Chp 28

	A hollow sounded roar echoed through the metal chamber, bouncing around the room. It was loud enough to force all three pokemon in the room to cover their ears. A red spike appeared in thin air, and then it pulled down, leaving a trail behind it. The trail split open, opening a window into another world. One with a tumultuous purple sky and warped landscapes. A large face, grey and black skinned with a golden draconic trim appeared, before coming through. The massive serpentine pokemon entered the room, growing legs and crashing to the ground, the concrete floor cracking under the falling weight. 

	"Yes. Giratina the renegade. The pokemon banished by Arceus. Obey me and I will return your orb. Kill them!" Hearth ordered, his flame vents lighting for a moment. 

	Giratina looked down at him. The massive dragon barely fit in the room. One of its wings violently swung down, slashing at Hearth. It missed, but Hearth was sent tumbling over the edge of the catwalk in his attempt to dodge, dropping the orb in the process. The orb just sat there in midair for a moment, before drifting over to Giratina. The orb melded into its body, and its body then morphed, returning to its serpentine form. It roared again, before flying through a wall, in the direction Mystic and Phantom had come from. 

	Phantom was awestruck. He remembered the last encounter they had with that beast, but he had never imagined just how scary it really was. 

	Mystic could care less. She walked over to Hearth, who was still lying on the ground. "What was that?!" She asked, slapping his face hard. 

	He coughed a few times. "Well shit. That went wrong." He sat up, causing her to jump back and bare her fangs. "I'm done. For real this time. My plan failed. It's over." He fell back again, laying his arms to the side. "I was going to get all of you together and unleash Giratina. Risky, but it would have resolved everything. All my enemies would be dead, and I could go start fresh. But that's gone. Out the window." He held up a paw and waved it through the air. "I have no idea what it's doing, but I cannot control it... I give up." He let out a sigh accompanied by smoke. "Kill me if you want. I've had a good life. I think my legs are broken anyways." He had tumbled over ten feet down. 

	"How do I know this isn't a trick?" Mystic growled. 

	"I don't care what you think. You have ruined everything. Even if my plan had succeeded, how much suffering would there be in my absence." He put a paw over his eyes. "If you and your group keep on living, I cannot. This is my life... Fuck it. I give the fate of the world to you. I hope you realize just what that entails." 

	Mystic took a step forward, but Phantom got in between her and Hearth. "Mystic... I know what you're thinking, but you can't kill him. You can't stoop to that level!" 

	She stepped around him and pounced forward, sinking her teeth right into Hearth's neck. He shook briefly, but remained mostly still. He really had given up. She pulled back, tearing flesh and causing blood to streak through the air. She spit the blood that had gotten into her mouth onto the ground. Hearth just lie there, rapidly losing blood. 

	"Mystic..." 

	"I appreciate what you meant. But after all he did, no matter the reason, to me and every other pokemon he's hurt... I had to. I don't regret it at all." She still had some blood on her fur. Phantom stepped closer and wiped it off. 

	"I understand. I don't really blame you. You feel okay?" He asked gently.

	"My heart's pounding, but I feel pretty good." 

	"We should probably go back now. I hope everybody's okay."

+++

	"Nope." Mew stuck out her tongue. "You're stuck with me now." 

	"I'm going ahead." Aeon said, turning and walked in the direction of the exit. 

	"Hold on." Mewtwo said. "I'm going after Hearth too." 

	"And me!" Mew said, seemingly angry for having been ignored for more than a second. 

	"Yes, and-" A loud roar echoed through the arena, seemingly coming from nowhere. 

	"Something's coming!" Aeon shouted. 

	Giratina flew through the wall and into the arena, letting out another ghostly roar. As it flew, it's six spiked wings tore through the air, opening a portal in their wake. The portals began to suck, dragging Aeon, Mewtwo and Mew up and into them, before Giratina vanished again. 

+++

	"Where are we?" Mewtwo asked.

	"Stories tell of a world, ruled by a pokemon banished by Lord Arceus. A world of chaos. We are in Hell." Aeon said. He walked to edge of the platform they were on, looking over the side. 

	Giratina came through the portal above them, letting out a rumbling growl and looking down at them. 

	"It sensed our power. It wants a fight." Mewtwo said. 

