Chapter 67: With You

Ash, May, and their Pokémon came out of the wormhole and found themselves in uncharted territory. "Whoa," Ash looked around with wonder.

"It's so vast," May was also in awe. Their Pokémon were also captivated by Ultra Space. The atmosphere was a purplish black with small and large rock formations floating around like islands.

"How are we supposed to find him here?" Ash crossed his arms, looking into the deep sea of darkness.

Suddenly, they heard a loud explosion and saw a bright yellow pillar illuminate Ultra Space in the distance. Ash and May focused their eyes on the source. "Time for May's Expeditions," May framed the source of the light with her hands.

Ash and Pikachu chuckled; they were glad the brunette could still find some humor in their dire situation. "Right then," Ash and Pikachu smiled confidently.

"Blaziken, get some rest for right now. We'll take it from here," May returned Blaziken for the time being. "Now for our ride," the coordinator said. After returning Blaziken, she threw the Master Ball. As soon she threw the Pokéball, Dialga emerged with a loud cry. The Temporal Pokémon was ready for the final battle. "I never thought I'd end up riding a Dialga," May joked as she got the dragon.

"Guess we're lucky," Ash joked as well, climbing on with Pikachu.

"Dialga, take us there!" May pointed in the proper direction, ordering with haste.

Dialga roared and flew through Ultra Space. Ash, May, and Pikachu took glimpses of their surroundings and wondered what hid in this world. They wouldn't get a chance to find out, but that didn't matter now. Dialga landed on the rock formation where the light had come from and just as May suspected, Omega stood there with Origin Form Giratina. Ash and May noticed the Griseous Orb in Omega's hand was glowing. He's powered up Giratina, Ash realized.

Ash, May, and Pikachu hopped off Dialga. They gave Omega intense expressions. Dialga roared at his corrupted comrade, attempting to get through the Renegade Pokémon's corruption but to no avail. Shadow Giratina let out a screech in response to Dialga. "I am glad you came," Omega smirked.

"Is that so?" May raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.

"It's the end of the line," Ash flung his arm out when he made his declaration. His buddy emitted sparks from its cheeks in preparation to attack.

Omega continued smirking and looked at Giratina. "You know, during my years of studying and learning aura in Sinnoh I learned of an old story. Back when the region was still considered Hisui, there was a Pokémon trainer who tried to use Giratina to defeat Arceus. The trainer was powerful, but he failed to get Arceus to reveal itself. He created a tear in space and time to draw out the Alpha Pokémon, but he and Giratina were defeated before he could even face Arceus. I learned of the story during my travels in your world, well the future version of your world." The orange-eyed trainer recounted the tale.

"Spare us the history lesson," May sassed him.

Omega ignored her comment. "Unlike my predecessor, I discovered a different way to draw out Arceus. One far more personal." Suddenly, Ash and May recognized where he was getting at with this. "Ash, you are the key to summoning Arceus," Omega pointed at him.

"The key, how?" Ash was disturbed but puzzled. He recalled the scene where Future Ash had told Roxas about how he was a part of the villain's plan. May and Pikachu looked at Ash with confusion too.

"As luck would have it, you have a bond that bounds you to Arceus. To my knowledge, you are the only living mortal who was ever been bounded to Arceus. I learned of your endeavors while I was in the future. You saved Arceus from humans that betrayed it in Ancient Michina Town. Not only that, but you saved Michina Town from Arceus's rampage. Arceus continued to watch over you when you saved Heatran from Team Galactic and when you freed Dialga and Palkia from Team Rocket. The creator of the universe acknowledged your heroic efforts and formed a bond with you because it deemed you worthy. In the future, experts call it a "bond phenomenon", but records only highlight bonds between trainers and non-Legendary Pokémon. I believe you share a bond phenomenon with Arceus. I've studied your adventures Ash, and your experiences with the Pokémon of Legends. No one has lived through the story you've lived, Arceus protects you. Arceus is in you. When you are dead, Arceus will come, and I will use Giratina to defeat and take control of its power like I have done with the many Pokémon under my command," the silver-haired man looked at Ash intensely.

