The battlefield fell into eerie silence.
Dialga and Palkia stood facing each other, while Giratina hovered high above with wings spread.
The Sinnoh Trio formed a triangular formation, their gazes fixed on the calm trainer standing before the spatial rift.
Natsume: "Please give me some face!"
Simultaneously, the same thought arose in the minds of the three deities.
Alamos Town...the Gracidea Sea...those shared memories bound them to this human.
I won't be able to not give this face...I'm afraid I won't be able to do it if I don't give it!
Giovanni stood at the airship's hatch, hands in pockets, his gaze piercing through the cloud layers.
Seeing his formidable 'Mentor', Giovanni's lips curled upward as he commanded the flagship: "Initiate descent!"
The armored fortress' black-gold hull glinted as engines roared. The propellers churned powerful winds while the massive ship slowly approached the newly formed crater.
Trees bent low under the pressure. Pryce observed the young man from his wheelchair atop the cliff.
He'd heard of Natsume through Professor Oak's accounts, but this was their first meeting.
"You know him?" Pryce glanced at Gold who was pulling a shirt over his head.
"Of course!" Gold adjusted his cap with a grin. "That's Natsume-sensei!"
Pryce gave a slight nod. "Let's head down too."
Gold waved his pool cue wildly from the cliff, shouting: "Natsume-sensei! Togebo and I are coming!"
With that, Gold leaped off the cliff, deploying his wingsuit mid-air while tossing a Poké Ball. Togebo emerged with a cry: "Togekiss!"
Pryce stared silently at the spot Gold had just vacated.
The old man had intended for Gold to help wheel him down.
"..." Pryce shook his head and began manually propelling his wheelchair toward the base.
Natsume watched Gold's cliff-diving antics, his eyelid twitching.
This guy really never stopped courting death!
Yet somehow, the tense standoff had been unexpectedly defused.
Silver withdrew his gaze, telling Natsume: "Seems temporarily resolved."
Natsume sighed: "No...the real trouble's still coming."
A nervous voice interrupted them. Professor Hale asked timidly:
"P-pardon me for asking..."
Professor Hale looked at the Sinnoh Three Gods in the air, sweat dripping from his face, and whispered to Natsume: "They, they also want to give you face?"
"Theoretically no."
Natsume looked skyward. As the Professor Hale shakily adjusted his glasses, he added thoughtfully: "But who knows..."
Deities possessed emotions similar to humans.
The guilt during Alamos Town's crisis...the gratitude for saving the Reverse World...
Just like how in "Hoopa and the Clash of Ages", every Legendary Pokémon Hoopa summoned showed Ash respect.
This was what they called—
Being a trainer wasn't about fighting, but managing relationships!
For Professor Hale, this spectacle was too overwhelming.
"So...aside from our research," the Professor Hale forced a laugh, "we haven't caused any other problems, right?"
"Sorry Professor Hale." Natsume said. "Our expedition ends here. I'll have Unown transport you to safety."
Professor Hale blinked, then exhaled in relief before saying earnestly: "You take care too. I'll contact Professor Oak to organize rescue efforts!"
"That aligns with my plans."
Natsume communicated with the Unown through aura waves. As the spatial rift shimmered with energy, he turned with a smile: "Don't worry. You should leave immediately."
As Professor Hale nodded and departed—
Cynthia walked up beside Natsume, arms crossed.
"Don't think you can hide this from me," she murmured.
Natsume blinked in feigned confusion.
"Resolving Arceus' awakening crisis." Cynthia stated. "I won't allow you to act alone."
Natsume's mouth opened slightly.
Who could've predicted his Johto refuge would drag him into this mess!
Then Natsume declared righteously: "Understood!"
Cynthia smiled faintly, looking up at the descending pink-hued Palkia.
The Spatial Dragon appeared solemn as it finally spoke:
"Human. Long time no see."
"Long time no see. We're even now," Natsume smiled.
Palkia remained silent before saying: "Perhaps one more matter requires your assistance."
"We'll talk about Arceus later."
Natsume sighed: "First, we settle everyone's grudges to prevent further fighting."
Palkia seemed surprised, but levitated behind Natsume as the human took charge.
From the stream, a cobalt-blue quadruped emerged. The temperamental Dialga roared: "ROAR!!"
