Once, Lucario, Lee and I were training and practicing our Taijutsu. Lucario had come a long way since Lee and I had first tricked her into unleashing her full power.
“That’s good, Lucario. It seems you have a real knack for Taijutsu, but you can’t neglect your Ninjutsu.”
“Yes, master Kratos.”
“Now Lucario, we’ve discussed this. I may be your trainer, but I’m not to be called ‘master.’”
“Sorry, Kratos. It slipped my mind. Which Ninjutsu should I work on?”
I thought for a while before I said, “Actually, I think I’ll teach you how to use the Shadow Possession Jutsu. I’ve been watching you practice your Taijutsu, and it seems that, besides having a knack for Taijutsu, you also have a knack for strategy. It takes a true tactician to figure out how to use the Shadow Possession properly.”
“Thank you so much Kratos. Are you going to teach me now, or wait until tomorrow?”
Lee chimed in, “You know what Kratos says. ‘No time like the present.’”
“Lee, you still need to work on the Phoenix Flower Jutsu. You’ve been having trouble mastering that one and you need more practice to get it right. Now you go practice while I teach Lucario the Shadow Possession.”
“Right. Okay Kratos.” Lee went back to training.
“Okay, now you’ve already seen me use the Shadow Possession, so you know that the target is forced to mirror the user’s moves, but there’s more to it than just that. For one thing, the distance you can stretch your shadow depends on 2 factors. #1. Amount of Chakra and ability to control it. #2 Whether or not you’re in a shadow already. If you are, then the range increases based on the length of the shadow you’re in. For instance, when I’m not standing in a shadow,” I stretched my shadow out as far as I could. “My shadow’s range is about 3 meters. But if I step into the shadow of this tree,” which I did, “My range increases to about 7 meters. Go ahead and try to stretch your shadow without being in the tree’s shadow.” She tried and her shadow stretched about 5 feet. “That good for a first try. Now let’s say I’m stretching a shadow and my target is out of range, but there’s a shadow within my range. If I cast my shadow through that shadow, it increases my range from where the two shadows joined. This will take a while for you to master, but it will become a valuable asset when you have control.”
The sun began to set. “Kratos, it’s getting late. Perhaps we should get Lee and turn in for the night.”
“You’re right, Lucario. No point in training if we have no energy left when we need it. You go get Lee. He couldn’t have gone too far.”
Lucario went out and found Lee lying in the grass. She thought to herself, [I] You over did it again, Lee.[/I] She carried him back to the mansion and into the bedroom where I was waiting. “If he keeps pushing himself like this, he’s going to kill himself,” I said.
“Yeah, but he’s just trying to get stronger.”
“True. Well the point is that he’s still alive. We should both get some rest, too. We’re going to do something a little different tomorrow.”
When morning rolled around, Lucario and Lee both met me outside on the training field. There was a long silence before I said, “Normally, we’d be training again today, but it’s better if we take a few days off every once in a while. So today, we’re going to go to one of my favorite places to spend the day; the water city, Palmacosta. There’s a nice beach there. It’s a really nice place to go on a day off.”
Lucario said, “That sounds great. I just want to lie on the beach and sun my fur.”
Lee said, “That does sound fun. I can’t wait to get there.”
I said, “Well then, what are you waiting for? I can’t teleport you there if you aren’t touching me.”
Lee slapped his head and said, “That’s right. I forgot.” Lucario and Lee each put a hand on my shoulders and we teleported.
We landed on the beach and Lucario squealed and found herself a good place to just lie in the sun. Lee ran to the water and jumped on in for a swim. I decided to join him. We were having such a great time. Then, a dark cloud rolled in. I thought to myself [I] This doesn’t seem right. This is no ordinary storm.[/I] I used my psychic powers to take a small look into the future. It was a horrific image of tidal waves ravaging the entire sun-drenched city. “Lee, we have a serious problem headed this way. I foresaw this city’s destruction by tidal waves. You, me and Lucario are the only ones who can stop it.”
