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Chapter Text

Giratina rarely thought well of humans anymore. Perhaps she loved them, once upon a time - before she was cast away in the dark, fated to only watch the world through rain and mirrors. To be feared was one thing - she was used to that already. As the embodiment of Mother's shadow - second only to Them in power - Giratina would have been a fool to expect anything less. Almost everything else in existence was beneath her, and that went double for humanity.

It should be said that Giratina did not particularly hate humanity. Her viewpoint was not her being arrogant or condescending towards them; she could easily crush a million humans with any of her powers. So for them to wipe her from human record so easily was a blow to her pride that she did not take well. She was furious with them, yes...but she couldn't bring herself to hate them if she tried. (And she had tried.)

There were exceptions, of course. Perhaps every few centuries a human would come along that would defy the Renegade's expectations and entertain her. But their lives always faded in the end, and Giratina would be bored again.

The Hisui Era brought to her not one, but two humans to be strangely fascinated with.

Volo was the first. He was fanatical and ambitious - it was one thing to want to meet Mother, but it was a whole other thing to go as far as to summon Their Shadow to get Their attention. While Giratina knew that Mother would most likely find a roundabout way to quell the situation, she played along. The future was for Dialga's eyes only, so she had no way of knowing if Volo's plan would actually work. (And yet, she found herself wondering what she would have done if Mother had actually confronted the dilemma directly.)

UnFortunately, Mother sent a proxy in Their place. What else could Rei have been, with the device he held made so similarly in Their image? To be displaced not only in time, but in space as well? Giratina could see that the boy's existence practically screamed ANOMALY even before he took the Red Chain into his hands.

Rei was the opposite of Volo - not in his ambition, but how he chose to direct it. While Volo didn't care for any of the humans that he stepped on to achieve his goal, Rei cared. It showed in his bonds with the humans around him, the Pokemon he befriended...even Dialga warmed up to the boy after spending enough time with him.

It would only be in hindsight that Giratina would realize; Dialga's soft spot for the boy should not have been surprising as it was. Despite his status as a deity of time, Dialga had always been the most soft-hearted of the trio.

She should not have been surprised that Dialga would try to protect the boy against her wrath.

She should not have been surprised that Dialga tried his hardest to hold her off while the boy revitalized his team, even with the knowledge that he could never truly defeat her.

She should not have been surprised to see her younger brother continue to hold his ground with ichor dripping from his eye - still steadfast and stubborn as if he did not just lose a fraction of his power. (As if she had not just taken it from him.)

(It was the most surprised Giratina had been since her banishment. And so she flew away, ignoring Volo's screams and Rei's distressed shouts.)

"Is that why you let me catch you?" Rei questioned, when Giratina recounted as such. "Because you were surprised?"

The Renegade crossed her arms - this form was still rather new to her, but she was always a quick learner. She had to be. "Why does that surprise you to hear? Watching your world for as long as I have, there are very few things that can truly impress me anymore."

"I guess that's fair," the boy answered, as his fingers glided on the ArcPhone's screen. His gaze flickered towards her before he continued, "But it sounds like you were more surprised by what Aevus did than with anything I did."

"Aevus..." It did not take Giratina long to realize who Rei could have been referring to. The Celestic word for 'time' was not the most original alias for a deity of time...but she supposed Dialga tried his best. Even if Giratina hadn't made that connection, she remembered Rei shouting the name when Dialga stepped in.

(Giratina was tempted to ask how he was faring after that battle. It simply could not be that she had killed him - the steady flow of time told her that much.)

"He's...recovering, by the way," Rei suddenly said, as if he could somehow read her thoughts. He was clearly distressed as he said, "Considering what he lost, it'd be cruel to say anything else."

"I do not care." Giratina's eyes narrowed as she looked down at the boy - so small and fragile, yet so important. Why did Dialga protect this whelp in the first place? "I am second only to our Mother in power. Dialga clearly knew the repercussions of facing me in battle. There is no reason you should update me on his status. What makes you believe I would care?"

"Earth Power and Aura Sphere."

Giratina's expression must have given away her skepticism, because Rei continued, "You never hesitated to use them against my Pokemon - the ones that those moves would hit hardest, anyway. But looking back, I noticed that you never used them against Aevus. You used Dragon Claw, that one move where you disappear...I think I saw a Shadow Ball here and there, too."

Despite the Renegade's growing scowl, Rei had the audacity to continue, "There's no shame in admitting you went easy on him, you know."

Giratina stared. Her gaze flickered to the device in Rei's hand. What was the nature of his connection with Mother? Surely the phone wasn't the only thing that They imparted onto him. Were They sending some kind of message to him, telling him everything he knew about the Pantheon? (Causing him to see through her words so easily?)

"I will not admit to any such thing." Giratina would also not admit to pouting, so she turned her back towards the boy. "Dialga is beneath me in power, as are you in the end. That you two continue to exist right now is merely because I was growing bored. Never forget that."

"Don't worry, I won't." The amusement in his voice grated at Giratina's nerves, but the cry of an Umbreon managed to get her attention. She could hear the Dark-type's animated chatter - something about a pack of Teddiursa.

After a moment, Rei spoke up again; "Say what you want, Giratina, but I think you care more than you say you do."

Giratina said nothing.

Chapter Text

Darkrai's origins are cause for much debate among humanity. Some would insist that he came from the dark side of the moon - the side that always faced away from the Earth, where no light would reach it. Others would tell you that Darkrai was Giratina's spawn - able to freely move across the world that the Renegade had been forbidden to tread. It is unclear which story is accurate, but the one thing that everyone can agree on is the strength of Darkrai's power.

It had not taken long for Darkrai to realize that any attempt to befriend any other being - human and Pokemon alike - would result in them having terrible nightmares. They would lose sleep, and would only get worse the longer he remained around them. If the nightmares he brought about were from malice, that would be one thing...but all Darkrai wanted was a friend. If he could have found a way to control his power, he would have done so in a heartbeat.

But how can one control the very thing that they were borne from? When one's power was a defense mechanism that was a part of their identity, what can one do?

At the height of his frustration, Darkrai made a futile attempt to reach the being called 'Mother'.

"Am I here simply to suffer, and bring suffering in turn?" he cried. "I beg you, release me from this torment! Help me temper the nightmares I bring, or control them somehow! I simply want a companion!"

Who could say whether it was that particular cry that caused Cresselia's creation? By the full moon's light, the feathers she dropped as she soared through the sky brought much-needed relief to the nightmares Darkrai caused.

And for a time, all was peaceful. Despite Darkrai's initial hesitance to approach the ones that held Feathers, he pushed himself to interact. He still stayed away during nighttime, but the Feathers seemed to be exactly what was needed. His power was no longer a problem, and Darkrai was happy.

Then the first New Moon came. Lunar Feathers still retained their power, but Cresselia herself was significantly weakened throughout that night. On the other hand, Darkrai's power grew ever stronger - strong enough to affect humans from miles away.

Of course, Darkrai despaired over his heightened strength. He decided that the only thing to do was to hide himself away - where nobody could reach him. So he asked for Palkia's assistance. Surely they could think of some kind of solution to his problem.

What Palkia created was an island - far, far away from human civilization. No human could possibly reach it by conventional means. It was small, but Darkrai found comfort in that. A larger island would only make him feel more isolated and alone.

For centuries, Darkrai returned to his island every New Moon to wait the night out. Even if he could not fully control the nightmares he brought, he could at least keep innocent people and Pokemon from getting caught in them.

The number of times Darkrai had brought himself to leave New Moon Island could be counted with one hand. Almost all of those instances could be attributed to his wrath.

As much as Darkrai might hate his power, he could truly make someone suffer if he ever truly wanted to (even if that suffering was nothing more than a dream).

Chapter Text

Lucas was left alone in the shop for once, and he found himself regretting it almost right away. Going out in the daytime had become overwhelming for him as of late, but at least he wouldn’t be worrying about what happened in the Mage's Tourney.

Did someone see what he did? He sure hoped not; in that chaos of what had happened, he wanted to think that he had slipped away with little issue. All the same, something nagged at him in the back of his mind. While he couldn't be certain if it was truly his intuition or just the result of his overactive mind, the thought that someone had actually seen his unauthorized use of time magic wouldn’t leave him be.

In an effort to distract himself, he chose to throw himself into his books. The least he could do was update his notes. Nobody ever became a healer by not taking notes on what kind of herbs did what.

About mid-morning, Lucas' studies were interrupted by a knock at the door. He ignored it; anyone looking at the sign would know that the shop was closed for the day. That said, he was willing to give the benefit of the doubt; perhaps the stranger hadn't seen the sign yet.

It soon became clear that this wasn't the case; not only did the stranger linger, but they had the nerve to knock on the door two more times. By the third time, Lucas had become fed up.

"Hey." Annoyed, Lucas stood and approached the door. It wasn't soundproof, so he knew that the stranger could hear him clear as day. "Can't you read the sign? We're closed for today. Unless it's an emergency, you’ll have to come back tomorrow-"

Lucas cut himself off as he actually opened the door. Even upon getting a good look at the stranger’s face, he reflexively shut the door.

Two things occurred to Lucas in that moment, and he was no longer annoyed.

