Chapter Eight

"Alright Sir'fetched, time to protect Giratina! Meteor Assault on Houndoom, don't even give it a chance to move!" The bird's feather's took on a fiery glow as it jabbed its blade towards the horned pokémon.

"Flame-charge–"

But Sir'Fetched's move had already hit, sending the fire Pokemon crashing to the ground.

"Holy shit–" Paul breathed as he stared at his old rival.

That single attack had almost taken out their opponent in one hit… since when had Ketchum gotten so…strong?

He'd always been good, but this was beyond anything Paul could ever have expected. His amber eyes burned with an emotion Paul couldn't decipher,though he didn't really care, all he knew was that he needed to save his brother and Ash Ketchum, in all his foolish naiveté, was the strongest ally he had right now - his only ally.

"Arbok – mud-bomb!"

Crap, he shouldn't have let himself get so distracted, it wouldn't be good if that move hit.

"Electivire, discharge!" he didn't have enough time to dodge, but he'd managed to weaken the blow, a little at least.

"Paul, you good?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Don't worry, we'll find out where they're keeping Reggie, I'm with you, all the way!"

Damn him and that childish optimism of his! Ash's grin was blinding and what frustrated Paul even more was that just for a moment, he'd wanted to return it.

He needed to focus, at this rate Ash would take down both commander's himself and there was no way Paul could let him have all the fun.

Not to mention his pride wouldn't be able to take it…

Giratina roared out in pain, it seemed to be imprisoned by some kind of invisible force, though at times Paul swore he could see the glint of crimson bonds.

He saw Ash's face immediately harden. It was an unfamiliar expression, one that unnerved him immensely. Strangely, this iciness, this anger, it didn't suit him and Paul didn't like it, not one bit. Not that he'd ever admit such a thing aloud.

"Meteor Assault, once more, don't give them the chance to make a counter-move!" Ash's Sir-fetch'd was relentless, its speed astounding, within seconds it had struck again and Houndoom fell gracelessly… Unconscious…

Ash didn't even allow the red-haired commander a chance to react, he returned Sirfetch'd to its Pokéball and stole towards Giratina, leaving Paul unable to do anything but stare at his former rival aghast.

"Are you nuts?!" he found himself screaming, "Of all the reckless, foolish things–"

"Sorry Paul!" He grinned sheepishly, "Think you can cover me?"

"Arceus be damned, it's not like I have a choice!"

"Knew I could count on you!"

"Don't let the adept near our target!" Arianna screamed, "He could jeopardise the entire operation–"

"Planning on it!" Came Ash's curt response, "Don't worry Giratina, we're gonna get you out of this."

"Arbok. Smoke screen, obscure the adept's route, buy us some time!

Paul simply growled, "Not so fast, Electivire thunderbolt!" His Pokémon's move hit before the serpents, stopping the smoke-screen in its tracks.

"Nice one!" Ash called.

"Thunderbolt one last time Electivire, finish it off!"

The other commander swore, "I told HQ we'd need more than one Pokémon each for this one."

"Cool it Archer, it's not like he can do anything, Giratina's core is as good as ours!"

"I wouldn't be so sure of that!"

Paul looked up just in time to see Ash pulling at the chains surrounding the ghostly dragon. He winced every time his hands touched the metal, though he seemed to merely ignore it, desperately grasping at them with every ounce of his strength, his face screwing up in agony with every violent tug.

"Ash what are you–"

"I told you Paul! Giratina's my friend, so I'll do everything within my power to protect it!"

"It's hurting you–" He tried to argue, though Ash ignored him, instead choosing to grin.

"It's nothing I can't handle, so don't you worry about me!"

"But–"

He doesn't have time to respond as the commanders exchanged twisted sneers before making a beeline for the unprotected Ash.

"Like hell!" Paul snarled, "Electivire, go to Ash's side, protect him!"

He took off after his Pokémon, smirking triumphantly as his partner kept Arianna and Archer at bay with a barrage of Thunderbolts.

The pain Team Vires' contraption appeared to cause him was evident in every pained expression, though it didn't seem to deter him, rather it seemed to only further fuel his determination.

Paul didn't quite know what to think, he struggled to decide whether Ash Ketchum was incredibly brave or incredibly stupid, though both right now were extremely plausible.

"Ketchum, how much longer is this gonna take?"

"Nearly….there, just hang on Giratina."

There was a resounding snap that echoed in harmony with Ariana and Archer's frustrated cries, Paul could only watch as Ash sank to his knees with an exhausted sigh, his chest heaved, his face glistened with sweat.

And Ash's hands… They were completely covered in burns and blood. Yet still the idiot smiled brilliantly.

"Ketchum–"

"Abort mission Archer!"

"You don't have to tell me twice." They threw a strange, spherical contraption to the ground that filled the air with smoke and just like that they were gone.

"DAMN IT!" Paul couldn't stop the frustrated shout that escaped his lips.

They'd known… they'd known about Reggie and he'd failed to extract even a modicum of information from them.

"Paul–"

"Stop it! Stop looking at me with that stupid pitiful expression! I didn't ask for it!"

"Paul–"

"STOP"

"We'll find him, Paul. You don't have to deal with this alone."

There's no response, just a resounding silence that's fractured by a weak growl from Giratina, as it nuzzled its large face against Ash's grimy cheek.

"I know!" Ash giggled, "I missed you too Buddy."

"My… core…."

Ash froze, "Your.. core?"

"EH? It- it's talking to you, like right now?"

Ash nodded. "Giratina, Ariana and Archer, they said they stole Dialga and Palkia's cores?"

"Our cores are a part of us, a physical manifestation of our power."

"Of… your power?"

"It is… merely a fraction of our life-force. But the power it possesses can do unspeakable things, should they fall into wrong hands."

"And Team Vires wants to find them!"

The legendary beast nodded, "They want to steal every last one of them. Hero, I beseech you. you must stop them."

"Ash, what's it saying?" Paul demanded.

Ash exhales, "The cores that Ariana and Archer spoke of, Giratina says they possess incredible power."

"And what do they plan on doing with them?"

Ash turned to Giratina at Paul's words and tilted his head in an unspoken question.

It shook its head and Ash gave a shaky exhale.

"It doesn't know. All Giratina knows is that they've secured both Dialga and Palkia's. He wants me to stop them."

"You must protect the cores young hero, as you did once before in aeons past…"

"What do you mean 'as I did before', I-I don't understand!"

"It is not yet time for you to know all. It is much too early for that. Take my core, protect it and gather the others. Before vires can."

A shimmering orb of deep, purple energy rises above Giratina's head, so blindingly bright Ash and Paul have no choice but to shield their faces.

"Wha–" Paul gasps, opening dark eyes just wide enough to see Ash, cloaked head to toe in searing white.

"What is–"

"My core hero is a part of you now. It should help to contain your power and in doing so will allow you to protect ours. Now go young one, return to your world, seek the cores of the other legendary beasts. You are the only creature powerful enough to stop them."

"But wait! Giratina please, there's still so much I don't know, so many questions I don't know the answer to–"

Though he received no response as everything faded away to nothing and the world turned black.

A/N: Hi everyone, again super sorry for the delay. I've fully decided the direction this story is going to go, so I really look forward to you guys reading it! Take care!