Palkia glared fiercely at it.
Suddenly, Giratina vanished from the sky, reappearing before Natsume via shadows, its crimson eyes locking onto Dialga.
You seem—to have objections toward this human who quelled glaciers and saved the Reverse World?
The overwhelming pressure forced Dialga to stiffen before finally lowering its diamond-encrusted head.
Circumstances left no choice but to yield!
Gold arrived on Togebo, the irritable Togebo immediately dumping Gold to circle excitedly around Natsume-sensei.
Natsume smiled and tossed a Poké Ball: "Mind looking after Togepi for me?"
"Togekiss!" Togebo thumped its chest confidently.
In a flash of light, adorable Togepi appeared. Natsume cradled it: "Togepi doo-ee! ヾヾ(≧▽≦*)o"
"Togebo~~" Togebo couldn't help grinning.
Gold brushed himself off and slung an arm around Silver's shoulders. "See? Even Togebo knows I value my companions!"
"...Don't dust me on my shoulders," Silver said coldly.
The Sinnoh Three Gods curiously as Togepi tilted its head up at them.
Togepi gently cocked its head, wagging a finger as its body began to glow: "Togepi"（What are you looking at me for?!）
Overwhelmed by the cuteness, the deities all looked away. From the direction of the massive airship, Giovanni approached through the sandstorm, his black coat flapping as he pressed down his hat.
His imposing aura resembled a mafia don's. Giovanni stopped walking, lips pressed tightly together.
Father and son stared at each other across the swirling sands, the ruins of their divine battlefield stretching behind them - the same battlefield Giovanni had steered his warship into without hesitation.
Silver's eyes flickered. Looking into his father's slightly clouded eyes, he finally murmured: "Father."
Giovanni's chest rose slightly as he gave a dignified nod.
Then he turned to Natsume and said calmly:
"Have you formulated the next phase of the plan?"
The father-son reunion proved unexpectedly plain.
Glancing at the tsundere silence between them, Natsume rubbed his chin.
Giovanni...listen to your Mentor! You should express your feelings when appropriate!
Natsume looked up at Palkia:
"Time is critical. Can't you just draw a circle and yank a Legendary Pokémon out of it?"
Natsume was referring to Hoopa's spatial ability—the way it could use its rings, the Hoopa Rings, to summon other beings from anywhere.
As the Spatial Dragon, logically, Palkia's space powers should allow something similar.
Palkia paused, then replied: "I could. But I'd need the summoned one's consent. Otherwise, it violates the laws of Space."
Hearing this, Natsume's brow twitched.
So even the Spatial Dragon's space powers were less convenient than Hoopa's… What a blow to its dignity!
"RROOAAHH!!" Suddenly, Dialga roared, glaring at the white-haired old man.
Pryce halted his wheelchair, glanced at Dialga, and remarked pointedly to Gold: "No manners."
Gold crossed his arms. "Exactly. That dumb dragon clearly understands human speech!"
Dialga tensed, ready to lash out—until twin crimson gazes, Space and Antimatter, pinned it in place.
"I intervened only to restore Time's balance. These humans' assistance was necessary."
Dialga's voice was icy. "Otherwise, even if Arceus annihilated them, I wouldn't have lifted a claw."
"No use complaining now."
Natsume shot Dialga a look. "From what I know, Arceus once held goodwill toward humans too. Misunderstandings twisted things."
"We'll use Time to return to the origin of those misunderstandings and untangle them."
His gaze swept over the Sinnoh Three Gods. "Your clashing dimensions will stabilize. No more pointless battles."
Palkia fell silent, considering.
The collision of Space and Time had driven it to duel Dialga in Alamos Town.
As this human said, the root of it all was Arceus's wrath.
If they could undo that… it'd be ideal.
"Humans and Pokémon alike shape the world."
Natsume continued, "When the world trembles, its shadow—the Reverse World—is also shaken. By then, no one can fix it. But right now… we have one slim, precious chance to change things."
Behind Giratina's golden helm, its eyes flickered.
As ruler of the Reverse World, Giratina couldn't ignore Arceus's rampage. It had to maintain order.
This Trainer… had a strange charisma. Fighting alongside him again might not be so bad.
"That chance is in our hands."
"Our interests align. Our goals are the same."