The first: that was Aevus at the door. The Veteran Mage, the one that hosted that stupid tourney in the first place. Not only was he famous for his use of time magic, he was also said to be a god among scholars. Between his vast wealth of knowledge and the might of the Royal Guard, many people felt that very few could actually threaten the kingdom.

Much to Lucas' horror, the second thing he realized was that he had just slammed the door in the man's face.

Lucas slowly opened the door again and peered out. Mercifully, Aevus was still standing patiently. Other than a raised eyebrow and crossed arms, there was no way of telling what Aevus could have been thinking.

"Um!" Lucas stammered as he opened the door wider. "I'm so sorry! I wasn't expecting any visitors, especially not one like you. That isn't to say I'm not honored-!"

Aevus let himself in, looking around the store with a curious expression. He wasn't alone; he was followed in by an armored fellow - one that Lucas recognized as the knight he treated that night. Richard didn’t do anything after entering; he simply nodded in Lucas' direction and stepped back outside to stand by the door.

"You may relax," Aevus said, turning to Lucas with a polite smile. "You are not in any trouble whatsoever."

How could Aevus say that like it was so simple? That only made it even harder for Lucas to relax. There was an intensity in the air that the Veteran Mage seemed to bring with him; whether it was because of his magical strength or something else, it made it near impossible for Lucas to be anything but tense.

"I hope you'll forgive my saying so, but I find that hard to believe," the young man said, his gaze flickering between Aevus and the knight stationed outside. "As I said, it isn't every day we get visitors like, um...I mean of your station. If you're looking for my father, he's out gathering herbs-"

"I was actually looking for you."

Lucas knew what that meant. Of course Aevus knew - the man was a time mage! There was no way Aevus didn't pick up on what Lucas had done. Sure enough, Aevus took a moment to observe Lucas before continuing, "The way you repaired that statue...I know that was time magic."

It took everything Lucas had to not respond with a sarcastic comment. That statue had been shattered to a thousand pieces, scattered across the floor. The man somehow saw Lucas completely reverse that damage…and he chose to state the obvious? "Are you...looking down on me? Stating the obvious like that?"

At least Aevus had the courtesy to realize the weight of his words. "Forgive me, it was not my intent to-"

It surprised Lucas to see the Veteran Mage - the man who carried himself with such steadfast confidence that outlanders often assumed that he was the king - suddenly act so awkwardly. After a moment, Aevus took a breath and continued, "I simply wished to know how you came to learn such advanced magic at your age. That is...I should know..."

Aevus pursed his lips and pinched the bridge of his nose. His gaze seemed to flicker between Lucas and the knight before he concluded, "Please do not take this the wrong way, but I can think of no other way to phrase this. The Temporal Dragon does not impart his wisdom without reason...and I struggle to ascertain why you would be chosen."

Of course, Lucas thought. With Aevus' mastery over time magic, it made sense that he would have met the Temporal Dragon himself. Who better to get a sense of their personality than someone who can actually wield its power? That only made Lucas feel worse about what he was about to say.

"I wish I could give you a solid answer to that. I genuinely don't know," Lucas admitted. He placed a hand on his arm - he could feel it tingle. "All I know for certain is I got hit by something a couple months ago, and ever since then..."

"Truly?" Contrary to Lucas' fears, Aevus seemed downright intrigued. "Where were you struck?"

What a strange question, but Lucas complied, "My arm."

"May I see?"

Baffled, Lucas pushed up his right sleeve.  The scar stretched from the back of his hand to his elbow. Maybe it would be more accurate to describe the scar as a mark - his arm looked more like one of those bowls that had been glued together with some kind of paint. He couldn’t recall the name of that particular art.

Aevus carefully poked his arm. Lucas didn't flinch. Looking back, he could not be sure which about the scar was stranger; how suddenly the impact came, or the fact that it stopped hurting the moment he recovered. It didn't make much sense, from a logical standpoint. But then again, Aevus seemed to be implying that Dialga was somehow behind this. Could there be a reason for it? If so, would it only be made clear in the future?

As if he could read Lucas' thoughts, Aevus spoke up; "I am certain you have started to realize what caused this - what struck you was a small shockwave of what could be considered Dialga's power. That you survived is a miracle in itself."

After a pause, Aevus started to pace around the young man. "Tell me, is that scar the only physical change? You do not feel any older or younger than you should be?"

“Well…I'm sixteen. People always tell me I look younger than I am, though. That said, I don't feel any different.”

“Have people told you this before you were struck, or has this only started after the fact?"

"Before."

"In that case, I would say you have not aged any." Aevus stopped and looked down at Lucas. "Count yourself blessed in that respect; such a blast could have easily aged you fifty years."

"Great. Nice to know I miraculously dodged being sixteen going on seventy." Lucas practically slapped himself with how fast his hand flew to his mouth. The comment seemed to burst out of his mouth before he could stop himself, and he just stared at Aevus with wide eyes. Strangely, it was clear that the man was more amused than offended. If the smile on his face wasn't a clear enough indicator, the chuckles were a dead giveaway.

"Now, have there been any other changes? Physical, mental, emotional?" Before Lucas could question it, Aevus continued, "The slightest detail may be important."

Important for what? Lucas tried to hide his curiosity as he answered; "Um...no other scars. I have become pretty sensitive to light, though. I mean, more sensitive than I was before. Is that normal?"

Aevus hummed, "That depends. Have you started seeing colors around every living thing as well?"

Eyes wide, Lucas nodded. "How did you-?!"

"I would frankly be surprised if you did not start sensing this kind of thing, considering what you went through," Aevus interjected. "That is actually an indicator of a different kind of ability. Perhaps the dragon's power awakened that trait in you."

"What do you mean, a different kind of ability?!" Lucas cried. "It's not enough that I can apparently use time magic, but something else is going on with me?!"

"Calm down," Aevus assured him. "What you are sensing is called Aura. It is actually very common in certain circles of magic."

“Does that include time magic?”

"As a matter of fact, yes. I can sense it as well."

Lucas had to admit, that was almost comforting. If only because he knew he wasn’t alone in being this overly sensitive to everything. Did that mean there was a chance that he'd be able to manage it somehow? It really wouldn't do if he got overwhelmed by the sheer onslaught of light and color. That he avoided getting overwhelmed in the Tourney was a miracle in itself.

"While it's on my mind..." He pursed his lips before he asked, "How did the rest of the event go? Was everyone safe?"

"I was actually hoping you would ask that," Aevus said with a smile. "Not to worry. What you did actually ensured everyone's safety. The rubble would have been enough to block people's way and delay their evacuation."

Lucas let out a sigh of relief before Aevus' words registered. "…Why were you hoping I would ask that? I mean, of course I would. What kind of healer would I be if I wasn't concerned for people’s safety?"

"A rather poor one, I must agree." Aevus shrugged. "You would also be a very poor excuse of a Veteran Mage."

"...Excuse me?" Did Lucas just hallucinate? It made way more sense. Surely Aevus didn't just imply that, out of everyone in that tourney-

Aevus' smile - small and uncertain but still there - spoke for itself. "Fortunate that I have chosen you as my successor."

Lucas must have looked like a Magikarp with how his jaw dropped, but he could barely help that. He needed a minute to process, because what?! Aevus chose him to be his successor?!  "I beg your pardon?!"

Aevus' answer was immediate - albeit a bit puzzled. "You certainly have it, although I am not certain why you would need it."

Chapter Text

Even before their downfall, there were rumors circulating around Unova about Team Plasma's more insidious actions. Ghetsis took great pains to make sure that these rumors were never more than just rumors. Even if it meant sullying his hands, he would do anything and everything it took to ensure that his plan would come to fruition. Absolute power would be his, whether Unova liked it or not. 

The Trainer from Black City was inconsequential at first; Hilbert was as annoyingly naive as the rest of them, so Ghetsis put him in the back of his mind just as he did with the rest of them. 

Like a thorn on his side, Hilbert's name kept coming back. First, N had brought up the possibility of Hilbert being 'the other Hero.' Ghetsis hadn't wanted to involve Reshiram in his plot at all, but if it stopped N from asking silly questions about the story of the Twin Kings and ultimately casting suspicion onto him...well, Ghetsis could hardly be blamed for indulging N's silly little fantasy.

When the Shadow Triad had reported that Hilbert had befriended a talking Maractus, the boy immediately became Ghetsis' first priority. It was a rare phenomena for a Pokemon to actually learn to talk - rarer than a shiny Pokemon. For Hilbert - one of the Trainers that N had taken an interest in, the one who kept foiling his plans in some capacity - to befriend one could be a huge danger to his plan. Ghetsis could not have that, so he needed to make sure the Maractus was gone as soon as possible.

First, he ordered the Shadow Triad to steal the Maractus from Hilbert. They managed to do so in Chargestone Cave, but N just had to step in and save the Maractus. Of course Ghetsis was furious when he heard this news - while he did teach N to advocate for the safety and protection of all Pokemon, why did N have to stick his nose where it didn't belong and save that one?

The ambush in Dragonspiral Tower was a last-ditch effort; there was no way that Hilbert wouldn't keep a Pokemon that useful in his team. If they were able to kill Hilbert while they were at it, that was just a bonus in Ghetsis' eyes. The main goal was making sure the Maractus was gone, though.

