Chapter 21

"So nice… all of my enemies in one place!" growled Palkia. "I'll enjoy this!"

"Stand back!" shouted Siarnaq. "We beat you once before! We'll do it again!"

"You think I'll lose? You will be eliminated from the fabric of space!" Then an ear-piercing scream filled the air.

"What the-?" began Azura. Wind howled around the band of Pokemon.

Darkness enshrouded Palkia. He held up the scepter in his hand. "Spirit world! You answer to me now!" A vortex of shadows seemed to surround him.

The ground seemed to shake. "This isn't good…" said Siarnaq.

"The spirit world? That scepter…"

"Of course. This gives me power over the underworld too!" he said with a laugh.

"You… you're insane!" growled Siarnaq.

"You think I'm crazy? I want to build a brand new world! And the first step is to eliminate all who oppose me!"

Tsunami pointed his blade at the legendary's face. "We will not let that happen." Determination flowed through his body. "We mustn't lose."

"I-argh… ahh… ARGH…" He let out a scream. "W-what is happening to me?" The scythe began glowing purple, before it exploded. Palkia let out a scream. "GRAAH!"

The entire group was launched backwards. Tsunami got to his feet, sword ready. But he was not prepared for what happened next.

"Hehe… you thought that you could kill me, didn't you? No… you are wrong… I am a god!"

Out of the smoke rose Palkia. No… his arms were… smoke, much like Giratina's claws. His face was disfigured, looking much like a cross between himself and Giratina.

"Lord Arceus… what the…" Aero gasped out those words.

Tsunami felt ice run through his veins.

"Fear me…" growled Palkia. "For I am the one true god!"

"No." Tsunami turned around when he heard the quiet voice. "A god should be kind and willing to help… not feared nor kill." It was Suicune. "This Vaporeon… I know what will happen. And I believe you do as well. You know you cannot beat him. Give up."

"Impossible," growled Palkia. "I am doing this to help the world… destroy all those who oppose me!"

"I cannot let you do that, I'm afraid. Tsunami! Fight with me!" Suicune drew his blade.

Tsunami paused for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. We'll stop you!"

Palkia laughed. He punched the ground, and it began to shake.

"What's happening?"

"The ruins… they're falling…" said Suicune, realization in his voice.

"What?! But there are innocent…"

"We have to stop it! The planet will be destroyed if we don't…"

"Are you feeling the gravity? Time's up, you fools!"

"No need to say that." Suicune seemingly teleported onto Palkia's shoulder.

Tsunami blinked, then dashed to help his father. "I'll help…" He swiftly slashed at Palkia's legs.

"ARGHH… that stings! Feel the gravity, Vaporeon!"

"Nngh…" He felt an intense pull downward to the ground.

"Tsunami! Leave him alone!" A swirl of flame shot at Palkia, followed by a barrage of arrows.

He felt Lily rush to his side. She helped him to his feet, now that Palkia was distracted. "Okay?"

"Yeah…" He brushed the dirt off.

"Okay, then let's g-" She frowned. "What's wrong?"

"L-Lily…" He remembered the dream he had been sent. He took a deep breath. Ignore it. "Let's stop him," he said determinedly. He pushed all doubt to the back of his mind.

"Pesks!" hissed Palkia. All of the arrows, all the slashing, it didn't seem to do much to the massive legendary, other than annoy him.

Siarnaq stood next to Tsunami, panting. "I… I don't remember this bastard being this durable last time…"

"He has the power over space and partially death now. I believe we're going to need something drastic to stop… hang on… I think I've got an idea…" said Tsunami. Dialga's voice rang out in his head; What will you be willing to pay?

He remembered the plan; the worst-case-scenario that he discussed with Aero.

Zephyr went flying past them. He got up with a groan. He had a cut above his left eye. "Some help would be nice, guys."

"Zephyr… where's Aero?"

"I'm here." He flapped down next to Tsunami. "What is it?"

"Quickly, now." He looked around and saw the others, including Lily and Siarnaq, were back attacking Palkia again.

Aero looked at him. "You're not saying it… right?"

"Yes I am. Please…" He felt his voice crack. I must commit to this. For everyone's sakes. In his mind, a voice said, Even Lily? He felt sick to his gut.

Aero nodded grimly. "A one way trip… I know. We discussed it."

No coming back this time, Tsunami. Giratina's voice spoke to him, almost directly. He didn't know if he was imagining it or not. "Aero… just do it…"

"Are you sure there isn't time for us to stop him togeth-"

A hissing sound, followed by a low rumbling echoed.

