Hello readers, and welcome to The Long Road home, sequel to Journey Through the Darkness! It's taken me a few months to write this chapter (indeed I started .. I believe sometime this year around January or February? But coming up with a new plot is hard, and so on the backburner it sat, until I was finally stricken with inspiration and bitten by plot bunnies and whatnot! I hope you enjoy this fanfic as much as I do writing it, and I implore you to give it a chance. If you haven t read Journey Through the Darkness, please do so to get a full understanding of the main characters ^-^
Summary: In this sequel to Journey Through the Darkness, the adventures of Nathaniel, Michael and Shaymin begin anew, as Giovanni's endeavor results in an event that threatens the very existence of time and space itself. The trio is called upon again to retrieve the sixteen plates of Arceus and return them to the Spear Pillar, so that it may have the power it needs to fix what has been done, before it is too late.
Right-y-o! And before I forget: This applies for all future chapters, but Pokemon is copyright Satoshi Tajiri and Pokemon USA, but my characters and settings are mine. GO ME! 8D
The Long Road Home
Chapter 1: Paradise Lost
The crystalline stairs stand before Giovanni Boss, leading upwards towards an unseen destination in the heavens. High above the clouds, high above the region of Sinnoh, they fade out after an indeterminable height. From his perspective, there are an unknown number of steps ascending to these heavens and beyond, with no guide railing, nothing to prevent against a fall should the worst happen. Clearly, the pathway to the Hall of Origin was not in compliance with OSHA nor the Sinnoh Housing Code, yet this meant little to the boss of the Team Rocket organization; doubly so since it wasn't up to them to decide whether Heaven or the stairs connecting to it qualified as a home or even a workplace.. Though the others of the elite group he had brought with him look on in a combination of awe and fear, Giovanni himself steps forward with a grin and an aura of smug satisfaction. His destiny lay before him like a large, fresh apple ripe for the picking from the Tree of Fate, and he was no less ready to reach for it now than he was when he started the ambitious 'Dinnerware Project', aimed at getting the sixteen Plates of Arceus for this express purpose. Unafraid of the unknown which presents itself, he takes one step onto the first of many stairs, finding there to be a surprising amount of traction, despite the step appearing to be as smooth as glass. He motions for the eighteen others - Melissa and Lavender included - to follow, who do so after a quick weapons and ammunition check. And so they climb towards the heavens, Spear Pillar and indeed the entire region of Sinnoh slowly grows smaller from their perspective. Despite their altitude, the pressure is as though they were still on Mt. Coronet, causing no complications in breathing.
Soon after the beginning of their descent, they find themselves moving up through various layers of clouds, quite literally into the heavens themselves. Thicker and thicker, the cloud cover grows, obscuring their vision to the point that they can hardly see the stairs at their feet, but fortunately, this is not to last. After an estimated ten minutes of travel, they finally break free of the obscurities of their vision, and step onto what seems to be a road above the layers of cloud. This road is almost like a glittering, gravel pathway, the light of the sun bringing forth an array of colors from the diamond-like pebbles which form it. It stretches on for what seems like miles; a road built upon the heavens themselves, with an end outside of their field of vision. Without fear of what lay ahead, Giovanni steps foot onto the Celestial Road, finding the feeling under his foot akin to the average gravel road. He takes another step, finding the 'ground' beneath him to be rather solid and level. With his convictions strengthened, he marches forward, undaunted by the thought of falling or the road vanishing for an inexplicable reason. Those under his employ follow behind, only one or two feeling a certain dread about invading the home of the Being of Creation, but fearing more the wrath of Giovanni for even suggesting they turn back.
And so they walk, as untold hours pass. The sun had been gradually moving across the sky, and it appeared that they would possibly not reach the end of the road until tomorrow. Or, perhaps, had this entire trip become a fruitless endeavor? Nobody knew, nor did they dare ask, for the leader of the pack felt more than assured that they were in fact, close to that of which they seek. As the sunlight began nearing the twilight hours, the Celestial Road glittered brightly in all of the colors of the rainbow. Certainly a sight to behold and cherish for one who had the time or heart to appreciate such things, but on such an important mission, Giovanni felt he had little time for such pleasantries. However, despite some of his subordinate's worries, his foray into the heavens was about to pay off, and in a rather large way. As the sun reaches the horizon - the exact twilight hour - a brilliant, white light spreads across the heavens and the Celestial Road. As the onset, temporary blindness fades from their eyes, they see before them what can only be assumed to be what they had came for.