And for a while, it looked like that plan was a success - Hilbert had shouted that Team Plasma had killed his 'friend' in the Tower, and Ghetsis was satisfied with that. He took great satisfaction in kicking him while he was down, though - Hilbert's mother was a Champion, after all, and what snot-nosed brat didn't strive to be just like their parents? 

Things took a drastic turn after Opelucid City. First, he woke up to the news that hundreds of Plasma Grunts had disappeared into the night. It was like they never existed in the first place. Support had been withdrawn as well - what used to be a stronghold was barely on its last legs. Hashtags like #Justice4Jude and #TeamPlasmaGetsHit trended on social media, and it was through these hashtags that he came across the video.

After his speech in Opelucid, a Maractus revealed itself and told the crowd - in human words - everything Team Plasma had done. Including how they had actually killed the wrong Pokemon in Dragonspiral Tower. 

As much as Ghetsis wanted to strike the boy down himself, he had already found the Light Stone at that point. He couldn't kill Hilbert before he faced N, because that would lead N to asking more annoying questions than he already had been. Ghetsis didn't know what Zekrom was filling N's head with, but it needed to stop for his plan to work. So Ghetsis chose to focus on N's growing doubt - reminding him of all the hurt Pokemon that he had met served its purpose every time. 

Ghetsis was assured when Reshiram still hadn't awoken, even after Hilbert beat the League. It was laughable that Hilbert would try anyway, but Ghetsis let him have it. If the boy wanted to go down fighting a battle he knew he couldn't win, who was Ghetsis to deny him that?

Reshiram awoke, and the boy had the nerve to reject their help. That caused Ghetsis to laugh out loud, so it surprised him when the boy was chosen as Reshiram's Hero anyway. 

The two Heroes fought, and N - that worthless freak - suffered a humiliating loss. Even Zekrom was easily taken down - Hilbert was never supposed to have another Ground-type after that Krokorok, let alone an Excadrill! 

So Ghetsis decided to take matters into his own hands. He would seize Zekrom's power for himself, even if it meant breaking N and killing Hilbert. His Pokemon were given their orders long ago - to take down all of Hilbert's party, to leave Hilbert for Ghetsis to kill, and for Hydreigon to take down Hilbert's Samurott specifically. 

Even his team failed against Hilbert. Bouffalant's front left leg was too mangled for it to ever battle again, Bisharp had somehow died in the battle...and then there was Hydreigon.

Hydreigon was supposed to have taken the Samurott down. That species generally had a code of honor that was strict enough to manipulate easily. Of course the Water-type would go down swinging, and Ghetsis would be gladdened to see the devastated look on Hilbert's face as his starter fell to the ground.

Not even that happened. The Samurott launched itself at Hydreigon, tackling it to the ground before it could use Dragon Pulse. Stunned, Ghetsis watched as the brutal struggle, and it was only after the Samurott swung its seamitar that he thought to return the Dragon-type. Raising another Deino from scratch would be far more of a hassle than it was worth.

It was only when he caught sight of Hydreigon's arm - uselessly flopping in a puddle of rainwater and letting out a pathetic wail - that he realized what the Samurott's true goal was; not to kill, but to maim. It was a cheap shot.

Seeing the blood dripping from Samurott's fangs and an almost cruel glint in its eyes, Ghetsis was reminded of a Samurott he had encountered years before the fact; one that struck without honor and without mercy. He still didn't know how a Hisuian Samurott made its way to Unova, but he hadn't expected it to do what it did. (His eye still hurt just thinking about it.)

Between the realization that this Samurott and that Samurott must be related, Bisharp's death and Hydreigon's losing an arm, of course Ghetsis snapped. 

How could he lose to a nobody from Black City and a Maractus?! Why couldn't they have just died like they were supposed to, like all of the other obstacles to his goal had done?! 

Ghetsis refused to accept it, and the Shadow Triad helped him escape. It was time for Plan B. N may have Zekrom while Hilbert had Reshiram...which only meant that Ghetsis would take Kyurem's power for himself. Or at least, what was left of them. Convincing them to freeze Unova over would be an easy task, surely...having been without their 'soul' for so long, surely they could be convinced that they were forced to make that split.

Once Ghetsis finally did get the power he deserved, his first order of business would be to find Hilbert and that Maractus. He would make the boy see that his efforts to protect Unova were for nothing after all, and he would relish the despair on his face as Kyurem froze him over.

Chapter Text

The sound of something crackling in the air was the first thing that caught the Zubat's attention. He had heard this kind of sound once or twice before, but never this close. Before he could investigate, Zubat heard a series of wooshing sounds. Each of these noises was followed by a pop, and then a click. The little Zubat would be lying if he said it didn't make him nervous...what could it be?

"Rei, the distortion is close to fully forming. Whatever you are doing, it must be quick." That voice was very unfamiliar, but not in a way that made the Zubat nervous. In fact, it seemed oddly soothing. Zubat did not have any way of knowing what a bell was, but if he did he would have likened it to that stranger's voice. He had a hard time believing that it was a human that spoke, but he couldn't be sure unless he was a Golbat.

"I just have one more to catch, Dialga. Shouldn't be too long." That voice was a little more familiar - he remembered overhearing this voice as its owner passed him by. He knew that one was a human - he remembered hearing wild Pokemon talk about how strange that one was. That one didn't fear Pokemon like most humans did. In fact, he approached them like they were a possible friend.

Something whooshed over his head, and Zubat realized that the familiar voice was talking about 'catching' him. The bat Pokemon panicked, fluttering this way and that. Each attempt to 'catch' him seemed to fail; he kept hearing the wooshing noise and nothing else.

A giant wave of wind knocked the Zubat off-kilter, and suddenly he was surrounded by new smells and sounds. Gone were the familiar gentle noises that marked his home in the Fieldlands - he could hear shouting and sounds of Pokemon battling. That was even more confusing; fighting wasn't something Pokemon often did unless it was for survival.

What happened?

Where was he?

Suddenly Zubat bumped into a larger, soft something. A scream echoed through the air, which distressed Zubat even more.

"Hey, watch where you're...! Oh, it's just a Zubat."

The loud human (because what else could it be, with words like that?) wasn't alone - echolocation told him that much. Zubat bumped into something soft, and his wings were tired. The something he landed on moved, and he was able to relax more comfortably.

"What's it doing?" the loud human questioned. "Does it even want to fight?"

"If I had to guess, I'd say it's looking for a place to hide...or something to eat." Was that a female human? It sounded like it - her voice was almost familiar as well. The Pokemon in the Fieldlands talked about a female human that seemed almost nervous to approach Pokemon, unlike her friend. She never let her nerves stop her, though. What was her name...Hikari?

The loud human made a noise. "It's not getting a drop out of me!"

"Barry, I think the little guy would have taken some blood already if that's what he wanted." This voice got Zubat's interest. Was that Rei? The human that tried to catch him? What a weird coincidence that he'd be here too! Was he brought here by whatever that gust of wind was, too? "It looks like he's too distressed to even think about eating."

He felt something gentle touch the top of his head, and Zubat couldn't help it. He nuzzled the human's hand with a delighted trill. He crawled in an attempt to get closer to the familiar human's voice - when he couldn't reach any further, he wrapped his wings around whatever he could reach and nuzzled. In a situation like this, it was comforting to find something familiar.

"Well, it's warming up to you real quick," the female noted. "You gonna catch it?"

"Hmmm...if it's okay with Zubat, I think I will. I know we haven't reached Eterna City yet, but he could really help me out in the Gym there with a little training."

Zubat didn't know what an 'Eterna City' or a 'Gym' was, but he hardly found it in himself to care. If it meant that he could stay with the familiar human, he was all too happy with it. So, when Rei's voice asked him if he wanted to tag along, of course he tightened his grip!

He did think that it was strange that Rei's friends referred to him as 'Lucas,' but that wore off rather quickly. Surely it was similar to how he was now a Zubat named 'Arty.'

Chapter Text

Ghetsis went alone, with only his Beheeyem by his side. As his most useful tool, the Beheeyem always went with him on operations like this. It would be too suspicious if people died every time he went on an 'outing' like this, but Beheeyem's power could make it as though he was never there in the first place.

Of course, he had his other Pokemon with him. They were all in their PokeBalls, however - it would be foolish to let any of them walk with them, especially since he was going to do this without anyone knowing it. The rumors of this Samurott's existence would be just that...rumors. A Samurott that struck without kindness or mercy, whose only code of honor was that of survival. He knew that this was a trademark of Hisuian Samurott, so he naturally chose to check the area the rumors spoke of.

He caught sight of the Water-type resting by a lake - its armor was a pure white as opposed to black, but it was too jagged and pointed to be anything but a Hisuian Samurott. It was a delightful surprise to find that the rumors were real - it only made sense that he would be the one to find it and make use of its power.

He even had a special PokeBall ready for the occasion as well - one that wouldn't register the Samurott within the Storage System. Ghetsis never used it for himself, preferring only to use certain Pokemon (the strongest Pokemon in the region).

