Byron nudges Darius's body with his boot, then fishes through his pockets for Heatran's ball. He recalls the volcano god and sticks the ball safely in his own pants. Then he rushes over to where Riley lays still.

"Oh no," Byron mumbles, kneeling over his immobile lover. His legs are buried under heavy rocks. Heatran's scorching attack burned a wide hole in his jacket and through the black shirt underneath, leaving his midriff sorely singed. And, perhaps worst of all, blood trickles down the side of his face from a head wound.

"No, no… Riley?" Byron shakes him by the shoulder ever so gently. Nothing. He searches for a pulse, but his hands are so cold and trembling that he can't tell if there even is one.

"Riley…" he chokes, pulling him up into his arms. "Please… don't tell me I'm too late. I'm sorry! I'm sorry for everything!" He feels hot, stinging tears leak from his eyes onto Riley's shoulder. "Please don't leave me, not like this. Te amo. I swear it."

With no response, he breaks down sobbing, clinging to Riley's body. He swears he's hallucinating when he feels a hand slowly stroke the back of his head. Not so much when Riley groans.

Byron pulls back to see his open blue eyes. Riley smiles weakly. "You got my message."

"Oh, gods!" Byron clutches him tighter than ever.

Riley coughs, sputtering. "Ow… darling… you're crushing me…"

He immediately lets go. More tears flow, and he holds an arm over his eyes. "'M'sorry… I thought you were… thought I lost you forever."

"I thought I'd lost you." Slowly, Riley leans forward, moves Byron's arm out of the way, and wipes his tears with his thumb. Byron kisses him, squeezing his shoulders as gently as he's able.

Riley pulls back suddenly, wincing. "Oh shit!" Byron exclaims. He rips off part of his shirt, holding it to the side of Riley's forehead that's bleeding. Riley gingerly touches the back of his head, revealing blood-soaked fingertips. Byron tears off another piece of shirt.

"Where is he?" Riley asks, holding both scraps in place. "Escaped?"

"Naw." Byron thumbs over his shoulder, where Darius Herrera is still unconscious on the broken temple ground. "I took care of that. Got Heatran safe an' sound too." He pats his pants pocket.

"Oh... my hero." Riley kisses him soundly.

"We gotta get out of here," Byron decides. "Got your Salamence on you? He can carry us both, right?" He starts moving the rocks on top of Riley's legs, bracing himself for what he might see. Briefly, he looks around for the best spot to kickstart a flight. That's when he finally notices the battle taking place on the other end of Spear Pillar. "What th' hell?" he asks.

"Ah, yes. That's happening," answers Riley in the most casual way.

Byron squints, trying to make out more detail in the moonlight. "Is that Roark?!"

Roark's Tyranitar fires Hyper Beam after Hyper Beam. Aden's Gyarados, finally succumbing to Arceus's attacks, is replaced by Toxicroak. His fighting type has the advantage against the normal-type god, and he also tries to poison. Likewise, Pikki's Aggron rushes in to use the fighting move Rock Smash. And Khaled's Nosepass, now evolved into Probopass, uses Rock Slide to hurl boulders and bits of broken pillars at their foe.

All while the four legendary golems stand in a line to shield the Trainers from Arceus's ruthless attacks. The strategy seems to be working pretty well until Arceus fires a Hyper Beam at all four, from one end to the other. The shield collapses, quaking the entire mountain.

Aggron is the next victim of a godly Hyper Beam. Byron can't tell what Pokemon Pikki sends in her place — it's far too small. He wonders what on earth could be that tiny and withstand a battle like this.

Toxicroak keeps repeating the Poison Jabs, hoping some of his venom infects Arceus. It roars in annoyance. While it's distracted, Tyranitar rushes in for a Payback.

"Huh," Byron grunts, tossing aside the last rock that has Riley trapped. "He's really fightin' like a Gym Leader."

"I knew giving him that Tyranitar was a good idea," says Riley. He tries to move his legs. It's no use. He attempts to swing one leg over using his hands, but instead gasps in pain. He touches the charred flesh on his stomach, grimacing at that as well.

"Don't move!" Byron frets. He glances over at the battle just in time to see Tyranitar fall, defeated by a direct Hyper Beam. Still battle-frenzied, Arceus blasts a follow-up beam directly at Roark.

With a shout, Byron starts to spring to his feet, but Riley grabs his arm. They both watch as the beam bounces harmlessly off some invisible shield, courtesy of the tiny Pokemon at Pikki's feet.

