"Giratina—I've come to bargain!"
Facing Aiden's resolute gaze, Giratina's previously calm crimson eyes flickered with confusion.
'This human… how dare he speak to me like this?'
Though it had guarded the ruined world since the Creator established cosmic order—never interacting with the physical realm—it understood reality well enough through the countless bubbles reflecting the mortal world.
Humans knew little of it—but at minimum, they showed the same reverence to it as they did to those two brats: Palkia and Dialga.
Yet this human… upon first meeting it… actually proposed terms?
Already irritated by recent dimensional disturbances, Giratina's temper flared. It nearly roared—to drive off this impudent creature.
Conflict seemed imminent.
"Lucario!"
"Oger-oh——"
Lucario and Ogerpon exchanged glances—silently shifting positions to flank Aiden protectively.
Indeedee subtly channeled Psychic energy—her feet hovering slightly above the ground, ready to unleash Hypnosis at any moment.
Mewtwo extended a hand—countless blades of condensed psychic force materializing behind it.
Even the naturally timid Sylveon and Miraidon withstood the oppressive aura—maintaining vigilant stances.
As for Salamence——
"ROARRR!!!"
It roared first—before Giratina could even draw breath—shaking the very air. Aiden instinctively covered his ears.
Yet——
To Giratina, these Pokémon posed negligible threat.
Just as it prepared to inhale—to unleash a shockwave that would humble them all—it suddenly froze.
For upon this human… it sensed an aura reminiscent of the Creator.
Fury instantly dissipated. Rationality reclaimed dominance. Recalling the intelligence provided by those three little ones, Giratina halted its motion.
Truthfully—it had known Aiden would come. Known he'd seek the Azure Flute to unseal Spear Pillar.
As guardian of the Distortion World, no being except for the Creator could enter this realm without its consent—not even those "Lake Guardians."
But——this marked the first time a human had willingly sought entry to its domain.
And for an utterly impossible purpose.
Humans wished to reconnect with the Creator—requiring passage to the Hall of Origin.
Yet that path was forever closed.
Not even they could contact the Creator anymore.
For the Creator had long vanished from this world. What slumbered in the Hall of Origin was merely a hollow shell.
Yet when bestowing the Azure Flute, the Creator had foretold: "One day, a human shall stand before you. You shall judge whether to grant them this flute."
Coupled with the Lake Guardians' report—that this human was likely tied to the Creator's grand design—Giratina had ultimately acquiesced to their request.
Thus… this moment arrived.
Giratina's crimson gaze returned to Aiden.
So it's true—as they said. A human acknowledged by the Creator?
Intriguing.
"Lucario——"
Sensing the terrifying pressure vanish, Lucario—who'd broken into a cold sweat across his brow and back—finally drew a breath.
Though he and Aiden had faced many powerful foes—even encountered Legendaries multiple times—
This ghostly dragon dwelling in another dimension was undoubtedly the strongest yet.
Its power likely rivaled that black Rayquaza—and within this low-gravity environment perfectly suited to its nature… it might even surpass it.
Should battle erupt here… his hard-earned martial arts would stand no chance of landing a hit.
For his Trainer's safety—avoiding conflict was ideal.
[State your purpose.]
Giratina's voice returned.
Sensing it wouldn't attack, Aiden exhaled in relief.
Guessed right—even in its irritated state, it remains capable of rational discourse!
"Just as I said."
Aiden met Giratina's gaze once more—repeating firmly:
"I've come to bargain."
"I seek your aid, Giratina."
Aiden's sincere words were met with Giratina's peculiar stare.
[Why should I help you?]
For a moment, Giratina almost laughed.
But before it could compose itself—maintain its dignified facade—
Rumble… rumble…
Tremors erupted from all directions—rippling through the Distortion World.
Violent spatial fluctuations shook the floating landmass beneath their feet—nearly toppling Aiden.
"S-Sylveon?!"
