Watcher of Arceus

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. Only the idea and OC's.

Author Notes:

-X-This will be used for scene breaks and for when the story switches to another character, but it does not mean that a new section of the story has started.

~xXx~ This will identify where each paragraph breaks.

"Human Speech" 'Character Thought' {Pokémon Speech}

Co-author: Catsithx

The following is a total and complete Reboot of the story "Watcher of Arceus".

~xXx~

Chapter 29 : The Ties of Family

With the help of the four massive legendary birds, and a psychic reinforced net, the boat was taken carefully into the sky and flown from the Orange Islands, all the way to Mount Coronet in the Sinnoh Region.

Dahlia didn't care, she was just eagerly watching her other brothers and sisters at work, moving from window to window slowly to look at them all more, Suicune at her side to help make sure she was fine. Although not perfectly a smooth flight, it wasn't too much different then some of the waves that they had gone through already though and the worse thing to happen inside the ship was a single cup fell over on the table spilling a little tea.

This did not help Thomas however, who was hiding away in the electrical room with Radara in his lap. He knew it would be bad, and so did Radara. She knew of his dire fear of flying, and she knew this happen, but she would not confront him about this. He made the choice to fly, all to save their sister without complaint until several minutes into the flight. And now she would comfort him directly with Rebecca helping, all of them just staying in the cramped but windowless space. While small and cramped, it was still big enough that it didn't trigger Radara's own fears of small places though, something that she was greatly thankful for.

Forced to go slow enough to not damage the ship or toss things around inside it, it would be a long flight through the night and everyone but Dahlia who just had to watch the trip had fallen asleep.

Thomas awoke first, and while getting up could easily feel now that they had landed, they were perfectly smooth and level, they had been set down. In his movements though, he did wake Rebecca and Radara, the two deciding to just get up with him when they realized that he was standing, and wasn't giving into fear again.

Finally leaving the room at last, Thomas took a quick peek into the master bedroom and found Juno resting there, and more importantly, found the window under water confirming that they were on Mount Coronet. With it confirmed that they were no longer flying, Thomas finally relaxed fully, and left Juno to sleep before moving upstairs and looking around.

Sure enough, he recognized the place around the boat and knew that they had arrived. This was the First Lake, the highest lake on the mountain, and just a few hours walk from Spear Pillar, the place where Arceus had arrived from the abyss and started making the world. Not only was it technically the place where Arceus herself was born, it was also where all the legendaries, and later, where the god-children were all born as well.

A small shrine was all that was left of a once great palace of sorts that use to be here, and Thomas and Radara both just slowly left the ship, a note left on the table as they did so. They both spared a small glance all around, their elder brothers and sisters all resting hidden under the trees and curled up next to each other for now as the two of them moved to the little shrine.

Thomas removed two gold coins from his pocket and both of them knelt down before the small stone shrine, Thomas pressing one gold to his forehead and closing his eyes, Radara taking the other and doing the same with her psychic power.

The words were old and ancient, the tongue of the legendaries, so rarely spoken these days and yet they held power still. Their minds were joined in their prayer, the words shared from both into a single pray that they spoke in unison.

"Forgive us our trespass, oh great World Mother, and forgive us our own grave mistakes. We know that you rest, that yours is a life still young in rebirth, but we have need of you. It was our pain and our sorrow that lead us down this sin, to abandon family, to have not looked harder. It was our oath that we forever protect all of our brothers and sisters, and only now we have learned that of our sisters had been held against her will for so long. We beg of her forgiveness, and we beg your help. Please accept our prayers and await us upon on our ancestral birth place."

They both slowly stood, and placed their coin in a small crystalline offering plate. Almost instantly the gold coins boiled but did not hurt Thomas who has placed coin in physically, the metal felt calm and cool as it was given. The coins boiled away slowly into nothing and then a powerful voice echoed softly in their heads, their eyes glowing bright gold.

"I can never deny you my children. I await you eagerly." The voice stated, unyielding and calling, urging them on and accepting them, the light in their eyes dying down slowly as they both gave a small smile. There was still so much fear about what would happen later, but this was all that they could think of to save Dahlia, and all that they could really do now was just help her make it there, where Arceus was waiting now, their mother that Thomas had in a way avoided for a few centuries.

Thomas just wiped a tear from his eyes, slowly turning back towards the boat now as he looked it over, the sun still having barely risen but light was coming and soon they hoped that something could be done for Dahlia.

Like before, Xent was up and just looking at them from the window for a moment, but leaving them be once he was seen, he moved onto other things.

Thomas and Radara just took a seat though on a fallen nearby log, the two of them trying to prepare for themselves for what might happen. "This... this will work right?" Thomas asked, lightly rubbing Radara's ears a bit.