In front of them lay two rather large, golden gates, chained shut and locked by a rather sturdy padlock. In either direction, walls of ivory and white pearl stretch out as far as the eye can see. Beyond the gate, a dirt path lays, winding through what appears to be a large forest absolutely teeming with flora, but no fauna to be found. Indeed, it appears they have reached the gates of heaven themselves. All of the doubts about their endeavor are washed away instantly by the sights of this paradise. A few of them felt a twinge of guilt for what they were about to do in the disturbing of this paradise, but again, had to quell their thoughts on the subject matter. Giovanni gives a brief glance at Lavender who, immediately understanding his intentions for her, steps forward with a high-caliber rifle, intent on destroying the locking mechanism if not the entire padlock. Without even taking a breath, she braces herself against the recoil, aims, and pulls the trigger, causing a rather loud noise which seems to echo through the heavens. The inside of the padlock is practically vaporized, due to the fact that it was mainly for show and relied on the strength of the outside of the lock and the chain. Without missing a beat, she kicks in the gate, causing both chain and padlock to fall to the ground. The members of Team Rocket rush ahead of them in an organized fashion, weapons at the ready, prepared to shoot anything on-sight. Giovanni, Lavender and Melissa follow behind.
Beyond the gates lie a road of what appeared to be dirt; a simple, well-worn path stretching through a veritable forest of paradise. As the group head down this pathway, they find themselves walking through a place of serene beauty and grace. The air is clean, the flora a rich, vibrant array of colors.. One of the members fancying botany as a field of study noticed that amongst the what seemed like infinite forms of plant life, there were long-extinct species. The location seemed empty of life; odd, given it was the heavens, but they paid little attention to this in favor of reaching the end of the road. However, their wait wouldn't last long, as the surrounding forest appears to quickly thin out after a good half hour of walking. Beyond it, a sight they knew no living mortal would be able to witness lie ahead in the not-so far distance. The dirt road became spotted with bits of grass and pavement, leading up to a locale of legend.
At least a quarter of a mile away stands before them a building so awe-inspiring, even Giovanni himself felt he must stop and admire the structure. This building, known only in old tales and legends, is known as the Palace of Eternity. Though its appearance was more of a palace-castle hybrid, this took nothing away from its divine grace. The walls of ivory that made up the curtain wall stretch high into the air, with the occasional arrow loop visible, though these seemed to be for decoration. Obviously not expecting an invasion of the heavens, most of the visible weapons were set up for decoration; it even lacked a portcullis, drawbridge and moat, clearly leaving the keep wide open for attack for an invading party. However, its flawed design by mortal plane standards took not away from its serenity, but only added to it. The ivy-covered walls of ivory also featured the occasional flag, which bore the Divine Crest: A shield divided by diagonal lines into four sections with Arceus with a white background at the top, Dialga on the right with a soft blue hue background, Palkia on the left with a light pink background and Giratina on the bottom with a black background. This crest could be seen on the many flags adorning the towers and walls. Truly, the Palace of Eternity was a fitting name, the actual location more than living up to its rumors.
Deciding it best to move forward rather than stand around gawking at the sight before them, Giovanni glances at Lavender who with a nod, makes a silent motion with her hands. Instantly understanding the directions, the group of sixteen members crowd ahead of them, weapons at the ready to deal with any threats Fortune was on their side it seemed. Their journey through the heavens towards the Palace of Eternity went unhindered, as they proceed in a standard V formation, equally spread, making sure to cover all areas as they proceed towards the castle gates. Fortune seems to be on their side however. Not only are the heavens free of any opposition to their endeavor, the palace appears to lack a town, or any outward defenses.. even a gate or doors for the gatehouse. Because of this lack of opposition, their formation easily makes it through into what appeared to be a courtyard. The inside of the curtain walls, where one might expect to see an inner bailey, were lacking in all of the things you would actually expect to see in said bailey, and instead consisted of a beautifully-tended courtyard, consisting of a hedge maze, various species of beautiful, yet extinct trees and other flora, and topiary. The topiary as it would appear, is of all of the legendary pokemon, with the weakest of them towards the entrance, all going down to the largest one, Arceus, near the entrance to the Palace. Amongst the various other things that stood out; a bird bath or two, a swing set.. perhaps the thing that most stood out in this courtyard is the passageway.
