Chapter 429: Something About Arceus (2)
~Azure S. POV~
[Johto Region, Ilex Forest – Shrine]
Suddenly, the forest went silent. Not a bird chirped; not a leaf rustled.
A heavy, divine pressure descended upon the Ilex Forest, so thick it felt like trying to breathe underwater...
*BZZZZT*
The electricity in the air intensified. Pikachu's fur stood on end, and Eevee hissed, her paws digging into my shoulder. Pichu (Mew) trembled within my jacket, its psychic aura leaking out in a faint pink shimmer.
Then, the sky above the shrine didn't just have clouds—it fractured.
A blinding light erupted from the heavens, and a being descended. It was white, elegant, and terrifyingly majestic. A golden wheel-like structure encircled its body, and its eyes burned with the light of a thousand suns.
Arceus.
I tried to see its nametag to determine its level – the hell?!
[The Original One Denies Access.]
I paused, seeing this… This…
This never happened before. The literal hell…
The physical manifestation of the universe stood before us, hovering a few feet off the ground. Its presence was so overwhelming that Lance's Dragonite whimpered and bowed its head.
My own Dragonite fell to its knees, not out of fear, but out of an instinctive recognition of its creator. I whispered in disbelief, my voice sounding small in the presence of divinity, "It's actually here…"
'Azure Sky...'
The voice didn't come from the air; it vibrated inside my skull, a resonant, telepathic echo that felt like shifting tectonic plates as it continued, 'You who have crossed the boundaries of time and space. You who have rewritten the destinies of many. You have proven your strength in battle, but can you prove the worth of your species?'
I gritted my teeth, stepping forward. I felt Pikachu's small paw press against my cheek, a gesture of solidarity. Eevee growled, a low, fierce sound.
I said resolutely, my voice gaining strength, "I didn't ask to be here. But I've fought for this world. I've seen the bond between people and Pokémon. If you're looking for a reason to destroy us, you won't find it."
Lance looked at me, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and concern, and whispered, "Azure, be careful. You're speaking to the Original One."
Pryce muttered, his eyes fixed on Arceus, "He knows. He's been preparing for this his whole life, even if he didn't know it."
Arceus tilted its head. Its gaze shifted to Pikachu and Eevee, then lingered on the Pichu (Mew) in my jacket as it stated, 'The Mythical one hides in the skin of a babe. The Champion walks with the heart of a traveler. Follow me, Azure Sky. Follow me to the place where it began. Lance, Child of Viridian and Master of Dragons. Pryce, Seeker of Time and Masked Man. You shall bear witness.'
*FLASH*
With a flash of light that turned the world white, Arceus began to rise, moving toward the north—toward the Sinjoh Ruins. I said, exhaling a breath I didn't know I was holding, "Well… I guess we're not getting any lunch today."
Lance remarked, clicking his Dragonite's Poké Ball to recall it and then immediately releasing his Aerodactyl for a faster pursuit, "You're remarkably calm for someone who just got summoned by God."
I texted Mewtwo using my Arc Phone to come to my side. I admitted, climbing back onto my Dragonite, "I'm terrified, Lance. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that when a Legendary points the way, you follow—or you get left behind in the ruins."
Pryce commanded, Celebi hovering near his shoulder as he climbed onto his own Pokémon, "Move out!"
*KRA-KOOM*
A bolt of divine energy streaked across the sky, marking the path. Lance and I shouted, "Let's go, Dragonite! Extreme Speed!"
*SHOOOM*
We blurred into motion, three of the most powerful trainers in the history of the world chasing after the Creator itself. As we flew, I looked down at my hands. They were shaking, but my heart was steady.
I had the strongest Pikachu and Eevee in existence, and a Mew who'd do anything for a laugh. Then I detected another presence...
*Swf*
And soon enough, joining me was Mewtwo as I recalled him back into his Master Ball, preparing for the fight of my life. With him with me we might, and this is a BIG might that we live through this.
The HGSS arc was starting, and I was the catalyst. It was time to show Arceus that the 'anomaly' it feared was the very thing that would save this world.
/////
[Johto-Sinnoh Region, Sinjoh Ruins]
We descended into the Sinjoh Ruins, a place that shouldn't exist in the modern geography of the world—a bridge between Sinnoh and Johto, a nexus of raw, primordial energy. The architecture was haunting: jagged pillars of white stone rising from a floor of obsidian-black ice.
As Dragonite touched down, the air felt heavy, like we were walking through deep water. We dismounted, the sound of our boots crunching on the frost echoing through the silent amphitheater.
