"Ahem. Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, and you aren't Volo, what did you want to ask us?"
Dialga spoke first.
The young woman possessed a refined, intellectual beauty, which gave Dialga a favorable impression of her.
It did not mind answering her questions, provided she did not ask anything excessively difficult or sensitive.
"Dialga, could you tell me what happened at Mount Coronet a century ago, when Sinnoh was still known as Hisui?" Cynthia asked without hesitation.
"That question is rather difficult for me to answer, young lady. Why don't you ask something else?"
Dialga immediately attempted to change the subject.
Palkia hurriedly agreed from beside it.
"That's right. It happened so long ago that I've already forgotten what took place back then."
Grey scratched his head.
Were they certain?
Only a century had passed. For beings like them, wasn't that basically the amount of time it took to close their eyes and open them again?
Dialga ignored Grey's suspicious gaze and encouraged Cynthia to ask about less serious cultural matters instead.
For example, what kinds of food the people of Hisui had eaten, or how they entertained themselves.
There was little point in Cynthia asking about something so grave.
It would be like asking Cynthia to beat Palkia in a fight.
Her efforts would only end in failure.
Yes, young lady, ask something else.
Cynthia did not press them further about her original question. Instead, she asked Dialga about many obscure details concerning the old Hisui region.
By the time she finished, Cynthia felt that her store of historical knowledge had expanded enormously.
However, the conversation only made her even more curious about what had happened a century ago.
Why were the two dragons of space and time deliberately avoiding the subject?
Was there some hidden story behind it?
Human beings were naturally driven to explore the unknown.
The more someone was told not to ask, the more curious they became.
Since Palkia and Dialga were unwilling to discuss it, Cynthia decided that she would investigate the incident herself in far greater depth.
"Hey, Dialga. Do you think that young woman might actually uncover what happened back then?" Palkia asked Dialga through telepathy.
Dialga considered the possibility for a moment before shaking its head.
"I doubt it. We completely destroyed every trace of that humiliating incident. We even used Roar of Time to thoroughly erase the relevant memories from everyone involved. There shouldn't be any surviving records."
"That's true. The matter concerned both of us, so we naturally wouldn't have left such an enormous vulnerability behind."
Palkia sighed in relief.
It would be disastrous if later generations discovered the truth.
"Oh? What embarrassing history are you two hiding? Tell me about it so I can have a good laugh. We're friends, aren't we?"
Grey suddenly joined their private conversation.
Palkia and Dialga stared at him.
"Wait. How did you join our telepathic conversation?" Palkia demanded.
It could not understand.
Grey was merely an ordinary human. His Aura was admittedly impressive, but why did it seem to possess an effect similar to the Arceus Force, allowing him to establish a direct connection with them?
How strange.
As for their humiliating past, they obviously could not tell Grey about it.
What would happen if Grey used that secret to pressure them in the future?
They would have no choice but to surrender.
Therefore, to prevent anyone else from learning about it, Palkia and Dialga would defend their secret at all costs.
They would never reveal their humiliating history.
Never!
"Come on, joining the conversation was easy. Let me guess what happened to you. Were you two restrained by some kind of chains?"
Grey rubbed his chin while carefully observing the fluctuations in their Auras.
After hearing his guess, Palkia instinctively blurted out, "How did you know?!"
The moment it finished speaking, Palkia realized that it had said too much.
Damn it!
That hateful human had tricked it into revealing the truth!
"No, seriously. How did you guess?" Palkia asked, unable to contain its curiosity.
"Wasn't it obvious?"
Grey shrugged.
"When Giratina was captured by Hoopa Unbound in that other world, there were chain-like restraints wrapped around its body. When you two saw those restraints, both of you reacted with surprise."
"I could also tell that you weren't shocked by Giratina itself. You were shocked by the restraints around it. That made me suspect that you had once been bound by similar chains, which was why you reacted that way."
Grey explained his reasoning one point at a time.
Palkia and Dialga both fell silent.
"Tell us what you want," Dialga finally said. "As long as it doesn't cross our moral boundaries, we'll help you."
"Relax. We're friends. I was only curious."
Grey waved his hand. He did not actually need Dialga and Palkia to perform any favors for him.
However...
