Chapter 10: The Act of Kindness or Justice

The duo rode on Malleaglow Cloud Form and passed the moss-covered golden walls and some creeks, before encountering tough Pokémons in their final evolution form. That was what Vivi thought they were, until Eterna pushed them back using Psychic or Heat Wave. Eventually, they reached thirty-ninth floor, and encountered a Monster House in a huge room. Eterna snickered at the sight of the Pokémons glaring at them:

"I think this is a punishment for taking the easy route in this dungeon haha."

Vivi answered seriously instead, "Maybe, but now we need to defeat them! Why don't you try to use Heat Wave?"

"Nah. I have a better idea for this kind of situation."

Eterna used Purity Swirl. Vivi thought this move was to erase status infliction attacks, but once she saw the Pokémons became calm when the wave swept passed them, it became clear to her that the move could erase negative feelings within the Pokémons as well. She then enquired of her:

"This move of yours doesn't deal physical damage isn't it? By the way, when did you learn to use light attacks?"

"I borrowed it from someone and practiced with it, that's all. And yes, my light attacks can purify negativity, but my shape-shifting Malleaglow can deal physical hits."

"How about your Curse Power? Can you still use it?"

"I can, but currently I am using it to strengthen my light power. Don't be mistaken, the light does not purify me to death. It is 'comfortable' with my innate ability."

"And I thought light and darkness oppose each other…" puzzled Vivi, "By the way, did you recognise the symbols we had seen before we entered the dungeon?"

"Yes, but it is nothing important. So pay no heed to it, Vivi."

They drank their Max Elixir, before walking towards the stairs. Once they reached the last floor, they were astonished to be 'floating' above Earth. They also noticed a figure shaped like a Clefairy walking towards them. The bizarre thing was, that 'Clefairy' was comprised of galaxies as its body. Vivi was flabbergasted:

"Are…are we in space!?"

The Clefairy-shaped being answered, "Welcome, Vivi and Eterna, to my realm. This place is indeed, space, with some tweaks so that the both of you can breathe. I understand you want to ask me some questions, Vivi."

"Yes…"

"Tell me, and I shall answer."

"Why does Dark Matter exists?"

"Unlike the universe the both of you are from, this universe has magic that can defy death. And so, the existence of Dark Matter is crucial so as to maintain the balance of life and death. But I think you want to ask me is why Dark Matter depends on the negativity of the living. Feelings are fickle, and so does life and death, as they can be unpredictable. Therefore, negativity is the best food for It, and if there isn't much negativity, It will not appear."

Vivi criticised The Universe, "But isn't there aren't many planets that can host life? That creation of yours isn't balancing life and death in this universe."

"It does, as the conservation of atom distribution still applies."

"Huh?"

"Well, it is how I keep this universe together. Anyway, I am sure you know the answer to defeat Dark Matter, aren't you?"

"Such as overwhelming it with light?" replied Eterna.

"Yes, but there is another alternative. As It is consisted of feelings as well, you can show It the way to salvation."

"And that is? You do know that it does not want to listen to our sweet talking?"

"Although I can't tell you how to do it, Vivi will know how to perform it, eventually, and you will continue from there."

Eterna protested at It for not revealing how exactly they were going to do it, but gave up halfway. She then chatted to Vivi, "Vivi, since we have our answers, and hints, we should get going before Dark Matter ended more lives."

"Alright, though I really want to know how to save It. Do I have to do what Grendon had done before? I am not entirely sure."

"Who knows? Well It stated we will do it, we shall do it."

As The Universe showed them to a swirling white portal to exit from that place. Eterna reasoned to It about the symbols she read.

"Pass all the trials to meet The One That Is All. So, how do you know how to use my symbols?"

"I learned it from you as I have something to inform you in secrecy. Do you want to see it?"

Eterna looked at Vivi, and then replied to It, "Sure. But be quick, I have other things to do."

It drew a symbol: a black round shape with the tip of a white triangle emerged out of it. It was portrayed as:

Expel the light within you as soon as possible. Light can erase your existence no matter how much you come in terms of it.

Eterna crossed her arms in amusement, "Hmmm, sounds interesting. I will keep that in mind."

The duo entered the portal. It led them to the entrance of the ruins. Right now, it was the break of dawn. Eterna summoned her vault, and released all the Pokémons that she had saved. Shuy, Maginvade, Sir Ampharos, and the rest, were bewildered of the scenery they were in.

"Where are we?" said Maginvade.

Eterna answered, "You are in Guidance Ruins. So…do you like my therapy?"

"Pretty soothing, but the 'wall' of the room is swirling purple and blackness. And there are many items floating around in there. Kind of messy, you know?"

She scratched her head in embarrassment and replied, "Haha, sorry about that."

Shuy said, "At least, we are fully recovered. But what is the situation with Dark Matter?"