I whispered, dismounting Dragonite, "Alright, guys, this is it."
Pikachu immediately hopped to the ground, followed by Eevee, who stretched before rubbing against my leg. Dragonite let out a soft growl of readiness, her eyes keenly observing our surroundings.
I whispered to them, "Stay sharp."
Lance and Pryce dismounted their own Pokémon – Lance's Dragonite and Pryce's Froslass, respectively – their expressions grim. We entered, the air immediately growing heavy, charged with a primal energy that made the hairs on my arms stand on end.
Silence hung heavy, broken only by the soft tap-tap of our boots on the ancient stone floor. Lance and Pryce tensed, their hands instinctively hovering over their Poke Balls, uncertainty clouding their faces.
The interior of the ruins was vast, dominated by a circular chamber with a raised platform at its center: the Mystri Stage. And there, waiting, was Arceus.
They looked at Arceus, then at each other, clearly unsure of how to proceed before the literal god of this world. But I knew what I had to do.
This wasn't the first time I'd encountered legendary Pokémon, nor the first time I'd been involved in events that threatened the fabric of reality. Although, strangely, it happened twice to me, though…
Arceus was here because of me, at least in part. The least I could do was address the biggest elephant in the room.
Or rather, the biggest cosmic Plates in my backpack. Ahead of us, standing on the elevated Mystri Stage, was Arceus. Its golden wheel hummed with a resonance that made my teeth ache.
Lance and Pryce stepped forward, their bodies tensing instinctively. Their hands went to their Poké Balls, not out of malice, but out of the sheer biological urge to defend themselves against a predator that dwarfed them in every sense of the word.
I said, my voice surprisingly steady, "He's waiting."
Lance whispered, sweat beading on his forehead despite the cold, "This pressure… It's like the world itself is pressing down on us."
I stepped past them. My Pikachu hopped down to my side, and Eevee leaped to my shoulder, her tail twitching. Pichu (Mew) stayed tucked in my jacket, sensing the gravity of the situation.
I said calmly, my voice echoing slightly in the vast chamber, "Arceus…"
My Pokémon looked up at me, sensing the shift in my demeanor. I took a deep breath, reaching into my bag as I continued, "I… I apologize."
Lance and Pryce snapped their heads towards me, their eyes wide with confusion. Lance asked, his brow furrowed, "Apologize for what, Azure?"
I ignored them, my gaze fixed on Arceus. From the depths of my bag, I withdrew eighteen shimmering, ancient Tablets. Each one glowed with a distinct elemental energy: Flame, Splash, Zap, Meadow, Icicle, Fist, Toxic, Earth, Sky, Mind, Insect, Stone, Spooky, Draco, Iron, Dread, Pixie, and the blank Normal Plate.
The full set. All eighteen of the Plates of Arceus.
*SHIMMER*
*CLINK*
The sound of them clinking together as I held them out seemed to vibrate through the very stone. Lance's jaw dropped as he whispered, almost shouting in disbelief, "The… the Plates of Arceus? All of them?!"
He looked from the Plates to me, then back again, utterly bewildered. Pryce, for his part, simply stared, his usually stoic face a mask of profound shock.
I explained, feeling a blush warm my cheeks again, "I… I collected them. In Johto, when I was preparing for my rematch against Giovanni. My Pokémon needed every ounce of power they could get, and… well, these were just lying around in various ruins and hidden places, protected by ancient puzzles. I intended to return them. When the time came."
I offered a small, awkward smile, whispering, "Guess this is the time, huh?"
As if on cue, the Plates levitated gently from my outstretched hands, bathed in a soft, ethereal light. They began to drift, slowly at first, then with increasing speed, towards Arceus…
*HUMMMMMMMMMM*
Arceus remained still, its luminous eyes fixed on the Plates. Its telepathic voice filled my mind, not with anger, but with a deep understanding, 'I know… I have seen your actions. Your intent.'
The Plates dissolved into golden motes of light as they reached Arceus, flowing into its very being. A wave of immense power radiated outwards, washing over us, making the very air thrum.
*WHOOSH*
*KSHHHHHHHHH*
Arceus pulsed with renewed energy, its form growing even more luminous, more defined. It felt like watching a god fully awaken.
I have regained my full strength, Arceus communicated, its voice resonating with a newfound authority, 'And now, I shall test you three. To see if humanity truly deserves its place in this world.'
Suddenly, the air shimmered with an incredible density. All around the chamber, tiny, glyph-like Pokémon began to appear, swirling into existence from thin air. Unown. Hundreds, thousands of them, their forms twisting and turning as they gravitated towards Arceus on the Mystri Stage.
