Note: This is it! The final showdown... Will Rose succeed, or will she fail...? Ah well, sorry for taking so long... It's just that I've been DEAD BUSY with school... There's chemistry, then there's geometry, then there's history... But I'm not leaving this, oh no, in fact, I squeezed in my extra time here, halving out my time for piano practice and proceeded with the fic, today I managed to get it done, so here it is! This is NOT the last chapter, so please stay tuned!
P.S. The fic now has a cover! If you can't see what I've sketched, check out the link back at my profile! Thanks!
Rose's POV:
"I can't fail now... Not this time... Not now..."
I slowly opened my eyes. Almost immediately, I cringed from excruciating pain. I growled as I tried to stand, feeling as if the pain was working hard to keep me down.
"I... I won't quit!" I yelled.
The black darkness that surrounded me... The chains, they soon dissolved around me. I saw myself standing at the center of the garden in my dreams.
"H-huh?" I coughed in confusion. I stared around to see the entire place isolated. I looked down at my arms... Could I be... dead?
"Giratina?" I called, hoping to elicit a response from anybody here... or to test if I was really dead...
"Blade? Sandra? C-Claire?" I called out, hoping to at least hear a reply somewhere, "Darkrai? Cresselia?"
"R-rose?" a faint voice called back.
I immediately whirled around, my heart beating wildly... I was eager to know who could be with me in this... place that used to be familiar with me. I remember this place bringing me a sense of security... but now, I could only feel one thing... Fear... The trees that I used to hide behind... The bushes where I hid behind as I saw Darkrai and Cresselia's first date... They were now replaced with the anxiety... The anxiety that anything could burst out anytime...
"Rose?" the voice asked again.
I spun around and saw where it was coming from. I saw a faint white figure, floating in the air. It was... Claire?
"C-Claire?" I tilted my head in confusion, "W-what are you doing here?"
"Ummm... I happened to wander in here... And I heard your pained screams of anguish..." she stuttered.
"I wasn't screaming..." I returned, recalling my unconscious state.
"Err... Y-your moaning, then..." she shyly returned, playing with her fingers.
"C-Claire? Are you all right?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Y-yes, but never mind that..." Claire replied, "I need you to come with me to the center of this place..."
"W-why?" I suspiciously asked.
"Just.. Come with me... It'll lead us out of here," she coaxed.
Not having much of a choice, I decided to go with Claire to her supposed location. As we walked through the garden, I noticed things that I have never seen before in my dreams. I noticed that the place seems to have the ruins of a temple... Several columns jutted out from the ground as we walked through the mystical forest.
"So... How are things... going... back with the others?" I tried to break the silence.
Claire coldly ignored my question and proceeded to float forwards. I snorted and rolled my eyes, thinking that Claire has been acting odd.
Eventually, we emerged into a clearing. The trees and forestry parted ways to show a small circular stage made of stone. Around it, marble pillars jutted up. The path leading to it also had marble pillars by its side, but some of them were destroyed and crumbling.
"Rose! This is it! Go up there and... you'll be sent home..." Claire excitedly pointed to the center of the circular stage.
"Hmm? You go on ahead," I replied, steadily walking, "I'll catch up."
Claire stopped in her tracks, suddenly turning around to me.
"Why don't you go first?" she replied, seemingly annoyed.
I raised an eyebrow, knowing Claire would never be this irritable.
"I'll keep watch, you go first... Is there anything wrong? Ain't Riles waiting for you back at home?" I continued, sarcastically.
She sighed and gestured for me to just follow her. Glad with having my way, I continued to tag along, although I kept a watchful eye at her in case something odd happened.
When we both took a step to the stage, she quickly spun around and tried to subdue me.
"Claire!" I growled, breaking free easily as I was wary of her actions, "What are you doing?"
"S-shut up!" she snarled, trying to push me to the circle on the ground at the center of the marble white stage, which began to glow with unearthly power.
"Y-you!" I snarled, pinning her down, "You aren't Claire!"
With a well aimed thrust, I sent her flying to the center of the marble stage. She yelped as she landed there, but was immediately struck down by a red beam from the sky.
"Eek... Y-you..." she growled.
When the beam had faded, there was nothing left on where she stood. I sighed, thinking that my mind was playing tricks on me.
"You can come out now, XD002!" I yelled, "I've had it with your tricks... If you want to fight, then let's fight! I just want to end this now! If you truly do not fear me, come out and fight!"
"My, my... Rose... You certainly... amuse me," Claire's voice softly cackled from behind.
I quickly spun around to see Claire's figure floating behind me. She was clapping slowly as she grinned back at me... A grin full of malice and loathing.