"She…" Byron gasps, falling to his knees. "She's a shield-maiden."

"They make a good pair," Riley remarks with a smile.

Aden grits his teeth as Toxicroak faints. All those jabs, and not one inflicted any poison upon the mighty Arceus. Even Tyranitar, which seemed to be their best bet for bringing down the crazed god, couldn't last forever. At this rate, every one of their Pokemon will be defeated, and then what are they to do? Run for their lives?

Arceus rears up on its hind legs, howling to the night sky. A now-familiar ball of golden light shoots into the sky. "Shit!" Aden shouts. "Take cover!"

The red-gold blazes of Judgment rain down upon Spear Pillar once more. Aden hears Pikki scream, but has to duck out of the way of an exploding boulder, and cannot see her. His eyes do, however, fall on Khaled, kneeling by the side of his Probopass to administer a healing potion. And there's a meteor headed straight for him.

Aden doesn't even think about it. He leaps forward, pushing Khaled out of the way. The beam strikes his side, searing holes in his thick leather jacket all the way through his new thermal shirt. He cries out, clumsily landing on top of his father.

"Aden!" Khaled shouts as the remainder of Judgment crashes down all around them.

"Now... we're even," Aden rasps, holding his scorched midsection.

Pikki can't tell what's happening, as her face is mashed into Roark's chest while he protectively holds onto her. He only relents when the meteors have stopped. Oran's Protect may have shielded them from any damage in front of them, but they could have been struck by flying rocks from any other angle. As helpful as the Shuckle's miraculous defense has been, Pikki calls him back and flings out another Great Ball. She orders her Snorunt to blast continuous Ice Beams at Arceus, praying for the slim chance it will get frozen.

"I don't think we're gonna make it," Roark says grimly, adjusting his crooked glasses.

"I know." She looks around, wondering why her father and Aden have stopped fighting. It seems Aden has gotten hurt, the way he's curled up on the ground with Khaled kneeling over him. She feels sick to her stomach.

"Look!" exclaims Roark suddenly, pointing. A Magneton has floated into the fray. Pikki wonders if it's wild, if the Pokemon of Mt. Coronet are coming to lend their strength. Clouds start to build up in the otherwise clear sky above. With a peal of thunder, the Magneton starts to vibrate — and glow. Much like Khaled's Nosepass was spurred into evolution by the mountain's strange magnetic field, so too is this one. It grows, becomes larger and rounder. And naturally, more powerful. The Thunderbolt commanded by Magnezone is enough to paralyze Arceus.

Khaled hurriedly helps Aden to his feet. "C'mon!" he shouts to the other pair, pointing to the pile of boulders where they had first taken refuge. Aden clutches his side, groaning as he sits back down on the ground behind relative safety.

"What happened?" Pikki leans closer to him.

"He took a hit for me," answers Khaled softly, kneeling by his side again. He even strokes Aden's hair. "Aw, son..."

"Stop," Aden says in a pained voice, slapping away his hand. "It was the least I could do."

Out of seemingly nowhere, Fadia bounds over the rubble to inspect Aden's injury. "There you are," he says, petting her head. "What's going on? Can't you fight for me just this once?" She only licks his cheek.

Roark peeks over the top of the collapsed pillar. "Fighting with Arceus isn't getting us anywhere," he assesses. "We can't weaken it fast enough, and we're running out of Pokemon."

Pikki tears her eyes away from her injured brother to look. Arceus is still trying to shake off paralysis while the mysterious Magnezone hovers before it, waiting to strike again. And, what's more, glowing beams of ice are still being fired from a little Pokemon hopping around Arceus's stomping hooves. "Konrun!" she cries. "I left him behind!"

"He's doing pretty good," says Roark. "He's a fast dodger."

Suddenly, in mid-jump, the Snorunt glows. Pikki gasps as he, like his battle-mates, evolves. Now able to float, the Glalie weaves circles around Arceus, firing Ice Beams at all angles. He also makes an odd, melodic noise while doing so. The longer he does it, the more Arceus stops thrashing, as if enchanted.

"What's that sound?" Aden asks, sitting up by holding onto Fadia's body.

Pikki strains to listen. "It's... the Shin'ai song! The one I always played for him! He memorized it!"

Aden squints at the circling Glalie. Then it hits him. "I know what to do!" he and Pikki exclaim at the same time. They both dig in their backpacks to retrieve their Capture Styler and souvenir Shin'ai flute.

"Aha," Khaled says with a grin. "I should've thought of that. I played a Shin'ai song to summon it, maybe another will calm it down."