Just as my vision had shown me, the water was coming in full force. Lucario was using the water style Ninjutsu, Water Wall, to stop the waves, but due to her lack of chakra control, the waves went right through the wall. Lee would have been able to stop them, but his chakra was still exhausted. I tried to send the wave back the way it came with my water bending, but it came right back towards me. While blocking it with water bending I yelled, “Lee, Lucario! There’s someone or something controlling these waves. You have to find whatever’s doing it and stop it. I’ll hold the wave as long as I can.”
Lucario used her Eagle Wings Jutsu to fly out and stop the source f the waves, only to come flying back in on the wrong end of a hyper beam. “It’s a Kyogre. It’s enraged and attacking the city.” Lucario passed out after she said this. [I]What now? If I leave this wave, it will annihilate the city, Lucario’s unconscious, and Lee’s out of chakra.[/I] Just then, Latias and Latios flew by, apparently going to fight Kyogre. After they flew past, the wave receded. They had Kyogre distracted. They were doing pretty good for themselves, until Latias took a direct hit from a hyper beam. I flew in to help.
Latios asked, “Who are you?” Years of studying let me produce a magical necklace that allows a human wearer to understand what pokemon are saying, but let’s a pokemon wearer speak in human language. I was wearing one of these necklaces.
I looked at him and said, “Go take care of your sister. I’ll handle this freak.” Latios flew off to help his sis. Kyogre tried to hit him with another hyper beam, but I managed to block it with my shield spell, Guardian. Kyogre shot another hyper beam at me. It hit me at full force, but I managed to stay up. I looked around and saw that Latios had just gotten his sister out of the water. [I]Good. Now I can use my strongest electric spell.[/I] “All right. Time to end this. I call upon the in thee land of the dead to unleash thy fury of thunder. Indignation!” A powerful volt of electricity surged through the water, knocking Kyogre out. I flew back to shore and landed, nearly falling over from the injury the hyper beam caused. Lucario was just starting to wake up and Latios was there trying to wake Latias up. I walked over to him and he grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me, saying, “Is there any way you can help my sister?! Please tell me you can help her!”
“Well if you stop shaking me, maybe I can.” Latios took his hands off me. I took a look a Latias. I used water bending to surround her with water, then the water began to glow. Latias opened her eyes and looked at her brother.
“Latios, what happened?” Latias asked.
Latios looked at me and said, “That’s a good question. Could you fill me in on what you did, and perhaps also tell us who you are.”
“My name is Kratos.” I pointed behind me to Lee. “This is one of my apprentices, Lee.” I then pointed to Lucario. “And this is Lucario, another apprentice of mine. We were here for a day off today, but it doesn’t look like we really had any down time. Now you also asked what I did with the water. I was water bending. I’m able to control water by imitating the effect of the moon’s pull on the tide.”
“But how did it heal my sister?”
“Well, we all know that water is the source of all life. I figured out a way to use amplify those properties and use water for healing. I’ve even managed to heal scars sometimes. If there’s nothing you need, Lucario, Lee and I are going to try to enjoy our day off now that Kyogre is gone.”
We had some fun until the sun started to go down. Just as we were about to teleport home, I hear a voice behind me say, “Excuse me, Mr. Kratos.” I turned around to see Latios and Latias. Latias came up to me and said, “You told us that Lucario and Lee were your apprentices.” I nodded. “Do you think we could train with you as well?”
“Of course you’re welcome to join us. You know what they say; the more the merrier.”
Latios said, “Oh thank you Kratos. You don’t know how much this means to us.”
“Put your hands on my back to teleport to my home.” We teleported to the mansion. Latios and Latias were speechless at first. “Yeah, it’s kind of big, but you’ll get used to it.” I called Lee over. “Take them to the open bedrooms. They’re on your way to your room.”
“All right.” Lee led them to the rooms as instructed.
We woke up bright and early to train. I explained to Latios and Latias how to control their chakra, then had them show me a clone jutsu. Latias picked up on it pretty quickly, thought Latios kept using too much chakra and messing up. I showed him where his error was and he started doing a lot better. After a couple months of training, Latias had caught up to Lucario in skill level.
