Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.
Author Notes: Chapter 37 is here! I hope you all enjoy it!
I want to give a legendary shoutout to all the people that have decided to support me in my writing endeavors so far!
Thanks to CreeperMaster343, Exzander, Man-O'-War, Caitou zzzzzz, Exos, and T_2the_homas77!
Special thanks to SGWarrior, RapidRotation, Manny, Saul'keth, Zeusdog17, Aspergillus nidulans, and FinalDragon!
Legendary thanks to ThatAverageDude and Roasted Cashew!
Thank you all for your continued support! If you want to support my writing and my story, look me up in the obvious place!
Chapter 37 — On the Wings of Deities
"We're about to reach Sky Pillar," Phaedra announced telepathically.
Pikachu's ears perked up. "About time."
"Yeah. That felt like forever." Bianca leaned on the Lugia's shoulder, making sure to keep a tight grip on the smooth feathers under her. "So, how's it going to be? Need us to do something?"
Phaedra flashed her a brief smile. "No, it's fine. I'll handle everything." She tilted her body upward and swam through the darkness of the ocean's depths, steadily ascending until the world around them got brighter and brighter from the sunlight that reached them. Phaedra gradually broke through the ocean's surface gently to keep herself stable for the comfort of her passengers and, once most of her body had risen above the surface, she spread her wings and took off with several powerful flaps.
"I don't see anything," Brock commented, holding a hand over his squinted eyes while looking around to try and pinpoint anything in the distance. As hard as he looked, there was only a vast blue ocean as far as he could see in every direction.
Phaedra chuckled in amusement. "You won't be able to see it until we're there." She stopped her ascent at a comfortable altitude and flew ahead steadily. "Sky Pillar resides in a spatial pocket and we'll be passing through its boundary very soon. It may look a bit psychedelic from your perspective, but fear not, it's perfectly safe. You can close your eyes if it's hard on them."
Brock and Bianca turned to each other uncertainly. Both gasped and held onto the back plate closest to them out of reflex as the sky around them distorted noticeably. Pikachu instinctively stood up and adopted a defensive stance. Everything around them melted into a cacophony of purple swirls and pink flashes that swiftly overtook everything around them. "What is going on?" Bianca asked uneasily. "Is this that boundary you were talking about?"
"Yep," Phaedra answered with a nod.
"Is it like, restricted access or something?" Brock wondered.
Phaedra shook her head. "Anyone can go in and out of it. The hard part is knowing where it is for those who don't know of it or can't find their way to it. It is possible, however unlikely, to unknowingly end up in Sky Pillar by chance."
A powerful wave of pink light rippled around them and spread throughout their surroundings, blasting away the kaleidoscopic patterns of purple energy to reveal a beautiful blue sky much like the one they had just come from. Brock, Bianca, and Pikachu gasped.
An enormous landscape spread imposingly ahead of them, going so far into the distance that even from their vantage point on Phaedra's back, the lush green forests and towering summits of several mountain ranges eventually faded into a distant blue mirage way past their eyesight.
"That's… whoa. It's so beautiful," Brock breathed out in awe, looking on at the sight with an agape mouth. "It's huge!"
"It is. It's roughly the size of Kanto and Johto," Phaedra commented. "But it occupies a minimal footprint on Earth thanks to its interdimensional status."
Bianca's eyes widened, a marveled expression forming on her face. "I'm surprised we don't know about this place seeing as we have satellites and such. It's so big and so pretty."
Phaedra chuckled. "Finding it is quite hard unless you know exactly what you're looking for. Unless humanity's technology figures out how to transcend space and dimensions, detecting Sky Pillar will remain beyond their capability." She tilted her body to the side to alter her flight path. "Right now, we're headed for the southern part."
Brock and Bianca looked around in astonishment as Phaedra flew over the continent, allowing them to see numerous rivers, lakes, grasslands, and several mountains that dotted the natural landscape. Occasionally, the pair caught glimpses of Pokémon in the distance, some of familiar species and some that they didn't recognize. "Huh, what's that?" Brock asked, pointing at a thin and faded vertical object in the distance.
Phaedra glanced to the side and followed Brock's hand. "Oh, that'd be the actual Sky Pillar itself. It's where Rayquaza lives." Her eyes glowed a soft shade of blue from a gentle exertion of her psychic powers. "Your eyesight isn't acute enough to see that far, so I'll show you how I see it."
