Chapter 10 ~Divine Blessing~
August 17th (?)
1:23am
Unknown Location
Zack
Nothing. That's what death feels like. One moment, intense pain. The next, nothing. I would call it bliss, as the nothingness was indeed better than the pain of my neck being ripped out. However, I knew it wasn't, as it meant I would likely never see anyone I knew again. Rex, Talia, Dusk… Kiara… I probably wouldn't ever see them again.
I can hear a voice in the nothingness. It's faint, and I can't hear it well. Soon, I can feel again. I can feel the wind. I'm… falling? Yes, that appears to be the case. I force my eyes open just before I impact the ground I was falling towards. However, I feel no pain, and I do not flinch. I'm able to stand up just as soon as I land.
The floor beneath me is glasslike. Stained glass, from what I can gather. The large, circular platform is dominated by a portrait of Kiara, who has smaller pictures of Rex, Joshua, Talia, and myself around her head. My portrait was noticeably larger than the three other Pokémon. The background of the platform's picture was a dense forest, with a small lake and waterfall in the back.
"Where am I..?" I ask out loud. In the distance, I can see more stained-glass platforms, but I'm unable to make out any other pictures. Not knowing what to do, I sit back down, and wait.
~The same time, Desert of Orre, Kiara~
The swirl of power in front of me has created a vortex that was sucking in everything nearby. The sand flowed in like water, while the various Pokémon species nearby were running away, Shine clutching Shade in her teeth. Pure rage existed in my form- Shade had to die for what he did!
Instead of leaving the vortex at my side, I use Psychic to grab it, and hurl it at Shade. The Umbreon looked in horror as it made a beeline for him, and I knew his life to be finished. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for that; a sharp wind pushed the vortex aside, and it dissipated without my direct support. I looked towards the wind's origin, only to see Dusk standing in a battle pose, equally enraged as I am.
{I cannot let you kill him, Kiara. No matter what you blame him for; he is not in the right mind. He cannot control his actions.} Dusk said, priming another Razor Wind.
{He killed him, Dusk! He killed him! I cannot let his crime go unpunished, no matter what state he's in!} I send a Magical Leaf his way, but the attack was shrugged off even though it hit.
{Then you'll have to get through me.} Dusk launched the Razor Wind directly towards me, and I took the attack head-on. The force pushed me back a few feet, and after I recovered, Talia would later tell me that it seemed I had lost all sense of reason.
{HURRRAGH!} I screamed, unable to make a coherent string of words due to rage. I hurled a Focus Blast at Dusk, followed closely by a Dazzling Gleam. He used Shadow Claw to cut through the first attack, and the explosion was enough to dilute the second to a less lethal blow. In a flash, Dusk had sprinted up to me, and pinned me to the desert sands, scythe-like horn raised.
{The only reason I haven't killed you yet is because you're a friend of Talia's. But that protection only goes so far. Do. Not. Test. Me.} Dusk growled, his horn glowing with malice. I was unable to move, pinned as I was, but my body disobeyed my mind as my left fist, without an attack, punched the side of Dusk's head.
He didn't budge. Neither on the second punch. Or the fifth. It seemed like forever that I was just laying there, punching him, until I ran out of energy. My hand fell down, and I simply stared at Dusk with hate in my eyes. It was then that he appeared. Behind Dusk, a blinding white light soon presented itself.
{What is going on here?} A strong, commanding voice said. Dusk hopped off me, and instantly bowed. So did everyone else, including Shade. When I sat up to see what had happened, I saw none other than Arceus himself standing upon the sands, flanked by his three firstborn sons- Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina. {My son Groudon had informed me that Giratina's Savior had wanted to speak with me; however, when I arrive, I find him bleeding from his neck!}
{M-My lord…} It was Shine speaking. {Zack was attacked by my… companion, Shade. Shade was corrupted by a group of evil humans, and can't think straight right now…}
Arceus looked to the Umbreon, then to Zack's body, and finally to me. {I see. And you must be the one he called Kiara, correct?} I nodded weakly. {You must know what he went through to rescue you. I have never met a heart more pure than his.} Arceus walked over to us, the group, shrinking in size so he could meet us eye-to-eye. His sons followed suit, but stayed silent.
{Yes, Lord Arceus…} I said. {I am Kiara… and I, well…}
{I know what you did, child.} Arceus said. {You acted on your emotions, your love for him. Just as he did for you. However, I was never able to repay my debt to him for saving Giratina's life…} Arceus thought for a moment, then closed his eyes as seventeen objects ejected themselves from his body. His Life Plates.
Everyone looked on in surprise as Arceus continued. "Let's see… the powers of Grass, Fire, and Water… bound by Electricity…" As he said this, the corresponding plates flew to the side, together. {And with the power of Dragon, they multiply…} when the five plates combined, a single, small jewel appeared. {And with the Jewel of Life, I can repay my debt to him.} The Jewel lowered itself to Zack, and sunk into his chest.
The magic worked quickly. Green sparks danced on his wounds, sealing them up. Within moments, Rex had rushed over to his body, and placed a paw to Zack's neck. The Lucario then looked to me, and nodded. I myself ran over, as did everyone else. I saw Zack's chest rise and fall with his breathing. Tears flooded to my eyes as he was brought back from the dead.
{Father… Something's not right.} Giratina said. When asked what by his father, he responded, {I can sense Zack's soul… but it's not in his body…}
{Then where is it?} Dialga asked.
Giratina pointed one of his wings at me. {In her.}
Twelve Days until the end of the world.
~End of Chapter~
Nano Files
Entry 483: The Jewel of Life
This Jewel is crafted by five of Arceus's life plates separating form him and fusing together. Those five are Grass, Fire, Water, Electricity, and Dragon. The Jewel has the ability to create life, and restore land.
It was originally given to a human named Damos to revitalize the land his people lived in. However, that is not the extent of the Jewel's power. When Arceus is present, the Jewel can fuse with a sentient being, creating life.
However, the being's soul is another story entirely. Whether or not the soul is returned to the body, the dead can be risen. However, without a soul, they are reduced to a comatose state incapable of anything besides breathing.