Chapter 6

Celebi returned to awareness and found that she was lying on something cold and fluffy. Immediately she recognized it: snow. She forced her eyes open, trying to remember what had just happened.

She was greeted with the sight of green, snow-covered leaves, forming a canopy above her. She realized she was lying on her back, under a tree.

Sitting up, she glanced around herself and shivered. She was cold and wet, but she was alive. And alert.

Then she stood up sharply as her memory returned. Uxie! And the lake… It was gone. But then… where will Uxie go? I need to find him… I transported myself back to the time I came from… Should I go back to Lake Valor? Uxie can't help me anymore, but—

She smiled slightly as a thought occurred to her. I found the egg in the future near Lake Valor. Maybe I should go back to a little bit before I found the egg, and see how it got there. But first… I have to get back to Lake Valor.

She sighed, giving her wings a flutter, and rose into the air. Then, she flew off through the trees, heading southeast.

~.~

Once Celebi disappeared from his sight, Azelf sighed and looked down at the baby Celebi. You know, I wonder if we're going to have to keep you. What if you really are our future child? That would be… awkward… But we won't know until Celebi gets back.

The baby made a small noise and grabbed at him with one of its tiny hands. He smiled. It may be annoying at times, but I kind of like it… It reminds me of Celebi. Heh, I guess it would since it looks like her…

He looked up in surprise at a rustling sound. To his astonishment, Celebi emerged from the trees she had just disappeared into, only she looked much more tired and worn out. She gave him a small smile as she landed next to him.

He stared. "You're back already?"

She nodded. "Remember, I said I would travel back to right after I left."

"Of course I remember, you just told me a couple minutes ago. But I thought you would at least wait a little bit… Anyway, did you meet Uxie?"

"Yes." She frowned.

"What did he say?"

"…He said it was related to me. Closely. But… He didn't know anything else about it."

Azelf froze. "What? He didn't know anything else about it? This is Uxie we're talking about, right?"

She only nodded.

"But… That's like saying…"

"That the great warrior Azelf would be taking care of a baby?" Celebi finished, grinning slightly.

"Yes, it's like saying that— Hey! That's not funny." He glared. "And you'd better not tell anyone about this, or—"

She stepped toward him. "Or what?"

He stood, still holding the baby Pokemon. "Or… I'll think of something."

She paused to consider that. "Well, that would be an occasion, wouldn't it? You thinking of something…"

"That's not funny either."

She giggled. "You can't hurt me."

"And why not?"

"Because…" She didn't finish her sentence, instead she leaned forward and kissed him.

He was taken by surprise at first, but then he relaxed and returned it. "You're a very crafty person," he said telepathically.

She put her arms around his neck. "I know."

"No fair, I'm holding the baby."

Celebi broke away after a long moment, then glanced down at the baby version of herself. "Oh. That brings me to my next point."

"What's that?"

"I'm going to go to the future, a little before I found it, and try and see if I can figure out where it came from. After all, there aren't going to be many clues in this time."

Azelf processed that, then sighed. "And I'm going to have to stay here and take care of the thing?"

She hesitated, then nodded, pulling away from him. "I'm sorry, but we can't just leave it here. I won't be gone for very long, but I would feel more comfortable if you were taking care of it."

He nodded resignedly. "Alright. I'm just worried that something might happen to you, and I won't be able to help you."

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. And when I find something I'll come back and tell you."

"I would tell you to hurry, but I guess that isn't a problem since you can time-travel. But…" He glanced at her concernedly. "You seem tired. What happened?"

She sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing her head. "Cold doesn't get along with me very well. And I didn't get any sleep last… this night, or the next when I flew back. Plus, on the way there I ran into some trouble…"

"Trouble?! And you didn't tell me?"

"There was no need to. Obviously I'm still here. Some trainer tried to capture me, but I got away."

"Oh…" He gave a small smile.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine." She kissed his cheek, then disappeared in a flash of light.

~.~

A wasteland stretched out for miles. Nothing moved. Nothing lived, except in the tall shiny white building that sat in its center, a lone sentinel left on guard.

There was a flash of light in the middle of the wasteland. After a moment, it faded out of existence, revealing a spot of green amid the brown, cracked earth.

Celebi surveyed her surroundings with a dismal expression. How could this have happened? There should be a huge lake here, but there's nothing… I didn't even think it was possible for an entire lake to just disappear…

She glanced at the tall white building in the distance. At least this makes my job a lot easier… Nothing could live here, so that narrows my search down to that building.

As she watched the building, surrounded by deafening silence, she shivered in apprehension. I don't like this…

She hesitated a moment longer before taking off, heading toward the building.