Brock, Bianca, and Pikachu looked on as the image became clearer in their minds, revealing a towering pillar made from an elegant, brown, and marble-like stone that reached high into the sky. The tower had several jutting structures throughout its length that resembled platforms, with several rings of clouds circling it and giving the impression that it held the sky itself in place. A particularly large mass of clouds drifted near its top, which flared out and curved inward to create an open summit.
"That's amazing," Brock murmured. "It's astounding to think all of this exists and humanity doesn't even know about it."
"It's very beautiful," Phaedra agreed. "If the chance ever comes up, I need to show you my mom's place. It's even prettier than Sky Pillar in my opinion, though I'm probably biased since I grew up there." The Lugia laughed. "Skailyn would disagree with me."
"Wait, your mom? Who's that?" Brock asked curiously. "Another Lugia?"
"Just checking, do you three know of the trio of Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza?" Phaedra asked.
"A bit, yes," Brock responded. "They're part of the reason we were looking for Sky Pillar on our own before we were, well, attacked."
"My mother is Kyogre," Phaedra answered.
Bianca nodded in acknowledgment. "Gotcha. And Rayquaza is the black dragon we saw earlier, right?"
"Oh, no, that'd be Rayquaza's daughter and my best friend. Her name is Skailyn, I mentioned it earlier," Phaedra responded. "Her father looks just like her, only a bit bigger and green. We'll see her again soon. I sense she's close."
Pikachu frowned. "And, with her, I hope we'll see everyone again. I'm worried sick."
Phaedra flew over several towering mountains and began to descend past their slopes until she entered a large valley with a beautiful lake in the center. "We're here!" she announced to her passengers.
Bianca slowly peeked over Phaedra's massive shoulder and gasped. "It's Skailyn again," she whispered, easily making out the black dragoness' vast form leisurely floating on the lake's surface. "Why is she at that lake and not at the tower?"
"That lake is one of Sky Pillar's many healing sanctuaries," Phaedra replied. "They're areas with a Sacred Fire shrine that grants them potent healing properties. Very useful in a continent full of dragon-types who love to fight each other to near-death."
Bianca frowned. "Makes sense, I remember seeing a lot of injuries on her at the beach. She looked awful, even."
Phaedra smiled sadly. "Yeah, she took quite a beating."
"You've made it clear you're alright. But, is she going to be alright?" Bianca asked.
"She'll be fine, eventually." Phaedra sighed. "I hope."
"I imagine you'll use that lake to heal your missing wing, too?" Brock asked while glancing at the Lugia's prosthetic water wing.
Phaedra shook her head. "The healing sanctuaries can't heal injuries as catastrophic as a lost limb. I'll just ask Ho-Oh to fix that. It's a lot faster."
"Ask Ho-Oh?" Brock blinked in confusion. "I know Ho-Oh is often said in some legends to have the power of rebirth, but what does rebirth have to do with a missing wing?"
"Well, that means your legends are a bit incomplete," Phaedra answered with a chuckle. "Ho-Oh has power over not only the cycle of life and death but also over the concept of living itself. That would include regrowing lost limbs."
"That's… something else," Bianca muttered in awe.
"Oh yeah. Both Life and Death are powers that are quite astounding and their deities are correspondingly powerful. What they can do is close to limitless," Phaedra added as she angled her body and descended into the grassy areas near the lake's pristine shores.
"That sounds both amazing and kind of terrifying," Bianca commented with a conflicted expression.
"Indeed." Phaedra nodded in agreement. "Much like life itself, Life Power can be both a wonderful or a frightening thing depending on how it's used." She spread her wings widely to slow down and landed on the soft grass with a heavy thud that made a slight tremor rumble around her. The Lugia lowered herself and extended her physical wing onto the grass, allowing her passengers to slowly crawl off her back.
Once Phaedra's three passengers had disembarked, she spread her wings one last time and then neatly folded them against her sides. "Come." Phaedra walked ahead at a leisurely pace.
Brock, Bianca, and Pikachu looked at each other uncertainly for a moment and then followed the heavy footsteps of the massive goddess, being wary to stay clear of her slowly-swaying thick tail, even though its restrained movements made it clear Phaedra was being careful.
Phaedra stopped on the last line of trees before they reached the lake's bank and lightly nudged some branches away with her head. "There they are. You may see for yourselves. However, they're unconscious and Skai is resting. So, there's no point in bothering them right now."
Brock stopped on the tree line under Phaedra's head, noticing the massive form of Skailyn curled and floating on the lake's crystalline water. "She looks rather scary."
