Giratina, the Dragon of Symmetry and Reversions, has been watching Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town from the Reverse World ever since the cataclysmic event in Michina. The boy had piqued his interest and from his observations had wormed himself into the Renegade Pokemon's heart, but he will never admit that. The trainer was selfless to a fault and very brave that he did not hesitate to save anyone – including Giratina.
This came as a shock to the ghost/dragon type Pokemon since people were afraid to even get close to him, but the teenager's eyes were not with fear but with determination as he saved him from that wretched white-haired idiot.
From the Reverse World, he watched Ash advanced to the semi-finals of the Lily of the Valley Conference. Giratina had confidence in the trainer that he had been looking forward to the finals of the league. After all, this is Ash's fourth official league conference and the boy had – should have – improved immensely since the beginning of his journey.
Giratina knew of the trainer who had a Darkrai, of course. Tobias was his name. He had a sinister aura around him and he did not like him one bit. Giratina let out a happy grunt as Sceptile landed a Leaf Blade and finished off the Darkrai that no other trainer had defeated, let alone gym leaders. The dragon knew that it was still early to celebrate since Ash was down to three Pokemon while the bastard had only lost one – but it was still quite an amazing feat.
What Giratina did not expect was a Latios as a second Pokemon. Now, he knew it was perfectly legal to join a conference with a Legendary Pokemon, rare as they may be but not completely unheard off. But this just seemed like bragging. He let out a groan of disappointment as the Latios finished off Sceptile bringing Ash to his last two Pokemon.
Swellow fared well but even he was not enough to bring down the Eon Pokemon. Giratina saw the disbelief and hopelessness in Ash Ketchum's eyes for a second, but it was quickly reverted to a glint of determination and persistence. The Renegade Pokemon once more found himself to be at awe of how even in the adverse of battles, the trainer never lost his belief on his partners which was reflected by the trust given to him by the Pokemon he owns.
Pikachu was taking damage but so was the Latios. Giratina, even without sitting – not that there was one for him to anyway – was at the edge the whole time. He wholly believed that the rodent, the little yellow mouse can defeat the dragon. He saw Pikachu first-hand and he knew the capabilities of one such as small and he vowed never to underestimate anyone again.
Getting lost in his own thoughts, Giratina looked back at the crystal he was watching the League from in time to see Pikachu crash with Latios, knocking them both out as a result. Giratina grumbled. If only Ash had one Legendary Pokemon with him, it might not have been a landslide victory for Tobias. Giratina's eyes widened at this thought.
He knew exactly what to do.
The group had split up to find Piplup, who was visibly upset that the group's journey would come to an end. Ash couldn't blame Piplup, it was always a bittersweet moment when a journey's about to end – leaving the people you know and have grown to love behind. It was like this too when he first split up with Brock and Misty, he cried all the way to Pallet. Thinking about it now, it warmed Ash's heart and the sudden realization of missing Misty in his travels across regions.
Ash found himself at Lake Verity, the home to Mesprit, one of the Lake guardians of Sinnoh. He took in the great scenery, the pristine waters and the greenery that he will be surely missing once he set out home to Pallet Town. Closing his eyes, he opens his arms and breathed in the cold Sinnoh air once more.
Then, he felt a tug. A huge Aura emanating from the center of the lake. Ash's eyes snapped open.
A steadily building ripple was seen from the center of the lake, then the ripple tore open revealing a portal. From the portal arose a Legendary Pokemon that Ash had seen twice in his journey in Sinnoh. A large, gray, draconic Pokemon emerged, his golden half-rings and the crown-like structure in his head was prominent. He stretched out his black, wispy, ghost-like wings and soared to the sky.
The portal closed and his red eyes fluttered over to where Ash was standing. Giratina, in all his glory, was there in front of Ash. The dragon settled down and stared at Ash intensely. The young trainer returned back its stare, never flinching at the sight of the dragon revered as one of Sinnoh's gods. For a moment, Ash forgot what he was supposed to be doing and marveled at Giratina's appearance in Lake Verity.
"Uhh, hi Giratina! What brings you here?" Ash asked with a beam, as the dragon made no move nor sound for a couple of minutes now.
"Ash Ketchum," the dragon acknowledged. Ash would forever deny that he nearly jumped at hearing the voice of Giratina in his mind. It was low rumble, a reverberating bass that borders between soothing and terrifying, but Ash has faced death before and this was no more startling than the near-death experiences he encountered.
However, Ash was baffled that he was understanding Giratina and so he asked.
"You're an Aura adept, the line of Sir Aaron of Cameran, are you not? Not trained, but has lots of potential. Most Legendary Pokemon have unimaginable amount of Aura that they could project their voices so that humans understand," Giratina answered with a good-natured chuckle.
Ash smiled at that. "I guess so, but what are you doing here?"
Giratina, then, looked at him straight in the eye. It unnerved Ash but he knew Giratina was a good Pokemon, and so, he waited.
"This matter that I ask of you is not something that I took lightly. This is a decision that I came up by myself," Giratina begun. Ash readied himself to accept a favor from the Legendary, his selfless heart knew no bounds and would definitely not turn back from whatever this was. He knew how difficult tasks were around these Pokemons but helping was all worth it at the end.
"I have decided that I will be of service to you, joining you in your journey."
Ash did a double take. What?
"What?"
"I want you to capture me, Ash Ketchum."
Ash fought the urge to do a spit-take. What the hell is happening? This was not part of the plan this morning.
"I am honored, Giratina, but I can't possibly do that! You have your life and your job here, what about the Reverse World?" Ash reasoned out.