Vivi responded, "It is on a killing spree I believe…"

"I see. If that is the case, the two of you should go back to where It is. We shall stay here. That is what you intend to do, Eterna?"

Eterna shook her head, "No. I just let all of you out for a breather. Actually, I decided to bring all of you back to where Dark Matter is. What can the battalion do without their leaders?"

Shuy was astounded by her words. It did make sense for them to stay by the resident Pokémons to stop them for going too far ahead of themselves just to protect the world.

"So…" asked Sir Ampharos, "What will you do when you get back there, Eterna?"

She answered without hesitation, "I will support Vivi in dealing with Dark Matter."

He smiled, "Well, we all are! Time to get back to the warzone, shall we?"

They went back using Abyss's Door. The scenery, lit by the rising of the Sun, revealed the barrier surrounding Worldcore was almost broken, and numerous Pokémon bodies were lying on the ground. But despite of that, those that were alive were trying their best to prevent Dark Matter from further destroying the barrier. Hydreigon was looking exhausted as her body was shaking due to fatigue in maintaining the barrier. Eterna was not fazed of the lying corpses, and took Vivi to Dark Matter. On the hand, Shuy and Maginvade instructed the resident Pokémons to stand down to let Vivi to negotiate with It.

"So," said Dark Matter, "What is the answer to my existence?"

Vivi explained, "You existed to help to balance the circle of life and death. And negativity is your energy source; depending on the abundance of it, you can either grow stronger, or not born at all. That's all."

"Oh? The answer is just as I thought it would be. Thank you for telling me, leafling. Now there is no need for me to hold back in my conquest."

"Wait! Don't you feel regret? Isn't regret is a negativity as well?"

"I do, yet all I feel are rage and despair."

"I don't understand. Why are you feeling so much hatred?"

"That," It paused for a while, "Was what the livings felt in that planet I had destroyed. They despised themselves for causing their planet to be almost inhabitable due to their greed. And so, what I did was what they wished to be, to die with their homeworld."

Vivi reasoned with It, "But we are not like them! We didn't harm our world at all! So why must you punish us?"

"I just do what I need to do. Alright, that is enough talking. It's time to finish what I have started."

Dark Matter finally broke the barrier. Hydreigon was pushed back by the shattering of the shield, but she recovered quickly in mid-flight and clung onto Dark Matter.

"As my duty of being The Spirt of Life, I will not let you enter here!"

It smirked, "I would love to see you try."

It tried to grab hold on Hydreigon, but she could vanish and materialised at will. Dark Matter was agitated, and was flinging Its tentacles to shake her away instead. Seeing this as an opportunity, Vivi shouted at Dark Matter:

"Stab me, Dark Matter!"

It was astonished, "What!?"

"I want you to understand what I truly feel about you."

"This…is not I intended to hear from you. Well, I shall take your offer then!"

It extended one of Its tentacles towards her. Eterna instinctively shoved her away, and let herself being stabbed in the abdominal instead. Everyone, excluding Dark Matter, gasped of the sight of her bravery.

"Eterna!" shocked Vivi.

Eterna "You…gave me an idea, Vivi. Give me your vine."

She did as she was told. All of a sudden, she felt that something was taken out of her, but she could not fathom what it was. She observed Dark Matter stopped moving and was silent for a while, until It decided to speak:

"I see…Even after going through so many obstacles in your life, your heart remains pure. And I sense something in that vixen; something I cannot have, and something I cannot achieve. Ah…what am I feeling now? It is warm…"

Vivi responded, "It is called forgiving, Dark Matter. I do not hate you; I forgive you for who you are."

Eterna commented while resisting the pain, "Well, I don't forgive…you what you had did before, but once I heard your story, I understand…why you are born in this way. As I, a being…not created by Light, I had shared my thoughts and feelings of my life to you. In a way, we have gone through a lot, aren't we?"

Dark Matter was staggering in his reply, "I have bear so many ill wishes in my body. But, as an incomplete being that could even feel…happiness; that…will not…stop me from destroying your planet."

All of a sudden, a dazzling light poured out of It. Hydreigon instantly knew what where the light came from. She explained, "It is from The Tree of Life. Even though The Tree of Life is…reacting to your positive feelings; unfortunately for you, Dark Matter, the Pokémons need it back."

Eterna wasted no time and used Hurrisurge of Liberation: a gust of light attack that consumed darkness to power itself till there was nothing left. The light started by purifying the tentacle that pierced Eterna, and later to other parts of Dark Matter's body to reach The Tree of Life, causing It to be in excruciating pain. Eventually, The Tree of Life's roots came out of Its wound. The Pokémons ran away quickly as the rainbow tree gradually came out and landed on the ground with a loud thud, and a small quake. Another small item came out of Its wound as well. It was shaped as a sphere of swirling different spectrum of blue aura. Vivi picked it up using her leaf and said:

"Is this…"

Dark Matter's body had shrunk till about a size of a small waddling pool due to the loss of the cores. It answered in difficulty, "It is The Core of Life of the planet I had destroyed. Now…since I have been defeated, it is your call to end me."