Bianca frowned as she leaned against a tree trunk. "Well, having been face to face with her, I'd say she looks a lot less intimidating from far away." She gasped as she noticed, on one of the black dragoness' protruding coils, the distinct and unmoving forms of a resting Latios and Latias. "Oh! I see them. Gosh, they're so small in comparison."
"What happened to them exactly?" Pikachu asked while glancing up at Phaedra. "They aren't injured in any way, are they?"
"They're okay. I talked with Ho-Oh on the way here and got the details. The entity that attacked you extracted some of their dormant power." Phaedra fondly looked out to the lake. "Skai brought them to the healing spring as its life energy would do wonders in recovering their lost strength and would let them rest easier," she explained. "And, if Skai is taking the time to rest, that means they should be entirely out of harm, or else she'd be doing something about it."
Bianca sighed in relief. "Thank goodness they're okay. Sorry if we've been a bother, it's just… it was quite frightening to see them whisked away after what happened without any explanation."
Phaedra gave Bianca a reassuring smile. "It's quite alright. Your reactions are completely understandable. Just know, the twins are one of us Legendaries. Not one of us would ever lay a claw on them to cause harm. Quite the contrary." She motioned with her head toward her missing wing, causing the group to follow her gaze to her lost appendage. "We'd all risk life and limb to protect them."
Bianca nodded slowly. "I can see that. Thank you, Phaedra. Still, a bit of warning would've been nice."
"Skailyn is very straightforward." Phaedra chuckled. "But you've seen firsthand she's gentle at heart and means no harm. Latios and Latias are in safe claws."
Pikachu looked between the distant trio of dragons and Phaedra a couple of times as if struggling to make up his mind. "I guess it's true. I've just been on the fence on this whole thing," he admitted. "I'll try to trust you a bit more, but I hope you understand our hesitance. Anyway, what about Ash? Is he with them?"
"Ash is with Ho-Oh. And, speaking of Ho-Oh…" Phaedra shifted to the side while glancing upward. "Here she comes."
Brock turned around and followed the Lugia's eyes. He gasped when he noticed a large airborne Pokémon approaching steadily in the distance. "Whoa, she's very colorful, just like Ash described her."
"So, that's Ho-Oh…" Bianca marveled. "Latios and Latias have mentioned her a few times to us and have spoken very highly of her. It's great to finally meet her in person."
"Ho-Oh's a charm. You'll like her," Phaedra commented with a fond smile.
Ho-Oh serenely flew down to where the group and Phaedra were located. She spread her vibrant wings widely to slow down and landed softly on the ground with a near-inaudible click of her sharp talons.
Bianca took a step back in surprise and looked between the towering forms of Ho-Oh and Phaedra at their front and back, noting that Ho-Oh appeared a bit larger than the Lugia behind them. She admired the stunning contrast between Phaedra's gentle sea of silver feathers and Ho-Oh's vibrant flare of red, white, green, and golden feathers.
Immediately, Brock, Bianca, and Pikachu could feel the air around them heat up ever so slightly in a manner that did not feel uncomfortable. If anything, the immense goddess before them radiated an alluring aura of comfort and coziness that made them feel at ease despite her towering posture and the striking intensity of her ruby-red eyes.
Bianca made a soft noise of surprise, charmed at the sight of a Legendary whose name she had heard in past conversations with her dearest friends. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Ho-Oh," Bianca greeted with a bow.
"Likewise," Ho-Oh replied at the same time a soft breeze blew by, altering the sound waves of her Pokéspeech into spoken English.
Brock's jaw dropped slightly, stunned at both the depth and strength behind the shrill tunes of her voice and the fact that each word sounded perfectly comprehensible to him. "Did you just… speak?"
"I did." Ho-Oh looked between the three before her and politely said, "Greetings." She tilted her body to the side and extended a rainbow wing down. "You can climb down now and rejoin your friends."
"Wait!" a familiar voice called out in panic.
Ho-Oh stopped and lifted her wing back to a neutral posture. "Oh, right. I almost forgot."
Pikachu's eyes widened in delight. "Ash!" he cried out joyously. "You're alright!"
Bianca sighed in relief. "Thank goodness he's alright."
Brock frowned. "He sounds distressed, though. Are you okay, Ash!?" he called out loudly.
"I'm fine!" Ash responded from Ho-Oh's back. "Just… uh, do you guys have my backpack?"
"Yeah, I have it," Bianca answered while glancing at it with a perplexed expression. "Just come here and you can get it."
"I can't! I really, really can't!" Ash shouted back. "And don't you dare move, Bianca!"
