Chapter 372: Dialga: "Worthless Water Dragon, How DARE You Insult Me! You Just Wait!"
The battle was, for all practical purposes, over.
But Evil Hoopa wasn't ready to accept it. Dragon God Kyurem had it pinned down, but it still wanted to make one last push.
Primal Groudon and Stellar Terapagos were both still in good fighting shape. Evil Hoopa refused to believe Dragon God Kyurem could take on all three of them at once!
As it turned out...
Dragon God Kyurem absolutely could.
Primal Groudon could only stand on the ground and spit fire, which was barely a threat to Dragon God Kyurem.
It might have been called 3v1, but it was really more like 2.5v1. And Evil Hoopa and Stellar Terapagos on their own had no hope of handling Dragon God Kyurem.
Evil Hoopa screamed with rage.
It wanted Mega Rayquaza and the others to come help, but every one of them was tied up and couldn't break free.
Before long, Origin Forme Giratina finished off Origin Forme Palkia and came over to help.
Evil Hoopa's side collapsed completely.
Another Freeze Shock from Dragon God Kyurem sent Evil Hoopa crashing to the ground, badly wounded and barely hanging on.
As Evil Hoopa's aura grew weaker, its hold over the other Legendaries faded too.
One by one, the crimson glow drained from the eyes of Primal Groudon, Stellar Terapagos, Shadow Rider Calyrex, Mega Rayquaza, and the rest.
They stopped attacking and looked around in confusion. Memories of being controlled came back to them, and they finally understood what had happened.
"You back to normal?"
Seeing that Mega Rayquaza had stopped attacking, Black Rayquaza asked cautiously.
Mega Rayquaza's eyes were clear, but the look it gave Black Rayquaza was icy. It glanced down at its own wounds.
Its expression grew colder and colder. Then it opened its mouth and blasted a beam of draconic light straight at Black Rayquaza.
The Dragon Pulse left Black Rayquaza's head spinning. Wait, wasn't it supposed to be back to normal??
"The HELL?! You dare hit me?!"
Mega Rayquaza's furious telepathy made Black Rayquaza's scales crawl.
Judging by how hard that Dragon Pulse had hit, though, Mega Rayquaza really was back to normal. The attack barely hurt. It just looked scary.
"Are you serious? You were being controlled! What was I supposed to do, not fight back and just let you go berserk?"
"Oh, fine, fine. Who're you calling berserk?"
Mega Rayquaza went after Black Rayquaza.
Elsewhere.
"That We should have been reduced to this..."
Shadow Rider Calyrex looked at its own hands, then at Dark Mega Mewtwo Y across from it, and shook its head with a helpless sigh.
It had been living in peaceful seclusion in the Crown Tundra, with no intention of ever returning to the world, and somehow it had been dragged out here as hired muscle.
And under mind control, no less. Calyrex found that a bit hard to swallow.
"Rest assured, We have no wish to continue this fight."
Shadow Rider Calyrex nodded to Dark Mega Mewtwo Y as a gesture of goodwill.
Still, it studied this unfamiliar Legendary with considerable curiosity. It had withdrawn from the world ever since its kingdom fell, but it knew perfectly well how strong it was. And yet its memories of the fight told it that, riding its black steed, it had been overpowered by this Pokémon in special attacks, the very area where Calyrex was strongest.
The world had truly changed a great deal.
Dialga quietly lowered its guard and looked around. When its eyes landed on Palkia in Origin Forme, its pupils widened.
Damn it!! When did that water dragon get its Origin Forme?
Origin Forme Palkia slowly floated back up, grimacing. Ow, ow, ow. Then it saw Origin Forme Giratina glaring at it with murder in its eyes.
Origin Forme Palkia shut its mouth. What else could it do? It was furious that Giratina had hit it so hard, but they were brothers, in a sense, weren't they?
As for actually roaring back at Giratina, it didn't have the nerve.
Then Origin Forme Palkia seemed to sense something. It looked up and met Dialga's dark glare head-on. It answered with a vicious grin.
Right. I can't beat Giratina. But I can sure as hell beat you.
Origin Forme Palkia quietly caught its breath, planning to get one good slash in on Dialga before leaving, just for the satisfaction.
And if Dialga fought back or so much as glared at it, it would slash it again!