One day before we began our training, Latias pulled Lucario aside with a question. “Lucario, you’ve been with Kratos longer than I have. Do you know what kind of things he looks for in a girl?”
“Well I’ve never given it much thought, but I guess he would look for a strong girl.”
“Do you think I’m strong enough?”
“I think you’d have to fight him to test that, but he’s very strong.”
Latias turned towards me and shouted, “Kratos, I challenge you.”
I laughed and said, “What, you mean a fight?”
“That’s right. I want to fight you to prove that I’m strong.”
“Well, okay.” Latias instantly charged at me, knocking me back out of surprise. I grabbed her and threw her into the air. She caught herself again and charged at me again, this time surrounded by a shield of chakra. I tried to dodge, but when she hit the ground, the chakra sent out a shockwave. I landed next to Lucario who whispered something in my ear. When Latias got up, I could see she had used up almost all her chakra. I pretended that I had lost so she’d think she was strong. Then she passed out.
That night, I heard a knock on my door. I opened the door and there was Latias. She said, “Hi Kratos. Did I wake you up?”
“No, but I would like to know what you’re doing here.”
“Well there’s a full moon out tonight. It’s really nice. I was wondering if maybe you’d come to the courtyard and just talk with me.”
“Well, sure. I don’t see why not.” I followed Latias out to the courtyard and we sat down on a bench.
Latias sighed, then she said, “Kratos, I have something to tell you.”
“I’m listening.”
“Well we’ve been together for a few months, and I think in that time I’ve come to like you a lot.”
“I like you to Latias. We’re good friends.”
“You don’t understand. I… Well… Um… Well you might even be able to say that… that I love you.”
“I know already. Lucario told me that you were fighting me to prove you were strong.”
“She said you liked strong girls, so I thought I had to prove myself.”
“She doesn’t know me very well then. It doesn’t matter to me whether you’re weak or strong. Love can be a funny thing that way.”
We kept talking as the night was passing. Just before we went back in, I said, “Latias, someday soon, I’m going to take you, Latios, Lucario, and Lee to my home. We can all live there.”
“I thought this was your home.”
“This is just a vacation spot. My home is a lot bigger. Before I can take you guys there, I have some preparations to make. You go on in and get some sleep. I’ll teleport home and get things worked out.”
“Okay, Kratos.”
I flew off into the moonlight away from the mansion. When I was a decent distance away, I landed on a rock and made the hand signs for my teleportation spell to take me to my home planet. When I arrived I was instantly greeted by the royal guards and escorted to the castle, where I reign as king of the dragon world. I immediately began working out the papers to allow Latios and Latias to stay on my planet legally.
Little did I know when I teleported that Latias had followed me. She copied my teleportation and ended herself up right in the middle of the dragon military training ground, where she was caught on the spot. The commander contacted me via magi- technology; a very advanced type of technology powered by magic.
“Your majesty, we had captured an infidel attempting to learn our military secrets and launch an attack to overthrow the kingdom. What are your orders on dealing with her?”
“Bring her to me. I shall handle this matter personally.”
“Yes your majesty.”
“Where are you brutes taking me?” Latias was fighting against their hold to try to get free.
“His majesty, Kratos has ordered us to take you to him. Depending on his mood, you may or may not get to keep that pretty head of yours.”
When Latias was brought before me, my heart sank. Oh, no! She followed me here. I can’t order her executed, but I can’t let her off scott-free after she ended up in the military grounds. “Hmm…Bring the perpetrator and make her stand in front of me.” Just as I ordered, Latias was brought in front of me. “I must say, you are quite bold to infiltrate our military training grounds by yourself. What is your name?” Latias didn’t say a word. “The strong, silent type, are you? Very well then. If you won’t tell me, then I’ll tell you, Latias.”
“How did you know that?!” Latias exclaimed.
“Oh please. Reading people’s minds is a third rate psychic ability. Will you talk now, or shall I continue to speak for you?”