"Why not?" Brock asked, scratching his head. "Is something wrong?"
Ash grimaced and pressed tighter against Ho-Oh's feathery back, hoping that she wouldn't betray him, and remained perfect still to shield himself. "Fine. I'm naked, okay? Just, toss me my backpack or something!"
Pikachu blinked and made a face. "Huh."
Phaedra looked between Ash's friends and Ho-Oh. "Do I?"
Ho-Oh shook her head. "It's fine."
Brock turned to Bianca and extended his hand. "Yeah, I'll be needing his backpack."
Bianca nodded. "Clearly." She took off Ash's backpack and handed it over to the older trainer. She flexed her shoulders a couple of times once the firm weight lifted off her back. "Damn, I almost forgot how much heavier his backpack is compared to mine."
Brock laughed heartily. "Indeed. You should see mine, it's much worse." He took a few steps ahead and then stopped with a confused expression. He looked up at the imposing life Legendary and fidgeted nervously. "Uhm, what now?"
Ho-Oh chuckled in slight bemusement. "You have nothing to fear or be nervous about around me. It's okay." She leaned down and slightly opened her beak.
Brock noted with slight fright that her head alone was the size of his entire body. He took a step forward and carefully placed one of the backpack's straps around the tip of her beak.
Ho-Oh gripped it with care and craned her neck to deposit it on her back. "There we go."
"So, what happened?" Bianca asked while raising an eyebrow. "Sorry to ask, but this is rather random."
Ho-Oh focused her attention on Bianca. "That is for Ash to explain, not myself."
Pikachu stared at Ho-Oh for a moment and tilted his head in thought. 'Why is Ash naked? Why is Ho-Oh of all Legendaries bringing him to us? Why not Phaedra, why not Skailyn?' His eyes widened and his stomach churned as realization dawned on him. His face fell and his ears dropped. 'Oh…'
"By the way, thank you for your help, Phaedra," Ho-Oh said gratefully. "I realized I haven't properly thanked you."
"You're welcome. Always happy to help." Phaedra took a couple of steps back to give the group some space and then roosted on the ground comfortably.
'Humans,' Ho-Oh thought in amusement as she patiently waited for Ash to finish dressing on her back and, upon his cue, extended her right wing again and lowered it to the ground.
Ash carefully climbed down Ho-Oh's enormous wing and turned to face his friends when he hit the ground. He was immediately greeted by Pikachu aggressively jumping into his arms. "Hey there, buddy. I'm okay, I'm okay," Ash said soothingly as he caringly wrapped his arms around the small electric-type.
"I was worried sick about you!" Pikachu said back, pressing his head against Ash's chest, not caring that he could feel a few tears smear onto his shirt and jacket.
Ash frowned when he noticed that he couldn't understand Pikachu's speech. Much like it had been for the longest time before his adventure on Alto Mare, the sounds Pikachu made conveyed no meaning to him other than a continuous repetition of his name. Ash made a soft, saddened noise and gripped Pikachu tighter. 'Truly, you don't know what you have until you lose it.'
"Ash, are you okay? Are you hurt?" Brock asked as he came up to the younger trainer's side. "We saw what happened at the beach but we didn't see you. Everything just moved so fast."
Ash stared at Brock indecisively while tightening the grip his arms had on Pikachu even further. He trembled and looked at Ho-Oh over his shoulder as if asking for answers or suggestions. Ho-Oh only gave him an encouraging nod in return. "I…" Ash stopped and remained still.
Bianca smiled, walked over to Ash, and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, take your time, Ash." She wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "We're just happy to see you're okay. We were very worried."
"I'll tell you all later, okay?" Ash murmured while letting Pikachu settle on his shoulder. "It's been a very long day."
Brock nodded in understanding. "It's okay, Ash."
Pikachu frowned. The fact Ash's eyes were back to their old brown color was something he noticed immediately. He sighed and threw Ho-Oh a bittersweet glare. "I can figure out what happened. I'm angry, but still, thank you for bringing him back."
"You're welcome," Ho-Oh replied calmly. She stood back to her full height, causing a shadow to fall over the group in front of her. "Well, there's a couple of things I'd like to go over with you four."
Ash, Bianca, and Brock turned to face Ho-Oh. "Yes?" Ash started uneasily.
"I'm sure Phaedra already introduced you to Sky Pillar, am I correct?" Ho-Oh asked.
Brock, Bianca, and Pikachu nodded. Ash looked at them and made a face of understanding. "Oh, I see," he muttered.