The light-pollution-grade crystalline glare around Stellar Terapagos faded as it shifted back to its Terastal Form. Its big, curious eyes looked around at everything.
It had been asleep for a very long time, so the outside world was unfamiliar and fascinating to it.
Primal Groudon stood motionless on the ground, gazing sadly into the distance, lost in thoughts nobody could guess.
"Looks like everyone's snapped out of it. Great. What's going on with the Rayquazas?"
Yveltal flew over, and Mammon beamed at the assembled Legendaries. Excellent. Excellent.
Then he noticed the two Rayquazas still chasing each other overhead and looked a little puzzled.
"Human, it seems we caused you some trouble this time."
Dialga was the first to respond, and it was surprisingly friendly toward Mammon. It could tell that, compared to their last meeting, Mammon now carried a strong trace of the Deity's aura.
This human... truly is special.
He's already been in contact with the Deity!
"It wasn't really trouble. It was actually kind of fun." Mammon waved it off with a smile.
It really had been fun. The fight hadn't been all that satisfying, but it had been a treat for both the eyes and the mind.
The reason the fight hadn't been all that satisfying was that Dragon God Kyurem was simply too strong. Nothing to be done about that.
"Human, how do you intend to deal with this one?"
Shadow Rider Calyrex looked down at the badly wounded Evil Hoopa. Its crimson eyes were still locked on Confined Hoopa.
Clearly, even cornered like this, it hadn't given up in the slightest.
"To think it could sway our very minds. A creature this evil cannot be allowed to remain!" Dialga's gaze was stern and cold, and its telepathy carried unmistakable killing intent.
"I say we destroy it!"
The others, Shadow Rider Calyrex and the two Rayquazas who had just flown back, all said nothing.
Even Origin Forme Palkia, who couldn't stand Dialga, stayed quiet.
Evil Hoopa really was terrifying. Hoopa Unbound being able to summon them was one thing; that was simply Hoopa's natural gift.
But Evil Hoopa could not only summon them, it could get into their heads and control them. That was a completely different matter!
And Evil Hoopa was consumed by negativity, evil through and through.
"No! No way!"
Just then, a frantic Confined Hoopa stepped forward and glared at Dialga for suggesting it.
"That's Hoopa's power! Why should it get destroyed?"
Confined Hoopa was deeply upset. If Evil Hoopa were destroyed, wouldn't its power vanish along with it?
Seeing Confined Hoopa speak up on its behalf, the red light in Evil Hoopa's eyes flickered faintly.
"Hoopa, do you not understand how serious this is?" Dialga said gravely.
"By any reasonable standard, this evil consciousness is far too dangerous," Shadow Rider Calyrex said, glancing at Confined Hoopa.
"I don't care, no! That's Hoopa's power!"
Confined Hoopa wouldn't budge.
"Human, what is your view?"
Seeing that Confined Hoopa was being unreasonable, Dialga didn't bother arguing with it and turned to Mammon.
As far as Dialga was concerned, it was right. An Evil Hoopa capable of manipulating the minds of Legendaries like them was simply too dangerous. Getting rid of it was the best option.
Confined Hoopa objected, but Confined Hoopa wasn't the one who mattered here. Mammon was.
Most of the Legendaries turned to look at Mammon, Shadow Rider Calyrex and Terapagos included.
They were curious about this human. A human who had earned the recognition of this many powerful Legendaries was remarkable in itself.
"Well, here's what I think." Mammon considered it for a moment.
"The Shadow's consciousness is definitely dangerous. But it's Hoopa's power. When it comes to what to actually do about it, there might be a way that works for everyone."
"Hoopa."
Mammon called to Confined Hoopa.
"Hm? Mammo..." Confined Hoopa looked up at him with big, pleading eyes.
"That's your power. I don't know exactly how it ended up with a mind of its own, but it's still your power."
"So the decision is still yours. All its hatred, all its obsession, is aimed at you. Use your heart to purify it. You're the only one who can do this."
Mammon knew full well that Evil Hoopa's resentment ran deep. Outsiders like them could never bring it back from the dark side.
Only Confined Hoopa could.
And going by the movie, Evil Hoopa had been powerful and full of resentment there too, but Confined Hoopa had still managed to purify it.
"But..." Confined Hoopa still hesitated.
"You want to protect this power, don't you? Then you're the only one who can do it. Don't be scared. It was always you. Now you just have to prove to it that you're the real Hoopa."