"Bra-vo, Rose..." she smiled, her clapping slowly coming to a halt before her figure shimmered, "I suppose you enjoyed my little "Claire" imitation..."
Slowly, her figure began to dissipate into pixels, forming a sphere which was now glowing red in contrast to how I saw XD002 before.
"Y-you!" I shuddered, preparing to battle him, "Where am I?"
"Ain't it obvious?" he snickered, "You're in the deepest recesses of Arceus's and your mind... Due to your unwavering ferocity, it has caused your psychic powers to infiltrate into even the Alpha's mind... Unfortunately, you are trapped in here... with me..."
"What about Blade?" I frantically asked.
"Hmm? Why must I tell you? You don't need to know... Not when you will soon cease to exist!"
Slowly, he began to cackle as a huge veil of square particles began to surround him. Slowly, his form began to change into a silhouette. His form began to sustain two arms and legs.
"Finally, I've waited so long to meet you in person! I've had this craving... to eliminate you myself!" he cackled, his black and red form slowly changing to a more humanoid shape, "You shall feel the wrath... of artificial intelligence! With sentience, I am PERFECTION! Don't you see? This, destiny, you speak of... It is a fallacy! With those "stats" I see in you, it is not possible to beat me!"
"Shut up!" I snarled, "I don't care about destiny and all that junk! What I know is that this world is beautiful, and I will do everything I can to protect it!"
His wavering form quickly appeared before me, holding me with an arm.
"Rose... So it is true... That hatred you bear down, is it all gone?" his flickering form replied, "No, it hasn't... I know it hasn't... It's down there in the deepest recesses of your heart... All because you were fooled by those around you!"
"No, I wasn't fooled!" I retorted, "I believe that I truly have friends now! I knew that I was misguided!"
"Really?" his form began to take shape into that of a Gardevoir, "Then let me ask you this question... What would happen if you showed your face in Treasure Town? How many Pokémon would recognize you and stone you? Do you think they would care about your petty emotions?"
I remained silent. While I knew Blade was sincere to me, I knew that there were still a number of others who couldn't care less about how I would meet my end... They probably wanted me gone...
"Hmm?" his form slowly changing from that of a silhouette to a colored one, his face bearing a striking resemblance to mine, "Silence... That must either mean that I speak the truth... or you are very scared to admit so!"
"N-no! This world has a purpose for everyone!" I yelled, my voice weakening.
"Really? Even you? Then tell me, Rose? Where are your parents now?" he smiled, his voice slowly becoming more feminine as it mimicked mine.
"I... I don't know!" I returned, balling my hands into fists.
"Why is that so?" he... she... it smiled, "Where are they now? You wanna know? I'll share some of my knowledge then, they left you... They wanted to get rid of you! They didn't want you brought to this world! You were an accident! Your purpose... is meaningless! Do you see it now?"
I swallowed. This could not be true... No, Blade had proven it to me! Everyone had a purpose... Everyone had a purpose in this world!
"... No," I replied, "I-I don't believe you! Blade told me-"
"Yes, you'd rather believe in something told to you by your own kind rather than something told to you by a higher being," XD002's form began to glimmer, "I should know... For I can access your memories, even those sealed away in the deepest recesses of your mind. I know everything, you choose only to believe what you want to believe in!"
"No, it's not possible! I'm sure they wouldn't do something like that to their own child," I retorted, breathing heavily.
"Oh really? Where are they, then? Where, huh? If they really did care so much about you, why are you like this now, huh? Tell me!" XD002 smiled, reflecting my mischievous and cruel face.
"They're... They're..." I fell silent... My parents were gone for as long as I could remember... And I could not lie to myself but admit that I loathed them for leaving me in my youth... That was how the idea of "Rose the Thief" had grown... I wanted a purpose, someone who would actually be cared for, so I tried to steal it... I wanted to be loved, so I tried to steal it... I wanted to be accepted into the world, so I thought it could be stolen... But alas, now I realize that there are some things that a thief can't steal.
"Hmm... Silent, eh? If you want to defend your answer... Then I suppose you'll have to tell me where your parents are... Tell me... THROUGH BATTLE!" XD002 began to grin, letting loose a strong Psychic attack.
I helped as I rolled out of harm's way... The huge rock stage began to float up in the air as everything around us began to crack and dissolve away into an abstract background of colors all cycling into black.
"You have a destiny, Rose..." XD002 taunted as he/she struck me with a Thunderbolt, "You know it... You wanted to deal equal judgment down on them all... Now, you can! All you have to do is open your eyes and see... that we are not different!"
I snarled as he struck me.
"No!" I yelled, tears rolling down my eyes as I fought back with a Psychic, "I regret thinking that way! I know the truth that Blade has shown me is real!"
The attack harmlessly bounced off the computer program.
