Legendary Pokémon—those lifeforms that stand at the very pinnacle of the world—have always existed in extremely small numbers.
Especially the top-tier legendaries—those that govern time, space, or reality itself—most of them, from ancient times until now, have only ever existed as a single individual.
Except for a few special exceptions that possess entire clans or species, nearly all legendary beings are unique existences.
Because of this, the number of legends has already determined one simple fact: under normal circumstances, it's practically impossible for a Legendary Pokémon to have a shiny variant.
That's precisely why both Dialga and Palkia had reacted so strongly when Rayquaza appeared.
They viewed it as a rare, potentially unique being—something that could rival them in power—and even went so far as to join forces, planning to eliminate this meddlesome intruder before it could disrupt their battle.
But then...
Emmm... well, good heavens—turns out this Rayquaza wasn't even the real deal at all.
A fake?
A shiny imposter?!
The freshly battered Dialga—who had just been ruthlessly pounded twice by Mega Rayquaza—looked on with a mix of complicated emotions glimmering in his draconic eyes.
Wasn't that thing just a normal Rayquaza?
Why on earth was it pretending to be a shiny version?!
How utterly immoral! How disgraceful and vulgar!
As one of the beings that had existed since the dawn of the world, Dialga found such deceitful behavior absolutely intolerable and felt compelled to deliver a solemn condemnation!
Meanwhile, Mega Rayquaza was on the verge of mental collapse.
It had always been extremely proud of its jet-black scales—so sleek, so majestic. To it, this dark form embodied the dominance and power worthy of its kind.
But now…
It was losing color.
Worse yet, it happened in the middle of a battle!
What kind of sick joke was this?!
Mega Rayquaza's face flushed red—no, literally red from sheer embarrassment. Being stared at by both Dialga and Palkia only made the shame burn even hotter.
"Uh… Rayquaza, are you okay?" Lucas finally spoke up, sensing the suffocating gloom radiating from Mega Rayquaza. The dragon seemed downright depressed about its color fading.
Well, it made sense. His Rayquaza had always been one to show off—vain and flamboyant by nature. And now, in front of everyone, it had suffered what could only be described as a social death.
"Damn it, that guy Jack really can't be trusted!" Lucas muttered, exasperated. "Didn't he say the dye would last at least half a year? How did it fade this fast?"
"Human… I feel… empty inside."
Rayquaza's telepathic voice was hollow, ancient, and sorrowful, as though it had just witnessed eons pass before its eyes.
How was it supposed to face the legendary community after this?!
Pretending to be a shiny was bad enough, but now it had been beaten so hard its paint came off!
"No, no, it's really not a big deal, Rayquaza. Your 'clothes' just got damaged, right? We'll just get you a new one when we get back."
"But…"
"No buts! Didn't you like that red color before? Once this is all over, I'll take you to get dyed again."
Lucas spoke generously, as if the whole incident were nothing more than a minor inconvenience. After all, he did own shares in the dyeing studio—worst case, they'd just give Rayquaza a new coat, maybe even try a fresh color this time!
"…You know, that actually makes sense."
Rayquaza blinked, slightly taken aback. It did feel odd, but when he thought about it, wasn't this just like replacing an outfit?
Clothes get ruined sometimes. You just get new ones.
"But everyone saw me lose my color!"
Rayquaza's voice grew conflicted. It wasn't that big a deal if it had happened in private—he'd have grumbled, sure, but he could live with it.
But now? In front of so many witnesses?!
Breaking news!
Rayquaza dyes itself to look flashier—but gets hit so hard the paint comes off!
If that headline spread through human media, his entire species' reputation would go down the drain!
Damn it, wouldn't his father and uncle kill him for this?!
"Wait, wait, wait! Human, you don't think this'll reach my dad and uncle, right?!"
At that thought, Rayquaza's expression turned absolutely horrified.
Good Arceus, this was terrifying!
He, the Sky High Pokémon, the sovereign of the skies—if his family found out he'd lost face this badly, his two elders might literally fall sick from rage!
"Uh…" Lucas was speechless. This dragon's train of thought was something else entirely.
What did this creature think about all day?
"Relax, they're way too busy to care about something so minor."
Lucas's calm reassurance had a strangely grounding effect.
"You're right," Rayquaza finally breathed out in relief. "My dad's always drifting in the ozone layer, and my uncle's usually off wandering somewhere in outer space. No way they'd be that bored."
"But still," Lucas said smoothly, his tone shifting slightly, "your body's color was shattered by their attacks. You're really just going to let that go?"
At that, Mega Rayquaza froze. Slowly, its narrow pupils contracted, gleaming with a dangerous, predatory light.
He was right. Even if it wasn't seriously hurt, its pride had taken a huge hit!
Its "clothes" had been ruined by Dialga and Palkia—those two smug idiots!
"You can make up for it," Lucas continued, lips curling into a sly grin. "Beat both of them, and you'll restore your reputation completely."
Yes. Even if losing color was humiliating—if Rayquaza could defeat both the deities of time and space—then who would dare mock it after that?
"Right! I'll crush them!"
Suddenly, Mega Rayquaza's fighting spirit roared back to life. There was no way it would let this embarrassing story get out!
There were plenty of humans watching. Someone was bound to notice what had happened. If word spread… absolutely unacceptable!
With a fierce gleam in its draconic eyes, it locked onto Dialga and Palkia with blazing determination.
It would just destroy them both!
That way, even if rumors spread, people would only talk about how Mega Rayquaza single-handedly defeated the twin gods of time and space!