"Especially if I use this at the same time." Aden holds up his Capture Styler. He's never been more grateful to have stolen it.

"I don't know what that is, but it'll work if you say so, son," Khaled tells him. Then he digs through his backpack. "I've got something even better for Pikki to use, however."

Stunned, she stares as his offering is dropped into her hands. "The Azure Flute… you were the one who bought it?"

"Herrera did. To use here. And I think you, a Shin'ai descendant, should play it for Arceus."

Pikki gulps and nods. Never in her life did she imagine she'd be holding her ancestors' most precious artifact, let alone playing it at a time like this.

"C'mon," Aden says, snapping her out of her thoughts as he slowly gets to his feet.

"Are you sure?" she asks. "You're hurt, you should stay here."

"It's just a little scratch. I think this is the key." He waves the Styler at her. "Should've thought of it sooner. And I'm not letting you go out there alone."

"I'm not letting either of you go out there alone!" Khaled declares.

"No, you and Roark stay back here," Aden says. "It might think we're gonna fight again if all four of us approach."

Roark seizes Pikki's arm as she starts to leave. "Wait. Be careful, okay?"

"I will," she smiles through her fear.

Roark places his hardhat on her head. "Just in case."

She kisses him quickly before joining her scowling brother. "I want a hardhat," he tells her.

"Well, get you a boyfriend who works in a mine." She sticks her tongue out at him.

Lightning crackles around Arceus's body as it rears up, shaking its head and bellowing. Aden and Pikki exchange a fearful look, standing side by side before the Hall of Origin. Pikki brings the Azure Flute to her lips, blowing and pressing her fingers against the scattered holes to figure out how to play it. Once she begins a semblance of a tune, Aden whips out the Capture Disc, guiding it to circle Arceus's massive body. The more it loops, the clearer Pikki's melody becomes. From high above, Konrun lets out a little Powder Snow, though it seems more for atmosphere than to actually attack.

Suddenly, after dozens of circuits, the Capture Disc pulses. So, too, does Arceus's body, and for the first time, it stands still, calm as the gently-falling snow. A deep, resonating voice sounds in the minds of everyone atop Spear Pillar. «THIS SONG.»

Pikki abruptly stops playing. Konrun floats down by her side. «LITTLE PRIESTESS WITH AN ICE SPIRIT. WAS IT YOU WHO SUMMONED ME HERE?» asks Arceus, fixing its great red eye upon her.

Aden grabs her hand. «OR WAS IT YOU? I SENSED YOUR TRUE FEELINGS, YOUNG GUARDIAN.» Gasping, Aden drops his Styler.

But it's Khaled who rushes in, putting himself between the pair and the god, holding his arms outstretched. "I summoned you here!" he announces. "Leave my kids out of this!"

Silently, Arceus stares at them all for a moment. Then it takes its first steps out of the Hall of Origin, gliding past the trio as it makes way for the other end of the temple. It ignores the terrified couple in the pile of rocks and broken pillars, instead nudging the unconscious body of Darius Herrera with its narrow golden hoof.

«THIS ONE. THIS ONE SOUGHT TO PLUNDER MY MOUNTAIN. HE STOLE MY KIND FROM THEIR HOMES. AND HE HAS BROUGHT DESTRUCTION THROUGHOUT THE LAND, WHEREVER HE GOES.» It lifts its noble head to the heavens, closing its eyes. As it does, a cold, ominous wind blows through the temple. A clap of thunder peals through the sky. And a black, swirling circle begins to appear on the ground. It grows and grows until it's a portal big enough for another massive being to emerge.

Its snaky grey head is covered with thick golden armor. It climbs up out of the portal with one, then two, then three pairs of legs. And it unfurls a two ragged, smoky wings from its back as it lets out an eerie, unearthly growl. Giratina, master of the Other Side, waits.

Arceus touches Darius with its hoof again, making his body glow — and stir. He groans, starting to sit up. As his eyes travel upwards to the Pokemon that towers before him, he plops back down, backing away, breathing hard.

«YOU WILL ATONE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, DARIUS HERRERA,» announces Arceus. Behind him, Giratina roars. Its great wings spread wider, coming to engulf its new prisoner—

"Wait!" Khaled dashes in front of the cowering Darius. "I understand now!"

«INDEED?»

He casts one last longing look toward Riley, Pikki, and Aden. "The human justice system can take care of him. If thou judge me worthy, o Lord Arceus, then let me take his place. For my further redemption, I shall do whatever thou would ask of me." Sweeping off his hat, he bows at the waist.