Giratina let out a huff of amusement.
"The Reverse World is but everywhere. It is not a world that is exclusive in Sinnoh, that would simply be incredulous. I can do my work away from Sinnoh perfectly."
"But why me?"
"No one is more worthy than you are to acquire my power, Ash Ketchum. Twice you have saved me from imminent danger and saved the world in the process. That in itself speaks about your compassion to the beings in this realm," Giratina hummed.
Ash interjected, "But I wasn't alone! There was Brock, and Dawn, and Pikachu!"
Giratina let out a chuckle. "Yes, you weren't. And that acknowledgement makes you more worthy."
Seeing Ash's unsureness and disbelief, Giratina let out a quiet sigh but to Ash it seemed like a gentle roar.
Gently, Giratina supplied, "I have made my decision, Ash Ketchum. This is not negotiable. I came here out of my own prerogative, seeking you and assist you on your future endeavors."
Ash looked up and saw sincerity in Giratina's eyes.
"Besides, it's been so long since I roamed outside of Sinnoh," the ghost/dragon type mused good-naturedly.
That brought out a laugh from Ash. The trainer's eyes then shined in its usual determined glint that made Giratina decide he would come with Ash. Smiling, Ash said, "Well, if you have no problem with it and you're finally set, there's only one thing to do!"
Ash threw a Pokeball towards Giratina and the dragon merely stood still – smiling as the Pokeball opened and a red beam collected him inside. The Pokeball fell and it twitched once. Twice. Thrice. The Pokeball went still.
Ash jogged up and picked up the Pokeball.
"Welcome to the team, Giratina."
He promptly sent out his newest capture.
Professor Oak was doing paperwork in his desk when the computer pinged a notification.
Ash Ketchum captured one new Pokemon!
The regional Professor of Kanto smiled as he checked the notification, only for his jaw to hung open when he saw the Pokemon that his prized trainer had caught. The Professor promptly fell over the chair.
"Team Rocket, give us back our Pokemon!"
Jessie laughed at the Sinnoh twerpette's futile shout. "Finders keepers, brats! Now, we don't only have Pikachu but also Piplup and Togekiss to offer to the boss!"
James complemented this with the statement: "Go cry now, it's our win and your loss!"
"Will-o-Wisp!"
The familiar sound grounded the Team Rocket trio back to reality only to see a bluish-white flame coming their way, burning the net that they snatched the Pokemons with.
"Hey! Dat wasn't insured!" Meowth shouted.
James nervously chuckled as he pointed out from which the flames came from.
"What is it, James?! Can't you see we're busy dealing with the twerps!" Jessie snapped.
James whimpered. "But look at the twerp, he's flying!"
"Flying? What do you mean he's flying—"
Whatever Jessie was about to say never left her mouth as they got stuck in her throat at the sight of the twerp flying. The sight would not have been so terrifying if it was other lowly Pokemon he was flying with. But the twerp was flying – with Giratina. Meowth gaped so hard that his coin fell off his head.
"Wobbu…fett…"
Dawn and Brock weren't doing so well, too, as their mouths hung open at the sight. Even Pikachu was speechless that his trainer – his Ash – was riding freaking Giratina.
"Come on, you guys! Let's help Team Rocket blast off one last time in Sinnoh!"
It felt like a cold water washed over everyone. Futile as it may be, Jessie sent out Yanmega and Seviper while James sent out Carnivine.
Meowth roared, "It doesn't matter dat Giratina's here, we'll just nab him too!"
Carnivine sent out a Bullet Seed that was countered by Pikachu's Thunderbolt. The Bug Catcher Pokemon promptly dodge the electric attack only to be caught by Togekiss's Air Slash. Yanmega flitted over and tried to hit a Steel Wing but was defeated by Staraptor's Aerial Ace. Meowth jumped off the balloon and aimed Fury Swipes but Brock called out Sudowoodo which retaliated with Hammer Arm, hitting Meowth and sending him flying towards Seviper.
"All right, let's finish this off! Pikachu, Volt Tackle! Giratina, Aura Sphere!" ordered Ash.
The electric rodent built up his speed, collecting the static charges of electricity and covering himself with it and ran to crash Team Rocket. The dragon type built up his aura from his mouth and sent it towards Team Rocket.
"Piplup, use Hydro Pump!"
The combination of these attacks hit Team Rocket and they were sent blasting off. Piplup and Pikachu shared a high five as soon as Team Rocket was gone. Landing towards the group, Ash unmounted from Giratina.
"Hey, you guys okay?"
Brock turned to Ash with a smile, "We're fine, Ash. Great timing, though."
Ash nodded and looked at Dawn approaching Piplup.
"Piplup, come on. Let's go home now," coaxed Dawn. Piplup teared up immediately, knowing that going home will mean having to part ways with his friends.
Dawn soothed her starter, "Piplup, I'm sad too. We all are. But saying goodbye doesn't mean we won't see Ash, Brock, and Pikachu ever again. You're a big boy, now."
Seeing as Piplup was less agitated and calm, Dawn picked him up and faced Ash.
Dawn drawled, "So, Ash… Giratina?"
This brought back attention to Giratina. Pikachu climbed up Ash's shoulder, claiming his place.
"Well, you see… I caught him."
Staraptor, Sudowoodo, Piplup, Togekiss, and Pikachu startled, while Brock and Dawn's mouth were left hanging open.
"How did that happen?! When?!"
Ash scratched his cheek. "It's quite a story…"