Turning to Beheeyem, he nodded in the Samurott's direction - a silent indicator of, 'You know what to do.' The Psychic type nodded and slowly approached the Samurott, its hand glowing a gentle green. This was how most of his other Pokemon were subjugated - Hydreigon and Bisharp were raised from eggs, but he had Beheeyem convince the others that they always belonged to him. They were never wild Pokemon, free to do what they wanted; Ghetsis was always their master.

There was only one reason the Samurott would have shaken off Beheeyem's psychic ability as easily as it did. Only a Dark-type had that kind of immunity, but that hadn't occurred to Ghetsis. At that moment, he watched with glee as the Samurott noticed Beheeyem and froze.

It was only when Beheeyem got close enough that the Samurott struck with one brutal swing of its seamitar. Beheeyem was dead before it hit the ground.

Before Ghetsis could bring out one of his other Pokemon to subjugate the beast, it was suddenly upon him. With another brutal swing, intense pain bloomed along the entire right side of his body. He let out a scream, and was barely aware of a distant splash before he blacked out.

Ghetsis woke up in the Plasma hospital ward, and it was then that he learned just how much damage he had sustained. He could only see out of his left eye, and his arm was too mangled to use properly. He would be impressed at that Samurott's brute strength if it didn't have the audacity to use it on him.

Finding the Samurott again wasn't going to be his priority; that would be wasting resources that could be used to ensure his ultimate goal was reached. But if it ever crossed his path, it would not get a second chance.

Years later, he would watch as a Unovan Samurott brutally disarmed his strongest Pokemon. The sight of the blood on its fangs and the same cruel glint in its eyes brought Ghetsis back to the night the same thing happened to him.

He would realize that Samurott had come back to haunt him in the most unexpected way, and he would hate the creature's audacity all over again.

Chapter Text

It wasn't the first time Gina had faced harassment when someone got a reading they didn't like, but it was the first time one had become so public. She had no idea who could have been recording that incident, but to think it had gone viral so quickly! 

Then again, maybe that was a good thing. She didn't get a good look at the faces of those that helped her out. If nothing else, she promised herself to find some way to repay them. 

Those two caught her off-guard, and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't fascinated. 

The Trainer was about her age. It was strange that he brought all of her childhood stories of legendary Pokemon and their 'Chosen Ones' to mind the moment he stepped in. At least, it was strange at first. His layers of insecurity and doubt belied an unusual power that she wasn't very familiar with. Whatever it was, Gina had no doubt that he could go far if he just trusted himself a little more. 

The star of the show - the man who seemed to come out of nowhere to ruin that judge's life - had a very heavy presence to him. The word pressure came to mind the moment he stepped in, but she could not for the life of her figure out why.

It didn't surprise her that the two seemed to know each other - which brought her to why those two fascinated her in the first place. The two had pretty similar energy patterns - while the man's energy was obviously much stronger, there was a strange element that the two seemed to share. In fact, she could have mistaken them for father and son if she didn't know any better. 

Gina never saw the man again, but she did bump into the Trainer again. She jumped at the opportunity to offer him a reading; even if she wasn't so curious about the two of them, it was the least she could do for their assistance before. Lucas did try to deny that he had any part in that, but it didn't take long for him to fold. 

At Gina's insistence, Lucas picked the cards himself. She found that her readings were a little more accurate when the client drew the cards themself - that way, it would be their intuition guiding them. 

"Laugh all you want," Gina said, when the first card was revealed to be the Fool. "But this card represents how you see yourself. It's a good thing if you get this one - the card represents potential and innocence. The Fool goes wherever the wind takes them, which isn't very far-off from how you're a Trainer."

"How do you know I'm not actually calling myself a fool?" Lucas muttered, as he flipped the second card. Gina's eyebrow lifted, as she observed the second card - the Hierophant in reverse.

"Your intuition is there to guide you, not to mock you," she scolded. "Now hush. When it's reversed, the Hierophant indicates that there's a need to break away from traditions that once held you back. You might struggle with guilt, and some people might be totally against the choices you make...but ultimately, their viewpoint of your actions is a decision only they can make. It might seem easy to bend to their wishes at first, but you'll only regret it if you do. Have the courage to disobey."

Less surprising was the Tower as the third card. "This is one of two cards that represents change. In this case, the Tower represents a sudden change. Revelation, chaos, destruction. Getting this card with the Hierophant makes me wonder...are you afraid of finding the truth, or are you afraid of what'll happen once you do find it?"

Lucas seemed rattled by that question, so it was a relief to see that he got the Star next. Gina assured him, "This is what you got going for you. A star is a light in the dark, so it's hope that drives you forward. I can't claim to know what it is you're hoping for, but it'll be your guide in tumultuous times. Or maybe you'll be the one guiding others."

"This next card...to be honest, it doesn't tell me anything that hasn't already been said," Gina observed, as the Moon was flipped face up. "What you have going against you is your own anxiety and doubt. You need to listen to and trust your intuition."

She knew the last card was going to be Death. Between the Hierophant and the Tower, it just seemed inevitable that Death would represent a possible outcome for him.  

"Before you panic, I should remind you that this card isn't literal. None of them are," she told him. "Remember when I said that the Tower was one of the two that represents change? Death is the other one. As opposed to the Tower - whose change is sudden and chaotic - the Death symbolizes an inevitable change. It does sometimes mean something's ending, but that doesn't necessarily mean anyone's going to die. It could mark the end of your journey, or the end of a relationship. Things like that."

Before she could stop herself, Gina concluded; "Although, I wonder...will this change be a part of your future, or has it already happened?" 

That caught Lucas' attention - his gaze seemed to snap from the cards on the table to Gina's face. What she saw in his eyes may have been the biggest surprise of all - the word aura popped into her mind almost immediately.

...There was also something ancient.

Chapter Text

When Lucas agreed to crash in Hilbert's apartment for a while, he had no way of knowing that he would have a front-row seat to the relationship (that wasn't an actual romantic relationship, all of the hand-holding and forehead kisses were clearly and totally platonic!) between Hilbert and Rosa. 

Now, this wasn't to say that he disapproved of the relationship itself. Far from it; Hilbert and Rosa were both good people, they were both good Trainers and Heroes in their own right. Lucas' senses were rarely wrong when it came to matters of the heart, so it was clear they liked each other from the get-go.

The two of them were so oblivious about it, though! For every single thing they did that could possibly be seen as romantic, the two of them seemed to have an explanation that was totally platonic.

The time they started holding hands and hugging each other for no particular reason? That was just how close they had gotten as friends; Hilbert met Rosa while she was recovering from her ordeal with Team Plasma, so Lucas could surmise that they spoke with each other about the pain that they were both put through. ( When Lucas learned about Hilbert's Krokorok, he decided to let that explanation slide. )

The time Lucas realized that Rosa's jacket was way too big on her? It didn't take a genius to realize that it was previously Hilbert's. It was technically stolen from him and given to her. Once Hilbert got news of this, he not only accepted it but let her keep the jacket. And that wasn't even the wildest part - the culprit behind the jacket theft was none other than Victini.

( As Lucas thought of Vivi, he was immediately reminded that the little legendary literally referred to Hilbert and Rosa as 'Dad' and 'Mom'! How could that not have tipped them off?! ) 

The mistletoe kiss? Lucas technically wasn't there for that, but he still recalled wanting to tear his hair out as Carmen regaled him with that particular story.

( That wasn't the only story Carmen told him about. She learned the hard way not to get Lucas started on the bread incident. )

As Hilbert told him about another outing that he had planned with Rosa, the only thought that went through Lucas' mind was this: There's no way Mesprit didn't know about this disaster of a couple.

"Hey, Luc. Rosa and I saw this weird Pokemon in Celestial Tower. Think you can figure out what it was?"

Lucas looked up from his book. It wasn't the first time Hilbert asked Lucas' help in identifying a Pokemon, but it was the first time he referred to something as 'weird'. That could mean a whole multitude of things. "Weird how? You need to be more specific."

"I mean 'clearly not from Unova' weird," Hilbert answered, plopping himself on the couch adjacent from Lucas. "It wasn't a ghost-type either, I could tell that much. In fact, it almost reminded me of Vivi."

The comparison caught Lucas' attention straightaway. Vivi was a psychic-type, and a member of the Pantheon. While there wasn't any way of knowing for sure that the Pokemon was the Psychic-type Pantheon member that he was more familiar with, he was sure he'd figure it out with a few questions. "What did it do, exactly?"

"After it approached us, it just...stared at us?" Hilbert answered. "It disappeared after that. Didn't even say anything to us - just gave us this deadpan expression, kinda like that one you would make sometimes."

Lucas inhaled through his nose. He pulled his PokeDex out of his bag and flipped to the page that had Mesprit's information. He handed the device to Hilbert. "It didn't look like this, did it?"

Hilbert took the PokeDex into his hands, his expression brightening. "That's the one!"

Anything else Hilbert may have said went unheard. Lucas just stared at Hilbert - his stupid, happy-go-lucky, outgoing, idiot of a cousin. If there was anything Lucas knew about Mesprit, it was that the Emotion Pokemon was rather impatient when it came to things that were important to her. Strong emotions - particularly romantic love - was one of those things. The people of Hisui used to worship her as a deity of love, for Mew's sake!