“…All right. I’ll talk.”
“Compliance. I like that in anyone. Now answer this. Who are you working for?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I mean who were you trying to gather information for? You infiltrated our military training facility and you’re clearly not from around this area, which can only mean you’re working with some sort of resistance to bring me down.”
“I wasn’t working for anybody or trying to get info on your military.”
“Why did you come here then?”
“I came here following my teacher, who told me that my brother and I would get to stay at his house. I followed him when he teleported here, but I didn’t teleport to the right place.”
“It seems you’re telling the truth, but you might be thinking that just to throw me off. We can’t let you go with that risk.”
“Your majesty. What is her conviction?”
“I will not pass judgment yet. For the time being, put her in the prison. And don’t fall for her invisibility trick. She can use the feathers on her body to take on a different appearance or even disappear.”
“Get moving, you scum bag.”
“Warden! Hear me and hear me well because I’m only going to say this once. Though she is a prisoner, you are not to lay a hand on her. Violate this order in anyway and you will be the one in prison. Understand?”
“Yes your majesty.”
Latias was taken off to the dungeon and put in one of the larger cells to allow her to stretch her wings. “Let me out of here, you big galoot!” The guard simply walked away.
A voice from behind Latias said, “Hey. What are you in for?” Latias whirled around to see another nearly starved human in the cell with her.
“I teleported to this world, but accidentally ended up on the military training grounds.”
The man said, “I was captured trying to get info to overthrow the king, which I assume is the charge against you.”
“Actually, the king read my mind and said that wasn’t my intention. He even told the guards not to lay a hand on me and to give me larger food rations than all the other prisoners, like he was watching out for me or something.”
“Fancy that. Regardless, there’s no way out of here, so you might as well get used to it.”
The guard came back with their rations of gruel. “They barely provide us enough food to stay alive. Be thankful the king told them to give you more. It’s a first.” The man finished his gruel, but his stomach was still growling loudly. “What’s your name anyway?”
“It’s Latias. What’s yours?”
“I’m Lloyd.” His stomach was growling even louder. Latias went over, picked up his bowl, and poured half of what remained in her bowl into his. “You’re giving me part of your rations? I couldn’t possibly take it. You need your strength, too”
“Not as much as you do. You’ve been here a long time, never getting enough to eat. Since I’ve been given the privilege of extra, the least I can do is share with those who have less.”
“Thank you very much, Latias.” Lloyd quickly ate what Latias had given him. “Man, I really wish someone would beat the king and set us free.”
“What? Set you free? I thought you said there was no way out of here.”
“There is one. If a prisoner challenges the king in combat and wins, that prisoner is allowed to go free, but if they lose, they die. If the challenger chooses to, they can also fight for the release of another prisoner as well as themselves, but if they lose, both prisoners die. It’s a law the king passed to give prisoners some hope, but no one has ever won or even come close. He has the power of the legendary Kaiser dragon, said in legend to have been defeated only by Kratos.”
“I’ll challenge him.”
“It would be suicide. No offense, but you wouldn’t last two seconds against his full power.”
“Well I can’t just sit here and do nothing. My master is waiting here for me somewhere in this world. He can’t find me if I’m in jail. I have to get out and find him. And you’ve been here so long. It’s only fair that you finally get a chance at freedom.”
“Well if you want to fight for your freedom, I won’t stop you, but I don’t want you to take me down with you. There’s no way you can win.”
“My master once told me, ‘Latias. If you really set your mind to something, you can do anything.’ He was right.”
“How can you be so certain he wasn’t just getting your hopes up?”
“Because I love him, but for the longest time, I was too nervous to show it or say anything. When he said that, it gave me the confidence to confess how I felt.”
“You’re bold, Latias. Very well. Then I’ll fight along side you.”
When the guard returned, Latias told him of their challenge against the king, Kratos; me in other words. He sent a messenger to tell him. Meanwhile, I was trying to come up with a way to get Latias out of jail. I had just come up with a brilliant idea when there was a knock on the door. “I’m sorry to bother you, your majesty, but you have a challenge from a pair of prisoners seeking freedom.”