Ash, May, and Pikachu took in what Omega said. To anyone else, it might've sounded like nonsense, but Ash knew what he experienced in Michina Town. After saving Arceus, he felt a connection to the Pokémon ever since that fateful day. The raven-haired boy placed his hand over his heart. Omega continued speaking, "It was never my intention to kill you until all the pieces were properly placed. I needed Giratina, another Legendary Pokémon you have a unique bond with that is also a child of Arceus. Targeting you was also a challenge as long as Roxas and his friends protected you. Obviously, they are no longer a concern. Now that I have Giratina, the ability to return home, and you, the table is set."

"Even if what you say is true, we don't plan on letting you succeed, count on it." May stood in front of Ash, showing her intent to stop Omega from hurting the person she loved.

"I failed once before when the Ash from the future decided to blow us all into oblivion. He was so desperate to stop me, he abandoned his children to a dismal future," Omega remembered the incident with frustration.

"Shut up, I am tired of listening to you!" May snapped at Omega for the insult he made.

"The Ash from the future gave his life to protect Roxas and Sapphire from you. We're going to make sure his sacrifice wasn't in vain," Ash spoke of his future counterpart.

Omega chuckled. "Don't worry. This time I'll make sure both of you die together. Once I am done with you, I will destroy all of humanity," he proclaimed.

"You'd destroy everything just because you hate humanity?" May challenged his goal.

"Destroying the rest of life, including Pokémon, is a heavy toll. However, it is the price to pay for a reality without humans. When the work is done, I will rebuild existence using the power of Arceus. Pokémon and all other life will be reborn without humans, and I will reign over the new reality as its god to ensure everlasting peace," Omega spread his arms out, staring into the darkness of Ultra Space.

Ash and May thought back to when they first met N, who wasn't as extreme as Omega but believed humans could not coexist with Pokémon. They remembered N's exact words from Accumula Town.

"Humans disregard Pokémon. They senselessly destroy their homes and capture them for multiple gains. Pokémon have become lab rats and are even used for the development of weapons of mass destruction."

Neither Ash nor May could deny that there were bad humans out there. "You're right Omega. Humans can do a lot of bad things to themselves and Pokémon, but that doesn't give you the right to decide everyone's fate. There are a lot of good people who fight to make things better too. It's not so black and white," May argued her point.

"People and Pokémon have worked together to make the world better. I am sure there are good people where you came from too. The world is worth fighting for as long as there are still good people. We'll defend all of the people and Pokémon who work to make the world better. You're not going to take their future away from them," Ash stood beside May.

"You have not seen the things I've seen. You are foolish for resisting my vision," Omega glared at them. The man adamantly believed that humanity was a lost cause.

Ash and May frowned. "The world is far from perfect, but we grew up in it and there are things we love about it. Life has a lot to offer and there are experiences worth loving too. We resist because we won't let you take away the things we love," May continued to defend her argument.

"Our friends, our family, everything we love are things worth defending. Maybe you would see things differently if you would open yourself to the good things that are around us. As long as you think everything should be destroyed though, we'll stand in your way," Ash added. Pikachu jumped in front of Ash; the mouse was ready to make a stand too.

Omega pierced into their eyes with his glare. "Then you will die as many have before," the man coldly replied. Without warning Giratina lunged at the heroes like a vicious snake.

Dialga put himself between Giratina and the heroes. The Steel-type butted heads with Giratina to prevent the Ghost-type from hurting anyone. Pikachu jumped on Dialga to aid the dragon. "Pikaachuuuuuuu!" the Electric-type released a Thunderbolt that caused Giratina to back away from Dialga.

Giratina shook off the attack, then fired multiple Shadow Balls upon command from Omega. "Pikachu, use Thunder!" Ash punched the air. Pikachu climbed to the top of Dialga's head and unleashed a powerful thunderstorm. Some of Pikachu's lightning strikes destroyed the Shadow Balls, but plenty of them kept coming.

"Dialga, counter the Shadow Ball barrage with Ancient Power!" May stretched her arm forward. Dialga cried out with anger and unleashed a barrage of boulders that collided with the Shadow Balls. The combined power of Thunder and Ancient Power was enough to break through Shadow Giratina's attack. Then the Temporal Pokémon took the opportunity to charge at Giratina with Dragon Claw.