"There is one future event where I'd appreciate having you present."
Grey briefly explained his impending confrontation with Giovanni.
"No problem. You only need us to stand there and intimidate everyone, right? That's one of my specialties."
Palkia patted its chest.
It had expected something difficult.
All Grey wanted was for it to reinforce his side and seal the surrounding space so Giovanni could not escape.
That would be simple.
Palkia, the ruler of space, would definitely help him.
"No problem," Dialga added. "Even if Palkia's spatial barrier is shattered by that Beedrill, I can still freeze everyone in place."
Dialga had considered numerous possible outcomes.
It had even accounted for the possibility that Palkia, the ruler of space, might somehow fail to control space.
More accurately, Dialga had used its temporal abilities to glimpse several fragments of the future.
In the future it witnessed, Palkia once again lost control of its own space and could only watch helplessly as Giovanni escaped.
After seeing that scene, Dialga could not stop itself from muttering, "Useless Palkia."
Palkia stared at it.
"Why the hell are you insulting me?"
Palkia was bewildered.
It had been minding its own business when Dialga suddenly cursed at it.
Where was the justice in that?
"It was nothing. I simply feel contempt whenever I remember that the supposed ruler of space can't accomplish anything."
Dialga immediately brought up the time when Hoopa from another world had captured Palkia.
The ruler of space had been seized through a spatial portal and dragged away as forced labor.
If Cynthia learned about that incident, she would probably laugh on the spot at this incompetent ruler of space.
Dialga had no idea why their creator had even bothered making a spatial deity.
It was useless at everything except fighting its own family.
In everyday situations, Palkia's control over space rarely seemed useful.
Yet whenever it fought its siblings, its spatial abilities somehow operated at one hundred percent efficiency.
Palkia, Palkia, are you becoming useless in your old age?
Dialga badly wanted to say that aloud.
However, it feared that doing so would trigger another round of Legendary Dragon Kombat. To prevent Grey's home from being destroyed, Dialga suppressed the urge.
Palkia had no way to defend itself.
How had it ended up like Groudon, forced to hear people mention one insignificant failure for the rest of its life?
"Anyway, I'll leave you two alone now. Talk with Cynthia for a while. She's wanted to meet you for years. In a way, she's one of your biggest fans, so please treat her well."
After saying goodbye to Palkia and Dialga, Grey headed upstairs to spend some private time with Caitlin and Sabrina.
Psychic girls were wonderful. A person ought to spend more time with them.
"A fan? She opened the conversation by asking such a dangerous question. She sounds more like an anti-fan."
"Everyone knows the most devoted fans are the darkest."
Palkia and Dialga complained in perfect agreement.
Even so, it was difficult for Legendary Pokémon to remain unfriendly toward someone who greeted them with a smile.
They continued chatting pleasantly with Cynthia.
Meanwhile, Grey quietly made his way upstairs.
Caitlin was not in the master bedroom. She was still changing clothes in the guest room.
Sabrina had already returned to the bedroom and was sitting at the desk, organizing documents related to the dojo.
The Fighting Dojo and Saffron Gym were now being jointly operated, so there were many matters that needed to be handled. If they neglected the administration, serious problems could arise.
"Hehe, look what I brought you."
Grey crept up behind Sabrina. He reached both arms past her shoulders and presented a glass-like stone.
"Ta-da! An Alakazite! What do you think? You like it, don't you?"
"That was thoughtful of you."
The sight of the Alakazite made Sabrina blink several times.
Mega Stones were still relatively scarce.
Even though Sabrina knew that Alakazam was capable of Mega Evolution, she had been unable to purchase its Mega Stone.
She understood the basic principle of supply and demand.
Until Mega Stones became widely available to the public, obtaining a specific one would remain extremely difficult.
However, she did not seem to have a Key Stone.
Without a Key Stone, she could not activate Mega Evolution.
Grey naturally understood that.
He had already spoken to Steven about the problem.
The moment Steven heard about it, he arranged for Dragonite Express to rush a Key Stone to the Fighting Dojo as quickly as possible.
Barring an unexpected delay, it should arrive within the next two days.
Grey only needed to wait and sign for the delivery.