Under the light of the sun, a walkway of solid gold bricks stretch out from the gatehouse to the Palace. Their path winds greatly through the courtyard, as if to say: 'Walk down me, and gaze upon the glory that is the Palace and its courtyard'. The path seems to go on for quite the distance, yet even in the shadows along the way, it remains glittering even in the dimmest of light. On either side of the passageways were the most impressive of the flora; the caretaker must be especially fond of the plants growing there. Or perhaps since that passage is what guests would walk down, it must be the most impressive? Nobody knew. Aside from the various plants, there were also trees, providing comfortable breaks from the delightfully warm afternoon sun, and the impressive Legendary Topiary, perfectly sculpted to capture even the finest detail in a legendary pokemon's appearance. However, even the most impressive of the work could not manage to deter the team, who, though they became bottle-necked while on the path, marched through. Crystal, always searching for something exciting to do at her desk, took a few clippings of the various plants that she would latter try to grow at her desk. She wasn't much of a gardener, but it sure beat the pants off of playing the 'stab a pencil between your fingers as fast as you can without stabbing yourself' game for hours on end.
And so the squad marches on, down the path, around the curves. With still no sign of opposition, they quickly make their way to the entrance of the palace, which had a rather grand, ivory fountain with the walkway stretching around it. At the top, stood a carving of Arceus, water pouring out of the gems on the ring around its waist. There are three other sculptures, one of Giratina, Dialga and Palkia, each with water coming out of the spots for their respective jewels. The water inside is clean; cleaner possibly than even a source purified by a Suicune. Despite the temptation of both Giovanni and his subordinates to rest by this fountain and drink from its cool, refreshing waters, Giovanni orders them to press on towards the grand doors of the castle, which they do with only the slightest hints of resentment for his orders not to stop. Back to their V formation, they climb the grand staircase of pearl, past two statues, one of Palkia and the other Dialga, with one of Giratina from the high edge looking down at them with a stance akin to one of the many gargoyles seen at the Hearthome City Cathedral. Despite the unnerving sense that they are now being watched; truly a sense first coming to them since their first steps onto the Celestial Road, they arrive at the double doors to the palace.
Much like the rest of the heavens, even this entry door was a sight to behold. Towering above them at a height of about three stories, a pair of large double doors stand. They appear to be made of pure, solid oak; a stark contrast to the rest of the castle, but likely chosen just for that reason. Many intricate patterns have been carved deeply into the door, and filled with what appears to be melted-down gold. The knockers are perhaps what differ the most. On the right door, a knocker is in the shape of Dialga's head, molded out of gold but with a diamond handle. The other, also molded from gold, shaped as Palkia's head, with a handle of pearl. There is no sign of Giratina on the door, but the Divine Crest sits dead center, about halfway up the door, engraved into it. Wasting no more time admiring the sights, Giovanni points towards the door. With a dark, eerie grin creeping across his face, he gives the orders for them to open the passageway. Just beyond that he knew was the place where his destiny lie, and he was no more doubting his convictions now than he was when he first began the product.
With heavy grunts, the sixteen squad members grab the large handles on either side of the door, and pull. Though the initial weight seems too heavy for even them to bear, either determination, a fear of retaliation from their leader in case of failure, or a combination of both contributed to their eventual success. The doors groan open at a rather slow speed, swinging outwards towards the stairs. Given the noise made, it would seem that they have seen a lot of use in the countless years, in spite of the fact that they were probably the only humans ever to lay hands upon them. And so into the Palace of Eternity the squad forms, having ample room to regain its V formation. Giovanni, Crystal and Lavender follow closely behind.
Inside the Palace, beyond the double doors, stands a sight that even the most creative of artists or architects alike couldn't come close to replicating if they tried. A lush, crimson red carpet meant to welcome visitors stretches down the extent of the hallway, with a quality that would signify its owner had a vast amount of wealth. On either side of this grand hall, marble pillars support a barrel-vaulted ceiling. The walls appear made entirely out of ivory, with golden, jewel-studded trim around the ceiling and floor. The floors themselves seem marble much like the pillars, and are a startlingly beautiful mixture of black and white, starkly contrasting with the walls around them. Each pillar holds a flag baring the Divine Crest, and remain perfectly motionless due to the lack of even the slightest draft. There are statues of various legendary pokemon on either side of the red carpet, which are much like the topiary, in order from weakest to strongest from the entry door to the large set of double doors at the end. However, perhaps the most remarkable sight is the ceiling. Far above, painted on, is the sky, with clouds Arceus is on a heavenly cloud, one front leg pointed outwards. Surrounding it are three pokemon: Uxie, the Being of Knowledge, Mesprit, the Being of Emotion and Azelf, the Being of Willpower. A little bit away, on a portion of ground surrounded by clouds, a Lucario is reaching out to touch Arceus' outreached forearm. A human is next to the Lucario, and an Electrode, Pikachu and Eevee. This again seemed to be a way to show off to visitors, or perhaps just an extravagant decoration, but there seemed to be no reason other than to let Arceus remind itself and others that it was the force behind creation.
