Conquering the Dark
Chapter 9: Conquering the New World
"But why? Why didn't it work?"
"Raiden…"
"If a little girl could have such an effect on Rayquaza, why didn't it work on my own dad?!"
"Raiden..."
"What the hell is wrong with me? Am I just not…"
"RAIDEN!"
Raiden jumped. He, along with Keldeo, had been in their room for the last hour or so after Mewtwo teleported them back. Raiden was trying to figure out why their spiritual attacks against Zekrom were ineffective, and Keldeo had been trying to snap him out of his thinking to talk to him. The rest of the group was gone, with Mewtwo still at Galactic HQ with Maylene, Lucas, and Bridgette. Riley, Aaron, N, and Reshiram were also on their way back from Canalave City. Dialga was due back from Fuego Ironworks soon, and the rest of the Legendary Pokémon were out, launching an attack against one of the Galactic troops' quarters near the capitol to dent Cyrus's numbers.
"…What is it?" Raiden muttered.
Keldeo sighed. "To be honest… I'm not surprised that this didn't work out."
"Are you trying to say that…?"
"I'm not trying to say you're weak, Raiden. But maybe we need to reanalyze things."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, RE-"
"Ahem."
Raiden stopped mid-yell to look up at the majestic Legendary who had walked in.
"Oh… hey Xerneas." Raiden replied rather nervously.
Xerneas closed his eyes, sighing. "Normally, I'd ask what were you thinking… but I think I can figure out just exactly what you were thinking in this case."
Raiden looked torn up, trying to avoid eye-contact with Xerneas. "…How'd you know?"
"Mewtwo and I figured you did a little eavesdropping into our conversation earlier. When you two didn't arrive for the meeting, it was an easy conclusion to make."
"I… suppose it was." Raiden admitted. "I… I guess I just want my father back."
"Raiden, let me talk to you." Xerneas said, very gently and clearly not angry. "…This hasn't been easy on any of us. Many of us have lost loved ones. I've lost Yveltal, Dialga's lost Giratina and is forced to fight her own brother Palkia, and Groudon and Kyogre have lost Rayquaza in the same way you lost Zekrom. Those two lost who they see as a father as well. So you aren't alone, Raiden."
"And… I've lost Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion myself. They were my family. At least you still have part of yours." Keldeo commented, sighing to himself.
Raiden looked at Keldeo, and then Xerneas. Looking back at it, the plan HAD been quite foolish and rash. If Mewtwo hadn't been there to bail him out… he didn't really want to think what could have happened to him and Keldeo.
"But still… I don't understand why it didn't work. If one little girl's prayer got Rayquaza to hesitate, then why didn't prayers from TWO Legendary Pokémon do anything to Zekrom?"
Xerneas thought about this. "Well, there are a multitude of explanations as to why it didn't work. Perhaps Zekrom has more resistance to it since he has been 'reprogrammed' for a longer period of time compared to Rayquaza, who was more recent and thus, more susceptible to a spiritual attack? Of course, I am just hypothesizing here."
"More likely, I'm just a wimp."
Xerneas sighed. "Raiden. You may be the weakest of the Legendary Pokémon here, but that doesn't mean you aren't strong by any measure. I'm certain that even if I or Dialga had been there, the outcome would've been the same. He is likely very deep into his own reprogramming."
Raiden closed his eyes. "That was obvious."
"Raiden… God works in many ways beyond my comprehension. Perhaps this was meant to teach you a lesson? That perhaps you shouldn't act so recklessly and without caution?"
"But then why can't God just grant my freaking prayer?!" Raiden snapped. "I've gotten the damn point! But all I want is my father back! Is that too much to ask?!"
Xerneas could sense a lot of distress within Raiden. "I feel like I can't be much more help at this point. Perhaps you should talk it over with Him."
With that, Xerneas left the room. Keldeo looked at Xerneas leaving, and then Raiden. "Xerneas… might be right. I'm just going to leave and… yeah." Keldeo said rather awkwardly, leaving their room to give Raiden some privacy.
Raiden sighed, laying down on his stomach on his bed. He couldn't be bothered to get into any sort of formal praying position, but figured God wouldn't mind too much.
"God…" Raiden sighed. "I… I hope this isn't too much for you to handle, but… I just want all of this to end. The war, the mind control over my father and Rayquaza, just… I'm sick of all of this and just want it to end. I know it's not as easy as just asking for me, but… it's when I give everything I have to rescue my father and it doesn't work that I… that I start to doubt you, I guess."
The dragon rolled onto his side, fiddling around with the sheets on his bed. "I mean… I shouldn't doubt you. That I'm supposed to trust you. But… it's hard to do that when everything looks so hopeless. So… I guess all I have is this. Just one request. Give me my father back. I… I don't care what it takes. I just want my daddy back." He muttered the last part, crying into his pillow as he softly cried.
But neither Raiden nor anybody else could have predicted what God had planned next…
"I can't believe you would do this to me… brother."