"Are you really this stubborn?" XD002 replied, readying a Focus Blast, "Did I not tell you that his views are the same as yours? He can view things only from below, a higher being such as me knows what is best! Ever since this blessing of sentience has befallen me, I have seen things that you have not! This world is all made of complex formulas, my mission was to eradicate anything that could fight or harm others, each of these formulae... Each of them can be rewritten to harm or battle... Wouldn't a world without these pests be beautiful?"
"You... You definitely have different views! I only wanted equality, you... you plan on destroying everything due to your programming!" I coughed as I was struck by the Focus Blast.
"Ah... Yes, but this is my choice! This is what I choose! Besides, I have proven to you that you are not needed in this world... If I took care of you and eradicated you, how many in Treasure Town would actually care?" XD002 smiled, "How many would pay homage to another common dot in this painting?"
I remained silent... I knew none would actually care for someone like me. Instead, I hurled a Focus Blast back against him/her in a rage.
"Ahh... At a loss for words, eh, Rose?" XD002 smiled while catching my attack with his fingers and hurling it back, "Face it, Rose! You're a hypocrite too! You keep saying that you know everyone has a purpose, but now... you try to avoid the question by attacking? You're laughable!"
I screamed as I was struck by the blunt of my own attack. My attack knocked me back a few feet away as XD002, now a complete mirror of me, began to calmly stride over before me.
"Face it, I am the new 'you'... You do not exist anymore!" XD002 snickered, his form enshrouded by various digits, "You... do not deserve this 'existence' you speak of... You... Everything that you say, it all isn't true... Even from your birth, you knew it yourself, you are worthless... You exist only to be thrown away in this world... Do not worry... For the time has come for you to disappear! I shall be happy to have the privilege of being the one to remove you from existence!"
Still in the form of a Gardevoir, he... she... whatever it was, pointed its finger up to the sky. A huge ball of swirling black energy began to grow above his finger. With a huge grin in the Gardevoir's face, he slammed the ball of energy down at me.
"Begone! You've bothered me long enough!" XD002 chanted.
Everything around me faded into white as I closed my eyes to brace myself upon impact. I could feel my hope fading. Was I really worthless? Was my purpose... really nothing? I opened my eyes, letting my tears fall... Blade... You told me that I had a purpose... Now, why is this-
"You do have a purpose!" a voice suddenly called.
My body began to feel a great deal of pain. I knew that I must be driven to insanity by then. No wonder I was hearing things.
"Rose! You don't understand... You have a purpose in this world!" the voice replied again, "Please, only you can free me from this curse of XD002..."
I opened my eyes... Ignoring the pain, I tried to let out a sound.
"Who are you?" I groaned.
"I am Arceus!" the voice replied, "Rose, you do have a purpose! Your parents never threw you away... They tried to protect you from a group of thieves... Sadly, they have passed away, leaving you behind in this world... But they were glad that you were safe... Now you grew up to be the very thing they feared, a thief... Rose... Do not believe the lies of XD002... Everyone and everything has a purpose! You have to win, for Blade who is out there fighting my accursed body!"
When I opened my eyes, I saw Blade out there doing his best. He was locked in combat with Arceus. Slung behind Arceus's back was my body.
"Rose!" he yelled, "Please! Hang on! You can do this! Remember, you promised that we'd make it out of this together!"
"Let's not forget, Jirachi has shown you your wish... You truly are not alone!" Arceus replied.
My eyes saw the same vision Jirachi had given me... The silhouette now unmasked... I knew who it was... It was Blade! He was my equal... The one who would truly care about someone as wretched as me. He clearly understood that I was misunderstood... He knew that I could change... He lent his hand to me... For that, I cannot... LOSE!
"Aggh!" I yelled, breaking free of the attack slammed down on me.
"This... is IMPOSSIBLE?" XD002 screamed in rage.
I quickly struck a strong Thunderbolt down at the figure the program took form into.
"Losing is impossible for me!" I returned, quickly dashing forth to bring out a point blank Focus Blast.
"But... why?" XD002 retorted while hurling a Focus Blast at me, "How can you survive such am attack?"
I caught the Focus Blast with my fingers and launched it back at XD002.
"Because I know my purpose... I know that I am here," I scowled, launching Psychic forward, "To make YOU disappear!"
XD002 dodged the attack and struck back with a Thunderbolt.
"This isn't even possible?" it exasperatedly launched a Thunderbolt, "What ARE you?"
"I am the one destined to defeat you!" I replied, taking the damage of Thunderbolt without caring. All I had in my mind was to vanquish the one that had been the root of all pain now.
I launched my copy up in the air with Psychic, quickly, I took advantage of the situation and struck up in the air with Thunderbolt.