Vivi was in a dilemma. She had saved It, but to end It, isn't her effort would be wasted? She lowered her head in distressed. Shuy and Maginvade approached her, and patted on her back.

Maginvade said, "It has to be done, Vivi. For the Pokémons' future sake."

Shuy agreed, "Yeah. You can't disregard the lives that were perished due to It! If It died, that will bring closure to the Pokémons that had lost their love ones."

The other Pokémons agreed that Dark Matter must be annihilated.

Vivi nodded, "I…understand. Eterna, if you will…"

Eterna acknowledged, "Alright."

She increased the speed of Hurrisurge of Liberation to purify Dark Matter's entire body, until there was nothing left. However, she heard a faint voice in the wind, so does the other Pokémons. It said:

"More of me will come here in the future, and may have different tactics on wiping planets that host life. But I believe all of you can stop them from doing so; as all they need is someone to listen to their cries. As long they have been heard and forgiven, they can be truly be gone for good after their destruction. That is all I have to say. I shall bid you all farewell."

Its final word echoed till it ceased. Vivi then looked at The Core of Life of the deceased planet she was still holding using her leaf, and muttered to herself:

"At least, we have this core. But what can I do about it?"

Eterna peered at it while healing her wound using Umbrae Mend, and spoke what was on her mind:

"I think, there is a way to restore the planet, or maybe, bring the resident Pokémons back from the dead."

Someone, who sounded familiar to them, said, "I can do that; to repay for their bravery to save our world."

The Pokémons turned around to find that Xerneas had appeared beside The Tree of Life.

"Xerneas!" cried Vivi, "You are alright!"

"Not exactly as most of the energy in The Tree of Life's core was drained by Dark Matter. At least, I can still revive the Pokémons."

She lit up her horns in colours of a rainbow and screeched, and pounding her hooves on the ground. In a blink of an eye, The Tree of Life shone brightly in golden colour, and dispersed its light into shapes of glittering leaves. Each of the leaves fell onto the resident Pokémon corpses. The light from the leaves spread all over the bodies, and soon the Pokémons got up, looking bewildered. Their close ones hugged them in joy, and thanked Xerneas for her help. She bowed, and smiled at them in return.

Xerneas looked at The Tree of Life and sighed, "Now, is there a way to transfer this tree back to where it belongs?"

"Not even I can do this. I cannot summon an Abyss's Door that big." admitted Eterna.

Hydreigon reassured Xerneas, "Not to worry. I can request Hoopa to help you. He is an expert in creating dimensional portals after all."

Maginvade responded, "Oh? Hoopa is a male in this world? Interesting. I hope he is not a jerk."

"Unfortunately, he is." laughed Hydreigon.

"At least he is not an overpowering figure that wiped out a continent as what Eterna had told us about…" said Vivi. "So, about The Core of Life I have retrieved, can we do anything about it?"

"It is best to be placed in whence it came from. Having two cores in this planet will spell more trouble for us. Deoxys can assist us in this matter. He can survive in space after all. And also, would it be possible he can borrow one of your teammate's Wind Looplet? Just in case if he encountered Dark Matter."

"But, does he knows where the place is?"

"The Core of Life can show him the way."

"Well, okay. I shall pass to you my Wind Looplet. You can let him have it then."

Vivi passed The Core of Life and her Wind Looplet to her. Hydreigon nodded in return and said:

"That settles it, I shall contact him now."

As Hydreigon was using telepathy to summon Deoxys, Xerneas thanked Vivi and her friends for saving the world.

She continued, "We couldn't done it without you. For this, you have my gratitude; so does the Pokémons here. I have another request though. Can you return my energy I entrusted to you?"

"Yes. I shall find it and return to you soon. But where should we meet up?"

"Where the tree originally stood. I am sure that once you have found it, the tree will be back in that island."

Eterna then stood in and said, "You can have my light energy if you want, Xerneas."

Xerneas refused, "That belongs to Arceus isn't it? You should return it to Him if you are done using it. By the way, Eterna, I am astounded that you can use light energy with grace to defeat Dark Matter. You are really exceptional."

"Haha, you think so? Well, maybe I should keep it for the time being; I might need it in some situations. Alright, I guess we have better get going. See you, Xerneas."

The resident Pokémons thanked the team too. They also offer gifts, but Vivi declined to receive them. The team decided to head back to Serene Village to meet Grendon. They waved goodbye to their comrades, and entered Eterna's portal, with Sir Ampharos tagging along as it would be easier for him to travel to Lively Town from there.