'We can only hope. She's strong, she survived longer then any of us could without Argyle... Her will to live has to be unmatched, let us hope that it holds strong even now.' Radara stated.

Thomas nodded, just staying silent as he sat there, turning his head north and looking on towards the top of Mount Coronet. "I just hope this is enough to give her some peace."

'If there is anyway to give her peace, then this may be it.' Lugia's voice sounded softly in their heads now as she woke, slowly getting up. This time though, her voice was softer, calmer, not as angry. 'As soon as she wakes, I shall take her to Spear Pillar and our mother. It will take her a while to craft something that Dahlia will latch onto. You two may guide the others up the mountain when everyone else is awake.'

Lugia gave a small yawn as she stretched in full, standing up now and looking over the boat once more, and then looking to where she felt Thomas and Radara were at. 'Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos shall hold open the passage for you when you arrive, and shall allow our guests passage onto our sacred grounds. I would still have them all make an offering and bring some food if we are to be there a while. It would be unwise to forage freely with all of the attention we have already drawn to ourselves at the moment until we are certain that this works.'

"We'll bring something for everyone we can, although I don't think we have anything for you or our other elder brothers and sister. The boat is not well stocked for beings of your size." Thomas stated, slowly sitting up again to look at Lugia as she walked up. Lugia just leaned her head down and into Thomas's chest a bit, Thomas rubbing the top of her head both trying to comfort each other for a moment before Lugia leaned over to nuzzle Radara some as well. "I... Just take her there quickly. I hope that she can saved though."

'We shall know soon. I feel our sister reaching out, calling for us as she awakens.' Lugia said, stepping back and then a strong flash of light appeared, partially blinding Thomas who had avert his eyes some. Standing there though was Dahlia, who had teleported just to lean into Lugia, holding her head and rubbing her own against Lugia's. 'Soon sister. Soon we shall be at the place of our birth and mother awaits us.' Lugia said softly, nuzzling her and even giving her a small lick to her cheek.

'Argyle will be there right?' Dahlia asked quietly looking up and taking a step back as Lugia laid down fully, giving Dahlia a chance to climb up onto her back and held on as Lugia got back up.

'Let us go see what mother can do to help you. Be strong just a little while longer.' Lugia stated as she stood up fully now. 'We will await your arrival back home.' Lugia stated before her own eyes flashed, and Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos awoke. Giving them a moment to wake up fully, the four of them flew off together once more and left Thomas and Radara for now.

Thomas and Radara just spent a moment watching them depart, before they were well out of sight and over the trees before turning back towards the boat. They made their way back onto the boat and as they walked in, Xent was preparing more coffee.

"She'll be okay right? This is the place?" Xent asked, immediately asking about Dahlia having seen her ride off on Lugia with the other legendary birds.

"We can only hope at this point. Our mother is waiting for her personally and if anyone can help her, it will be her." Thomas stated.

'We'll know if she wishes to keep living in a day or so. Our mother will know a way to give her some peace and what she needs, but it will be up to her to make the choice to keep living.' Radara added as they walked in and Thomas just went to make breakfast again.

"And I still get to see this right? I just... I just need to know she's okay. She was pathetic and it hurt seeing her like that. No one deserves that, struggling to even find a reason to live." Xent sighed as he finished making his coffee. "Anything I can do to help right now?"

'Get some food and cooking equipment ready. We'll be staying at the mountain top until this is done, and it could take a day or more. Thomas can charge anything with an electrical charge pad so we won't need to work about that, but we'll need something to eat while there.' Radara explained.

"Got it." Xent stated, before walking for the stairs to wake up Sarah and get her backpack that they would need. "I'll wake Sarah while I'm at it. Its still a bit of a walk and it seems kinda stupid to make you walk back down here just to get us if you need to be there up there sooner."

Thomas and Radara nodded lightly as Radara went and got Thomas's trainer safe, and set it down next to him while he started to mix up some scrambled eggs. 'It may be wise if all made an offering today, even Juno.'

"That's two for Juno and Rebecca, and Sarah will need three, and Xent will need four. Do I still have nine coins?" Thomas asked as he opened his safe for Radara to look through.

'I count... seven, twelve, fourteen... fifteen total. We have enough.' Radara said as she set ten gold coins on the counter. 'I shall include one more if Suicune wishes to make an offering as well.'

Thomas nodded as closed the safe again and just kept working on the eggs. He was in a bit of rush, Radara helping him the whole time as well while everyone else got ready and shortly after, they were prepared for the trip up the mountain, having decided to ride Suicune and Flare to speed up the process.

"Before we can make the journey, there is one more thing that we have to do. Each of you and your pokemon need to make an offering. I've got some gold coins here for each you, they just need to be pressed against your head for a few seconds before you offer them up." Thomas explained, reaching over and grabbing the coins, before holding them up.

