Ezra clung to the ring around Arceus' body as they flew through the air.
Arceus - now sufficiently recovered - had explained to the boy that every few centuries it went all over the world to see how things were going and had been side-tracked with the fiasco in Sinnoh on the way to its next stop, in a region across the ocean from the landmass Michina Town had been in.
Intrigued, Ezra had asked to come along, having decided to take Arceus up on its offer of taking him away from his old life.
Ezra was now mildly starting to regret his choice. He hadn't been told leaving the ground would be involved and the boy suspected Arceus had withheld that tidbit on purpose.
"Climb on and hold on," had been the only warning he'd received before they'd taken flight.
Yet the view from on high was something Ezra couldn't ignore and he stared slack-jawed as the planet unfolded beneath them.
The boy had thought the city streets that he had grown up in were never-ending, but once he saw the endless blue and green world below, he realized he'd grown up caged.
Pushing those thoughts away, Ezra felt Arceus start to descend and he watched the ground zoom up to meet them.
Moments before Ezra was sure they'd splat against the ground, Arceus shed its momentum and trotted to a halt.
It shook itself, inadvertently causing Ezra to topple to the ground in a heap with a yelp of surprise and Arceus blinked in surprise before craning its head down to nose at the prone boy.
"Sorry about that. Force of habit."
Ezra's hand lightly pushed the inquisitive snout aside and he pushed himself up, bracing himself on his elbows.
"I'm fine," the boy said, getting his legs under him. He tried taking a step and almost fell again before Arceus' leg arrested his topple. Gripping it, Ezra shook his legs to get the feeling back in them and grimaced.
"You haven't ever ridden a pokémon before, have you?" Arceus asked.
"Like that? No," Ezra said, enjoying the feeling of life coming back to his legs before he looked around. "Where are we?"
"Kalos," Arceus replied. "At least, that's what the locals call it."
"Arceus!"
Ezra jumped in surprise as a massive red and black bird dropped out of the sky, landing on the ground before it spread its wings and bowed its head.
"Welcome back to our humble land. How was your trip?"
"It was uneventful, Yveltal," Arceus replied, before glancing at Ezra. "Well, mostly."
Yveltal tilted its head before focusing on the boy. "What's this? A human? How did this come about?"
"I'll tell you once Xerneas joins us," Arceus said.
Yveltal hesitated before glancing at the mountains.
"What happened?" Arceus asked.
Yveltal shook its head. "Nothing bad. She's currently helping a Carbink colony with its sacred diamond."
Arceus nodded in understanding. "I see."
Ezra stared at the giant pokémon in awe before reaching out to touch it. Arceus firmly pushed him back.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Why not?" Ezra said with a scowl.
"If anything living touches me, it dies," Yveltal said.
Ezra's hand snapped back to his chest and he cradled it, squeezing his fingers. His eyes roamed over the pokémon and then he noticed the dead patch of grass it was sitting in.
"Ah, I see," Ezra said.
"Arceus~!" came a new voice, shortly followed by a large blue deer-like pokémon trotting into view.
"Xerneas," Arceus said warmly. "It's good to see you."
The two exchanged nuzzles before Xerneas noticed Ezra.
"Oh my, you didn't tell me you had a son!"
Ezra's face darkened and Arceus shook its head.
"He is not my son. Merely a human who helped me out in a tight spot."
Both Yveltal and Xerneas looked alarmed.
"I think it's time you told us what kept you," Xerneas said, finding her voice first.
"Gladly," Arceus said. "Shall we walk?"
Arceus finished its story and Yveltal shook its head. The Destruction pokémon had perched on Arceus' back, one of the few places it could sit without leaving a trail of death behind it.
Xerneas had Ezra riding on her back and the boy stroked her silken fur, causing the deer to chuckle.
"Not something you feel every day, is it?" she asked, glancing back at him with a smile.
Ezra's ears warmed and he shook his head. "No. Usually it's rough stuff," he said, plucking at his coarse shirt.
"I've noticed," Xerneas replied dryly. She giggled as Ezra shifted uncomfortably on her back and shook her head. "Don't worry about it. Your butt is hardly any rougher than Yveltal's talons."
"...Thanks?" a bewildered Ezra replied.
Watching them, Yveltal rolled his eyes. "Typical," he muttered.
Arceus raised an eyebrow. "Do I detect a hint of jealousy in your tone?"
"N-no," Yveltal said, looking away. Tucking his wings close, he pulled his neck in and failed miserably at not looking longingly at Xerneas.
"You know you'd lose nothing by asking, right?" Arceus pointed out gently.
"Except if she rejects me, I have to live with that for eternity," Yveltal said gloomily.
"Truly, being you is suffering," Arceus said dryly. "Work up the nerve by the next time I come 'round or I'll ask her for you myself."
As Yveltal sputtered indignantly, Arceus gazed around the landscape.
"I see you and Xerneas have been through a few cycles since my last visit. How have those gone?"
Composing himself, Yveltal idly preened a wing. "Usually uneventful. The Cells warn us of any major issues and Zygarde answers those we can't get to in time ourselves."
"Ah, Zygarde," Arceus mused. "Rarely around when I pass through. How have they been?"
"As stuck up as ever," Yveltal said bitterly, before taking on a more thoughtful tone. "Well, not entirely... The red core has been studying humans a little more. Especially since they started spreading out and making new towns and villages. Blue has been keeping its distance and I'm not sure where or what Purple, White and Black have been up to."
"A pity," Arceus said. "Perhaps I shall have to arrange a meeting or look for them myself one of these days."
"With or without your newest addition?" Yveltal asked, once again looking at Xerneas.
"With," Arceus said. "He's been quite eager to get away from Sinnoh and he could do with more interactions with...anyone, really."
"Hm..." Yveltal said. "Perhaps some day you can bring him back and we can have a proper get-together."
"I'm sorry I can't stay," Arceus said. "Plenty of work to do."
"No need to worry," Yveltal replied with a wave of its wing. "Go, we'll keep an eye on Kalos in your absence."
"Thank you," Arceus said. Raising its voice, it called to Ezra.
Ezra reluctantly dropped off Xerneas' back, giving her one last pat on the way down.
"Before you go, Ezra," Xerneas said. "I have a gift for you."
Ezra turned to look up at her and she lowered her head before pressing her muzzle to the boy's forehead. He went stiff, eyes wide and Xerneas' horns lit up in a myriad of colors.
Arceus watched the proceedings closely, surprised.
The glow faded and Ezra gasped, stumbling back. Catching his breath, he stared at Xerneas, who blinked shyly at him.
"I...uh... Thank you," he said, dipping his head.
"I hope you enjoy it," Xerneas said, before glancing at Arceus, who inclined its head and she relaxed with a smile. "Come back any time."
Ezra nodded and walked back to Arceus, who knelt down so he could climb up. Waving farewell to the two Kalosian pokémon, Arceus and Ezra leaped back into the sky and continued on.