Natsume's voice carried conviction as he smiled at the three bowed heads.
"Humans need your help… and you need ours."
The mist surrounding the ancient ruins quietly dispersed, and a beam of sunlight broke through the clouds, falling upon a strikingly handsome young man as if by divine revelation.
Giovanni's eyes flickered, and suddenly, a smirk tugged at his lips.
For that brief moment, he had been completely absorbed in his Mentor's speech. That mesmerizing strength, so captivating it inspired awe.
Pryce, seated in his wheelchair, glanced between the restless cap-wearing young man and the poised black-haired youth.
"The young man still has hope," Pryce murmured under his breath.
Cynthia rested her chin on her hand, studying Natsume with keen interest.
Knowing Natsume as she did—
His true motive was probably just to recruit more allies, forming a team to stand against Arceus…
Natsume smiled faintly, his gaze fixed on Dialga, its diamond-like body gleaming under the sunlight.
After a long silence, Dialga spoke in a deep voice:
"You have moved me, Human."
『I will lead you to the point in time where Arceus was betrayed—』
Dialga lifted its head, staring into the distant horizon:
『But before that, we must return to the Temple of Arceus—the beginning of everything.』
"The Temple of Arceus?"
Natsume blinked. "Isn't Sinjoh Ruins right here?!"
The Temporal and Spatial deities shook their heads in unison. Giratina explained:
"Sinjoh Ruins is the gateway to the Door of Origin. The temple where Humans honor Arceus lies near Spear Pillar—the Michina Town Temple."
Natsume: "…"
Michina Town was the setting of Arceus and the Jewel of Life, and where Ash was right now.
A chill crept into Natsume's heart, his eyelid twitching.
Now the plotlines were connecting!
At the end of the day, no matter how underwhelming Arceus might seem, the Sinnoh Three Gods could only stall it—not achieve victory.
In the end, it would still be up to Ash in Michina Town to prove to Arceus the Bond between Humans and Pokémon!
Wait a second—
Natsume's expression shifted.
Does this mean… I have to time-travel and give it my all too?!
Slowly raising his head, Natsume was met with seven or eight pairs of eager eyes staring back at him. He forced a bright, amiable smile.
Rubbing his temples, Natsume sighed. "First, let me call in a few more helpers."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Natsume turned toward Togepi, who was happily playing with Togebo in the air, and called out:
"Togepi! Send a message to Mew—tell it to come find me if possible!"
"Togepi doo-ee~!" Togepi waved in response.
Then, Natsume addressed the shadow at his feet: "Gengar, contact Darkrai. We're forming a team!"
"Gengar~" Gengar's head popped out from the shadow, grinning sharply.
Gengar had mastered a portion of Antimatter Power, allowing it to reach Darkrai through the world's reverse side.
Once they had coordinates, Palkia could use Space Powers to teleport them over.
Additionally, Natsume had one last trump card—Regigigas, currently dormant in Snowpoint Temple.
After saving the glaciers last time, Regigigas hadn't returned to its Stone Orb but remained slumbering on its throne.
The Snowpoint glaciers weren't far from Michina Town.
Using the Space-Time Power within Rotom's control, Natsume could communicate with Regigigas and call it to their aid.
The only problem was… Natsume's Aura of Ripple couldn't reach that far.
If only he had something like the wide-range Power of One—then he could summon help from anywhere.
The group watched as Natsume confidently issued orders.
Gold couldn't help but ask, "Natsume-sensei… how did you manage to convince so many Legendary Pokémon?"
"It's a matter of mutual assistance," Natsume retorted, narrowing his eyes.
What followed were more cryptic phrases like 'summoning on the top lane doesn't count as summoning' and 'one hit and seven or eight TPs light up.'
Gold nodded, only half-understanding.
Giovanni stood with his hands in his pockets, his gaze meeting Silver's.
"I'm going to help them," Silver said, looking at Gold and Natsume's figures.
"I never said I was retreating," Giovanni replied.
"I thought…" Silver glanced at the massive airship behind Giovanni and murmured, "You came here to capture legendary Pokémon."
Giovanni stood silently, his brow furrowed.
As the wind kicked up sand, he pulled down his cap, hiding his expression.
"No," Giovanni said. "I came for you."
Pryce was about to wheel himself away in his wheelchair when Natsume grabbed the handles and began pushing him toward the massive airship.