Both Sarah and Xent were confused, but Juno took one of them with her tails and hopped off the boat, going to make her offering like she had done a few times in the past. Xent made a strong "why" face though before speaking up, Rebecca following Juno's example as they slowly moved towards the shrine.

"Why gold? Does it go to a charity or something?" Xent ask a bit annoyed, his anti-religious frustrations showing, but he was still trying to hold himself back.

"Gold is not technically natural in the world. All real gold is a piece of our mother, spread throughout the world as part of her sacrifice during creation of the world, a way to spread her power and hold the world together while it was young and could not do so itself. Since then, it just rested in the ground until people mined it and in times long ago, Arceus would bless the gold found by others and it would hold traces of her power. There were those that abused this power though, and so Arceus only gave this blessing to those she trusted afterward. Gold never lost its value even when she stopped blessing it though, and while history may have forgotten the reason for its value, it never forgot that it remains valuable, just having given it new meaning. It still holds power though, and today that power will let her know who is coming. If she doesn't want to see any of you, she'll let us know when we do this. I don't know why she would turn any of you away though, but it will also give you all a minor blessing that will let you enter her domain." Thomas explained as let Sarah and Xent take the coins they needed. Suicune lead the way, taking one and showing them how in a sense as her ribbons took one coin and pressed it to her head, before offering the coin, Verna taking a coin right after that and Zia following up.

Xent blinked, taking in the fact that gold was quite literally the flesh of Arceus. Verna followed the example for now doing as she was told putting the coin to her head and then offering it quickly like Suicune had, Zia following their example, before both of them looked to Xent now as he took a second to understand what was just explained to him.

Given the new context, he took two coins, one for himself and one for Akra, doing the ritual for Akra first, then himself without further questioning. As the coin he pressed to his head boiled away, he jumped at the sudden rush of of a welcoming feeling that washed over him. His first instinct was to try and fight it somehow, but after Verna gently rested a hand on his shoulder, he relaxed. It surprised him that he was welcome, given his view on Arceus that he was still wrestling with and, for now, had kept from vocalizing given their need to save Dahlia.

Sarah did the same though, but she had to do it herself for both of her current pokemon and like with Xent was a bit shocked at the feeling, but embraced it more. "It... its so warm. Is that power of Arceus?" Sarah asked.

"It is, just a tiny piece of it. Her emotions can be powerful, but she would never hurt someone who did not attack her." Thomas said as Rebecca was the last to point her coin into the offering bowl.

'Its a long walk, to Spear Pillar. We should start riding before the weather changes.' Radara stated, Thomas stated as Suicune leaned down for him to get up along with Radara, Thomas taking the bag this time while Sarah moved over to Flare, waiting for Xent to get on first after calling back the rest of their pokemon.

~xXx~

The passage appeared at last, Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos resting on three large broken pillars around a stair case that went up the cliff side, only for it to wear away to nothing a few dozen steps up just before the highest peak of the mountain. Sarah looked on a bit confused as she let go of Xent at last, the two of them slowing down as Flare came to a stop. Sarah relaxed her grip around Xent and then slid off Flare.

"This... is the place right?" Sarah asked as Xent got off of Flare as well, Sarah quickly petting Flare and letting him nuzzle her.

"It is and the passage is open. You'll see more of it once we start ascending." Thomas said as he worked to pull the saddle off of Suicune and store it now, as well as taking the saddle that was on Flare.

"No offense, but this really doesn't look like much. And to be bluntly honest, I'm not to keen on just standing on the top of a mountain with a massive storm rolling up and no cover." Xent stated.

'Think of Spear Pillar as a door way instead of a place. It was here that the world was born, that the World Mother first gave birth to the aspects of Time and Space, the twin dragons Dialga and Palkia. With our two eldest brothers, our world came to be from the chaos of Distortion.' Suicune started to explained.

Radara and Thomas just shook there heads with a small smile though, Suicune once again trying to give a true meaningful explanation as she often did, but Thomas just gently stopped her. "I think what Suicune is trying to say is that yes, we are here. This place will let us do what we came to do for Dahlia's sake." Thomas stated as he looked up, able to see so much more then Sarah and Xent could with their mortal eyes.

'Also, enough of the sass. This place was built long before humans were born, and it was never meant to impress anyone.' Radara added as she looked upon the real sight herself as well, it having been generations since she had been here as well.

"Call out your pokemon. Its never been tested if a pokemon in a pokeball could survive passage here and its something I don't care to test now." Thomas said as he called out his pokemon. As soon as Rebecca was out though, she could instantly see so much more then Xent or Sarah, Thomas's growing blessings to her eyes giving her a hint of what was truly there, of the crystalline space and more above them and still going higher.