"Well, I spoke with Rayquaza not long ago and he'd like to meet you. But that will have to wait for a day or so. Until then, please don't cause trouble." Ho-Oh paused to let that sink in. "Since we don't know how long you'll stay here, I'll grant you three something useful for your stay."
Brock hummed in thought. "Something useful? What is it?"
"In Ash's case, it's merely giving it back to him. For you both, it'll be a new experience. You may also consider it a small thank you gift on my part." Ho-Oh focused her sharp eyes on Ash, which immediately softened into a tender and apologetic visage. "You may want to close your eyes, though."
Ash frowned and returned her stare nervously. "Why?"
"Because I have to use fire for this," Ho-Oh answered bluntly.
"Oh," Ash acknowledged apprehensively. He cringed and tightly shut his eyes.
Brock, Bianca, and Pikachu looked at him with concern. "Everything okay, Ash?" Brock asked slowly.
Ash remained silent.
"Fear not," Ho-Oh spoke reassuringly. "This may look frightening but it's harmless." Ho-Oh reared her head back and slightly opened her beak. She leaned in and breathed out a gentle stream of alluring rainbow fire that radiated with a gallant golden glow. The powerful fire dazzlingly spread in front of her like a billowing plume and swiftly enveloped everyone before her.
Ash tensed and shut his eyes tighter. Brock and Bianca took a reflexive step back in alarm, but relaxed when they noticed the fire washing over them did not burn and only left a sensation of comforting warmth in them.
Ho-Oh's eyes flashed with a brief prismatic glow as she closed her beak. The Sacred Fire slowly burned away by itself, leaving only patches of colorful ambers on the ground and a gentle golden glow surrounding the three trainers that swiftly faded into nothingness.
"Huh, I don't feel anything," Brock noted. "Other than warmth, but that's it."
"What did you do?" Bianca asked tentatively while looking at herself and noting that she didn't feel any different.
"You'll notice fairly quickly," Ho-Oh answered while not influencing the air around her to convert the sound waves of her speech into English anymore. "It's a minuscule tweak of your genetics, something completely harmless that won't affect any of you in any meaningful way physiologically except for one thing, which you should have noticed by now."
Brock and Bianca gasped in shock. They looked at each other as if silently asking the other if they heard the same thing, and confirming through their stunned reactions that they indeed had. They could hear that Ho-Oh's speech had been nothing but a series of shrill cries and soft trills. Yet, as naturally as they could understand spoken English, they could make out clear words and meaning behind each of Ho-Oh's melodious tunes. "Your… y-your speech, we… we understood it," Brock stuttered.
Ash opened his eyes and sighed in relief, glad to know his lost gift had returned. He gave Ho-Oh a grateful smile and bowed. "Thank you."
Ho-Oh's expression softened. "You're most welcome. If you three will be staying on a continent inhabited entirely by Pokémon, it'd be better if you can freely communicate with the locals, just in case."
"Will it wear off?" Bianca asked tentatively.
Ho-Oh shook her head. "It's permanent. Unless you ask me or another Life Legendary to revert it."
"I… that's just…" Brock looked at his vest and the numerous Poké Balls in its pockets. His thoughts then drifted to the numerous Pokémon he left at the Pewter Gym. He couldn't wait to talk to them and have proper conversations with them at last. He raised his head and grinned. "Thank you, Ho-Oh."
"Huh, that's neat. It means Ash or the twins can stop being the party's universal translators," Pikachu commented.
Bianca paused and observed Pikachu in surprise. His Pokéspeech was drastically different from Ho-Oh's, yet the words and meanings behind every one of his vocalizations remained clear to her. "This will take some getting used to, but it's amazing."
"I see you're taking it well." Ho-Oh gave them a warm look and waited for them to return their attention to her. "There are a few other things I'd like to say. We'll most likely have another conversation down the line. I don't know when but under slightly different circumstances." She looked to the side, in direction of the healing spring. "Latias and Latios…"
"They're okay, right?" Pikachu asked hesitantly.
"I know we've probably asked every single Legendary we've met recently," Bianca began, turning around to give an apologetic glance at Phaedra, which elicited a bemused snort from the ocean deity. "But it's been a very chaotic day."
"Yeah, we're just worried about them, that's all," Brock agreed with a polite nod. "They're our friends."
Ho-Oh's eyes drifted back to them. "It's no bother. Phaedra and Skailyn told the truth. The twins are perfectly fine, just exhausted and in need of rest." An affectionate glint formed on her ruby-red eyes and her expression softened. "I want to sincerely thank all of you for being such great friends to the twins. I can see why their father entrusted them to you on their long-awaited venture outside of Alto Mare."