It wasn't exactly the best of days for Dialga as she had been captured by a surprise attack by Team Galactic at Fuego Ironworks. Normally, she could've easily handled them… but with Palkia there, along with already-enslaved Legendary Pokémon like Zekrom and Rayquaza, she was easily overpowered.
Palkia only smirked, leading the chained Dialga back to the Galactic Headquarters. "I'm surprised that you think that way. Honestly, you should've expected this. Besides, you'll be invaluable to the team. We specifically targeted you, after all."
Dialga scoffed. "Don't you have enough 'invaluable Pokémon' on your team? You have Zekrom, you have Rayquaza, and you've killed God-only-knows how many innocent people and Pokémon!"
Palkia shrugged. "Collateral damage."
Dialga grit her teeth, trying to ignore the insensitive remark. She changed the subject. "But that does bring me back to something. Why me? You said you specifically targeted me, but why? Sinnoh is already in enough ruin thanks to all of you."
Palkia chuckled, the two entering the Headquarters. At this point, Mewtwo and his group were no longer here. "Normally, it would be unprofessional to spill plans… but since you'll be reprogrammed yourself and thus forget this conversation, I suppose it wouldn't hurt."
The two stood just outside Cyrus's throne room, soon about to go in.
"So… are you aware of Primal states?"
"…I'm aware of Groudon and Kyogre having Primal states. What does that have to do with…?"
"…Did you know that you have one?" Palkia said, smirking rather deviously.
"…No. But I have a feeling I'm not going to like the answer."
"Not a bad assumption. As you know, I am the God of Space."
"Like you deserve to be called a god." Dialga thought to herself.
"And as the God of Space, I can see different dimensions. And I found something rather… interesting in a peculiar dimension where humans don't seem to exist. You. In a male form and corrupted into an ultra-powerful Primal state."
"So… your plan is to use me to get this Primal Dialga here?" Dialga took a guess.
"Close, but good guess." Palkia taunted, patting her head. It was rather patronizing for her, to be treated like this.
"Your point?" Dialga snipped at her brother, getting tired of Palkia toying with her.
"My point? My point is with a little… 'persuasion'… I think we can get you to a primal and obedient state for us."
Dialga was not looking forward to this. She knew exactly what Palkia meant by 'persuasion'. As if it needed explaining again. Nevertheless, she wasn't going to give Palkia the satisfaction of her giving in, so she kept her composure.
"Let's just get this over with."
The duo finally walked into the large throne room. It was a fancy, if somewhat egotistical, place. Four stone columns were on the two side of a red carpet that led to Cyrus's throne. On the sides of the room were portraits of Cyrus, some of him as artistic representation, some of him at war, but most of them gave off the (correct) impression of a very vain and proud man. His success in the war greatly inflated the tyrant's ego, giving him the idea that he was unstoppable as long as he crushed everything in his way. And so far, he had been doing a good job of that as Palkia led another Returners member to Cyrus.
The two went saw Cyrus on his throne, lounging with a smug smirk on his face. Dialga REALLY wanted to wipe that disgusting smirk off of his face, but she wasn't really in the position to do so…
"Well, well. Isn't this precious? The leader of this puny little resistance group, right under my throne."
Dialga bit her tongue, knowing that saying anything would only worsen the situation. As if it wasn't bad enough for her.
"So… you do know what we plan to do with you, right?"
"…Unfortunately, I do." Dialga answered.
"Good. Then that saves me about 5 unnecessary minutes on you." The Galactic Leader smirked again.
"Gag me with a spoon." Dialga thought bitterly to herself.
Cyrus snapped his fingers. "Palkia… you know what to do. To revert her to a Primal State… her spirit must be broken. It makes her far more vulnerable."
Palkia knew exactly what Cyrus was talking about. 'She' would be disposed of right in front of Dialga. The dragon of space flashed back a sadistic smile.
"As you wish, Lord Cyrus."
With that said, Palkia led Dialga down into the depths of the Galactic Headquarters, going through many twisted mazes and catacombs until…
"Mom?!"
Before Dialga stood the once mighty Arceus, though her once regal appearance had diminished. She was bruised, bloodied, and badly scarred. Trapped in chains that drained her power, the regal Arceus had no more of her former majesty and glory.
Dialga was on the verge of tears. "I knew you were capable of this cruelty… but to actually see it for my own eyes… oh, Mother…"
Arceus, though her voice was weak, still spoke. "Please. Do not give in, my child." She said softly. "I may soon be gone, but you have to persevere. You can't let them win. You have to restore this world back to normal… even without me."
"But… M…Mom…"
Palkia gave a fake sympathetic pat on Dialga's shoulder. "Don't you worry, Dia. Mom will be out of her misery soon enough."
Dialga growled at this, unable to do anything as Palkia walked up to Arceus.
"Honestly 'Mother', you'll have no more use to us when we gain control of Primal Dialga." The Dragon of Space said.
A loud cry of pain came from Arceus as Palkia clawed her powerfully, causing some more blood to seep through the wound on her chest.
"You'll have nothing left. No power. No allies. No hope that things could even be better."
Palkia gave a fierce kick to Arceus's leg, causing her to stumble and fall. She panted, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of letting her will be broken.