“Who are the prisoners?”
“Latias and her cell mate, your excellency.”
“…Very good. Dismissed.” The messenger bowed and left. “Now what will I do? I can’t kill Latias in the arena and I can’t spring her in one night. This is a dilemma.”
The next day, I entered the arena, waiting for Latias and Lloyd to be brought in. In short order, they were pushed through the gate at the other side of the arena. “I always knew you were a bold one, Latias, but I didn’t think you’d actually challenge me.”
“I have to earn my freedom at any cost.”
“I gave you increased rations because I believed you really weren’t guilty, but I won’t hold back in a fight.”
“I know. Neither will I.” Latias carefully watched me to see what my first move would be.
“Well? I’m giving you the first move.”
This is just like the first time Latios and I fought Kratos, Latias thought to herself. Lloyd instantly charged at me.
“Oh please.” Lloyd ran straight into my jab, killing him instantly.
“Latias, I-I’m sorry,”
“Impressive attack, isn’t it? I call it Lightning Blade. It builds up energy in my hand, turning it into an invincible blade and shooting all that energy into it’s target on contact, normally killing them right away.”
“You monster! I’ll rip you apart limb from limb.”
“You want to kill me? Go ahead and try.” Latias made the hand signs for the Great Mud River jutsu, surrounding me in a swirling torrent of mud that collapsed in on me.
“You’ll have to do better than that!” The mud around me began to grow hotter, then shot upward under me in a blast of fire. Volcano jutsu. I didn’t think she could use that yet. “You’re stronger than I expected, but that won’t be enough to stop me. Now it’s my turn. Shadow Clone Ju-. What? I can’t move my body.”
“Impressed? I caught you using my master’s Shadow Possession Jutsu. Now you’re forced to mirror my movements.”
“Clever, but what good will that do you? If you attack me, I’ll attack you because of that jutsu.”
Latias began building up energy to shoot at me. Due to the Shadow Possession, I was doing the same. “Well I’ll take that chance.” She fired the energy at me and I at her. “Let’s see who ducks first!” Just before the energy hit her, she did a Matrix, bending over backwards to dodge. Big deal. I’ll just do the same thing. I did the same since I had to copy her and I smacked my head on the arena wall. I stood up and looked towards Latias.
“That was very good. You knew you’re volcano couldn’t hurt me, so you used it to push me back so you could use the wall to your advantage. This should be a fun fight.”
The battle raged on, blow being exchange for blow, jutsu for jutsu. Amazing! She’s become much stronger since last night. She surrounded herself in a chakra shield, just like the last time we had fought. She came charging at me, and I let myself take the hit. Even though I was okay, I pretended to struggle to my feet and have difficulty staying up. “I can’t keep fighting. Congratulations, Latias. You’ve beaten me and earned your freedom. Now come over here and I’ll teleport you back to your home.” I teleported the 2 of us back to my mansion, where we were instantly greeted by Lucario, Lee, and Latios. Latios tried to attack me, but Lee and Lucario held him back. They knew of my transformation.
“Let me go! I have to help my sister.”
Lucario said, “Calm down, Latios. That’s Kratos she’s with.” Latias looked at me in bewilderment. I looked at her and transformed back into my normal form.
“Kratos?! Why didn’t you tell me it was you? I could have ended up killing you in the arena.”
“Would you have believed me even if I did tell you? Besides, I took a dive in the arena. You didn’t hurt me too badly, and I didn’t escape intact, but I knew you were out of chakra after that last attack. I mean after all, you’d never have forgiven yourself if you killed the one who loves you.”
“You mean that you really do love me?”
“The exact same way that you love me, Latias.”
2 months later when everything had gotten back to normal(?) Latios walked(?) Latias down the aisle to the altar. She looked beautiful in her white dress and veil. Latias and I had decided to make our love official through marriage. The happiest moment of my life was when the minister said, “You may kiss the bride.”