'Thomas, wh-what is this place?' She asked eagerly, her voice mostly heard by everyone in her excitement and being so close to the power of crystals that she had a blessing from.

This left Xent and Sarah a bit confused hearing it as they released all of their pokemon. "Stay close girls. Not sure what could happen here." Xent stated.

"Yeah, yeah you guys too. Stay close until we know what's going on." Sarah added as Thomas started up the steps and they could barely see some kind of space distorting over the peak. With each step that they took, the temple on Mount Coronet became more and more clear, defined, like a phantom and ghostly place that was coming to life around them until at last they were all fully on the platform.

A distorted ripple flowed over the place once and Thomas, Radara, and Suicune just kept them all close leading them along. It still didn't look like much though, just a large stone foundation and several broken pillars jutting up out of it, the place looking to be in ruin.

The only thing that didn't seem destroyed though was a large circle etching on the ground in the middle of a group of eight evenly placed but still broken pillars. As they approached, they could see that the circle wasn't a proper circle, it was another cross of Arceus, and there was nothing inside it this time though.

"Take a deep breath, and just let it happen, don't stop." Thomas said now as he walked forward and appeared to fade away a bit. They all continued though and a wave of feeling, of a strange space filled them all, tugging and pulling on them a bit. Serenity was concerned at first, and even Sarah found a bit strange, but Sarah just kept Serenity close, Flare of course not leaving her side either way.

Akra didn't like it either, but it was more that she was being forced to walk when the feeling took over and pulled on her, but she still trusted Xent as Verna gave into curiosity, almost welcoming the feeling much like Thomas, Radara, and Suicune, this no different then a teleport for her, but so much stronger.

For a second, nothing changed, and then all at once, the place, whatever it was, was just complete, a mix of polished stone and crystal interlinked with each other, under a strong blue moon cast light with a staircase leading right up to it. Lugia was there now behind them, and Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos were almost ghost like before coming into full view and solid form.

"Our sister is with her now, even as we speak. Our mother works hard to forge a new sigil for her, one that shall carry an echo of what she desires most, enough to sate the need she has while also allowing her to feel the world as it should be once more." Lugia started her voice vocal, before lowering her head a bit.

"We have all cast a grave sin, letting this happen. We should have looked harder." Another voice sounded, vocal and powerful, Ho-oh on a crystalline perch above them, and other pokemon quickly appeared. A dozen more members of the family were physically present as well, Palkia and Dialga there in the flesh, both quickly looking to Thomas and Rebecca, the two almost jumping to their side for a moment, Rebecca still scared but less so this time starting to get use to the presence of legendary pokemon around her.

Sarah could only gasp though looking around, Serenity quickly backing up and into Sarah from the power that Ho-oh radiated, even Flare backing up a bit, unsure if he needed to protect Sarah. Even Zia was worried, but Akra seemed entirely indifferent though as she just flew up and found a perch beside Articuno.

Verna merely walked up slowly towards Ho-oh. 'She... she will okay won't she. She will be safe here?' Verna quickly asked, worried and unsure if she should speak at all, but Ho-oh just leaned down.

"Her emotions have bled to you haven't they... Your line has always been a lesser aspect of emotions, a being that depends upon others, to feel and share their experience. The emotional need of your kind has been always been a problem in my eyes, but it was our mother's intentions to explore emotions with the birth of your family line. I pity you, but I can do nothing to help you. This is a trial that only you can overcome, and I wish you luck." Ho-oh stated, just carefully resting her head against Verna's.

"You must forgive Ho-oh. She holds the burden of life upon her shoulders, and being the phoenix sometimes takes an emotional toll. Even now, she has trouble expressing her own emotions, but we shall never blame her. Rest assured though, there is no safer place then in our mother's sanctuary." Lugia stated now, before looking to the stairs, only for her to quickly hop over in front of Thomas and Rebecca as they approached the stairs leading up further.

"I would wait here brother, and not risk your lover. The Distortion whirs in discontent today. I have seen fractures of it since my arrival and we would not like to get lost on that side of things." Lugia quickly explained.

"It stirs? And the things on that side?" Thomas quickly asked, just gently holding Rebecca who gave a small whine, scared but eager to see more, to possibly meet Arceus.

"Those here in Spear Pillar shall be safe and it will not be a concern for us if we decide to travel along the passages. Unfortunately right now for your lover, and your guests, the passages are not as safe. Our essence protects us along their routes and would let us find our back if we strayed, but the same is not true for mortals. The World Mother looks forward to seeing you though, all of you. She will be here when she is finished crafting a new sigil for Dahlia." Ho-oh explained as a figured appeared at the far end of the upper stair case before flying down quickly.

Xent was still just looking around in awe, only to see Mew rushing down the stairs and quickly grumbled about it, only for Radara to call to Lugia. 'Oh dearest sister, before I forget again, I have something to mention to you and the great search you've been working at.' Radara stated, Mew formerly flying around carelessly now flying down in a rush and shaking his head.