	Aeon cracked his knuckles. "A chance to fight the renegade?" His muzzle twisted into a smile. 

	"Yeah, me too!" Mew cheered, spinning around in the air. 

	"Do either of you understand what this means? This is a legendary pokemon. It has existed for countless centuries."

	"I'm a legendary too, and that means you're one!" Mew said cheerily, floating over and putting her cheek to Mewtwo's. 

	"Yes... anyways, we have to be-" 

	"Hah!" Aeon yelled as he flung an aura sphere at Giratina. It merely faded as it passed, its ghost type powers allowing it to. It's head whipped around, letting out another roar, before it mouth guard split and it fired an aura sphere of its own. Aeon swatted it aside, causing the ball to explode on the ground. Giratina followed it up with a wave of purple dragonbreath. The wave of dragon fire forced all three pokemon to dodge, Mewtwo and Mew taking to the air, able to easily fly, and Aeon to dive out of the way. He looked up angrily at the other pokemon, flying freely in the air. 

	Mewtwo flew up, blasting a psywave with one hand, and a psychic attack with the other. Both of the waves of energy hit, but Giratina felt little from it, only turning its attention to him. Mew fired a small ice beam from her tiny mouth. Giratina saw it coming and snaked through the air to dodge, before fading out of sight.

	Aeon kicked off of the ground, his powerful legs getting him high enough to escape the small area of gravity of the landmass he was on, and enter free floating space. He let out a focused bust of aura to stop his momentum, allowing him to simulate flight. 

	Giratina appeared out of thin air, flying straight down at Mew. She sensed its approach, and tried to dodge, but Giratina tracked her. Before the pointed horn across its mouth could hit her, Aeon came flying at it, delivering a powerful punch to its gut. With its eyes set on Mew, it had been distracted, and did not have time to immaterialize. The punch caused Giratina to roar, and fly away. It turned and looked back at them with a menacing gaze, reassessing its plan. 

	"Teach you to underestimate me." Aeon said. 

+++

	"Where did they go?" Phantom asked once they got back to the arena. "You don't think Giratina..."

	"No, that's crazy. They probably just went back to the main room." She said, crossing the torn arena. "Looks like something went down here. I bet Aeon beat the shit outta Mewtwo. Probably dragged him kicking and screaming back to Hunter!" She let out a triumphant laugh. 

+++

	Giratina roared again, but kept its distance. 

	"Why can't it speak?" Mew asked.

	"It likely never learned. I'm sure you don't remember, but pokemon used to not speak English, as the humans called it. It wasn't until recently that pokemon began to speak as humans used to. Well, recently in your time." Mewtwo explained.

	"Yeah, great story, now focus on the fight!" Aeon barked at them both. When he turned his head back, Giratina was gone. "Head's up." He warned. "Listen up, I can't stand fighting alongside others. All you'll do is get in the way, so stand back." His aura flared up again, forming a cloak around him like before. He closed his eyes. 

	"What're ya doin'?" Mew asked. Aeon opened his eyes a bit to see Mew floating in front of him. He closed his eyes again. Mew raised a small paw and poked his cheek. "Heelllooooo!" She called. His muzzle twitched. "C'mon, tell me. Tell me!" She begged. 

	The lucario continued to ignore her. He turned and delivered a powerful upper cut on seemingly thin air. A small part of Giratina's face had started to reveal itself and his fist connected with its chin. His free flowing aura burst out, creating a powerful punch, with both his physical and mental strength. The resulting energy was too much to be simply be transferred harmfully into Giratina, instead causing it to explode in a similar way to an aura sphere, but much more focused. Giratina roared in pain, flying up and away. 

	"Awesome!" Mew cheered. She clenched her body up, drawing all her limbs close, before a thin blue glow gathered around her. "Hiyah!" She yelled, flinging the gathered aura out in a massive, oddly shaped ball. Aeon grunted angrily at the sight of yet another pokemon using aura. Giratina snaked through the air trying to avoid the orb, but Mew swung her arms, readjusting the orb psychically. Usually an aura attack would track the target through their aura, but this was too long distance for that to work. And because aura attacks targeting the life force of an opposing pokemon, they were able to hit through Giratina's ghost type, unless he fully immaterialized. And it did just that, vanishing again before the attack could connect. 