Suffice to say, any couple that Mesprit appeared to were considered to be soulmates.

Cultural differences be damned - how could those two not see that the feelings were in fact mutual?!

"This doesn't give me any ideas on why it would appear before me and Rosa, though," Hilbert said, bringing Lucas back to reality. "The page just says something about how Mesprit is said to be the source of human emotion. What do you think, Lucas?"

Something within Lucas snapped. "Hilbert, are you sure you want to know what I think?" 

"I'm sure. Lay it on me, buddy."

"I think Mesprit appearing to the two of you was a sign that even she is tired of you and Rosa dancing around each other like a Volbeat and an Illumise!"

The flabbergasted look on Hilbert's face was priceless, and Lucas continued, "I mean, I don't have to be able to read Aura to know that the two of you have feelings for each other! Carmen was the first one to see it! Red, Whitlea, Nate, Aunt Molly - they all know! And don't get me started on Blue and Green!"

He let out a laugh, waving his arms animatedly. "Hell! Dawn and Barry know, and I've only told them small details! Dawn is one thing, she's like one of the smartest people I know. And Barry's like a brother to me, but it has to be said; you know something is as subtle as a Wailord when he is able to realize something is going on. You and Rosa are on par with a Wailord. Not just a Wailord - a Wailord stranded in the middle of the desert!"

Hilbert said nothing. Lucas was grateful for that, but he had run out of things to say as well.

"I need a walk," he said flatly. "I gotta clear my head."

Chapter Text

There are humans who actively seek out members of the Pantheon (be it to ask for assistance, befriend them or simply to witness their power), and then there are humans that cross paths with the divine. This chapter focuses on the latter category.

Throughout history, several titles were coined for the latter category; 'Hero' is the most modern term, and in the past they were referred to as 'Chosen Ones'. 

In most cases, a member of the Pantheon (which will be referred to as the 'patron') would choose a human to be their Hero. There are two reasons this could happen; the human had impressed the patron - meaning, they see a quality in the human that they see in themselves. The other reason is simply a matter of friendship or gratitude.

Of course, no being can give anything that is not accepted. In order for someone to be a Hero, they must want to be one. This is because the bond is best explained as one that is 'half spiritual and half mental'.

It is believed that the 'Hero' is somewhat influenced by their patron - meaning, they have experiences that are unique to the legendary in question. Whether this is because of an intentional blessing from the patron or just an added side-effect of the connection formed, nobody knows. The effects may seem subtle at a first glance, but they can be spotted if one knows what to look for. It is also unclear if Aura sensitivity could be linked to a connection formed with the Pantheon, or if it is a separate phenomena.

For example; a Hero of Dialga's would always know what time it is off the top of their head. They would not need a watch to tell you what time it is; the knowledge would come as easily to them as breathing. Moreover, they would have an easier time bonding with steel and dragon types; this is not to say that Pokemon of those types would trust them right off the bat (especially those with a legitimate reason to distrust humans), but the Hero would be able to find them in the wild very often compared to their peers. They could easily be a specialist in either type if they really wanted to.

It is unclear as to why this phenomenon occurs in the first place; some scholars speculate that it can be traced back to Arceus' connection with the ancient Celestic hero of old. Perhaps Arceus, wishing for Their children to connect with humanity, made it possible for the 'Hero phenomena' to occur.

Chapter Text

Lucas couldn't concentrate.

Anyone that knew him would tell you that this was as rare as finding a shiny Pokemon, if not rarer. In his Trainer School days, sometimes he would literally need to be dragged out of his room to keep from studying too much. Even during his initial journey through Sinnoh, Barry and Dawn would have to physically shove him to break his concentration. Once he was really focused on something, he was focused - very few things could easily break that.

And yet, he found himself glancing up from his notes every few minutes. He was willing to admit that a tiny part of it was concern for Blair - as bulky as she had proven herself to be, she was one of his first Pokemon - but it was more likely that it was because she was playing with Ethan and his Espeon. Ethan had jumped at the chance to keep Blair company while Lucas took notes on the outbreak they just saw, but Lucas hadn't expected to be this distracted.

Initially, he chalked it up to the fact that Lucas hadn't actually seen his longtime friend since he moved back to Sinnoh. When he heard about outbreaks occurring in the Johto region, of course Lucas immediately asked Professor Rowan for help getting to the region. Existential crisis aside, going to Johto meant seeing his friend again. After years of nothing but texts, emails and phone calls, could anyone really blame him for jumping at the opportunity?

He was fairly certain that he wouldn't be this antsy if that was the case, though.

Lucas heard laughter, and he looked up from his notes again. It was clear who had been laughing; Blair had practically launched herself at Ethan's Espeon, so it couldn't have been either of them. Lucas couldn't help smiling; it was rare for Blair to meet any other Eeveelutions, so her happiness could be seen a mile away. Why wouldn't Lucas be happy to see that?

Ethan's gaze seemed to flicker from the two Eeveelutions to Lucas, because he paused. With a wide smile, he waved.

"You done with your notes yet, Luc?" he called. "C'mooon! We've been missing you over here!"

Lucas snorted. A smile on his face, he closed the notebook and rose to his feet.

He actually wasn't done writing down his thoughts, but he wasn't going to tell Ethan that.

Chapter Text

"ARGENT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! PUT US DOWN!"

The folks in Undella Town were treated to a strange sight; a Magnezone floating out of the entrance to Reversal Mountain, with a Trainer and a Lucario attached to them. The Trainer was hanging on by the XTranseiver on his wrist, and both hostages(?) were kicking their feet as they tried to separate themselves from the Steel-type.

Argent had been in Nate's team for a few months now - a chance encounter as a Magnemite had led into an adventure that they never could have anticipated. So it went without saying that the Magnezone loved their Trainer...but they were not willing to remain in Reversal Mountain for any longer than necessary. Knowing how hardheaded Nate was, they would likely be in that mountain for ages before they stumbled upon another oddly-colored Pokemon.

And so, Argent had decided that drastic measures would have to be taken.

The Lucario was collateral damage - Argent's intent had only been to pull Nate away from the cave. Bedver had been with Nate for longer than Argent, and so it slipped their mind that his recent evolution into a Lucario had provided him with a Steel-typing. It had not occurred to them that he would also be affected by their magnetic pull as a result.

But no matter. Argent had a goal, and they were going to see it through.

The Magnezone had hovered out of the cave leading into the mountain, and only stopped at a reasonable height above the ocean's water - while they could have set the two down on dry land, there was no guarantee that Nate wouldn't rush back to the mountain if they took that route.

Nate immediately realized what was coming; "Argent, don't you dare-!"

Argent ceased the magnetic pull, which sent the Trainer and Lucario screaming into the water. The Magnezone watched as they hit the water with a great splash, and kept an eye on the two as they seemed to spend some time underwater. Before too long, Nate and Bedver resurfaced. An Ultra Ball was clutched tightly in Nate's hand, before it blinked out of existence. It was clear to Argent that there was a new addition to the roster, but they had no way of knowing what was caught at that moment.

This was the only regret Argent would have regarding the past fifteen minutes.

Chapter Text

Sometimes, even after everything with Team Galactic had been resolved, Dialga would look at Lucas and momentarily see Rei. It was an unfortunate but inevitable part of being friends with them both. There were too many similarities between the two - in terms of looks, mannerisms and personalities - that made it impossible to not mix them up every once in a blue moon. Had Rei somehow made it to the present day, the two would have been mistaken for twins by anyone who did not know better.

Mercifully, there were differences between the two. Some were more subtle, but others became plain as day the more time Dialga spent with Lucas.

For example; Rei never let his hair grow past a certain length. Every time he realized it got 'too long,' he would almost immediately visit Arezu to get his hair cut. When Dialga asked him why, Rei shrugged and informed him that he 'just didn't like it getting too long'. It would sometimes get in the way of his survey work, so it was just easier to get it cut.

On the other hand, Lucas never seemed to mind letting his hair get longer. In fact, he once let it grow long enough to tie it back. When Dialga asked him why he did not just get his hair cut, Lucas shrugged and informed him that it just never crossed his mind to do so.

"Sometimes it's easier to just tie it back if I really need it out of the way," Lucas had explained. "If I really need it cut, I can just do it myself if I can't find any place to do it."

"I see," Dialga had said, even though he did not completely understand.

There were other differences - Lucas having grayish-blue eyes while Rei's eyes were green, for example. Even the choices of Pokemon the two had befriended were different; with the exception of his Umbreon, Rei seemed to favor Pokemon that specialized in high-octane offense. On the other hand, Lucas seemed to have a more all-around approach when building his team (if not leaning more towards the defensive side).

Little differences like these were a small comfort whenever Dialga found himself reminiscing about a time long past. For all their similarities, Lucas and Rei were ultimately not the same person.

Chapter Text

Aura Sphere - Indicator of Aura Ability?
Written by: bespectacled_elitist

I have reason to suspect that Lucario is not the only non-legendary Pokemon that can sense and utilize Aura. They may be the 'poster child' (so to speak) for the term, but they are not the only Pokemon that can learn Aura Sphere by leveling up. From what little I've been able to gather on the subject, I believe that the move itself was seen as an 'indicator' of Aura sensitivity in the time of the Aura Guardians.