"Or are you still too scared to face it?"
Mammon ruffled Confined Hoopa's head.
"Got it!" Confined Hoopa perked right up.
That's right. It was Hoopa! Why be scared of a fake?
"Go on. Share all the happy times you've had over the years with it. It's been sealed away for a hundred years; let go of that hatred for it. It'll accept you."
Confined Hoopa nodded firmly, met Evil Hoopa's crimson eyes head-on, and flew toward it.
Light flared. Confined Hoopa shared its hundred years of life and happiness with Evil Hoopa.
Within the dazzling light, a faint black haze slowly dissipated. Evil Hoopa's body gradually broke apart and became a stream of dark energy that poured into Confined Hoopa.
"Hoopa~ STRONG!"
A towering Hoopa Unbound slowly emerged from a black whirlwind.
But unlike Evil Hoopa, this Hoopa Unbound's eyes were perfectly clear, not crimson.
"Nice." Mammon smiled and nodded at the sight.
With Evil Hoopa's resentment gone, this was the best possible outcome, both for Hoopa Unbound and for Dialga and the other Legendaries.
"What an interesting human. Come visit the Crown Tundra if you ever have the chance. We shall receive you."
Shadow Rider Calyrex gave a soft laugh and offered Mammon a friendly farewell of its own accord.
"If I get the chance, I definitely will."
"Then We shall take Our leave."
Shadow Rider Calyrex dipped its head, patted Spectrier, and the ghostly horse broke into a gallop, vanishing over the horizon in moments.
"Human, don't forget what you promised me last time," Dialga reminded Mammon.
"I know." Mammon nodded.
Dialga meant his not-yet-born daughter, Akari.
Dialga had probably foreseen how special Akari would be. For a dragon that looked so just and holy, it sure had its little schemes.
Dialga nodded, satisfied. A time vortex opened behind it, and it prepared to slip inside.
At that very moment, a pink blade of light came slicing through the air and exploded hard against Dialga.
Dialga cried out in pain, knocked back a short distance.
All the surrounding Legendaries were startled.
Dialga's eyes went cold instantly. It knew this power far too well. Palkia!
Dialga glared furiously at that damned water dragon.
Origin Forme Palkia gave an "innocent" grin.
"My head was still spinning a bit just now. Sorry about that. It was an accident. On purpose."
Black Rayquaza and the other Legendaries gave Palkia strange looks.
An accident... on purpose?
So it was flat-out on purpose?
Wow. Not even bothering to pretend anymore, huh?
"Worthless water dragon, how DARE you insult me! Once I get my Adamant Crystal back, you just wait!"
Dialga couldn't hold it in anymore. It unloaded a stream of abuse at Palkia, then made to dive into the time vortex and get out of there.
With Palkia in its Origin Forme now, Dialga had no options. There was no way it could win a fight.
Swallow it for now and retreat!
Once I've got my Adamant Crystal back, I'm going to kill this worthless water dragon!
"Oh-ho! Dialga, you rotten bastard, you dare curse me? You're not getting off easy today!"
Origin Forme Palkia's eyes lit up. It shouted indignantly, the very picture of righteous outrage, and charged straight at Dialga.
As for Dialga trying to run? Please. Palkia had seen that coming a mile away.
It locked down all the space around Dialga. Where exactly was Dialga going to go?
The spatial lockdown from Origin Forme Palkia sent a chill through Dialga. It couldn't get into the time vortex!
THE HELL!
Origin Forme had massively boosted Palkia's spatial abilities, far beyond anything Dialga could match.
But just then, a black vortex of shadow swallowed Dialga, and the charging Origin Forme Palkia along with it.
It was Giratina.
Origin Forme Giratina dragged its two "siblings" into the Distortion World. Amid the horrified screams of Dialga and Origin Forme Palkia, the black vortex slowly faded away.
Giratina truly did not want to admit that those two idiots were its "siblings."
With all three of the Creation Trio gone, the remaining Legendaries were deeply disappointed. Such a shame. The show was over.
Primal Groudon sighed too. Then, suddenly, a deep chill ran down its spine.
Something's wrong! Some insolent peasant harbors ill intent toward Our Imperial person!
Primal Groudon cautiously raised its head, and there, filling its vision, was the wickedly grinning Primal fat fish.
Oh no! Giovanni, come save me!!!
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