"Tsunami! We're breaking through the atmosphere!" shouted Pallene. She ducked as Palkia swiped at her.

"Aero… give me a second with Lily… the others… do it!"

Aero pulled out a small, white gem he had tucked under his wing, and he began to glow.

When It subsided, standing there was Aero's evolved form, a Staraptor.

"Alright Tsunami… I'll do it now…"

He pulled his powerful wings back, and in one concentrated blast of a whirlwind, blew their friends away. Tsunami, despite being outside of the attack's target area, felt the wind pull him. Lily, who was off on the side, looked at Aero in shock. Their friends were launched back towards the ship.

Aero looked at Tsunami, who had some tears in his eyes building up. Aero flew over to Palkia. "Hey ugly!"

It was getting hotter now. Lily ran over to Tsunami. "What's going on? Where did everybody go?"

"I…" His voice abandoned him for a moment. "I'm sorry, Lily. I had Aero whirlwind them back to the ship."

She looked at him in disbelief. "Why?"

Tsunami looked over his shoulder to see both Aero and Suicune keeping Palkia frustrated.

"To save them. I told Aero to send them back if we must. These ruins… they are unstable, Lily. I knew he might try something like this."

"What? You didn't tell me any of this!" Her voice was shocked. "What are we going to do now?!"

He paused for a moment, then said, "Not we. I. Me and my father alone. We must stop him."

"What do you mean? Tsunami, what are-"

"Will you be my mate?" He blinked for a moment, realizing the magnitude of what he had just asked.

"Tsunami… did you… did you just…"

"I'm not going to get another chance, Lily. Sacrifices… they must be made, and… it's me. I'm the one who must-"

She slapped him. "Shut up!" She began sobbing. "No… this is wrong…" She covered her eyes. "You're wrong. Your sacrifice isn't needed, Tsunami. You don't have to do this."

"Lily… please…" He quickly kissed her. She looked at him, eyes teary.

"Tsunami… I saw it in a dream I had last night. I returned home… but you weren't there." She tried to steady her voice. "We'll stay together. Either I die with you or we live. I'm not losing somebody else I care about."

"I can't allow that, Lily. You go on. Please…"

"No… I can't… I won't allow it to happen…"

"Lily…"

She was silent, then said, "Promise me you'll return to ask me to be your mate then."

"I-I promise…"

"Then… keep it. We'll-"

Tsunami felt heat building up. "Lily, you go. Now!"

"No, but what if-"

"I promise."

Then the ruins split, seemingly between them, creating a rift between the two of them.

"No!" she screamed.

"Lily! Run now… there's nothing more you can…" They were falling fast now. He could barely see her anymore. "Goodbye," he whispered one last time to Lily.

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"Vaporeon… can you hear me?" Giratina's voice was in his head now.

"Yes." Tsunami ran towards Palkia, getting ready to attack. "How? I thought your power is weakened."

"You're close to death. I'm… I'm sorry. I can't bring you back, since one of my major power sources has been destroyed."

"It's okay," said Tsunami. He felt calmer than he knew he should. He still couldn't believe what was happening. Is this a dream? Yet he knew it wasn't.

Everything seemed to be happening slowly as he heard the whistling of air rushing along him. He felt numb; his sword moved without him even thinking to attack; Suicune and Palkia seemed to both move in slow motion. He did not flinch from attacks that nailed him. He slashed like a crazed Vaporeon alongside his father. He knew he was probably bleeding from a dozen cuts, but the heat of battle negated the pain.

He felt no pain even as blasts of energy grazed him. He felt his father's energy racing alongside him. As their swords connected with the massive legendary, he collapsed. He felt himself heating up. He couldn't function in this heat. It seemed to be getting to both Palkia and Suicune. The next thing he knew, all three of them were on the ground. The temperature was approaching a point where they couldn't function.

"Why…?" groaned Palkia, bleeding from the legs. "Why wouldn't you give in? Was it worth your lives?" For once, his voice sounded sane. He didn't even seem angry. "You… Vaporeon… that Espeon… she… she cared for you… you fought to protect her…" He paused, then said, "And you, Suicune… you fought for what you believed…" The whistling of air stopped, or perhaps Tsunami was just used to it.

"Yes," gasped Tsunami. "That… is true…"

Suicune didn't respond. He had collapsed next to Tsunami, and was unconscious.

"I'm sorry." Palkia slowly seemed to lose the underworld parts of him. His normal form was all that remained. "With all the fighting between you mortals, I thought there was no good left. But… I was wrong…"

That was all Tsunami remembered before he gave into the suffocating heat.