With this in mind, I've compiled a list of Pokemon that can learn Aura Sphere by level-up (I've included Lucario simply for the sake of clarity); I believe you'll find that they match the kinds of Pokemon that most Aura Guardians would have in those times.

1. Lucario
2. Mienfoo and Mienshao (both of these forms can learn it by level-up; it's just a matter of if the Pokemon in question will evolve first).
3. Togekiss
4. Clawitzer

Input on this would be most welcome - I've been trying to gather information on the Aura phenomenon, but I'm ashamed to admit that it hasn't gone well.

flowering_tealeaves commented: i recently inherited some journals that belonged to a kantonian aura guardian. she had a blastoise for a companion, and it could use aura sphere with aplomb, from what i've been able to gather. i wanted to ask; what are your thoughts on that?

cerulean_seashell responded: commenting to stay on this thread! blastoise can't learn aura sphere by level up tho?!

bespectacled_elitist responded: Perhaps the Blastoise inherited the move. If its father was a Clawitzer, it's very possible that the move was passed down from father to child. If that's the case, I would wager that it was a special case among its kind.

cerulean_seashell responded: WAIT. WHAT. YOU'RE SAYING IT WAS AN EGG MOVE?!

flowering_tealeaves responded: ahhh i hadn't thought of that!

Private Chat: bespectacled_elitist and flowering_tealeaves

flowering_tealeaves: as a thanks for your input, do you wanna see those journals i talked about?

bespectacled_elitist: Are you certain? This is a lot to offer to a total stranger on the internet.

flowering_tealeaves: i actually know cerulean_seahell irl, you see.

flowering_tealeaves: she lives by kanto's daycare, and a squirtle hatched in their care that could use aura sphere. the daycare was in an uproar because they couldn't figure out how it could have learned the move.

flowering_tealeaves: even she was stumped for a while, and water-types are her favorite!

flowering_tealeaves: in a way, you making that post was perfect timing!

bespectacled_elitist: Fascinating. Am I to assume that you're also in Kanto?

bespectacled_elitist: As much as I would love to go over there to read the journals in-person, I'm afraid I'm not in the position to freely leave my home region at the moment.

flowering_tealeaves: no worries! i can ask my brother to help me get them to you!

bespectacled_elitist: Again...are you sure? Any information I can gather on the subject may be important, so your kindness would be much appreciated.

flowering_tealeaves: we don't know much about the aura thing, so if any information in these journals can help you out then i'll be happy!

bespectacled_elitist: Thank you very much. I will endeavor to repay your kindness in the future.

flowering_tealeaves: of course! come to pallet town if you're ever in kanto!

Chapter Text

Despite his status as the next Veteran Mage, Lucas did not often frequent the royal library.

At least, not as often as he would have liked. With all the training that Aevus had him undertaking - politics, magic, sword-fighting - he barely had time some days.

Today was different. It was rare that he had an entire day to do what he pleased, so the first thing he was going to do was do some research.

It took him no less than an hour to obtain all the tomes he could think of that covered the members of the Pantheon. There were far more deities than Aevus had taught him about - to the point where it was almost daunting. But Lucas made a promise - he couldn't return to his friend empty-handed. Valerie had asked him to figure out what she encountered and who was Lucas to pass up a chance to help a friend?

It would be a lie to say that he knew where to start, though.

"Lucas, what brings you here?" Lucas didn't need to look up in order to know who spoke - very few people had an Aura like Aevus'. There was a teasing edge to his teacher's voice as he continued, "If you wished for extra work on your day off, you could have asked."

"Hello to you too, Aevus," Lucas huffed. He was actually glad to see his teacher. For whatever reason, Aevus had proven to be a fountain of knowledge on that particular subject - he spoke of some of the deities as if they were acquaintances sometimes. Who better to ask about a member of the Pantheon than him?

"I'm not doing this just for curiosity's sake," Lucas explained. "Valerie told me about a feather she found after her last grotto dive. She thought it was an Yveltal feather, but its Aura doesn't match what you told me about them. It was way too warm."

Lucas recalled the feather's Aura - there was a gentle warmth emanating from it, one that brought to mind warm blankets and hugs from a dear friend. That warmth was the complete opposite of what he would have expected from the Harbinger of Death - dark magic, especially death magic, had a unique coldness to it. Aevus once told him that it was a different kind of coldness from ice magic - that there was a difference between lack of warmth and lack of light.

"Too warm?" One thing that could be said about the Veteran Mage was that he was surprisingly easy to read. Lucas frankly had no idea what people meant when they said the man was unreadable on his best days - to him, Aevus' curiosity was clear. "Could you replicate its image? I may be able to identify it."

Looking up at Aevus, Lucas huffed again. "You just want me to practice Prestidigitation."

"Would you have bothered if I had not made that request?"

Lucas had to admit that he couldn't deny Aevus' accusation. Palm upward, Lucas closed his eyes and took a breath before recalling the feather's image in his mind. In truth, Prestidigitation was a simple enough spell. It was just that Lucas sometimes struggled with creating more visual illusions. True to character, the feather he created was more lopsided than the one Valerie showed him, but at least the colors were accurate.

To Lucas' surprise, Aevus was baffled. His visible eye flickered between the feather's image and his apprentice's face, as if searching for any trace of deceit.

"Those colors," he finally said. After a moment, he continued, "They match the pattern of a Ho-Oh feather."

"Ho-Oh?" The name rang a small bell in his mind - had he heard the name before in passing? It wouldn't have surprised him - being a healer before Aevus took him in, he met all sorts of people from different kingdoms. Perhaps an outlander he met before swore in the phoenix's name. "Are they fire-aligned?"

"They are, though I assume you have gathered that already." Aevus leaned back in his seat, arms crossed. "Ho-Oh is one of the more reclusive members of the Pantheon - at least, the incarnation I encountered was. Even so, they have never struck me as one who would give feathers on a whim, especially to mortals."

"Does that mean they chose her? Like Dialga chose me?" Lucas didn't know what to expect when he promised Valerie that he would figure out the feather's origins, that was the last thing he was expecting. Not to say Valerie didn't deserve that kind of honor...it was just that the only other two chosen people he knew of were himself and Princess Rosa. Could anyone really blame him for being surprised that another close friend had stumbled upon that kind of thing by chance?

"It is very possible," Aevus hummed. "I can only surmise that your friend stumbled upon a nest of theirs. As for why they would have bestowed upon her their blessing...I cannot be certain of that. Did she tell you how that grotto dive went?"

"She mentioned getting poisoned, so I think it's safe to say it didn't go smoothly." While Valerie didn't have any physical injuries on her when she approached him (feather in hand), Lucas was starting to suspect that a poisoning wasn't all that happened. Lucas made a mental note to give her a talking to when he delivered the news. "She mentioned a fiery red bird too...which I guess ties in with Ho-Oh?"

"It does," Aevus nodded. "From what I know of them, one thing that draws Ho-Oh to mortals is the will to live in the face of adversity. To fight for one's life when it would be easier to roll over and die...that requires more bravery than most realize."

Lucas considered this.

Chapter Text

How long had the fight gone on? Rei couldn't tell - it could have started an hour ago for all he knew, but his body felt like he had been fighting for days. 

In many ways, it was similar to fighting Palkia in the Temple of Sinnoh. Dimensions twisted around them during that fight, too - visions of fantastic landscapes and bizarre creatures danced in the corner of his eye, to the point where it was hard to concentrate on the matter at hand. At least Arceus was merciful in that respect - if only because They wanted Rei's focus to be on Them and nothing else.

( That couldn't be right, though...if that was the case, why could he hear music as the fight progressed? It had started when the fight did, but it was only now that he wondered why. )

Arceus had assured him that this battle was a test - a test of what, Rei didn't know. They barely gave him any time to catch his breath. If They didn't launch beams of bright light that homed in on him, it was always a meteor followed by a wave of light.

The ArcPhone had turned into Balms, and Rei made good use of them. On the few times where Arceus did give him a chance, he threw them with abandon. These pockets of time were small - as fleeting as mortality, but Rei didn't waste a single bit of it.

Arceus vanished. Rei looked around - it was just him on this platform now. The music was reduced to a great booming noise - like the steady beat of a drum (or Their heartbeat). It was a reminder that They were still present in this fight, Rei could feel it.

Then, the sound of glass shattering echoed. Rei acted on instinct - he recalled that Giratina attacked in a similar manner, and he launched himself out of the way. From the corner of his eye, he saw Them charge through the space where he had just been - having chosen to launch an attack from behind.

When Arceus' attack ceased, They paused - turned Their head to watch Rei rise to his feet. After Rei managed to catch his breath, Arceus vanished again. This time, They reappeared on the opposite side of the stage, and the ground underneath Rei's feet began to glow. His feet felt like they were burning, that they could melt right off if he stood still-

So Rei ran.

Chapter Text

Ethan was absolutely nothing if not loyal - he wasn't ashamed to admit that he cared for the people and Pokemon that he called a friend. Growing up in a town as small as New Bark could do that to a guy. And of his friend group, he was usually the one that protected the others from bullies, even if it meant getting into an altercation or two. Between Lyra's pacifism and Lucas' sensitivity, who else was going to do it?