"Don't underestimate the power of the Griseous Orb!" Omega shouted, finally letting all his rage loose. Giratina released a loud cry and countered with Dragon Claw as well. The two legendary dragons had a Dragon Claw standoff with Pikachu holding onto Dialga's head. "Crush it," Giratina's master angrily ordered. Giratina caught Dialga off guard when it backed out of the clash and began to wrap its body around Dialga like a snake. The Steel-type squealed in pain as Giratina began to crush its body. "Aura Sphere!" Omega yelled.

"Pikachu!" Ash gasped with alarm. Giratina fired Aura Sphere right at Dialga's face, but Pikachu narrowly avoided it by leaping into the air. "Help Dialga with an Electro Ball and Iron Tail combination," Ash gritted his teeth.

Giratina looked up at Pikachu after it blew Dialga away and saw the mouse preparing to crash down on it. "Shadow Sneak," Omega fixated his eyes on the mouse. Shadow Giratina released a shadow that sprang behind Pikachu and slammed the mouse, catching Ash and Pikachu off guard.

"Dialga, use Power Gem!" May tried to come to Ash and Pikachu's aid.

When Dialga regained its composure after the devastating Aura Sphere, it fired a powerful red beam at Giratina. "Counter with Aura Sphere," Omega knew that Aura Sphere could blast through the Rock-type attack. Giratina's Aura Sphere easily overpowered the Rock Gem and went blasting straight for Dialga.

"Earth Power Dialga, quick!" Ash instructed the Steel-type. Dialga stomped on the ground and an eruption of power canceled out the incoming Aura Sphere.

"Good call Ash," May sighed with relief.

"Giratina is on a level of its own," Ash admitted. He knew the Renegade Pokémon was too powered up to keep up. Dialga and Pikachu looked tired after trying to make a stand, neither would surrender though.

Ash and May thought of ways to outmaneuver Giratina. "Giratina, Shadow Force!" Omega held his palm out, displaying the might of his dragon. Giratina abruptly vanished into thin air. Before Dialga or Pikachu could react, the Ghost-type bashed through both of them in a matter of seconds. The mouse and the time Pokémon were sent flying against some rocks. Giratina roared with pride over its superiority.

"There's only one thing I think we can try," May looked at Ash with uncertainty.

Ash looked at May with the same uncertainty. He read her eyes, "A combination attack?" May nodded. Omega eyed them as they prepared to make their counteroffensive. Ash and May turned to Giratina and then Omega.

When Omega prepared to have Giratina use Shadow Force again, it saw Pikachu get back on its feet as well as Dialga. "You can try everything you want. It won't be enough to defeat us," Omega warned.

Ash and May ignored him. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Omega raised an eyebrow; he knew Ash was planning something since the Normal-type move couldn't do anything to a Ghost-type. Ash closed his eyes as he felt Pikachu run through the field with all its speed. Ash and Pikachu could feel Giratina's gaze.

"It doesn't matter how fast Pikachu is, you can't avoid Giratina's might. Use Earth Power!" Omega had the Dragon-type unleash an eruption of power on the whole ground underneath Pikachu. Nowhere to run, Omega smirked.

"Now Pikachu, use Volt Tail!" Ash shouted. Pikachu seemingly disappeared right before the field erupted. While no one could see Pikachu, Ash could feel the mouse leap over Giratina's head. Pikachu's quick speed allowed it to move almost ghost-like. "Hit the nape!" Pikachu heard Ash's command and somersaulted three times to build up power before it struck Giratina.

Omega's eyes widened. Giratina felt Volt Tail strike its neck and electricity coursed through its body, shocking it. "Dialga, Roar of Time!" May saw the moment to fire. Dialga opened its mouth and charged up the powerful beam of energy. With Giratina momentarily paralyzed, there was no way to avoid the incoming special attack. The Renegade Pokémon squealed in pain when Roar of Time hit. Dialga's attack had so much force that it sent Giratina flying against a rocky wall, making it collapse on the ground. Pikachu quickly rejoined Dialga by dropping on its head after the big leap.

"Impossible," Omega gritted his teeth.

"I know you didn't like that," May grinned smugly at him.

"Give it up," Ash also smiled smugly, making a fist at Omega.

Omega frowned and lowered his head. The silver-haired man stared at the ground for a few seconds then began to chuckle like a madman. "What's so funny?" Ash raised an eyebrow.

"Look out!" May saw Giratina disappear into thin air again.