"Besides, we've drained most of your power anyways. You're just deadweight now." Palkia laughed. At this point, Dialga tried to leap towards Palkia to attack him, but was prevented from doing so by the Red Chains she was bound in.
"So… any last words?" Palkia asked casually, his sharp claws around her neck.
"…I've said everything I need to." Arceus panted, ready to accept death.
"Good. I hate long good-byes. Farewell."
With that, Arceus's neck was sliced clean through, killing her instantly.
"NO! MOTHER!" Dialga screamed, now on the verge of bawling.
With Arceus's murder, Dialga felt something within her… change. Rage. She could think of nothing but uncontrollable rage. Rage at Palkia, at Cyrus, at Team Galactic… at everyone.
Her form started to change. No longer just Dialga, her markings became corrupt and started to transform her. Rage and extreme power flowed through her, power she had never felt before. It was overwhelming, and she couldn't even contain all of it. The excess power was so much that the Red Chains on her started to break.
Palkia and Cyrus's plan to break Dialga's spirit worked… but it worked a little too well. Alarmed by the new Primal Dialga breaking the chains that once bound her, she now had unbound and seemingly limitless power.
"YOU! YOU DESTROYED EVERYTHING!" she screamed, launching an ultra-power Flash Cannon at Palkia. Before the Dragon of Space could even react, he took a direct hit and was blasted to the other wall. Badly beaten… but still alive. Barely.
"I WILL STOP THE CLOCK OF THIS UNIVERSE, AND MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENS AGAIN!"
Palkia tried to run for it, but Dialga wouldn't allow that. Grabbing him with telekinesis, she threw and slammed him against the wall repeatedly.
"Dialga!"
POW!
"Please…"
SLAM!
"S-Stop…"
CRASH!
"It… it hur-"
CRUSH!
"I-I can't take any…"
STOMP!
With her last action, Dialga stomped on Palkia, leaving nothing behind but a mess of broken bones and blood. He was long gone now.
Now, Dialga casted an ultra-powerful Earthquake, one that caused the entirety of Team Galactic HQ to crack, crumble, and fall to pieces. Steel beams supporting the structure of the building split apart from the Earthquake, the floors started to crumble and fall onto the levels below them, and pipelines were also shattered, flooding the building.
"What on Earth…?!" Mewtwo exclaimed in shock, being shaken along with Maylene, Lucas and Bridgette as the entire building began to collapse. "…I don't know what's going on, but we have to get out of here NOW!"
"What about Zekrom and Rayquaza?!" Maylene shouted. "They're still here, even if…"
"THERE'S NO TIME!" Mewtwo quickly grouped everyone together, using his psychic powers to teleport them all out.
Riley, Aaron, and N were all flying back to headquarters on Reshiram, located in Jubilife City. Everything seemed normal (at least, for a dark future) until Aaron noticed something.
"Is that… the Team Galactic HQ?" Aaron asked.
True enough, the collapsing giant tower was, in fact, Team Galactic HQ. The whole building was crumbling to pieces, practically dissolving.
"What… what on Earth could've done that? That can't be natural, yet I don't think any Legendary is powerful enough to cause such destruction… without a care of the prisoners inside." N muttered.
Zekrom and Rayquaza were also among the first to notice something going on.
"Is something… shaking?"
Part of the floor they were on split open, causing the two to fall through. It all happened so fast, neither had time to react before Zekrom fell some distance below, due to simply standing. Rayquaza would've gone after him as a fellow Team member, but his basic survival instincts forced him to fly out of the window, smashing headfirst against the glass and briefly dazing himself.
That daze, along with the death of Palkia, who had partial excursion over the mind control, caused his memories to start to relapse.
The girl.
The Resistance.
Getting brainwashed.
All of the memories came flowing back, everything that had been suppressed was now freed.
"What's going on? Where… where am I…?"
To his horror, he looked behind himself to see a building collapsing. His memories had essentially been 'reset' to before he had been 'reprogrammed' and knew absolutely nothing of what was going on.
He looked towards an upcoming Dragon-type flying towards him.
Reshiram.
Dialga had enough of this.
Summoning all of her now corrupted power, she opened the gap between both the dark future and Riley and Aaron's current timeline. Images of people in the good timeline started to slow down… down to a crawl. Soon enough, all of the original timeline was still. Silent. Unmoving.
"I WILL ENSURE THAT NEITHER WORLD SUFFERS AGAIN!"
Now, the Returners had a new enemy to face. One more dangerous than even Team Galactic was… Primal Dialga.
End of Book One.
I think you guys are going to have a lot of questions, so I'll try to answer as many as I can.
I chose a 'Book One'-style ending because I had a bit of trouble continuing this story. It was in limbo for quite a while, as I focused on some other stuff. And I began to realize that a good bit of what I had was unworkable, so that's why I set up for a rather dramatic shift at the end here. Eventually, this will lead into a Book Two, but for right now, I'm REALLY damn sick of this story and it'll be going into cold storage for a while. I do hope that you enjoyed Book One, though.
AuraWielder