That tendency to fight for his friends didn't quite stop when he actually became a Trainer. He just had his Pokemon do the talking nine times out of ten now. Like this time, for example - Silver running his mouth spurred Ethan into action. Between his insults towards Lyra and the snarky comment he made about the little Togepi in Ethan's arms, how could Ethan not challenge him to a battle right away?

Never mind the fact that they were in a place where they probably shouldn't have been battling - that wasn't a good enough reason for Ethan. They were going to fight, and they were going to fight right then and there.

Ethan didn't have much time to celebrate his victory - a loud CRACK could be heard, and before he knew it he was falling. He tightened his grip on the Togepi in his arms, hoping beyond all hope that he held her securely enough to be safe.

There was a dull ache in his ankle as the dust settled, but Ethan tried to ignore it. He also did his best to ignore Silver's parting taunt. Before anything else, he had to make sure the baby was okay.

"You okay, Judy?" he questioned. The little Togepi was clearly scared - she was clutching onto Ethan's shirt like it was a lifeline and shaking like a leaf. Despite this, she nodded. Ethan brought up a hand to the top of her head as he tried to get up. He let out a sharp hiss as he sat back down on the ground - pain shot up his leg. That only seemed to make the Togepi more distressed.

Ethan looked up, and was startled to realize that three large Pokemon were watching him - Pokemon that he had only heard about in legends.

That was when he remembered; this was the Burned Tower. And he quite literally dropped in on whatever discussion the Beasts of Legend were probably having. And those beasts of legend were watching him like a Braviary.

Strangely, the first thought that crossed his mind was; Lucas was so not going to believe this. Hell, Ethan had a tough time believing this was happening, and he was living it at this very moment.

The staring contest didn't last long. Entei and Raikou dashed away from the area in differing directions. Strangely, Suicune stayed - squinting at Ethan and the Togepi in his arms before stepping closer to them. In response, Ethan scooted away from the legendary as best as he could. 

For some reason, Suicune wasn't going to have that. In a swift motion, it got behind Ethan and took the back of his shirt into its mouth. With little effort, he was lifted into the air.

Morty, Eusine and Lyra were treated to quite the sight - Suicune leapt from the basement to the first floor and gently deposited Ethan onto the floor. Nobody had any time to respond before Suicune finally took off.

Any fussing (and gushing) went unheard by Ethan. All he could focus on was how that was the weirdest experience of his entire life, and he just wanted to get out of this legends-forsaken Tower.

Chapter Text

"It's that one. The one with the red hat."

Beheeyem nodded as he peered into the Center window. It was easy enough to spot the target even without Jupiter's pointing him out - he had seen that battle as well, it was easy to see how distressed the Trainer was.

With a nod, he reached his hand and peered into the boy's mind. Once he got a hold of the memory in question, it would be child's play to rewrite it. Of course, it would be difficult to erase the situation behind his Crobat's evolution - all he set out to do was to erase Jupiter's face from his memory.

(The looming sense of horror as Arty launched himself into the air as he started to evolve, Lucas' gaze flickering between the spectacle and Jupiter's face. Surprise and humor were clear on her face as-)

[FRRP.]

(The impending sense of excitement as he set off on his journey with his friends. Happiness as he watched his Turtwig and Eevee play in the grass together-)

Beheeyem retracted his hand, glancing between it and the Trainer in question. Lucas didn't seem to have noticed him poking in his mind - nothing new there - but that made even less sense than if he somehow knew that Beheeyem was there in the first place!

It was not often that a Psychic-type would be so bewildered...but what in the world just happened? Beheeyem had the memory in the palm of his hand, he was sure of it...but just when he was about to wipe Jupiter's face, he heard a noise. It was not unlike a growl, but it was more like the sound of a record scratch. In an instant, a completely different memory overtook the process. Did he even accomplish the task?

The Psychic-type tried again.

("Arty, stop! You'll only hurt yourself if you push yourself like this! ARTY!")

[FRRP.]

("Those uniforms...why do they look familiar?")

[FRRR.]

("Dad, I've made up my mind! I'll travel with Barry and Dawn if it makes you feel better, but I have to do this!")

[GRRR.]

("That guy...how did he know I can sense Aura?")

[RRRR.]

(Suddenly a loud noise broke the silence - unlike anything he had ever heard, and then came the pain in his arm. It was indescribable, how did this not kill him, he didn't want to die but it hurt so much, how was he not dead, HELP-)

[ROAR.]

Beheeyem snapped out of his trance, even more shaken than before. The more he looked into this boy's mind...the more conflicted he felt. He wanted to know what made that Trainer's mind the way that it was...and he also got the feeling that he didn't really want to know.

The steady heartbeat he heard throughout the whole process...surely that was a figment of his imagination, if it was not his own heartbeat ringing in his ears.

It was not surprising that this would scare the Psychic-type. This was not the first instance of a human mind scaring him. Beheeyem sincerely hoped it would be the last.

When he finally felt the capacity for telepathy, Beheeyem told Jupiter; "I'm sorry. This is a unique case."

Chapter Text

In the beginning, the Brightest Light created the Deepest Shadow, the Expanding Space and the Flowing Time.

From that stillness, there was perfection - all was as it should have been.

Then, the Light created the Blight known as 'Spirit'. This would be the catalyst of the Universe's undoing.

Cyrus never quite understood humanity. They were too loud, too bright, too unpredictable to him to ever make sense of them. They did not function as machines did - machines were the one thing that made sense to him in this world - easily fixable, and not nearly as loud or bright.

He had achieved much due to this focus on machinery - academic awards in robotics led to a full-ride scholarship to Castelia University, where he went on to procure even more awards with his machines. Cyrus made a name for himself in the world of robotics by the time he was twenty years old.

Somehow, none of his accomplishments were ever enough. His parents never reacted the way they should have; there was a sad indifference in their expressions, like they still held hope that their creation would somehow turn out the way they wanted.

Cyrus was dragged away from his methodical world by an ultimatum; he was to go on a Pokemon journey of his own, or he would be cut out of his parent's will. Of course he was angry at first, but it was easy to rationalize; his colleagues have always said that a journey can offer a fresh perspective.

Perhaps, Cyrus thought, this journey would give me new ideas for inventions. More ways to work with machinery.

His journey could not have ended more horribly; in a flash of lava and steel, five of the Pokemon he traveled with (raised with love precise patience and considerable care) were suddenly taken from him. The grief he felt was indescribable. He fell out of work, out of society, out of everything - all because he could not confront the pain that kept him bed-bound.

But then, when he was at his lowest point...Cyrus had a revelation.

This world is incomplete; it is a crude farce - where it is impossible to not struggle. Humanity inevitably suffers - fights, maims, loses - and falls for it. 

If Cyrus did not feel this much pain, he would not have lost everything.

He would find the means to end this suffering.

And once he did, why should he be the only one to be rid of that incomplete thing called 'spirit'? While he did not understand humanity, was it not true that people did not like feeling this kind of ache? Surely he would not be the only one that despised the capacity to feel such horrid emotions like anger and sadness.

Thus, Team Galactic was born. Under the guise of group of researchers, they gathered energy. Energy was what they would need to capture the Three Blights and create the Red Chain - to shape the flow of time with his very hands. His was a holy crusade, one that would not stop until he created the world he sought with his very hands. He would dethrone the Light itself if it meant eliminating the Blight known as 'Spirit'.

And nobody would stop him. The Blights could send as many 'Heroes' as they deemed necessary, they would all fall in the end.

Thus, the Savior held out His hand to the weary and broken-hearted to declare;

"Dry your tears; for I will create for you a world of peace. One where suffering is but a distant nightmare."

The people rejoiced, and named Him Master, for He would take the very fabric of time into his hands; to end one universe and to create a new and better one.

Chapter Text

She asked Palkia first. In hindsight, this might not have been the best idea; after all, time was not their domain. However, Celebi figured that since Palkia was (arguably) the closest in the Pantheon to her father, they would have some idea.

"Celebi," Palkia sighed. If they were in their human form, Celebi was almost certain they would have dragged their hands down their face - as they often did when their niece approached them like this. "You should know better than to take anything humanity says at face value."

"It's not like everything they say is nonsense!" Celebi huffed. "They were right about Auntie Mesprit and her siblings!"

"Mesprit and her siblings are far closer to humanity than Dialga and I."

"They were right about me!"

"Because you told the ones who discovered you so much about yourself that you left little room for error."

"...Did I?" Palkia's remark threw Celebi off - she would definitely remember if she had done that. It wouldn't have been the first time that something like this happened - maybe that just hadn't happened from her perspective yet. Time was a steady stream, one that she could swim through as easily as she liked.

Palkia seemed to come to the same conclusion, because they said, "Actually, you know what? If I just touched upon one of your convoluted time travel shenanigans, I don't want to know."

"You probably did," Celebi admitted with a weak chuckle. "Getting back to the subject."

"Fine." A pause, before Palkia pointed out, "Why don't you just ask him directly?"

"Where's the fun in that?"