Arceus contemplates him for what feels like an eternity. «I ACCEPT,» it finally decrees. Giratina flaps its wings again until its creator states, «SAY YOUR FAREWELLS TO YOUR LOVED ONES, KHALED ADNAN JONES.»

With a grim sigh, Khaled kneels beside Riley and Byron. He takes one look at his closest friend's tear and blood-stained face, and forces a grin. "Hey. Sorry I didn't tell you."

"Khaled…" Riley seizes his hand. "You idiot."

He chuckles, digging through his backpack. "Here." He hands Riley four Ultra Balls. "All the golems. See that they're back in their temples, alright?"

Riley just shakes his head slowly, shedding more tears. "But why?"

"It's my chance to redeem myself, right? That was the message Lady Absol gave me at the Sinjoh Ruins. Besides, I think the Original One here wants the skill and services of Haruba Jones."

"I—" Riley starts to say. "Oh, Khaled, I…"

He squeezes his shoulder. "I know."

Riley pulls Khaled into an embrace, grunting with the pain of moving his injured body. He sobs quietly into his friend's chest, trying to say something. Gently, Khaled hugs him, patting his back. "I know, Riley," he whispers. "I'm glad it was you."

Then he holds out a hand to Byron. "You take care of him for me, Mr. Steel Body."

Byron stares at the weary face of his rival. "I will," he agrees, clasping his hand.

Khaled rises, approaching the children next. "Well…" he begins, and sighs. He scratches the back of his neck. "Sorry, kids. We barely got to know one another. But I'm glad we did."

Pikki sniffles, spilling tears. "This isn't fair."

"Sure it is, princess. It's for the best." He takes his three Ultra Balls from his pockets. "I don't want these guys trapped there, too. Luckily, there's three of you." He hands one to Roark. "Put my Probopass to good use in your Gym, alright, Mr. The Rock?"

Roark takes the ball, looking stunned. "I will, sir."

"Too bad we never got to go fossil hunting together. I hear you're quite an expert. I've come across a lot of fossils in my day." Khaled extends his hand to him.

"Y-yeah. It would've been nice." Roark shakes his hand.

"Be good to my daughter, you hear?" He grips harder, feigning a glare. At Roark's terrified expression, he laughs.

He gives Pikki the second ball. "I'm giving you my Carbink. Another jewel all the way from Kalos. Tiny but tough as nails, just like your amazing Shuckle. And you."

She wipes her eyes. "Thank you, Dad," she whispers.

That brings a lump to Khaled's throat. "And take the Azure Flute to your mom. She can give it back to the Shin'ai Museum, or put it on display at her restaurant. That'll bring in a lot of business. Tell her it's a gift from me, and that I'm sorry I never made it to see her. I truly wanted to."

She jumps up to hug him. He holds her close, reaching up to pat her head, touching Roark's hardhat instead. Teasingly, he tilts it down over her eyes once they part.

Then he turns to Aden. "You take care of my Desert Rose, alright?" He hands over his Flygon's ball. "She's my other best friend. She'll fly any place you need to go. She likes Payapa Berries, but prefers Poffins made with Occa Berries."

"You got it," Aden says, his voice cracking. He clears his throat, looking away.

"And give this to your mother." Khaled presents one custom-made, bejeweled Coronet Ball straight from the House of Flabébé. "It should cover everything in her lawsuit, and then some."

Aden stares at the extravagant ball in his hand before looking back up at his father. "What's this lawsuit you keep mentioning?"

He lets out a breath. "Oh boy. You two are gonna have a lot of catching up to do."

"Great." Aden rolls his eyes. "I'm sorry I whaled on you... Dad."

Khaled grins. "Eh, I deserved it."

From above, Arceus lets out a kind of snort, but much more dignified. "Guess that's my cue," Khaled says, sighing. From her vantage point off to the side, Fadia bounds down to join him. Smiling, he pats her head.

"Wait," says Aden, "she's not going with you?"

"I think she is. She works for the big guy there, after all." He points his thumb back towards Arceus.

"Fadia, no!" Aden falls to his knees before her. "You can't! I wanted you to come with me to Pastoria… and be my Ranger partner." He hangs his head as a tear spills over his cheek.

She leans in and licks his face. «You have good partners already,» she sends to his mind alone. «I must be your father's guide in the other world.»

"Oh, Fadia…" he mumbles, hugging her.