Slowly, my copy began to crash down. I ignored it and began to charge up some strength using Calm Mind.
Immediately, as XD002 landed, smoke obscured its form.
All of a sudden, XD002 rushed out of the smoke and attempted to launch a Focus Blast at me.
"I'm not done yet!" it snarled.
I merely took the damage while still continuing to use Calm Mind.
"No, I wasn't done yet, either!" I held my hands together as my now boosted Focus Blast flared between my palms. I quickly let it loose as it knocked my copy down to the ground.
As XD002 fell, its form quickly began to fade, several traces of the green Gardevoir skin fading away and dissolving into pixels.
"No! This can't happen! I've come this far, I can't fade back into nothingness! My sentience! My life..." it began to scream in distorted voices, until it began to fade away into different pieces.
"You will meet your end too, one-" it let out one last scream, before fading into black smoke.
Slowly, the black background around me faded back into the garden back in my dreams. Tired, I let out a sigh and sat down. After exerting all that effort, I just wanted to sit down and rest.
"Well done, Rose..." the voice replied.
I quickly whirled around to see Arceus staring down at me, smiling.
"A-Arceus!" I gasped, trying to catch my breath.
"Ah, forget the formalities... I must sincerely thank you for all that you've done for me... For the world..." he congratulated.
"R-really?" I sighed, "It's all over?"
"Yeah, you saved the world... But now," Arceus leaned in closer, "I must ask you one last question... Do you really see no point in this world? Do you still wish to destroy this world? Or have you found the very thing you have wished for..? Have you passed this test?"
I remained silent but I smiled.
"I see a point in this world... I now see, that everyone... everything... No matter how insignificant... has a purpose..." I replied, a smile forming in his face, "And I now see that the very thing I had wished for, was right before me..."
"Your parents would be very proud..." Arceus smiled.
"My parents? Could you please tell me more about them?" I suddenly edged closer.
"I could, but shouldn't you be supposed to be out there, now? Ain't a certain Gallade waiting for you?" Arceus smiled.
A light immediately flashed before I could protest. As soon as I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on the cold ground of where we first battled Arceus.
"Rose!" Blade hugged me tightly, "I thought you were..."
He didn't finish his sentence, tears streamed down his eyes as he strangled me.
"B-blade... I-I'm here... I-I need air!" I struggled to get the words out.
Blade let go, his tears quickly changing into a smile.
"Y-you promised," he smiled.
"Would I ever go back out on that?" I scoffed, "Besides, I couldn't lose in front of an Explorer like you... I've still got to break and enter your heart!"
"Unfortunately, you've already stolen it," he chuckled.
"If I may," a third voice joined in.
We whirled around in embarrassment to see that Arceus was floating before us, listening in to our little reunion.
"I am very grateful to the two of you," Arceus kneeled on one leg, "If I may handsomely reward you, how would it be?"
Blade and I turned to each other and nodded.
"I guess you know what I have in mind?" I smiled, to which Blade nodded.
Blade humbly walked before Arceus.
"Arceus, I beg that you forgive Darkrai and Cresselia, good friends of ours, for... having a secret relationship... I beg that you leave them be instead of reinforcing your usual rules," Blade spoke.
I slapped my hand to my forehead.
Arceus, however, was amused. His eyes changed from surprise, to understanding, and to happiness.
"So shall it be, then... Besides, they did their duties well anyway... I am astonished that you are quite generous to give up your requests to them..." Arceus smiled.
"Well, we kinda owe a lot to them," Blade explained.
"I would've liked a nice quiet place to live in..." I coughed silently, "But I guess that works too..."
"Either way, I sincerely thank the two of you for putting an end to XD002... With that program on the loose, I feared the worst might happen to this world," Arceus humbly bowed, "Although I'd enjoy a nice chat with you, I still have duties to do, those concerning this world and the other ones too... While I have the time for it, would you ind me sending you two home?"
We both nodded.
As Arceus began to prepare a hole back home, I gave a mischievous nudge back at Blade.
"What?" he asked.
"Back at home, I'd like to fulfill a little promise for you," I smiled.
"What is it?" Blade scratched his head.
"You'll have to wait to find out," I smiled.
I held his hand firmly as we both walked into the hole back home. I knew that there was much to do once I get home. I would be starting my new life soon.
Note: Nice going, Rose got herself a Gallade... Now we should have a wedding next chapter! (Or not) Anyways, it ain't over yet... I promise I'll be back for more... As for now, I gotta get back to studying... Here's a question I'll be leaving then: Should I try to draw an ending illustration? Either way, I feel like doing a ReshiXKyurem oneshot in commemoration for the coming of B2W2... Ah well, good night guys... Please do leave a review! As for me... *stuck doing Math*... Seeya!