"You too, rushing off without telling me? Let me help you, haha!" Natsume laughed.
Pryce froze for a moment, then gently stroked the Swinub in his lap and closed his eyes wordlessly.
Fine… With my broken body, perhaps I can atone for my mistakes.
As everyone boarded Giovanni's aerial fortress, the Sinnoh Three Gods hovered in the sky, forming a triangular formation.
Michina Town had blocked Palkia's spatial coordinates, but they could first teleport to a nearby hidden location before heading to Arceus Temple.
Cynthia, her hands tucked into her black coat, stared at the heavy storm clouds, her golden hair swaying in the wind.
Standing beside her, Natsume heard her whisper, "Will we succeed this time?"
The Sinnoh Three Gods encircled the battleship, working together to construct a spatial warp.
With the storm brewing, Natsume fell into rare silence, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him for the first time. In a low voice, he answered:
"I promise you."
Natsume gazed at the swirling clouds, where a space rift pulsating with energy slowly tore open, lightning crisscrossing as the propellers and engines roared.
"We will."
His expression was serious, his black hair whipping in the wind, his eyes unwavering.
"I mean it."
...
The sun set over Alamos Town.
The Space-Time Tower hummed with a rhythmic melody, its spire crowned by a lone shadow—elongated, a black sash fluttering in the wind.
Darkrai's mist swirled, its piercing blue eyes fixed on the direction of Michina Town.
It sensed a familiar aura—one rich with the flavors of Symbols, Bonds, and… something delicious.
Not that the "delicious" part mattered. What mattered was the Bond with that Human!
Darkrai shook its head, dispelling the strange sense of déjà vu, and vanished from the spire.
In an instant, Darkrai reappeared above Alamos Town, its tattered cloak billowing as it soared toward Michina Town.
No matter which Pokémon stood in its way, Darkrai of Alamos Town was confident in its strength.
"It can't possibly be Arceus, right?"
With a smirk, Darkrai disappeared into the horizon.
...
Sinnoh Region, Snowpoint Temple.
Brandon, overseeing the temple's repairs, was finalizing the handover with Snowpoint gym Leader Candice.
"See? Everything's in order now."
Wiping sweat from his brow, Brandon grinned at the temple bathed in golden twilight.
"Unless Regigigas wakes up again… but that won't happen that often, haha!"
Candice nodded softly, then suddenly frowned. "Mr. Brandon… do you feel that? The ground is shaking."
A low rumble built beneath them. Brandon's expression darkened as he whirled toward the temple—just in time to see scaffolding collapse.
The statue-like Regigigas stirred to life, its signal lights flaring with blinding intensity.
BOOM—
Before Brandon and Candice could react, Regigigas lifted its head, engulfed in a violent pulse of spatial energy.
Then—gone. Only ruins and stunned silence remained.
Brandon: "…"
Candice patted his shoulder. "My condolences, Mr. Brandon."
Brandon fell into thought. Perhaps he should reassign this job—let Sinnoh Frontier Brain Palmer handle it instead...
...
At the Tree of Beginning, Mew.
"Mew~~" Hugging a handheld console, Mew tilted its head softly: "Mew?"
An unread message from Togepi relayed Natsume's request.
It mentioned that if possible, Mew was welcome to visit their home in Sinnoh—the house was quite spacious.
"Mew~(^▽^ )" Mew circled midair, laughing cheerfully.
As one of the Tree of Beginning's Guardians, Mew could only leave briefly.
But that was enough. Mew's Teleport could span thousands of kilometers—crossing regions would only take a few hops.
If not for needing to return, Mew would've loved to visit Natsume's home and pull an all-nighter gaming with Togepi.
"Mew~~" Hovering in place, Mew lightly tapped its tail. Ripples shimmered through space.
As the white glow faded, Mew vanished.
Only the handheld console and the newly released Pokémon game remained in the Tree of Beginning.
...
Sinnoh Region, Michina Town.
Ash met Sheena, guardian of the Arceus Temple, and learned the legend of Michina Town and King Damos.
"Arceus lent my ancestor the five Plates - Ice, Grass, Electric, Dragon, and Ground. But my ancestor ultimately broke the promise, never returning them... and even attacked Arceus."
