Climbing the steps.
Ono's attention was entirely on the starry sky, while Natsuhiko's attention was completely captivated by the murals plastered inside the walls of the Celestial Pillar.
The murals seemed to depict content all related to Rayquaza.
The earliest murals were very blurry, nearly indistinguishable in terms of what they described.
But as they continued upwards, the content on the murals became increasingly clear, and described some scenes that even Natsuhiko was familiar with.
Among them were included.
Thousands of years ago, a meteor landed in the Pokémon Realm, causing turmoil throughout the entire Pokémon Realm, such as the awakening of Original Groudon and Primordial Kyogre, and the fierce battle between the two Pokémon over territory between land and sea.
And Rayquaza appeared, and with the help of the meteor, the "Celestial Emperor Organ" mutated, allowing Rayquaza to freely undergo Super Evolution.
And more of such content.
But gradually.
Natsuhiko saw some things he did not understand.
At some unclear point, beside Rayquaza, appeared two indistinct, blurry figures.
They accompanied Rayquaza for a very, very long time, and in many later murals, their figures appeared more or less.
The further they ascended, the clearer the images of these two figures became.
It was clear they were the siblings Latios and Latias!
Although Natsuhiko somewhat anticipated this, feeling that the reason he had come here was likely related to his Latios, he was nonetheless surprised when it was confirmed.
Eager to know the outcome, Natsuhiko couldn't help but quicken his pace.
"Natsuhiko, wait for me."
Ono noticed that Natsuhiko was walking faster and immediately chased after him, also noticing the content on the murals due to Natsuhiko's actions.
"Humans..."
Natsuhiko stopped in front of a mural, looking at the humans depicted on it, his mind was in turmoil.
And it wasn't just one person, but multitude of people.
By their sides were many Pokémon.
Beginning a frenzied extract of resources and capture of Pokémon in Rayquaza's Alternate Space.
However.
Rayquaza, having previously destroyed a giant meteor that might have impacted it and the Pokémon Realm, had fallen asleep.
This group of people seemed to have seized upon this crucial time node to dare to invade here.
But if what the murals described was true, that was thousands of years ago.
Did humans at that time already possess the ability to open spatial barriers?
Then.
Latios and Latias, who had followed Rayquaza, stood up.
They led the Pokémon within the Alternate Space to counterattack.
But this group of humans seemed not to be weak; they possessed strange abilities.
As if they weren't ordinary humans at all, but a group of... Superpower Users?!
Eventually.
Latios and Latias forced back this group of humans at the cost of their own demise.
In the final moment, as Infinite Pokémon, all their energy burst forth from their bodies, turning into pieces of Crystal Stone scattered across the Alternate Space, allowing the broken forests, grasslands, rivers, and mountains to come back to life.
Most of the Crystal Stones were consumed, but some were left behind.
And Latios and Latias turned into two Pokemon Eggs.
As Infinite Pokémon, they wouldn't die.
They had a lengthy lifespan, and death to them was more like a new beginning.
"Pokemon Eggs..."
Natsuhiko stared dazedly at the two Pokemon Eggs in the mural.
The Latios by his side also looked at the two engraved Pokemon Eggs on the wall, a bit at a loss.
Continuing upwards.
There were many more murals after that.
However, the Pokemon Eggs of Latios and Latias seemed to be completely silent, showing no signs of hatching.
Even though Rayquaza tried using its power, it couldn't make them hatch.
Left without a choice.
Rayquaza bestowed Latios's Pokemon Egg to the devout "Meteor People," hoping they could find a way for Latios to hatch.
"So that means..." Natsuhiko looked at the Latios beside him, taking a deep breath, "Latios, are you the Latios from the mural?"
"Oss..."
Latios also appeared conflicted.
It had no memory of the past, having stayed with Natsuhiko since its birth, never leaving.
It gently nudged Natsuhiko with its head, seeking comfort.
Natsuhiko hugged it, soothing its emotions.
"If this is Latios, then where is Latias?" Natsuhiko suddenly thought of this.
He continued to quickly move upwards.
On the contrary, Ono stood there, staring at the Pokemon Eggs in the mural.
Falling into thought.
"Ono, let's go."
Until Natsuhiko's voice pulled him back to reality.
"Oh, oh."
But to Natsuhiko's disappointment.
In the subsequent murals, there was no further mention of Latias, not even about the Pokemon Eggs.
Until after climbing countless steps, they were met with a newly carved mural, fresh as if it had just been inscribed, the content of which once again shocked Natsuhiko.
Because the mural clearly depicted what he had experienced after entering Rayquaza's Alternate Space.
Including his initial battle in the Alternate Space with Obstagoon, meeting Ono, battling Hydreigon, and so on...
As if everything he did after entering the Alternate Space was being observed by someone.
When they reached the very last mural, Natsuhiko looked at its content, and his heart trembled.
What was engraved.
Was the very thing they were doing now, entering the Celestial Pillar, observing the murals within the Celestial Pillar.
The one wearing a hat was Natsuhiko, and the one dressed in loose clothing with hair tied carelessly was Ono.
Flying beside Natsuhiko was Latios.
But what he couldn't understand was, beside Ono, there was actually also a blurry figure.
After detailed identification, it was confirmed.
Latias!
"Huh?"
Ono looked at the content above, gazing around, but saw no trace of Latias.
Natsuhiko's breath caught for a moment.
Watching Ono, who was curiously looking around.
An outrageous idea popped into his mind.
But considering what had previously occurred with Ono, the terrifying physique hidden within her slender body, the powerful "Dragon Power," descending into the frenzy of "Nirvana" with Hakamo-o, especially...
Her eyes, almost always purely clean, unblemished by even a speck of dust, those eyes that caused Natsuhiko to take notice at first sight.
Is this a joke?
Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts.
Crack, crack, crack —
On the mural.
Suddenly there was movement, a series of lines began moving on their own, slowly forming an outline, appearing behind Natsuhiko and Ono.
Hovering in the air, like an apparition.
Following behind them?!
"Another one?" Ono was also taken aback.
As the mural became clearer.
The corner of Natsuhiko's eye twitched.
He turned around helplessly.
"Darkrai, how long have you... been following us?"
——————
PS: The inspiration for this segment of the story comes from... the classification of Latias and Latios as "Eon," but in fact, "Eon" refers to Aeons in Gnosticism, which signifies being with God and enduring infinite (exceedingly long) time.