	This time, the shadow force attack came much sooner, and faster. Giratina formed right behind Mew, flying past and grazing her with its shadowy tackle. As it did, its tendril like wings lashed out, using their spiked tips to claw at her, and the others, leaving them all with scratches. And Giratina disappeared immediately afterwards. This attack pattern continued a few more times. 

	"Mew!" Mewtwo called out. He raised his hands and they began to glow with psychic power. 

	"Got it." She said back, flying under and up in between his arms, putting her back to his chest and her arms out in a similar way. Giratina appeared again, and they both turned to face it. A massive wave of their combined psychic power blasted out, hitting it with incredible power. Giratina was sent reeling back, as Aeon propelled himself forward for another aura punch. The punch made it roar in pain, and fly away. It's wings splayed wide, and a portal opened behind it, before it slipped through. 

	"That's it! Go!" Aeon shouted, letting out a burst of aura to gain speed. Mew and Mewtwo flew alongside him. Before they could even make it halfway, the portal closed. "No!" He grunted. 

	"All we can do is wait for Giratina to come back. Most likely with its wounds healed."

	They all three turned back and went to the closest island, which was the one they started on. They touched down, where Aeon sat down, beginning to pant heavily. Mew remained floating, playfully spiraling around the others. 

	"This sucks." Aeon said. "Hopefully Arceus will save us."

+++

	"Hunter... Are you okay?" Phantom asked. They had made it back to the entry way. Clara and Prince, and Ashley and an absol, were there as well. The room had a large blood stain, next to a dismembered charizard, and a dead mienshao. It was Flare and Marie. 

	"No." Hunter said. "I am not okay. What about you? I notice you are missing a few." 

	"Well, that lucario vanished. And Zys..." Mystic said, biting her lip. 

	"I understand." 

	"So Ashley, who's that?" Mystic asked her sister. 

	"Oh... so yea, about him..." The white vulpix said nervously.

+++

	"Any guess when it'll come back?" Aeon asked.  Mewtwo was across from him, sitting on a rock, while Mew was still a ball of energy. 

	"Why the long faces?" She asked. 

	"We have no way of leaving. At least not without Giratina. We're trapped." Aeon explained.

	"I don't mind!" She said cheerily, seemingly oblivious. She floated over and sat on Mewtwo's head. "At least we're back together!" 

	They sat there nearly silent for another twenty minutes. The only sound was Mew flying around and giggling as she teased Mewtwo and Aeon. Even the wind was absent, save for that created by Mew moving. "Okay, I'm bored now. Ready to leave?" She asked.

	"I told you, we're trapped!" Aeon said angrily. His eyes went wide when he looked up at her to see her swishing her tail behind her, creating a small portal that was growing steadily.

	"How..." He muttered. He stood. "Doesn't matter. Let's get out of here." 

	"Amazing as usual." Mewtwo said, rubbing her head. "I just wish you would have done that sooner." 

	"But then we wouldn't have spent as much time together." She said with a pout.

	"I'm not leaving you. We can spend time together as much as you want at home."

	"Okay, everybody hold on!" She said. She reached out and took both Aeon and Mewtwo's paws, before the portal engulfed them. 

	The portal took them out of the distortion world, but left them hanging in the open ocean. Gravity immediately kicked in at its usual force, pulling them down towards the water. In a flash, they appeared in front of the house. "That was close." Mewtwo said. 

	"Home sweet home!" Mew cheered, grabbed on side of the double doors and swinging it open. 

	"Aeon, would you please go get our guests? We have to reward our saviors." 

	"Fine." Aeon grunted. 

+++

	"Don't hurt him!" Ashley said, standing in front of the larger absol that was Carver. 

	"Why not?! He's a monster, just like the rest of them!" Mystic yelled. 

	"I-" Carver tried to say.

	"I don't want to hear a word from you." Hunter said menacingly. 

	"He's not. We talked for a long time. He's not like the rest of them. I know what they did, but he only joined recently, and he didn't want to hurt anyone!" 

	"And just what was his job?" Mystic asked.

	"He was responsible for finding girls..." 

	"That bastard!" She roared. She spat a fireball at Carver, but Ashley neutralized it with an ice beam. 