Of course, again, Giovanni held the artistic and potential cultural value in little regard, as he orders his subordinates ever forward. They even managed to ignore the fact that such a structure could not exist in the real world, due to the inability of pearl and ivory to be such large-scale building materials. Fortunately, the Heavens need not follow such earthly restrictions, lest the structure collapse upon them. Again in the V formation, they march on down the Hall of Origin, through the statues, under the painting, and to the set of smaller double doors on the other end of the entrance hall. Without even needing to wait for orders, two of the team of sixteen pull open the oak, carved and gold-filled doors, revealing that the red carpet continue down a hallway, up to a throne. Giovanni and team enter the room, which looked near-identical to the former save for the cathedral ceilings with golden chandeliers hanging from the rafters. There are rather unusual suits of armor and weapons set up in display about the throne room, all leading up to the elevated throne. Various doors visible along the walls lead to unknown locations, but truly all attention centered around the creature on the throne. Or rather, the human-like figure.
Sitting on the throne was not a pokemon like Giovanni and his squadron expected, but rather a human. Her skin is a pale white, and flawless, without even the slightest hint of a wrinkle, crows feet, blemish or mark. Her hair is as white as the driven snow, and quite long, dangling over parts of the throne straight down to the floor. She is wearing a long, flowing, white and grey dress, with the elegance needed to match that of her surroundings. Perhaps the most outstanding thing about her however, is the golden halo-like object rotating above her head, with jewels at four spots there, highly reminiscent of the object around Arceus' midsection. However, this matched her golden headdress and footwear, and definitely matched her similarly golden rings and bangles. Standing next to her throne, a female, in heavy, pearl armor. Her helmet has a protective faceplate on it, and long, pink hair flows down her back, to about her waist. The armor itself, though pearl, is reminiscent of something you might see a guard captain wear out of a fantasy videogame, what with all its excess spikes. Despite this and its undoubtable weight, the person whom this armor protects seems to have no trouble with its weight or any mobility restrictions. She is standing with a sword of an unidentified metal sticking in the ground, the hilt made of a combination of gold and pearl. However, the most outlandish thing about her armor, is the sizable orb right over the location of her heart, protected by a thin mesh of chain mail. She remains perfectly still, as Giovanni and his squadron approaches the throne.
The knight shifts uncomfortably, but the female on the throne reaches over to softly touch her arm; an indication to stand down and relax. A small smile comes to her face, as she turns her attention to her visitors, red irises standing out strongly against the green eye shadow. She stands calmly, crossing her hands over her lap, and with their distance slightly closed Giovanni and his group can see the faintest amount of green blush added to her cheeks. Her hair shifts from its place of rest, and cascades down around her, settling in a way to only compliment her appearance. In all her divine beauty, she gives a sweet smile, and tilts her head. "Hello, friends, and welcome to my palace. I am Arceus, the Alpha and Omega, but you may call me Arceus, or simply Arcy if you would prefer. I see you managed to reunite my sixteen plates and locate my long-lost Azure Flute. For that, I owe you an eternal debt. Please, my new friends, ask me what you wish, and I would be more than thrilled to grant it. Think of it as one free wish, whatever your heart's desire, as repayment for your deeds."
Giovanni gives a distrusting look. 'One wish?' He thinks, crossing his arms. '..this is far too easy. It must be a setup. But fine. I shall indulge, for now'. "One wish, you say." He closes his eyes, pretending to be in thought, and doing a rather good job of doing so. He opens his eyes a few moments later. "…power. My wish is for power. Enough to rule the world." He states this calmly, bluntly, matter-of-factly, his demeanor not altering in the slightest. He fully expected what the answer would be, and as such gave Lavender and Crystal nods, before returning his gaze to Arceus. He gives her a look of stone, cold silence. Arceus looks back, and tilts her head. "Power, hm? Not what I expected… I suppose Palkia was right to warn me of a malevolent presence approaching.." She sighs a little. "I had hoped maybe the time you had to reflect would change you for the better.. but alas. … My apologies, Sir, but I cannot fulfill your request. Please, leave my home immediately." She looks down a little, saddened by her having to request this of her first mortal visitors. 'Why did they have to bear ill will?' she questions herself, though she knew the only possible answer would be 'Because only one who would go through the trouble of doing so would be evil'. It was an unfair view to have, but apparently justified.