Not for the first time, Palkia found themself wondering; who was Celebi's mother-figure again? There was absolutely no way the little sprite could've gotten this mischievous streak from Dialga.

Chapter Text

There were moments - few and far between - where Palkia wondered just what Mother was thinking when They created Mew.

Giratina's role was understandable; being the embodiment of Mother's shadow, it only made sense that she would represent the inverse of Their power. Her penchant for destruction may or may not have been anticipated, but her banishment...to this day, Palkia wondered why Mother saw fit to do that. Violent as she was, Giratina was by far Mother's favorite.

For Dialga to have been named the Lord of Time also made some sense. One borne from one of Mother's many hearts was a natural fit for a deity of time, but Dialga's sentimentality towards the mortal realm was something that Palkia and their sister did not (initially) share. While Dialga always maintained the steady flow of time as well as any of his status would, he would also not hesitate to step into a situation that did not involve him (particularly if there is some kind of injustice done). 

As for Palkia being the Liege of Space? They were borne from Mother's mind - unlike Giratina and Dialga, Palkia could create something from nothing just as easily as Mother could. Some members of the Pantheon might have poked fun at them for their logical take on things (with how limitless their domain really was), but Palkia had learned to take these comments in stride. Their Spatial Rend had the capability of creating wormholes, after all. The possibility of being flung into another universe was one that ensured that none within the Pantheon would dare provoke their wrath.

It was rare that the move was used in this day and age...that is, until Mew came along. 

Palkia had not known a single moment of peace since Mew decided to invent the skill known as 'Metronome' - which would allow the user to use literally any other skill (even if it was not within their natural capabilities). That already annoyed Palkia to no end, but for Mew to actually decide that this would include divine skills?! Skills like Dialga's Roar of Time or Palkia's Spatial Rend?!

If Palkia had their way, Metronome would never.

Chapter Text

"Fa-!"

The sound rang like a bell in Lucas' mind. He jolted and looked around; what puzzled him was that there was nothing out of the ordinary. He found himself regretting his choice to wait outside, if only because Veilstone was so crowded right now. With so many Auras around him, it would have been difficult to pinpoint the source of the strange sound.

"Something wrong?" Trust Barry to immediately notice.

"I don't know about wrong, but..." Lucas paused. He trusted Dawn and Barry with his Aura sensitivity, so he had few qualms about questioning his friend; "Did you hear something just now?"

"Like...what?"

"Fa-!"

The sound seemed to be closer than last time - the bell rang a little louder in Lucas' mind, and Barry jolted to attention. "Like that?"

"You heard it too?" Lucas stood to his feet. Maybe he could get a better idea of what was going on if he had a higher vantage point? He got his answer before he could step onto the bench; before he knew it, a young girl had burst from the crowd to practically tackle him. That by itself was a bewildering situation; he didn't recognize her at all. Immediately, Lucas panicked; there were only two situations that came to mind when something like this happened - hopefully she was just lost and not actually in some kind of trouble-!

Wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, the little girl practically sang, "Father!"

...Make that three situations.

The sudden turn of events left Lucas speechless. Flabbergasted, he glanced at Barry. He wondered if Barry could catch the unspoken question in his expression; WHAT DID SHE JUST CALL ME?!

Eyes wide, Barry shrugged. Lucas could practically see his unspoken response; BRO I AM AS CONFUSED AS YOU!

"Um." Lucas finally spoke up. "Hey, are you-?"

"Aria!"

This time, Lucas recognized the figure approaching them - Puck's flashy relative. The little girl he met in Hearthome was strangely intuitive, and while Lucas never actually spoke to this relative of hers...really, who could forget seeing someone that tastefully flashy?

The nameless girl's head perked up, and she glanced over at the stranger - surprise flickered in her Aura as she recognized them. Before she could say anything else, the stranger said, "Family meeting. Your father's in the area, he's gonna want to have a word with you."

"My fa-?" Aria's train of thought could be seen in her expression; from confusion to realization to bewilderment to embarrassment to horror. She stepped away from Lucas with wide eyes. Her hands may have been raised to cover her face, but the way her face turned bright red couldn't be covered. "I'm so sorry!"

"Uhm, it's fine. This kind of thing happens to me all the time." He was lying through his teeth, but how could Lucas say anything else when Aria was so clearly embarrassed?

A quirked eyebrow from the stranger told Lucas that they didn't buy it - and now that he noticed that they seemed to be observing him, he found himself hoping that they wouldn't call him out on it.

Thankfully, they said nothing. Aria smoothed out her dress and tugged at her relative's arm. It was clear that she wanted to get out of the situation now.

"Okay, let's go." With a short nod, Aria and her relative moved to walk past Lucas and Barry. The two trainers watched them go.

"Weird family," Barry commented.

"I suppose," Lucas answered. After a beat, he quipped, "Imagine the family reunions."

Palkia let out a sigh as they walked through Veilstone with Meloetta in tow. Admittedly, they were surprised to find her there - she had always been somewhat hard to track down for some reason. At least she was in her more timid forme; they didn't know what they would have done if it was her jolly forme. She hadn't remembered Relic Song yet, had she?

They supposed Meloetta's fluidity made sense; time was not their domain, and what was music but sound woven to the fabric of time? They were never one for music, but they understood it could inspire humanity just as much as paintings or crafting could.

"Um," Meloetta spoke up. "That human...his Aura reminded me a lot of Father's. Did something happen?"

"It's a bit complicated," Palkia admitted. "It's probably best that Dialga and Celebi fill you in. They've always been better at explaining time stuff than me." 

As they spoke, Palkia spared a glance backwards. They couldn't hear what was being said between the two children, but the blond's playful teasing was obvious. Lucas' protests were also incredibly clear.

...To be fair, Roar of Time's influence on Lucas' Aura was plain as day. Palkia wondered if any other within the Pantheon would make that mistake.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

The Dream Mist hung heavy in the air. That wasn't unusual for Hilbert. Dealing with Dream Mist every once in a while just came with the territory of having a Musharna as a companion.

What was unusual about the Dream Mist was the color. It wasn't any shade of pink that he was accustomed to; not even the dark magenta that indicated one of his nightmares. It was a dark shade of purple, bordering on indigo. It was also dense - completely blocking out the mid-afternoon sunlight peeking through the windows.

It didn't help that the windows were both closed. Opening them seemed the only way to get rid of the Dream Mist fast; he didn't know what could be seen within it. His gut instinct practically screamed at him to get rid of it.

Strange, he thought. Never responded like that to Dream Mist. Maybe it's because it's not my nightmare.

Could it even be called a nightmare? As Hilbert walked through it, he only saw the weirdest things. Trees grew from the dead earth, waterfalls flowed upwards past upside-down buildings...there seemed to be droplets of water floating all over the place as well. One droplet floated closer to Hilbert, and the image of a small town could be seen from within.

The most unsettling part was the silence. It was like sound had been muted the moment he stepped into the Mist. The only thing he could hear were the echoes of his footsteps (unless it was the sound of his heartbeat).

"Merlot, whose dream did you eat?" Hilbert wondered aloud. It crossed his mind that the only other person it could have been was Lucas - he had been staying in his apartment for quite some time now. Hilbert wouldn't have put it past Merlot to eat one of Lucas' dreams out of boredom.

Hilbert only stopped when he saw a person clad in gray. The darkness hid the man's face - the only thing Hilbert could see was an eerie red light wrapped around their arms. The red light stretched out to wrap itself around two giant objects - or were they Pokemon? The objects seemed to thrash in the red light's hold, so maybe-?!

A unholy shriek rang through the air, and a third being made itself known. Were its eyes blue, or red? Hilbert couldn't be certain, all that he knew was that it was MUCH bigger than Reshi.

It's just a dream, Hilbert reminded himself as he stared up at this third being. Just a dream. It's not real.

Then why did those red-blue eyes seem to stare right at him-?!

Hilbert felt the gentle wind against his arms before the images faded away. He turned to the windows - someone had already opened them, and watched as the Dream Mist was filtered out of the room.

"Uh-?!" Hilbert knew this guy; he knew that legendary Pokemon could take on a human form. Reshi did it all the time. It would have been one thing if it was Reshi, but this was Lucas' patron legendary. It was a surprise to learn that Lucas was a Hero as well, although he and Aevus were always a little tight-lipped as to the latter's identity. If it had anything to do with what he saw in the nightmare...well, Hilbert couldn't find it in himself to blame either of them. "Aevus?"

Aevus said nothing. He marched over to Hilbert and circled him, looking to the world like a man on a mission. What that mission was, Hilbert couldn't possibly say. After a moment of circling, he stopped in front of Hilbert and stared intently at his face.

"Look directly at me," Aevus instructed. Hilbert obeyed, and noticed how Aevus seemed to be looking past him and not at him. What in the world was he looking for?

Once he seemed satisfied with what he saw, Aevus let out a loud exhale. "You truly are blessed by fortune."

Flabbergasted, Hilbert watched as Aevus marched towards the door. The legendary only stopped to give a wave of the hand. "Excuse me."

"Wait, what?! You can't just-!" Despite Hilbert's protests, Aevus showed himself out. Despite that, Hilbert continued his rant; "What is that supposed to mean, Aevus?! HELLO?!"