"There's no need to thank me. Look at our relationship. It wouldn't be fair if I could use Mega Evolution while you could only stand beside me and watch."
Grey placed the Alakazite in Sabrina's hand, then smoothly lifted her from her chair. He sat down in her place before settling her onto his lap.
"You used to enjoy pretending to be sick. How did you suddenly become like this?" Sabrina teased.
"Ahem. Back then, I was focused on my career. Things are different now. Several important matters are finally coming to an end, so I can properly relax. Little Riolu told me that remaining tense all the time is harmful to your mental state. Everyone needs to relax occasionally."
Grey immediately used Little Riolu as his excuse.
"Mew! I never said that!"
Little Riolu hurriedly contacted him telepathically to deny the accusation.
Grey, stop blaming everything on me!
One day, you'll receive divine punishment for this!
"Ahem. I only used your name because people trust you."
Grey chuckled.
At that moment, someone knocked on the bedroom door.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Grey, Sabrina, may I come in?"
Caitlin's quiet, nervous voice came from outside.
Grey immediately called toward the door.
"Come straight in, Caitlin. It isn't locked."
There was a soft rush of displaced air.
Instead of opening the door, Caitlin used Teleport and appeared directly inside the bedroom.
She wore a lace nightgown and nervously gripped the hem of her skirt.
"I hope the three of us will take good care of each other from now on."
"We will."
The next morning, Grey woke up in bed.
Sabrina and Caitlin were lying on either side of him, nestled against his body.
"Mmm... Why are you getting up so early?"
Caitlin awakened when she felt Grey moving and sleepily rubbed her eyes.
"I still need to visit League headquarters today, so I have to leave early."
Grey felt slightly apologetic for waking her. At the same time, he could not help remembering how they had spent the night.
"Come home early. Sabrina and I will be waiting for you."
Caitlin sat up and lightly kissed Grey's cheek. She then blushed, retreated beneath the covers, and went back to sleep.
"I will."
Grey got out of bed, changed into formal clothes, and headed downstairs.
"Oh? You actually woke up this early today?"
Green was eating breakfast in the dining room. When she saw Grey arrive, she looked genuinely astonished.
"What do you mean? When have I not woken up this early?"
Grey found her reaction strange.
It was not as though he went to sleep at three or four every morning, woke up at noon, and never ate breakfast.
"Oh, it's just been so long since I saw you eating breakfast that the sight feels unusual."
Green then realized that she could count the number of times she had eaten breakfast with Grey on one hand.
She had previously spent most of her time traveling.
After she finally began staying at the dojo permanently, Grey started leaving on frequent journeys only a few days later.
As a result, she rarely saw him at the dojo and naturally never encountered him during breakfast.
Forget seeing Grey eat breakfast. Sometimes it was difficult to see Grey at all.
He was practically like Giovanni, the Viridian Gym Leader. He appeared and disappeared unpredictably, and no one ever knew what he was doing.
After eating his fill, Grey prepared to depart.
"I'm heading to the League. Call me if anything happens."
Grey left the dojo, climbed onto Reshiram's back, and flew toward the Indigo Plateau.
When he arrived, Lance was already standing outside League headquarters, waiting for him.
"Grey, it's been a long time."
After spotting the familiar figure of Reshiram, Lance stepped forward to welcome Grey.
"It has. I hope you've been well."
Grey landed outside the entrance and recalled Reshiram before shaking Lance's hand.
"I also have you to thank for getting the League to cover my expenses for the trip to Alola."
Grey then took a box from his pocket and handed it to Lance.
"Lance, this is a local specialty I obtained while traveling through Hoenn. I thought you might like it, so I brought it back for you."
"What is it?"
Lance was curious about what kind of local specialty had made Grey think of him.
Could it be a scale from Salamence, Hoenn's local pseudo-Legendary Pokémon?
"It's nothing special, merely an ordinary scale from Rayquaza."
Grey smiled.
"What? A Rayquaza scale?!"
Lance was stunned.
This was an incredibly valuable gift!
He had only given Grey a few supplements and helped report the official assignment to the League's senior leadership. He had never expected to receive something so precious in return.
Grey, whenever you need help in the future, I'll definitely support you again!
//Check out my P@tre0n for 30 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810.