Giovanni gives a small shrug. "Very well, then. After all, who am I to argue with the Alpha and Omega herself. .. Or, I could just go ahead and take what I please by force." He points, and in an instant, his sixteen subordinates are set up to mow down Arceus in a wall of lead. A risky move, he was sure, but he had come too far to turn back now. The squad aim their weapons at Arceus, but before a single shot can go off, the knight that had been standing next to her rushes forwards, and before the subordinates can even have a moment to regret their actions, they find their life draining from their bodies; the cold blade of the knight's sword cleaving out sizable chunks of their throat. In almost an instant, the sixteen elites slump over, dead, with a pool of deep crimson blood spreading out over the carpet and marble flooring. Giovanni was unsurprised by this turn of events, but before he even has an instant to relax, a single gunshot echoes through the halls of the palace. There is the heavy clanking of armor, as the knight collapses at the feet of Arceus. A single, well-placed, armor-piercing round from Lavender's handgun has felled the mighty beast.
"! Palkie!" Arceus exclaims, kneeling next to the knight. With a flash of her eyes, the remaining three freeze perfectly in place. This was an unexpected turn of events, and already Arcy could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She removes the helmet, exposing the soft, feminine features beneath. Arceus gently stroking the cheek of her fallen comrade. "Palkie! Are you alright? Speak to me!" She peels back the armor to the underlying chain mail layer, added for protection. She gently pokes and prods Palkie, concerned over her well-being. Palkie lets out a small cough. "Mmmerf.. Arcy .. My apologies, m'lady.." Her voice is rather weak. Wherever she was hit, it appeared to be her weakest point. Arcy quickly shakes her head. 'No, do not apologize.. It was my fault for not listening to you.." She removes the gauntlet from one of her hands and takes it, and gently holds it. "I'm sorry.. … Where are you hurt?" Her voice is highly concerned. Obviously, she cared greatly for her felled companion.
Palkie cringes a bit from the pain, and removes the chain mail layer from the orb on her chest. The bullet appeared to have hit dead on and bounced off, but the damage is done. There is a rather sizable, deep-reaching crack dead center in the orb, and it appeared to be losing its luster. "..I didn't know.. Their weapons could damage it … I should have taken more precautions.." She coughs a bit more, cringing a bit. Arcy pets the orb a bit, and shakes her head. "No! No. Don't blame yourself.. Please.. Wait here.. I'll get your brother, and we'll figure something out. They must have my plates at the old shine, don't they?" She seems very concerned. She knew the plates held portions of her power. Without them, healing an injury as severe as Palkia's seemed like a far distant impossibility. Palkia, however, shakes her head. "..it's too late.. I think.. .. I think..t they're scattering to the winds.. … You have to get some help to gather them.. Before.." Arceus shakes her head, and pets Palkie on the head. "Please, don't say anymore. I'll find the help. Just wait here. Don't die.." She closes her eyes, and making sure she's in a comfortable position, slumps forward a bit.
In the world, Shaymin, Michael and Nathaniel both collapse, simultaneously; their consciousness drawn by an unknown force to a mysterious locale. In it, an endless plane of grass extends in infinite directions, dotted with the occasional tree. The sky above is the clearest of cerulean one could imagine, with no sign of pollution or poisons to it. The sun shines high, but in spite of its point in the sky, the area remains pleasantly warm, with a refreshing breeze blowing through. Before the three of them can question their sudden reunion or even their location or nature of arrival, a figure materializes before them. This feminine figure of divine origin, of serene beauty and grave, steps forward, hair flowing behind her. A troubled look is prevalent in her features, as she steps right up to the trio.
"Please, forgive me for bringing your consciousness here.. but I am afraid the situation is rather dire." She folds her hands over her lap, and gives a small, respectful bow. The group take a moment to take in the situation and her appearance, but before they can get a word in edgewise, she speaks again. "I know of your endeavors in the past.. about what you did to bring down Team Rocket … I am afraid I have been far behind in my knowledge of the world, and the results of my ignorance have been met with dire consequences." A few tears come to her eyes, but she wipes them on her sleeve. "..the heroes that have been inducted into the Hall of the Ancients before you have long-passed; their spirits have been reincarnated many times over. I am afraid in this modern era it is only you three that hold the medals representing induction into the Hall. … As much as it pains me to do so, I am afraid I must ask you to serve the world again."