«Stay as kind as you are, Aden. I dearly hope that someday we will see each other again.»

Arceus roars to the dawning sky. Behind it, in the center of Spear Pillar, Giratina spreads its smoky wings wide. Khaled nods to his family, then walks bravely with Fadia towards his executioner. Giratina's massive wings envelope them both, and it flickers out of sight. The black portal fades slowly, spinning until it disappears. There's a chill wind, but no evidence that Khaled, Fadia, or the ghostly god were ever there.

Arceus approaches a sniffling Riley. «RILEY AARÓN HERRERA-TORRES. WILL YOU SET RIGHT WHAT HAS BEEN MADE WRONG BY YOUR FLESH AND BLOOD?»

"Ahh… I'll try," Riley answers shakily.

«WILL YOU VOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE HONESTLY FROM THIS DAY FORWARD?»

The red eyes pierce Riley to his core. This, too, is his chance to redeem himself. He squeezes Byron's hand, which has been clutching his the entire time. "Yes, my Lord."

«THEN I GRANT YOU THIS.» It lifts one graceful appendage, touching the tip of its hoof ever so lightly upon both Riley's broken legs. Golden light radiates from the contact, enveloping Riley's entire body, mending his excruciating burn and bleeding head as well. Then Arceus steps back, and Byron helps his partner to stand, finally.

The Original One then turns to the three children, similarly brushing its hoof along the seared flesh on Aden's side to heal it, until all that remains is a long, pale scar. «FOR YOUR BRAVERY, YOUNG PROTECTOR.»

"Th-thanks," he manages to say.

Arceus's eyes then fix on Pikki. «TREASURE THE AZURE FLUTE OF YOUR PEOPLE, LITTLE ONE. IT WAS HIDDEN FOR GOOD REASON. CONTINUE TO SAFEGUARD IT WITHIN YOUR BLOODLINE.»

"I shall," she promises, holding it tightly.

«KNOW THIS,» decrees Arceus, surveying the lot of them. «I HAD LONG JUDGED HUMANKIND TO BE INFERIOR. SHOULD YOU CONTINUE TO DESTROY THIS WORLD WITH YOUR GREED, I WOULD CLEANSE IT OF YOUR VERY PRESENCE. BUT THE MANY ACTS OF LOVE I HAVE WITNESSED HERE DID SWAY MY DECISION. DO NOT FORGET THIS MERCY.» It seems to look pointedly at Riley and Byron, as if it had seen all that happened throughout Spear Pillar despite its battle frenzy. A great pillar of light surrounds it for just a second, and then it disappears.

"Sheesh…" Byron mumbles, his face red.

Pikki gives into her tears and sobs into Aden's chest. He barely fights back his own, holding her while staring at the spot where his father and his beloved Pokemon friend both departed. As much as Roark wants to comfort her as well, he lets her brother do it. Instead he goes to the shaken Darius Herrera, who had collapsed on the ground in utter terror.

"Come on, sir," Roark says, offering his hand. "Let's get you home."

Wild-eyed, Darius accepts his assistance. When he opens his mouth, only a dry whisper comes out. "Un Pokemon… es Dios… ¿Cómo podría destruir la montaña de Dios?" He shuffles away, muttering to himself.

"Uh…" Roark has no idea what he's saying. He's never known his boss to use his ancestors' language the way Riley does. "Yeah."

There's a tap on Roark's shoulder. He turns to face Byron, to whom he has not spoken since their terrible fight. He decides not to mention it, to stay casual. "Hey, Dad. That was your Magneton — well, Magnezone now — wasn't it? Thanks for helping us out—" He's cut off by Byron seizing him into a fierce embrace.

"Thought I'd lost you too," Byron mumbles with a sniffle.

"I'm here." Roark pats his back. "Are you cry—"

"No!" Byron pulls away, hastily wiping his eyes and clearing his throat. "Now listen to me. Watchin' that battle damn near gave me a heart attack. But you fought very well. I'm proud of you and your offense."

"Well, thanks, Dad. But you should be proud of her." He nods towards Pikki, standing with Aden. "Her knack for defense saved my life."

Slowly, Riley takes tentative steps using his healed legs. They're still weak, but he is able to use them, and the most excruciating pain has lifted. His burned skin has been whole as well, although, like Aden, he will forever have the scar. He picks up Byron's discarded shovel, finding he can walk a little better with its support. This makes him smile.

The smile fades as he notices his father, standing off by himself, mumbling under his breath. Darius pauses, looks around, and sees Riley. They say nothing to one another.