolt hit my throat, my mother holding the charged baton.
"No, you will do as we wish, if you want Kiara to stay alive. You belong to Cipher now." I blacked out, my body hitting the floor. The last thing I saw was Kiara banging her hand against the window, screaming something I couldn't hear.
THE END
(End credits)
Special Thanks
Mom and Dad- for support
Brother- for not bothering me while I'm writing
My friends- for giving me input and their opinions of chapters
My Aunt- for finally deciding to read my stories
You- for reading 'till the end.
Music
Ending theme (KH crew)- Lightning's Theme, Final Fantasy XIII
Ending Theme (Pokémon Zack)- Still Waiting, by Sum 41
"When all seems lost, and you feel like you cannot travel any farther, you're halfway there!"
-Wise Echidna, from Legend of the Guardians- Owls of Ga'Hoole