Startled, Sylveon leaped—clinging to his leg. The added weight stabilized him.
After roughly thirty seconds—the disturbances gradually subsided.
Giratina truly couldn't laugh now.
This was why its temper had soured over the past century.
Merely because the Creator departed—the world continued functioning—yet those two brats abandoned their duties entirely… descending into civil war.
Were it not bound by the Creator's mandate—unable to freely leave the Distortion World—
It would've long since stormed out to teach them the meaning of "brotherly harmony."
Watching Giratina's expression crumble, Aiden pondered—then suddenly smiled.
Just as I suspected.
Now things have become simple.
"If I'm not mistaken… those tremors originated from the temporal and spatial dimensions—caused by the conflict between the deities of Time and Space?"
Aiden's smile was unmistakable—carrying, in Giratina's eyes, a faint hint of mockery.
Were it not for the Creator's aura surrounding him—and the likelihood the Creator watched from beyond this world...
It would've attacked without hesitation just now.
[None of your concern.]
[You overstep, human.]
Giratina growled a warning—then prepared to flap its wings and depart.
This human offered nothing further worth discussing.
As for the Azure Flute...
Should he return to the Distortion World multiple times—approaching with proper respect—perhaps an opportunity would arise.
But as Giratina moved—Aiden's enticing voice rang out once more:
"What if I told you… I can bring those two brats into the Distortion World?"
"Or rather——"
"Offer you a chance to thoroughly pummel Dialga and Palkia as payback… would you lend your aid then?"
Giratina's wings froze mid-motion. Having already prepared for takeoff—it suddenly lowered its head again—studying Aiden's unshaken smile with scrutinizing intensity.
In that moment, Aiden knew his plan had nearly succeeded.
Sinnoh's three box-art Legendaries—though all tasked with maintaining cosmic order—shared poor relations.
The Temporal and Spatial deities had always despised one another. Though they occasionally united against external threats… every meeting inevitably devolved into mutual brawling—frequently destabilizing spacetime itself.
This century-long war was merely a reflection of their fractured bond.
Even dimensions beyond time and space suffered collateral damage from their clashes.
The physical realm fared relatively well—thanks to Darkrai's intervention, minimizing impact.
But the Distortion World?
Giratina seemingly lacked means to invade their domains. Even when briefly entering the physical realm via bubbles… the moment it appeared, the two deities would flee in terror.
Rarely did it find opportunity for retribution.
In a sense—its dynamic resembled Hoenn's trio of fools. But as the "mediator," Giratina had no outlet for its frustration—likely accumulating resentment over decades of cleanup duty.
After all—its primary function seemed to be mopping up after those two——
Given a chance to thoroughly beat them… Giratina would undoubtedly seize it.
[Say that again.]
Giratina's voice returned—this time laced with unmistakable urgency.
Thus, Aiden spoke decisively:
"I mean—I can bring those two brats into the Distortion World."
"Though accomplishing this… may require your assistance."
Giratina fell silent.
It couldn't fathom Aiden's certainty.
Merely a mortal—yet speaking of Legendary beings with such nonchalance.
But it understood one truth clearly——
Even if this human lied through his teeth… it couldn't refuse.
This accumulated grudge—old and new—had reached its breaking point. It could endure no longer.
[Continue.]
Though Giratina offered no explicit commitment—its attitude was unmistakable to Aiden.
"My plan is simple."
Aiden continued.
"The Space-Time battlefield lies above Alamos Town in the physical realm—persisting for over a century."
"Simply travel to Alamos Town… and find a way to draw them into the Distortion World."
"As for the method~"
Aiden paused mid-sentence.
His deliberate suspense immediately agitated the already short-tempered Giratina—it stomped its feet impatiently, gaze sharpening further.
[Continue.]
Its motion shook the ground again—but this time, Aiden—prepared—remained steady.
"Beneath their battlefield… within Alamos Town… dwells a powerful Mythical Pokémon. Its name: Darkrai."
