Chapter 7: Creating a Path of Hope
The Pokémon gazed at the heroines as it was levitating above. He was golden in colour, had tentacle arms of green and gold, pointy legs, and a red core as his power source. His face looked like a mask with no lips. He flew towards them and enquired:
"Are the four of you on a quest to defeat Dark Matter?"
Vivi replied, "Yes. How do you know about it?"
"I am a brother of Deoxys. Although my name is also Deoxys, you can call me Deo for short. We are assisting Hydreigon in surveying the space around this planet. What we found…was alarming."
"What is it?"
"I saw Dark Matter was on the way past the moon, but it suddenly disappeared."
"That is weird. Did it leave any trace behind?"
"I did sense a space distortion. That means, It may appear here anytime. I apologise, but I have to warn Xerneas about this. Please be vigilant. Take care."
"Wait! How did you know we will be here?"
Deo responded by shouting while flying away, "Xerneas told me about it, but it is just a coincidence that I had landed here just a few minutes before the four of you arrived. Alright see you!"
He was gone. Vivi tilted her head in puzzlement.
"What's the matter?" asked Shuy.
"Something is off. I don't think that Deoxys has a brother. We should visit Xerneas, NOW."
Eterna nodded, "Agreed. Let's go!"
They warped to the base of The Tree of Life via Abyss's Door. They were glad that Xerneas was alright. As the legendary noticed the group having a sigh of relief, she asked:
"Is there something troubling the four of you?"
Vivi answered, "Well…we just met golden Deoxys in Island of Isolation. Does Deoxys truly have a brother? And, is he your assistant in searching for abnormalities in space?"
"No, I do not have an assistant. Also, Deoxys is a virus evolved in space due to a cosmic power. Since you have mentioned this, we have to…"
"Already done!"
Eterna had conjured a huge Shadowable Barrier Form to shield The Tree of Life. She was in her Obliteration Form. Her body had turned white, and her eyes were blazing red. Vivi, Shuy and Maginvade were astonished of her sudden change of appearance.
"Why did you set up a barrier now, Eterna?" Maginvade questioned her.
The vixen spoke, "I don't like him; he had something vast hidden within him. I am not sure whether he is a foe, but I am not taking any chances than to protect the life core of this planet!"
Xerneas said, "I see, Eterna had sensed something in that Deoxys. I shall alert the residents to flee from this area at once."
She screeched, and soon the forest floor rumbled upon their footsteps, and the sky was filled with flying Pokémons heading away from the area. Xerneas then told Vivi, Shuy and Maginvade:
"You all should be prepare for a battle. I have a feeling it will be a tough one."
"Oh? Am I found out?"
The group heard a familiar voice and looked up to see Deo floating above the barrier. He looked at them with a menacing smile and chuckled:
"Hahaha! All of you are wary of me isn't it? I guess it is time to reveal myself."
He transformed into a black humongous ball, with black tentacles sprouting all over him.
Xerneas commented, "Dark Matter! How did you managed to escape from my sight?"
"Well, I do not need to explain am I? If you think I am like that Dark Matter, it will be your downfall. And now…"
With a swoop of Its tentacles, Eterna's barrier was shattered. Eterna was appalled, so does her friends, but she had no time to think about it. She summoned Devoid Dominance: an attack of five black beams in all angles. Dark Matter did not avoided the beams. It laughed as they did not affect It at all. Eterna knew her attacks would not harm It much, but she had to give an opportunity for Vivi and the rest to attack.
Xerneas started first by using Dazzling Gleam. Dark Matter was hit, and Its movement was impeded. Vivi, Shuy and Maginvade then used a combination of three status infliction wands to hinder It further. Later, Xerneas used Moonblast. The black ball was encased in the pink light. It seemed to be in pain, until It said:
"All of you hoped that I am weakened isn't it? Unfortunately, your attacks did nothing on me. Oh well, I thought by notifying you heroines to prepare for a battle may give you all an edge over me, but I have to digress, it is pointless. I shall take The Tree of Life now!"
It flew over the rainbow tree and warped it with Its tentacles. It continued to devour the tree despite the attacks from the group and Xerneas. As Xerneas was an incarnate of The Tree of Life, she felt her energy drained progressively. In a last ditch effort, she created a small light ball and passed it to Vivi. Vivi was astounded:
"What is this, Xerneas?"
"Take it, and go. As long my energy is not lost, the planet will survive. Now leave this place while It is still focusing on me!"
"But we can defeat It! We can't just let It win!"
"Right now, you can't. But in time…there is a probability. Go, now!"
Eterna had heard the conversation between Vivi and Xerneas. She created an Abyss Door and used Psychic to move her friends into the portal. Vivi was the only one that fidgeting, and was shouting that it was wrong to leave the battle and let Dark Matter succeeded in taking The Tree of Life. Shuy then replied:
"If he gets to us, even with the Wind Looplets, they can't guarantee our lives. We need to calm down and plan on of how to bring It down somewhere."
Maginvade responded, "Yeah Vivi! And since we have the light ball entrusted to us by Xerneas, we should find a place safe to keep it as well."
Eterna said, "In all, we have not fail yet, but you girls must get across safely."
Vivi answered, "Wait…what?"
The portal entrance closed after the trio, and they were warped to her room in The Pokémon Expedition Society building. Vivi was sure that Eterna did not ask of her imagery of the place, so she was baffled on how she knew the place. In addition, she was thinking of why Eterna had stayed back, until she realised of what Eterna had said to them before at Freedom Coast.
"Oh no…Eterna!"
"It seems she has to do it." commented had transformed into Oppressive Form by unsealing the lock within her. As she looked at Dark Matter almost swallowing the tree whole, and Xerneas slowing disappearing but showing signs of disbelief of her second form, she smirked:
"Oh goody. With no obstacles in my way, I can go all out now, isn't it?"