Lily… I'll wait for you…

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"Lily… I'm… I'm… so sorry…" Azura looked at Lily, tears in her eyes.

All of them; Lily, Saphira, Azura, Zephyr, Pallene, Siarnaq, Thrymr, and Aero had made it back down. Landon was comforting Madison. Captain Lira had given a few sad words of farewell before leaving.

"I don't get it… the ruins… just vanished…" began Thrymr. "They were falling, and then they vanished…"

Pallene, Siarnaq, and Thrymr all sat next to each other. "Lily… Tsunami… we were always pushing him to find a mate before he lost his memories…" Pallene began to sob gently. "He… he would always say, 'I want a mate who will be my mate through everything. Even hardships and death.' I…" The Ninetales rubbed her eyes. "He truly meant it…"

Then the tears came. Everyone there began crying. Azura and Zephyr held onto each other tightly. Landon wrapped his arms around Madison. Pallene, Siarnaq, and Thrymr all held their heads. Aero flew away, clearly not trying to show tears. Saphira held Lily's hand.

Lily couldn't stand it anymore. She turned tail and ran back to the cave. Nobody called or ran after her.

She ran until she reached the cave, which was well into the night. She collapsed onto the stone floor, and had no more tears to cry. She closed her eyes. "I can't… Tsunami… why? I lost you… then you lost me… then I…" She closed her eyes tightly. "It's so stupid!" she screamed. "What more must I give?" She took a deep breath, then said, "What more? My life again? Is that what it will take to be with him?" Is this what he would want? With a pang, she realized it was no. But…

"I'll take a bath," she resolved aloud. She slid off all her clothes. She slowly walked into the frigid water. She dipped her head under the water. She remembered that this was where he had first seen her. She had first seen him here too as well. So strong… with such focus and gentleness… yet no memories. She had used her strength to try pick up a sense of his memories then, but it had been empty. Just calm loneliness and sadness.

She closed her eyes, trying to pick up his scent from earlier. Maybe his scent is still here with… wait… yes… at least his scent is still here… mmm… that strong masculine scent… nothing else quite like it. It was comforting to feel him around her; but he was still gone, and she would never feel the comforting arms of the Vaporeon.

She remembered a conversation they had in the pitfall after she had tried kissing him.

"Tsunami?" The two of them were leaning back against the pit.

"Yeah?"

"How many kids would you ever like to… you know, have if and when you get a mate?"

"I've never really thought about it. Kids… it seems like something so far away… parenthood…" He paused. "Why?"

"I don't know… I was just thinking about it."

"Maybe… one? Two? I don't know. I mean, I don't really know that much about how babies are made," he confessed. "I mean, I know sex, but…" Both of them blushed.

"I'd want a lot of kids," she confessed. "I've always wanted to know how it would feel like to be a mother. I want to give my children the mother I didn't really get to know."

"That's sweet… really. I think you'd be a great mother. You're gentle."

"Thanks, Tsunami. I think you'd make a great father too."

She was disturbed by something sliding along her leg. She looked down and screamed as a Vaporeon jumped out of the water and dragged her underneath it.

His arms wrapped around her back as he kissed her passionately, not caring about their naked bodies touching.

How…? But Lily was too caught up in the moment to wonder for long. Before she knew it, she had to tap his back to take her to the surface. They both burst out of the water and stared at each other. Drops of rain seemedto fall from the crack in the cave's ceiling.

"Tsunami…"

"Lily. I'm… alive… with you…"

They hugged each other.

"How?" she whispered.

"Palkia. He saved me and my father right before we were about to die."

"You owe me a full explanation for everything. I hope you realize it," she pouted.

He kissed her on the nose. "I know. But can't we just enjoy each others' love without worrying about dying?"

She giggled. "I think we can."

The two of them giggled in the moonlight as drops of rain fell onto the young couple.

Well, this chapter was so difficult to write, being the end and all. It felt slightly rushed, but I had to go over it about 5 times to get the story to the point and work out in the end. Now, I'd like to thank you all for reading this story! It's been a pleasure writing this story! For my next story, I might try some different pairings… hmm…

And of course, you are probably all wondering what happened to Palkia, Giratina, Dialga, Celebi, and Tsunami's mother. And Lira. I might make a chapter on what happens to them all eventually, but I think I'll begin work on my new story for now.

As for a lemon? Probably not, unless I get overwhelming favor of it. I don't know; I don't want to get my account terminated, lol. But thank you all! ^_^