"Hey hey, no no. No do that, don't call her like this." Mew stated, here his voice understood freely.

"Yes sister?" Lugia asked, bending down gently keeping Mew under her chin now to speak with Radara.

'It has come to my attention that your long search for Spanky should come to an end. Our most caring child has found Spanky, in the hands of fisherman and took it home to the Tree of Beginnings.' Radara grinned, Mew crying out again.

"Is this so? Have you found that which I have sought for so long?" Lugia asked now, her suspicions confirmed that maybe it had been found already. "You have my thanks Mew, I am glad to know that it is safe."

"Oooooh... little sister ruined my stories, auntie always had great stories and now no more!" Mew whined, only for Lugia move her head from over Mew, to pull him into her lap, gently guiding him to sit there as she sat up in full.

"But my lovely child, there are still more stories in my travels to share, and yet more stories beyond those still." Lugia stated.

"Auntie still tell me stories... even if I hid Spanky... I no get hit by spanky right?" Mew asked, and Lugia just laughed some.

"I shall tell more stories... after we know our younger sister has found some peace." Lugia stated.

Xent was marveling at the sight while overhearing Lugia's discussion with Thomas and Radara, only for things to slowly catch up to him now. The term 'distortion' caught his attention as did the mention of danger, but he couldn't remember anything like that mentioned in the myths about legendaries. As Mew quickly left in a cheery rush, dancing in the air as he ran off, Xent approached them. "So I heard you mention 'the distortion', what do you mean by that?" he asked, his tone reflecting genuine curiosity and some worry, but curious none the less. "I can't say I've heard anything like that while reading about your family."

"Remember when I told you that our mother made the world. Well, before this world there was the distortion as we have come to call it. A twisted timeless ever changing mess. Our eldest brothers control dominion over the powers of time and space, Palkia and Dialga given life before all others first to maintain balance of the world as she wanted to make it." Thomas started.

"Without our two eldest brothers, time and space would not have meaning as you would understand most of the concepts. But when the world was made, it was only isolated from the distortion. It still exists, and there are places where the boundaries between the world our mother made and the distortion meet. The passages that we use to travel quickly, places such as this and wherever Palkia twists space to connect two places touches the distortion though. There are things that live on the other side and do not take kindly to what our mother has created." Lugia continued for Thomas.

"And what kind of things live there?" Xent asked.

"We don't fully know. We prefer the world our mother made and even just looking around there has caused some of us discomfort." Lugia shrugged lightly.

"We were born of this world, of the steadiness of time and space, of nature and order of the world our mother created and tasked up to help create and manage." Ho-oh stated.

"Few have us have the … desire to explore much of that place, and there is always the risk of getting lost. Fewer feel as though we even want to be there." Thomas added. "Its a dangerous place, a mess of matter and things can change just staying over there. I personally feel wrong on that side, and its like someone takes part of who I am for a while each time I've set foot there. Its... its..."

'The link we twins share feels broken when we have traveled there, and it has been many centuries since our last visit, life times for us. I recall the cold chill of being disconnected from my brother more then anything and it is a feeling I do not desire to repeat unless we need to protect our world and family.' Radara stated, giving a small shiver.

Xent just gave a nod, slowly understanding more of the world, far more then he ever thought he would as he looked on. He would have asked to go check in on Dahlia, but with the warnings about the passages, he thought better of it. Well out of his depths already, and only sticking with them out of need at this point, not willing to risk more harm to his pokemon, he just looking around and saw Akra not giving a care about things and appearing to be talking with the three legendary birds of the Orange Islands, he turned towards Zia.

Seeing that he didn't have anything better to do, he just walked up behind her as she was still looking around, a bit confused clearly about what to do herself. "We need to have a talk and this looks like as good time as any." Xent stated as he turned back towards Thomas and Rebecca, seeing how close and open they appeared to be now, there was no question that they were couple.

"Verna, it looks like this place is helping you communicate more easily. Can you help me have a talk with Zia?" Xent called out, and Verna gave a quick nod knowing that she needed to do something herself, the three of them just walking off to one of the corners for a bit of privacy right now, enjoying the fact that Rebecca seemed to the center of attention while they waited.

"So, tell us brother, tell us of your new lover." Lugia was already asking as Ho-oh merely flew up to a perch herself on one of the pillars, looking to the passage and stairs leading up, but still listening.