"Having lost the Plates, Arceus returned to slumber in the Hall of Origin. It will awaken during the next solar eclipse... to pass judgment upon humanity."
Sheena produced a crystal-clear jewel, lowering her eyes. "This is the Life Orb, forged from the five Plates. I wish to return it to Arceus... to beg for its forgiveness."
This was actually a fake Life Orb. Sheena's ancestor Damos had been betrayed by his subordinate Marcus, who secretly swapped the real orb.
But Sheena didn't know this yet. Ash pondered thoughtfully:
"So... this is Michina Town's past..."
Pikachu on Ash's shoulder tilted its head. "Pikachu~"
From behind a corner, three sneaky heads peeked out, giggling.
"It's Arceus's treasure, nya~"
"If we present this to the Executive, he'll definitely praise us!"
"This... is the best feeling ever! "
"The promised day is tonight," Sheena said. "Beast Messenger, please come with me."
Ash and Sheena walked outside the temple together.
Michina Town's tiered buildings were bathed in twilight, the temple's marble pillars standing majestic.
Darkness fell over the mountains. A rift appeared at the sky's edge, and a sacred figure hovered in the air.
Arceus had awakened from the Hall of Origin.
Its crimson eyes scanned the familiar town, flickering with hatred, betrayal... and sorrow.
Michina Town... I have returned.
Precisely because Arceus had once placed faith in humanity, its disappointment ran deep.
As promised... I shall deliver judgment.
Its voice was cold, utterly devoid of emotion.
"P-please wait!" Sheena pleaded. "I know you're disappointed in my ancestor! But that was his doing - we wish to return the Life Orb to you!"
Arceus glanced coldly at the Life Orb in Sheena's hands... and laughed.
Humans. Greedy. Ignorant. You dare deceive a deity twice?
Sheena's pupils contracted as the jewel shattered in her hands. "This... isn't real?"
Arceus's halo blazed brilliantly. Dazzling white beams gathered at its back - power beyond mortal reach. Arceus's signature move.
Judgment!
BOOM—
Flames erupted across eclipse-darkened Michina Town, painting an apocalyptic scene.
As Sheena stood frozen, Ash roared:
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!!"
"Pikachuuuu—CHU!!"
The Thunderbolt of the Pika God surged forth, engulfing Arceus!
Arceus remained impassive. This Pikachu shared an extraordinary bond with its human...
But it mattered not.
Arceus gathered dazzling beams of light behind it, firing them all toward Ash and Pikachu.
Ash spread his arms, shielding Pikachu, trying to endure Judgment with his own body.
BOOM!!
The judgment beams were deflected by a violent Space Pulse, the shockwave making the temple tremble.
"ROAR!!" Palkia spread its claws, their tips glowing brilliantly, pleading as it looked at Arceus.
Arceus's gaze remained unmoved. Sensing something, its figure suddenly vanished from its original position.
The shockwave of Roar of Time froze time where it had just stood!
Dialga emerged from the space rift, roaring furiously at Arceus: "ROAR!!"
"You..."
Arceus began to speak, then its expression shifted slightly. From the shadows beneath its feet, an Antimatter force locked onto it.
A crimson glow flashed behind it as Giratina emerged from the shadows, its six platinum claws clashing sharply as it slammed into Arceus!
BOOM—
The sky shattered, lightning crisscrossing through cracks in the air.
Arceus slowly rose, confusion flickering in its eyes as it levitated once more.
"Have you betrayed me as well?"
"Perhaps no one has betrayed you, Arceus."
A voice answered: "Hatred has blinded you, making you unwilling to see the truth."
Arceus silently turned toward the source of the voice.
There stood a serious black-haired young man, his eyes clear and sharp, positioned between the Sinnoh Three Gods.
Behind him were an old man in a wheelchair, a man in a black trench coat, and a blonde woman with her arms crossed.
The sheer impact of the scene left Ash frozen in place.
"Natsume-sensei…"
"Ash."
Natsume took a deep breath and smiled:
"Time for a team fight."
BOOM!!
Thunder split the sky as Giratina flapped its hellish wings, Palkia swung its blade-like arms, and Dialga roared skyward.
A brilliant rainbow light erupted over Michina Town's temple.
Arceus stood amidst the storm, its eyes burning crimson.
"Face judgment, human."
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