Dialga and Pikachu froze with shock the moment Giratina vanished. The Ghost-type came up behind the pair and sent Dialga flying with Shadow Force. "Pika!" Pikachu yelled in pain as it fell off Dialga's head.

"Pikachu!" Ash ran to the mouse with haste, hoping to catch it before it landed. Dialga crashed on the ground after being hit with so much.

"Ash!" May screamed with a worried face when she saw the boy run onto the battlefield.

Ash made it in time to catch Pikachu in his arms. "Buddy, are you ok?" Ash looked at his best friend with concerned eyes.

"Pika," Pikachu said weakly, barely feeling its body after Giratina's Shadow Force.

Omega and Giratina locked onto Ash and Pikachu, seeing their chance. "Aura Sphere," Giratina's master pointed at the duo. Giratina cried out powerfully enough that it made Ultra Space vibrate. Ash, May, and Pikachu gasped when they saw the Ghost-type fire Aura Sphere.

There was not enough time to move away. Ash squeezed Pikachu into his chest and turned his back against the incoming Aura Sphere. Ash squeezed his eyes shut while Pikachu held onto his chest. May, Pikachu, everyone…I am so sorry, Ash did not see a way out of this. The pair had no time to escape or enough power to counter Giratina's attack at that moment. Ash got on his knees with Pikachu in his arms as he prepared to meet his end. The boy's life flashed before him as he continued to keep his eyes shut. The boy remembered the day he met Pikachu, the day he met May, and when the two had their first kiss. Then he thought about the day the three of them arrived in Unova. Everything he had experienced and fought for was about to slip from him. He made his peace.

"Blaziken!" the pair heard May shout behind them. In an instant, they heard the girl and Blaziken shout with all their might and the sound of a burst went off.

"Huh?" Ash opened his eyes and turned around to see May and Blaziken standing in front of them. Their arms were spread out in front of Ash and Pikachu, positioning themselves like a wall. There was a giant wall of fire behind the pair ready to shield them. Ash and Pikachu's eyes widened as they saw May outlined in blue energy along with Blaziken. The last thing they saw before Aura Sphere clashed with the shield of fire was May's warm smile and Blaziken's determined eyes. Ash and Pikachu realized what they were doing. Before Ash could say anything, the Aura Sphere blasted the fire and an explosion occurred.

Omega covered his eyes with his arm as dust blew his way from the explosion. The gust and dust from the explosion lasted for several seconds as Omega tried to get a view of what just happened. The last thing he saw was May and Blaziken summon a shield of fire about Dialga's height to stop Aura Sphere. "That foolish girl," Omega cursed the brunette.

When the wind and dust finally settled, he saw Ash, May, Pikachu, and Blaziken in the middle of the field. His eyes widened when he saw May still standing. May was panting for air, barely standing after exerting so much power with Blaziken. The Blaze Pokémon fell on its knees and palms from exhaustion. "May…" Ash managed to say her name with quiet shock as he still held Pikachu. The four of them were covered in dirt.

May laughed faintly while still panting, she could hardly say a word. Ash spoke, "You used all of your aura to protect us from the blast," his auburn eyes began to glisten from tears surging.

His girlfriend managed to catch some breath and spoke, "Ash…we're in this together. We said we'd stop Omega with whatever it takes. I know if he's defeated, we won't be together anymore, but that's ok. This is bigger than the two of us." Silent tears started to stream down her cheeks, but she was smiling as confidently as she could. "But if we fail…then at least we'll go down together trying," she continued smiling weakly.

Pikachu's eyes glistened with sadness. Ash felt quiet tears also roll down his face. He looked at May's slightly torn outfit and how tired she seemed. Then May fell onto her knees while she struggled to catch her breath. Her sapphire eyes met with his auburn eyes; both stayed on their knees.

"A valiant effort but the last," Omega expressed evilly. He brought his arm down, indicating to Giratina to strike them down once and for all. The Renegade Pokémon used Shadow Force once again.

Ash saw Giratina vanish right before it reappeared in front of them. The four of them looked at it with fear. None of them could do anything. Then Ash remembered something.

"One other thing. If you get into trouble in Ultra Space, Ash, make sure to say 'Nebby'," Roxas instructed.

"Nebby!" Ash yelled at the top of his lungs.