Dialga: "…"
Palkia: "…"
The twin gods stared blankly at the suddenly hyper-motivated Rayquaza.
Was it because it lost its color or something?
"Relax, Rayquaza," Palkia said diplomatically. "We won't tell anyone. But seriously, stop dyeing yourself like that. Human-made products aren't durable enough for us legendaries."
He even sounded like an elder giving moral advice.
That vanity of yours—it's unbecoming. A dye job that peels off mid-battle? How shameful!
But before he could finish his lecture—
"ROAR!!!"
Rayquaza exploded with rage, roaring furiously as its colossal black form shot skyward. Its serpentine body traced ancient, mysterious patterns through the heavens—
Dragon Dance!
And as it danced, emerald light began to shimmer all across its scales.
"Huh? That glow… could it be Dragon Ascent?" Lucas's eyes lit up in surprise.
A move that awakened in moments of extreme emotion—a secret move unique to Rayquaza!
So, it had actually mastered a signature move out of sheer embarrassment?
Impressive! Truly impressive, Rayquaza!
"ROAR!"
The emerald aura thickened rapidly, swirling tighter around Rayquaza before it suddenly dove toward Palkia like a living comet.
Dragon Ascent!
Palkia immediately felt the overwhelming threat bearing down upon him. His claws came together, condensing a massive orb of pink aura—
Aura Sphere!
He launched it head-on toward Rayquaza's charge.
But instead of slowing down, Rayquaza only accelerated, pushing its speed to the very limit.
A blinding green streak tore through the sky, cutting straight through the Aura Sphere—and through Palkia's body in the same instant!
When the light faded, Rayquaza was already behind Palkia, its head held high with arrogant poise.
So much swagger.
If only the newly dyed streak of mismatched green on its side didn't ruin the aesthetic.
BOOM!
Palkia's eyes widened in shock before a wave of pain exploded through his body. His limbs went limp, balance lost, as he plummeted toward the ground.
"So strong!"
Green gasped from below. That attack had been absurdly fast—too fast for the naked eye to follow—and devastatingly powerful.
"ROAR!"
Dialga roared in fury, launching a Dragon Pulse straight at Rayquaza.
"Wide Break!" Lucas's calm command echoed in Rayquaza's mind.
Without hesitation, Rayquaza whipped its tail backward, unleashing a counter shockwave that collided head-on with Dialga's Dragon Pulse—neutralizing it in an explosive burst.
"Rayquaza! Dragon Claw!"
Lucas's sharp gaze flicked toward Palkia, who was still reeling from the previous hit. Good—one down for the moment. Time to focus on Dialga.
Rayquaza wasted no time, diving toward Dialga, claws glowing bright blue-green.
"ROAR!"
Dialga took a step back and retaliated, firing a beam of draconic energy from its maw—Dragon Breath!
Weaker than Dragon Pulse, yes, but much faster.
Still, Rayquaza's legendary flight mastery shone through—its serpentine body weaving effortlessly around the beam as it closed the distance.
Its claws flared once more. Dragon Claw!
Dialga canceled his own breath attack and swung forward with his own glowing claws—meeting Rayquaza's strike head-on!
BOOM!
The air quaked as their blows collided, shockwaves rippling outward.
But as the two dragons clashed fiercely, a strange, dark vortex began to swirl on the ground beneath them—ominous energy spreading like mist.
"That's… Giratina!"
Lucas's eyes narrowed. He immediately recognized the dark portal of distortion world—there was no mistaking it.
It was the final member of the Sinnoh trio—the ruler of the Reverse World, Giratina!
As master of the Distortion Realm, Giratina could open gates between its world and the real one at will.
From within the vortex, a massive centipede-like shadow emerged, its chilling gaze sweeping over the ongoing battle between Rayquaza and Dialga.
The Origin Forme of Giratina had arrived.
Its eyes quickly turned toward Palkia—who was just struggling to stand again, still unaware of the danger behind him.
Oh, you like fighting, huh?
A sinister gleam flashed in Giratina's eyes.
Like a ghost, it drifted silently behind Palkia—then bit down savagely on his neck!
"ROOOAR!!!"
Palkia howled in agony, thrashing desperately as Giratina clamped its jaws tighter, ignoring the cries entirely and dragging Palkia backward—
Straight toward the spatial vortex.
Yes, that's right. A complimentary, one-day trip to the Reverse World!
Palkia fought and struggled, but with Giratina behind him, there was no escaping.
The two grew closer and closer to the swirling gate of shadow, until half of Giratina's body had already vanished into the portal…
"Roar! Roar—roar!"
Palkia was truly panicking now, roaring frantically again and again, desperately trying to draw the attention of Mega Rayquaza and Dialga.
Hey, you two, would you just look down here for a second?! I'm about to get kidnapped by some mysterious freak!
Are you seriously not going to help me at all?!
Palkia was utterly exasperated, practically on the verge of tears. Sure, you guys can fight all you want, but don't you even notice one of your battle buddies is missing?!
No way—if he really got dragged into the Reverse World, he'd be completely at Giratina's mercy! That giant centipede would absolutely toy with him!
With that grim realization, Palkia steeled himself, his right arm suddenly glowing with a deep violet-red light—Spacial Rend!
The Reverse World was Giratina's home turf. Palkia didn't know why this gloomy, sinister creature had suddenly ambushed him, but whatever the reason, it was definitely nothing good.
If he really got pulled in, escaping would be nearly impossible!
(End of Chapter)
(Author's note Many of the legendary Pokémon's roars are really hard for me to describe properly, so for Pokémon like Palkia and Dialga, I'm just using "Roar" as a substitute…)