"This is Rebecca, a riolu I rescued when I first started my travels. I never imaged it would be so easy to start traveling so young, I had worries in my former life about it." Thomas explained. "But this new trend of trainers who show independence and follow through with their schooling even when on the road made it easy, and its lucky my foster parents were so accepting. On the way back from my final exam, an hour or so walk out of Petalburg City heading back towards Rustboro City, a major storm rolled and turned inland instead of staying on the coast. While it wasn't too bad where I took cover, it was also where Rebecca and her parents took cover." Thomas started as Mew quickly flew down and sat on his head eager to listen, even Moltres and Zapdos flying closer to listen as well. Even Palkia and Dialga took a seat around them, Rebecca a little worried surrounded by so many legendary pokemon, getting a little shy and staying silent.

Thomas just let Sarah's backdrop carefully fall off his back and set it on the ground with his mind, but carefully wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest, resting his head over hers. "We were all taking cover under some trees as things were getting dark fast, but I didn't mind. Me and Radara wanted some freedom and had hoped to be a bit further along before the rain started, but I guess its lucky that we didn't."

'I hated that day at first, I was looking forward to stopping by a little way shrine that opened up recently, they had such nice poffins. But now, I can only feel as though I owe quite a lot to the weather that day even as annoyed as I was.' Radara added, taking a seat herself against Lugia's tail, enjoying it when Lugia sat down and barely covered her with a wing.

Lugia just looked to Sarah though, and offered a welcoming wing, willing to share space and show Sarah that she was okay to be around as well. Sarah was slow to move up, but did so, Flare keeping at her side as Sarah approached.

"I'm sorry wasn't able to help them back then, but that is nature's way. The storm got worse around us and then the tree they were under was struck by lightning and collapsed. I did what I could, but the male lucario who I assume was her father was killed on impact, crushed under the tree and her mother was hurt as well. Somehow, Rebecca only had minor scratches, but I did what I could. Radara helped unbury her parents, and I caught her mother, but it was too late. I carried her back all the way in a mad dash to Petalburg City with Radara helping me, and we managed to make it to the pokemon center, but they couldn't do anything for her mother. Rebecca and her mother were a bit malnourished and I can only assume that the father was as well. She didn't want to leave my side when her mother never came though, and I didn't feel right just leaving there." Thomas continued as Sarah finally got close enough to actually touch Lugia now, gently rubbing her side a bit.

"I've been raising her ever since and I guess she just fell in love with on her own..." Thomas added, just holding a very happy Rebecca right now.

'And almost two months ago, days before our birthday, I forced him to accept Rebecca as a lover, or suffer my wraith. I wasn't going to suffer another miserable life time of an annoying emotionally draining brother who kept lying to himself and wanted to be miserable.' Radara smiled some, even as Thomas gave her a slightly annoyed, but ultimately accepting look.

"So, you latched onto our youngest brother for caring for you for so long. He certainly tries to be nice with others. Was the name of your own choosing?" Moltres asked, having noted the name, but waiting for a chance to ask himself.

"I couldn't figure out how to name her, but noted one day that she did remind me of Rea Beck Ann, yes that one. I made a comment about to Radara, but hearing the name, Rebecca quickly perked up and looked at me. I repeated the name, but she didn't respond right away, so I say a few other names and then tried Rebecca and she perked right up again. I guess she liked it a lot and never responded to anything else. It was a nice name, a way of remembering Rea Beck Ann as well, so I didn't see reason to change it."

There was a bit of a laugh above them, Ho-oh grinning a bit. "So, you do admit that you had feelings for Rea at long last. We all agreed that she would make a good wife."

"Oh for... Look, no. She was the one who had a crush on me. Yes, she was important to me, but not as a lover who I desired to spend her life with." Thomas stated, blushing a bit more, and turning his head down a bit embarrassed himself about getting called out again.

A bit more of a laugh was starting to spread, only for a bigger much louder laugh to start behind them, Rayquaza having entered when everyone was focused on Thomas and Rebecca while waiting. "Oh, you two would have made a lovely pair."

"No, no we-" Thomas started again, Rebecca feeling Thomas's embarrassment even more now as she looked up at him.

"You just got lucky that Rea wasn't born in more modern times. She was always asking if you could grow a tail and let her have a collar... for you to wear." Rayquaza continued, putting on a wedding veil and holding a fancy white dress, possibly a wedding dress but not matching the veil.

Thomas instantly went entirely red now, shocked into silence and only able to a give a shocked wide-eyed stare as he practically froze up, almost all eyes slowly turning towards Thomas aside from Rebecca's and Radara's.

'You be QUITE!' Radara quickly snapped, snarling a bit and snapping at Rayquaza hard, even hissing loudly. 'That was not to be shared, we are all entitled to our privacy once in a while! How did you even find that out!'

"She loved to talk about things, so many fun things." Rayquaza smiled, inspecting the dress she had now, and holding it up to her chest, before moving down to Rebecca and pressing it against her.

Rebecca though was still just in stunned silence, only for Rayquaza to move over her and press the wedding dress to her chest a bit, as if measuring her for it.