Nathaniel, though not one to exert himself physically, purely because he relied more on his brains than any sort of brawn on musculature, steps forward. In the very depths of his soul, he could feel his inability to reject such a heartfelt plea; especially form a such a striking female, if nothing else. He bows a little, as a sign of returned respect. "..Whatever it is, I'll do it. Name it. I'm up for another adventure." he says, nodding a little. Both Michael and Shaymin step forward, each nodding in agreement with Michael's words. After all, despite all the danger that could be involved, another adventure sounded like a great idea to them.
Arcy gives a small smile, and bows again, presumably in thanks. "Thank you.. Truly, bestowing upon you the Ancient Medals was the best idea ever proposed by the Johto Legendaries." She bows for a third time. "..the reason I must call upon your assistance.. Palkia has been injured with a mortal blow to her only weak point.. The plates that could restore my full power and enable me to heal her though just united, have been once again scattered to the winds by her losing control over her power.. Please, I implore you, find the sixteen plates and return them to the Spear Pillar of Mt. Coronet.. In my current state I can only use my powers to prevent her condition from worsening, and by extension, the deterioration of the multiverse. All will be well; the stones in the pendants are special, capable of preventing your minds from falling prey to the effects of spatial and temporal distortions, should any arise, and will react to the presence of nearby plates. … I will not lie to you; it shall be a difficult journey, with hardships along the way.. but fate of the universe may very well rest upon your ability to locate the plates. … My apologies.. I know this is a lot to handle, having the fate of the world on your shoulders.. but rest-assured, if I can manage, I will send you the greatest level of assistance I possibly can muster." She bows, one last time. "..please.. .. When you wake up you shall be in the same location in Johto… I wish you the best of luck in your quest .. And Nathaniel, if you wish, I shall restore some of your abilities from back in the time you spent as a pokemon; such things are still within my capabilities … When you awaken, you will think of this as merely a dream, but I implore you, treat it as if the fate of the universe depended upon the task imposed upon you, because in all truth, it just might.
And with that, the mysterious figure known as Arcy fades into nothingness, followed shortly thereafter by the nature-filled locale. Darkness surrounds them, but it is not long before they feel the sensation of dry heat upon their skins. They wake up, indeed in the same location, in a rather familiar locale, identified immediately by Nathaniel as the base of Mt. Moon. As the being of their dream had promised, Nathaniel, Shaymin and Michael had awoken to find themselves in the same place, sleeping with their heads in contact. Nathaniel is the first to sit up, and rub his head. "Ugh.. What happened? It feels like my brain was torn out of my skull and blended.." he mutters, rubbing the side of his head a bit. Michael is the next to wake up, asking more or less the same questions, followed shortly thereafter by Shaymin, who unlike the others only questions Nathaniel's safety. However before their questions can be provided with a suitable answer, something unusual happens. Something that has the local pokemon running about in a great panic. In the sky, a veritable prism of colors spread to all points, covering near every visible portion in an unusual, massive aurora. Pokemon throughout the world panic and flee at the sight, knowing from with their deep connection to the world that something very wrong is happening. Humans, having long-lost that connection, simply take pictures, regarding it as a miracle of nature or a miraculous event. The truth, however, is something far more horrid than can be imagined.
Back at the Spear Pillar in Sinnoh, the pillars, even the damaged ones, each glow with an eerie light. They react with the sixteen plates, drawing in Arceus' power contained within, and causing beams of energy to converge on one point. To any observer, this would appear as a magnificent sphere of multicolored light floating above the Spear Pillar, a truly magnificent display with an intensity that could turn night into day. Above the mountain however, dark clouds swirl around the growing energy mass, as lighting strikes the pillars. The thunder from the freak storm is deafening; so loud it can be heard from even the deepest reaches of Sinnoh. This, however, does not last for long, as a blast of multicolored energy strikes the center of the clouds, causing them to split clear apart. The light also strikes through the bottom of the spear pillar, a beam so powerful it pierces through the very core of the planet, extending out into the deepest reaches of space. Throughout the world and possibly the universe itself, time grinds to a halt, as matter dematerializes around the light. This dematerialization spreads like a virus, enveloping all matter in the universe, until there is not a single thing left.
In only a matter of mere minutes, a universe has faced complete and thorough destruction.