Aiden pressed on.
"Though its power falls short of the Space-Time deities… it possesses the unique ability to induce sleep in any creature."
"It is precisely through its efforts that their conflict has minimally impacted the physical realm."
"To humanity… it is undoubtedly our hero."
Aiden hadn't personally verified these details—but based on Sinnoh's documented intelligence, the account was largely accurate.
That Darkrai had interacted with Alamos Town's residents—and been recorded doing so.
The currently sealed-off Alamos Town was precisely the prelude to the movie's events.
"Therefore—my plan is——"
"To ally with Darkrai. Should it momentarily stun the Space-Time deities… I possess means to transport them into the Distortion World."
Aiden smiled—radiating confidence.
"Though accomplishing this… requires your aid, Giratina."
[Should you fulfill your promise… whatever price you demand—I shall grant it.]
Giratina agreed without hesitation—its tone absolute.
Aiden nodded in satisfaction—then turned toward Mewtwo beside him.
Mewtwo instantly understood—stepping forward in two strides to stand upon Aiden's shadow.
Bending down, it extended a Psychic-infused arm into the shadow—then promptly extracted a crouching, head-clutching shadow Pokémon muttering prayers.
"Don't see me… don't see me——"
After several more repetitions, Marshadow belatedly opened its eyes.
And——
It suddenly realized—it had somehow reappeared in the Distortion World… now under the joint scrutiny of Aiden and Giratina.
The mental shock short-circuited its thoughts—leaving it staring blankly at Aiden.
[Ho-Oh's messenger?]
As a deity born at Creation's dawn, Giratina naturally recognized this little one.
Quickly—it grasped Aiden's intention.
I see.
The Distortion World shared intricate connections with the spirit realm Ghost-types freely traversed—or rather, that realm was the Distortion World's projection into reality.
With its power… Marshadow could indeed temporarily gain free passage into this dimension.
Meaning—with the right opportunity—it could drag the Space-Time deities into this realm.
And what would happen once they arrived——
Need I even ask?
In that instant—Giratina had never found a human more agreeable.
Worthy of the Creator's acknowledgment—this human even knew those two idiots' precise location.
Moreover—it had seemingly perceived Giratina's desires from the outset—deliberately seeking cooperation within the Distortion World.
Everything unfolded according to its predictions—a modus operandi eerily reminiscent of the Creator before departure.
No… perhaps even this encounter had been foreseen a century and a half ago—when the Creator departed.
Hence the command to judge whether to relinquish the Azure Flute.
Thus—Giratina's answer now held but one possibility——
[Human—I acknowledge you.]
Giratina's roar resonated once more.
[Should you succeed… beyond the Azure Flute… you shall gain a friendship that never betrays.]
[Now—tell me your name.]
"My name is Aiden."
Aiden replied with confidence—smiling as he extended a hand forward.
[I'll remember you, Aiden.]
Giratina shifted its body—lacking hands, it extended a wingtip instead—completing humanity's ritual of forging friendship.
For a moment—the Distortion World grew strangely harmonious.
Giratina "rejoiced" at finally reuniting with its two "beloved" younger brothers. Aiden felt satisfied—having not only accomplished his mission but potentially resolving the Space-Time crisis.
Aiden's Pokémon celebrated his newfound bond with yet another Legendary.
Yet amid this familial warmth—one Pokémon remained distinctly unhappy.
Or rather—its spirit had nearly shattered.
None other than Marshadow—now cradled in Mewtwo's arms, held aloft in a "high-high" position.
Regaining awareness—it suddenly realized it had inexplicably inherited a duty likely to offend two deities simultaneously… without anyone consulting its willingness.
But this was the Rainbow Hero's request. Refusing would violate its earlier vow——
'Who am I? Where am I? What do I do now???'
And so—a pitiful, helpless, and terrified Marshadow… quietly broke into pieces.
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