"C-can Thomas have a tail?" Rebecca asked softly, Xent finally losing his composure a bit, snickering hard with Zia at the thought of what all Rayquaza was implying.

"Thomas... were... you in a relationship with a … a … kinky lucario before? I'm not judging, but are lucario's a type for you?" Sarah asked, not entirely unphased, just confused as she looked on wondering about that in full now. With that openly suggested comment though, Xent quickly moved away before he could lose his composure fully even if it was clear that Zia cared a lot less even if she didn't make a lot of physical noise about it.

Thomas though just remained silent now, holding onto Rebecca a bit more as Radara shook her head hard, before giving another loud hiss and slapping a paw down towards Rayquaza. 'This is ALL your fault!' Radara hissed some as her feelings of anger spilled over everyone a bit, hoping and praying that this did not sabotage things between Rebecca and Thomas.

'Mother help you, if you just scared Thomas away from Rebecca, I'll shred your entire collection of bridal dresses! I've been pushing for my brother to take a lover for a generation. Two generations even! If this fails, I'll go out my way to make you share the time I've suffered his misery!' Radara hissed loudly.

"Now now sister. We all knew that our wanting to be a bride and joined in a massive party of a sister cannot keep secrets to save her life. We also know how easy going our youngest brother is and why it never worked between him and Rea." Lugia stated even with her giant grin, but didn't say much more.

"Y-you bo-both knew?" Thomas stuttered hard.

"Rea enjoyed the idea of tails, dragon tails perhaps more then most. She asked of ways for me to give you one, but I never indulged her in such fantasies." Lugia explained, curling her tail around Radara and pulling her away from Rayquaza now.

Suicune just nodded lightly as she moved up and wrapped her ribbons lightly around Thomas and Rebecca. "Do not worry. I am sure that Thomas and Rebecca will live a wondrous life together. I feel confident that that she is exactly what you need." Suicune stated softly and gently nuzzled Thomas's cheek from behind him.

Outside, the storm sounded at last, weak through the space that surrounded the temple barely sparked as a bolt of lightning struck near the temple. "Do you want a few moments outside Thomas? I know how much you enjoy the sounds of water. The temple will protect you and you can enjoy the sounds of nature in full easily without worry." Suicune offered, Thomas quickly nodded.

"Will you join me Rebecca?" Thomas asked, Rebecca nodding and starting to follow Thomas and Suicune as they turned to quickly leave.

"Oh, I know! I have a few more stories that I-" Rayquaza quickly started, only to gasp out loudly when the wedding dress that she was holding on was suddenly torn from her hands, a small ripping sound showing how uncaring Radara was as it was balled up and rocketed out of the temple, a ripple showing it thrown clear outside.

"My dress!" Rayquaza screamed out, before giving a very loud almost pitiful whine.

'It wasn't yours, we all know you stole it.' Radara stated.

"No I didn't. I found it!" Rayquaza stated, moving up quickly towards Radara and glaring at her with crossed arms.

'Found it where?' Radara asked.

"On a balcony. Clearly she didn't want it, she was too busy in bed with her friend! It was just tossed aside and laid out in the moonlight of their island bungalow." Rayquaza stated.

'She didn't... in bed... Oh for, you stole a wedding dress on their wedding night?!' Radara gasped out, Lugia slowly and gently putting a wing on Rayquaza's face to keep the two of them from fighting.

"You can't prove anything." Rayquaza quickly countered as Lugia just worked to keep the two separated.

Suicune though just gently guided Thomas and Rebecca to the edge of the temple, back towards the stairs where the sounds of the weather were getting louder. "I'm sorry for Rayqauza's actions and words. We all know she has problems with secrets, I don't know how she kept that one for so long." Suicune said, laying on her side on the stairs, and gently pulling Thomas and Rebecca to lean into her now on the step in front of her.

"Thomas... are you sure your alright?" Rebecca asked, Thomas giving a small nod.

"Yeah. Its just... Rea was... very assertive. She knew what she liked and wanted, and she did her best to get it. She was also... also..." Thomas started.

'Kinky?' Rebecca asked repeating Sarah's choice of word, Thomas quickly blushing hard again.

"Where did you even learn that word?" Thomas quickly asked.

Rebecca just shrugged. 'That shack back near Foothill town that were forced to take cover in that was a total mess and run by those Team Aqua members were apparently very bored as Radara explained to me. That large box of magazines that nearly fell on me when we were cleaning up to lay out the camping gear while we waited for the authorities to show up.' With her words though, Thomas's blush only grew a bit more though.

"I... okay." Thomas stated as Suicune just rubbed their shoulders a bit with her ribbons.