	"Seriously, stop it!" Ashley barked. "He's coming with us!" 

	"Not if I kill him first!" 

	"He's joining our team as penance!" Ashley shouted back.

	Everyone's mouth dropped. 

	"How dare you brainwash my sister!" Mystic growled. 

	"I did not brainwash her." Carver said. "Please. I don't regret making those girls feel good, and keeping them safe." He sidestepped another fireball from Mystic. "But I do regret what happened to them after that. I understand that it's my fault. I should have seen it sooner. Please, let me make amends." 

	"Liar!" Mystic shouted.

	"Erhmm!" Aeon cleared his throat. "The homeowners would like to invite you upstairs." Hunter, Clara, and Prince all began to go up the stairs.

	"C'mon. We can settle this later." Phantom said. 

	"No, we'll settle this right now!" She said, but everyone was already leaving. "Fine." As they walked up, Phantom was the one in front of her. If he wasn't, she would have burned Carver, who was just ahead of him. 

	Once they were all back in the mansion, they found Mewtwo sitting at the large table. "Greetings. I'm so sorry for everything you've all gone through. I know it isn't proper compensation, but allow us to have you for dinner. This used to be the dining room, after all. Please, sit." He said, waving his hand, and pulling all the chair out. The chairs were odd looking, but once the quadrupeds hopped on, they were able to reach the table. 

	"Now, allow me to explain myself. Everything in fact."

+++

	"And the reason I did it all," Mewtwo said as the door opened and Mew came in. "Is her." 

	"Wow, that's so romantic." Ashley said.

	"Don't even think about comparing the two." Mystic said, still giving Carver angry looks. 

	"For over four thousand years, all I've had is her. I don't know how Hearth figured it out, but she is the most important thing in this world to me."

	"You too!" Mew said, getting close to Mewtwo. As usual, she was energetic and overly loud. "I just came to tell everybody that dinner will be ready soon." She left again, going back to what was probably the kitchen. 

	"So Hunter... You're really quiet." 

	"I... Sorry Phantom, not right now." Hunter said quietly. 

	"So Mewtwo, can you fix my memories?" Mystic asked.

	"Yes." He said, but there was something else. "However, you will lose all of your current ones. It will set you back to when you lost them." Mewtwo explained. 

	"Mystic..." Phantom said, turning to her. For the first time in a while, she wasn't angry. She looked sad. 

	"That's alright." She said quietly, almost in a whisper. "I'd rather keep my current life." 

	"I understand. If there's anything else I can do, just ask." 

	"Actually, yes." She said. "See that absol?" She pointed.

	"Carver, one of the generals. Yes?"

	"Tell me, is he lying?"

	"I'm a dark type. He can't read my..." Carver stopped talking when he felt his brain being probed. 

	"He is truthful, mostly. He does regret his actions, but his motives are a bit different, more base." 

	"Base?" She asked.

	"Lustful, directed at your alolan vulpix friend." 

	"I knew it!" She shouted, climbing onto the table and angrily approaching Carver.

	Ashley got onto the table as well and intercepted her. "You heard him, he's not evil!"

	"I'm trying to protect you! All he wants is a fuck toy!" 

	"You know what, we've fucked already, and I liked it. So I'm thinkin' we'll do it again! What about Phantom over there?! You love him don't you?" 

	"Please leave me out of this." He squeaked. 

	"See, that proves it! He's been manipulating you ever since!" Mystic said, approaching even closer, almost pressing her face against Ashley's. 

	"You wanna act like this, then fine! We'll leave and go off on our own!" 

	"Enough!" Carver said, stepping between them. Mystic blew a little ember at him, but he ignored it. "If it's really that much of a problem, I'll leave. I can't stand to see family fight."

	"Carver, you don't have to." 

	"How about this? You take me on as a team member, and I'll do everything you say. The condition is that you can send me to jail anytime." He offered. He lowered his head, kneeling before Mystic. 

	She leaned in and whispered, "You try anything, and you won't go to jail. You'll die." 

	"I understand." He said calmly. 

	"Dinner!" Mew said loudly as the door opened as she floated in, followed by a wave of floating dishes. On by one they sat on the table. "No sitting on the table." She commanded, authoritatively. Everyone sat back down, and soon began to eat.