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There was a sense of wonder when standing in the Temple of Sinnoh, even with its painted pillars collapsing and piles of rubble scattered about haphazardly. The ceiling was gone—blown away in Palkia’s outrage when it came through the space-time rift—and the temple proper lay open to the vast sky above. The floor was slick from snow that had fallen that morning, exposed to the elements for the first time in a millennium.
Adaman and Irida watched as Akari approached the platform, two small pokeballs in either hand. A year ago, if someone would have told him this young woman held two gods in her hands, he would have laughed before flattening them for implying that the Almighty Sinnoh could be bested by a mortal. Or that the Pearl Clan’s false god was indeed as real as the Diamond Clan’s own, equals and opposites in every way and capable of tearing the world apart.
(He shuttered still thinking of the red sky.)
Except, there really were two Almighty Sinnoh and the fighting between the Diamond and Pearl Clans had been all for naught. They truly did worship two entirely different beings. Dialga and Palkia—two god-like pokemon who were subdued and captured by this brave, foolish woman in front of him.
Brave and foolish because she was about to release said primordial pokemon back into the universe to resume their rule over time and space.
Akari had sent letters to both himself and Irida, requesting to meet her away from Jubilife Village and the watchful eye of the Galaxy Team. It was agreed they would meet in the Coronet Highlands as it was equal traveling distance for all three, and Akari seemed to think it would set the stage well for her request.
Actually, no—request wasn’t quite the right term. Akari had informed them what she had planned and felt that Adaman and Irida should know, as the Clan Leaders, that their deities would be returning to their rightful places.
There was a shadow within Akari’s gaze that Adaman recognized as easily as the one in his own. She was uneasy about keeping such powerful pokemon locked away, their power too easy to abuse, and their responsibilities within the world too great for a mortal to grasp.
When Irida asked about risking another space-time rift and tearing the world apart, Akari assured her that she had spoken to Dialga and Palkia both. Admittedly, neither had replied in kind but given that they could easily trample her with a misstep, she took no response as acquiescence.
Adaman marveled how she could admit to practically scolding the Rulers of Time and Space and threatening them into behaving.
Concerned for the savior of Hisui’s well-being, however, he gently pressed about Akari’s relationship with the Galaxy Team and Commander Kamado. When they had even suspected she was involved with the last space-time rift, they had exiled her to the wilds. If something did happen—Adaman prayed for all their sakes, but especially hers nothing did—then the Galaxy Team would know she had set the ball in motion this time and would be much less forgiving in her punishment.
Akari had stuck her chin out in defiance and reiterated that it was the right thing to do.
Truthfully, neither Adaman nor Irida could have refused her. He wanted to know that she was aware of the consequences should the worst transpire, though.
Then Irida suggested that Akari lay low with the Clans following the deities’ release, and Adaman felt a weight he hadn’t realized was there lift from his shoulders. He readily agreed it was a good idea—which then led to Irida gasping in shock at his consensus, and the two found themselves arguing as Akari watched and giggled from the sidelines.
After setting a time—a fortnight from their meeting—the three separated to prepare. Akari would go and quietly collect the god-like pokemon as well as any supplies she might need if Commander Kamado tried kicking her out again, while Adaman and Irida would make arrangements with their clansmen to house the young woman discreetly. It was the least they could do for the hero who not only stopped the Clans from fighting but also kept their gods from tearing reality apart.
Now, in the present moment, Akari stood at the steps within the ruined Temple of Sinnoh. She held an ultra ball containing Dialga in her right hand and the origin ball with Palkia in her left. Looking back over her shoulder to the two Clan Leaders, she gave them a small but nervous smile.
Adaman was struck with the realization that Akari was so young to have carried so much responsibility in the past year, and she continued to do so. It took a strong will to have such power in one’s hands and decide not to use it.
He gave her his signature grin in return, and Irida clasped her hands in front of her as if in prayer, a reassuring smile across her face.
Holding the balls out, Akari released both primordial pokemon at the same time. The platform was taken up by two colossal giants, each stretching out to their full height, but not turning on each other immediately as Adaman feared.
Instead, Adaman felt his breath freeze in his chest as he looked up at the Almighty Dialga. He felt the weight of those red eyes on him as if weighing and judging every moment—every second—of his life. A large presence filled his mind and he pressed a hand to his head, trying to ease some of the pressure.
‘Travel through the time I give with purpose but also with reverence.”
Adaman felt the words in his heart, in his soul. It felt for a long moment that he was made aware of every second passing, each one stretched out into a day, a month, a year. Then normal time resumed and he was still looking up at the Ruler of Time with a dizzying awe.
‘Be grateful to Arceus’ blessed. She understands the importance of time for she has gained yet lost so much of it.’
Adaman couldn’t begin understanding the meaning of those words at the moment, the pressure in his head threatening to topple him. Then it eased as suddenly as it came, and Adaman was able to think again. He glanced around to see how much time had passed.
Irida was looking up at Palkia in wonder but didn’t seem to react to her god as he did his.
Akari took one small step forward, unperturbed about approaching the towering pokemon. She placed the ultra ball and origin ball on the ground side by side, then reached out and took a chunk of marble from the ground. She had a hard time hefting the large piece but the weight made her next task easier.
Looking up at Dialga and Palkia with shoulders squared in confidence, she swung the rock down onto the pokeballs. There was a resounding CRACK that echoed the ruins, followed by the joyous cries of both gods.
Adaman knew it had to be joy because he felt such a feeling of freedom and gratitude flood his heart from the Almighty Dialga.
Their voices carried even further than the temple, down the mountain and into the surrounding valleys, through both time and space. Then they were turning towards one another—Adaman felt his throat constrict suddenly—and Akari called in a voice too loud for her small frame, “Go!”
The two titans continued to stare before giving almost imperceptible nods to one another and turning away. A rush of wind billowed around them, knocking his haori open and whipping his hair into his face. Akari watched on as Dialga and Palkia took to the air before disappearing through portals as similar as they had appeared all those months ago.
The pressure in his head disappeared entirely, and Adaman found that he almost missed it. He knew he should consider himself blessed to have been given such a gift from the Almighty Dialga in the first place, though.
Akari turned around and walked down the steps slowly. The remnants of the pokeballs were left behind on the platform, almost like offerings. As she stood before the Clan Leaders, there were small jitters wracking her frame, nervous energy having built up with no outlet.
The three of them stood in silence for several long moments as Adaman and Irida continued to reel from coming face to face once again with their respective gods.
“So,” Akari finally spoke. “Who am I going home with first?”
Adaman threw his head back and laughed, while Irida covered her mouth in a poor attempt to cover her own humor. Eventually, they made their way off the mountain as he and Irida argued over who had the honor of hosting Akari first.
He glanced over his shoulder halfway down the trail and met Akari’s grey gaze. She gave him a radiant smile, and once again, Adaman found himself admiring the easy authority and power she held.
‘She understands the importance of time for she has gained yet lost so much of it.’ Adaman replayed Almighty Dialga’s cryptic words, pondering their meaning. He would have to spend more time with Akari to learn how one can both gain and lose it. Her origins through the space-time rift came to mind, though no one had really spoken on what that meant for Akari exactly. He wanted to understand her circumstances better and then maybe he would know what Dialga had meant.
As they separated, Akari leaving with Irida for some needed ‘girl bonding’ and the promise of hot springs at the Pearl Clan Settlement, Adaman pondered about their stranger from the sky. He wondered what the seasons would have in store for her—for all of them—as she spread her influence across Hisui.
Only time would tell, and Adaman found himself eager to not waste a single moment of it.