"Everything will be fine Thomas." Suicune said, still nuzzling his side a bit. "I can already see that Rebecca won't be so strong with her desires with you. We all really know why you didn't take the chance to bond with Rea. She'll be a much better lover for you."

Rebecca just leaned into Thomas more though, taking his arm a bit as she nuzzled him herself, only for a loud feline screech to be heard behind them, and then a blast of some kind.

"And so much for a quite listen to the rain..." Suicune sighed along with Thomas, both just ignoring it while Thomas held Rebecca more tightly.

"Its going to be fine, this is normal. We have our fights like any family..." Thomas stated softly, just holding Rebecca still.

'Are... are you to help them?' Rebecca asked a bit concerned when a second blast sounded behind them.

"I shall leave this to Lugia to clean up. For now, you two need me and so I shall stay with you." Suicune stated, just rubbing their shoulders with her ribbons.

~xXx~

A massive ripple surged through the walls surrounding the pillar, and even through the floor getting everyone's attention as they all turned towards the stairs leading up towards the moon, where Arceus's personal nest was. A shadow of a figure was slowly walking down, a gardevoir moving down the steps with a very confident stride, and as Dahlia came into view proper again, a strong almost smug grin on her face as she walked. Behind her another figure appeared, Arceus walking down slowly.

As everyone slowly gathered near the stairs, there was still some tension as the humor of prior conversations had left a while ago, leaving only the worry of Dahlia now. Thomas of course was in a bit of rush to get to the stairs, Radara quickly at his side as everyone else gathered around. As Xent got up and started walking towards them, Zia was now holding possessively onto his arm, and even stuck her tongue out heavily at Sarah as they walked past her, everyone eager to see Dahlia now.

Dahlia just threw her one arm up and in glowed with power, almost like water flowing up over her arm and into the air, Dahlia now lifting and giving Arceus support to carry herself as she moved down the stairs. The two continued to walk down the stairs and Arceus's solution was soon discovered, a choker lightly around Dahlia's neck, with a new decoration.

A golden cross of Arceus, with an emerald heart in the middle, the right half glowing even, and four more emeralds on the spires was on full display, Dahlia just looking down and closing her eyes, rubbing it lightly with her free hand as she stepped before them. "I am truly free at last... and I have all of you to thank for the freedom of my final my life." She said, smirking a bit as she looked over Thomas and Radara, quickly leaning down as Radara rushed forward jumping up and Dahlia quickly into her arms, nuzzling her as Thomas ran up as well. Dahlia just stood and quickly leaned into him, letting him hold her as she held Radara, the three of them just standing there as the others gathered around.

"I have given Dahlia an echo of Argyle's mind, of his power and sense of mental union, and reinforced her ability to feel the world as it should be. Take care, and never let her leave my gift behind. With it, she may find all the peace she will ever need until her time comes." Arceus stated, her voice soft and echoing gently all through the temple and more, in their heads and yet vocal, but not intrusive. "This will not heal the scars she has though, and we must be careful with her. Watch over her always Soular and Radara, she will need to feel you as much as she feels her own brother now. She will still lapse back into despair and fear at times, but comfort her, help her when she does."

"We will never leave her side if she so desires it." Thomas quickly stated, still holding her and looking on as Arceus slowly moved over to Lugia who rested down slowly and lifted a wing to let Arceus lay at her side a bit.

"It was too soon for you to truly bend the crystals to your will so thoroughly as this wasn't it." Lugia stated. "You have not awakened in full yet, but we thank you mother for all you have given. None of us wished to lose another sister."

"I shall be fine, I am merely tired. Had she ever called for my help, let me know that she needed me, I would have come whether I was able or not. She knew this, and knew I not yet awakened. It is as you explained, she refused to call for aid, she would not let any of us fall with her."

"I refused to give them pride in their actions. I lived alone refusing their requests just to spite them and spent my early years under their... care doing nothing but insulting them and trying to make them miserable." Dahlia stated firmly, and even a bit smugly as she let Radara down, before looking to Verna and walking over to her, gently holding her head pressing her head to Verna's gently.

"I am sorry for the pain I have caused you... I was blind in my own needs and could not stop myself from reaching out to anything that would listen." Dahlia stated, her power radiating once more. "If you would allow me, please... please let me take back the feelings of sorrow and pain, the despair and the struggle of will." Dahlia asked, concerned and so apologetic to Verna.

'Please... please do.' Verna asked letting Dahlia lean into her and leaning her herself. The effects were almost immediate as Dahlia let her power flow through Verna, the gems in the cross of Arceus beginning to glow brightly for a moment and then it was over, Dahlia slowly pulling back.

"Do not let those emotions guide your life. There is much to live for, always hang on." Dahlia said softly, and Verna quickly looked better now. "It will always be hard, but never spend your life alone. There are always more then your mate to keep you company, you will surely always have friends."