*FWOOSH*
*WHIRRRRRRR*
They began to coalesce, their collective energy focusing, manifesting. Fragments of light and matter began to materialize on the three corners of the Mystri Stage, distinct from Arceus's central position…
*CRACKLE*
*POP*
The air grew heavy, thick with the scent of ozone and ancient power. Energy swirled, condensed, and took form.
In the first corner, a massive, draconic Pokémon, adorned with a metallic frame and a chest plate embedded with a diamond-like jewel, solidified. Its roar was a deep, guttural sound that seemed to tear at the fabric of space itself, "ROOOOAARRR!"
Dialga, The Master of Time.
In the second corner, another colossal dragon emerged, pinkish-white and radiating an aura of spatial distortion. Its massive shoulders bore pearlescent plates, and its very presence seemed to warp the dimensions around it, "GRWOOOM!"
Palkia, The Master of Space.
And in the third corner, from a swirling vortex of shadow and chaos, a monstrous, serpentine creature with golden spiky appendages and bat-like wings materialized. Its eyes glowed a malevolent red, and its roar was a chilling shriek that spoke of antimatter and the Distortion World, "SKREEEEECH!"
Giratina, The Master of Antimatter.
The Mystri Stage was now complete. Arceus in the center, flanked by its three powerful creations. My mind raced, connecting the dots of ancient lore and the terrifying display before us.
I breathed, more to myself than to the others, a primal awe seizing me, "Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina… The Creation Trio. This… this is Arceus's true state, isn't it? The completion of its being, its power to manifest the very fabric of existence."
My words, though quiet, were amplified by the echoing chamber. Lance and Pryce stared, utterly speechless, their faces pale in front of The Original One. The sheer, overwhelming power emanating from the four legendary Pokémon was enough to buckle the knees of even the most seasoned trainers.
Their own Pokémon, usually so brave, were trembling, their eyes wide with fear and reverence. Arceus's voice echoed, resounding with the weight of eternity, 'Indeed. I have created these three Pokémon long ago, as a testament to my power, and as guardians of the world I forged. But more than that, they were created as a test.'
Its luminous gaze swept over the three of us as Arceus continued, 'A test to see if humanity, my creations, could defend the world I entrusted to them. To see if they could overcome their flaws, their greed, their destructive tendencies, and rise to the challenge.'
*CRACKLE*
The air crackled with the sheer weight of Arceus's judgment as it continued, 'In the past, I lost faith. I witnessed the endless conflicts, the exploitation, and the disregard for the balance of nature. But…'
Arceus turned its gaze directly to me for a moment, then back to Lance and Pryce as it continued, 'Your actions, Azure, in traversing the timelines, in rectifying the mistakes of others, in bringing together the disparate threads of existence… they have given me pause. Your companions, Lance and Pryce, embody the dedication and strength that humanity can possess.'
*THUWMP*
Suddenly, a giant pressure erupted from Arceus as it surrounded the whole area in a sphere of energy, continuing, 'So, I am giving you another chance. A final chance. A chance to regain my trust. The world faces threats, both seen and unseen. You three, representing the pinnacle of human skill and spirit, must work together. You must prove that humanity, with its flaws, can still be worthy of the world I created. Using my power, I'll erect a Barrier to ensure stability in this dimension without worry for you destroying both Johto and Sinnoh. Prove your bond and strength to overcome my trial, I've given you all…'
My heart hammered in my chest. This wasn't just a test of strength; it was a test of philosophy, of humanity's very right to exist. The weight of Arceus's words, the gaze of the Creation Trio, all pressed down on me.
My past life, with its mundane struggles, felt a million miles away. Here, now, my journey had culminated in a challenge of cosmic proportions.
Pikachu nudged my leg, a small, reassuring spark in his eyes. Eevee nuzzled my head, as if to say, We're with you. The tiny Pichu (Mew) in my jacket stopped its trembling, settling into a quiet hum of power.
I looked at Lance, then at Pryce. Their faces were grim, but there was a flicker of determination in their eyes. We were about to face something far beyond any battle challenge we've ever encountered.
We were about to face a god's judgment, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. And somehow, despite the overwhelming odds, I felt a familiar surge of resolve. This was what I had been preparing for, all my life, in both worlds.
An eager expression appeared on my face as I grabbed Mewtwo's Poké Ball. It was time to give this a 100% of what we got!
/////
A/N: Hope you liked the chapter!