Ash grinned slightly. "Oh, it's nothing. We're a family, and the twins are part of it."
Brock nodded in agreement. "We're in it through thick and thin, together. No matter what."
Pikachu chuckled while fondly reminiscing of his never-ending banters with Latios. "Even if Latios likes to act tough and like he can do it all."
Bianca stifled a giggle. "Tough guy, but we'll always have his back. Even if we need to come to a faraway lost continent to check up on him."
"That's why I couldn't be more grateful to all of you for being such loyal and sincere friends to them." Ho-Oh bowed and gave them an acknowledging nod. "You have all earned my eternal gratitude, respect, and admiration."
Ash blushed and scratched the back of his head. "It's no problem, really. All we've done is just… be their friends."
"I grew up with them at Alto Mare. They're like my siblings and I love them as such," Bianca said with a fond smile.
"Indeed, you have. Yet that by its very nature has created conflict." Ho-Oh paused for a moment. "Even when faced with a threat none of you should be having to deal with birthed from their past, even with the danger that exposed you to, you've endured with them, worried after them, and remained true to them. That is true companionship, and that's why I'm thankful. I've been their mentor for a century, and I can see they've grown alongside you during your journey."
Ash frowned. "That thing, you'll do something about it, right?"
"Did it really kill their father?" Bianca asked slowly. "The Soul Dew…"
"That is correct." Ho-Oh's eyes hardened. "And yes, I intend to do something about it." She sighed. "Unfortunately, I cannot say more right now, as that will be a conversation we'll have for another time. Anyway, as a token of my gratitude, should any of you desire something that is within my power and possibilities to grant, then I will."
Ash, Brock, Bianca, and Pikachu looked amongst themselves with a perplexed look. "So, like, anything?" Brock asked tentatively. "I don't even know what I could ask for…"
"If I can grant it, yes," Ho-Oh clarified. "You can also save your request for later. No need to rush to find something right now, just let me know. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll leave for now."
Ash waved at her. "Goodbye, Ho-Oh." He flinched slightly. "And… thanks, for you know what," he said hesitantly.
"It's no problem, Ash," Ho-Oh replied amiably as she spread her vast wings. "Oh, before I leave," she said as she focused her attention on the roosting Phaedra. "I'm sorry, long day."
"It's okay," Phaedra replied. "I was going to ask someone else if you forgot." She stood up and spread her wings. Her prosthetic water wing rippled and then erupted into a large gush of water that splattered all over the ground and grass under her, leaving only a stump of flesh on her shoulder.
"There's no need." Ho-Oh's body released a gentle golden glow the moment she opened her beak and exhaled a powerful stream of rainbow fire at Phaedra. The Sacred Fire washed over her and coalesced into a roaring whirl around her left flank. A thick and long skeletal structure sprouted out of Phaedra's shoulder, which grew in length until it matched her other wing. The tip spread into smaller bone digits to form the shape of Phaedra's hand-like wingtip. Countless muscle fibers, dozens of veins, and an intricate array of nerves grew out of the ashes made by the fire, weaving around together and around the bones until they seamlessly formed the wing-shaped structure of flesh.
Ash, Brock, Bianca, and Pikachu watched in shock and fascination as a thick layer of skin swiftly spread over the pulsing muscle fibers until it coated them completely. With the wing fully reformed, a beautiful down of ethereal silver feathers sprouted from the flesh until it matched the rest of Phaedra's body.
"Whoa…" Brock commented in awe. "So, that's what she meant."
"That's stunning," Bianca agreed with widened eyes. "I wish Pokémon Centers could do that."
Phaedra smiled when the Sacred Fire petered out. She spread and retracted her newly-formed wing several times to get accustomed to it and then pressed it back to her flank along with the other one. "Thank you. Now my dad will be a little less horrified when he sees me," Phaedra joked with a laugh.
"Oh, he still will be. That's just Lugia being Lugia," Ho-Oh replied with a hearty laugh. She glanced at the group still before her. "We'll see each other again soon." Ho-Oh flapped her wings and took off, leaving only a ring-shaped gust of dust in her wake that seemed to flow around Ash's group and intentionally avoided buffeting them.
Ho-Oh flew to the healing lake and stopped in place right above the resting Skailyn. She winced noticeably the moment her eyes scanned Skailyn's form from up close and took note of the deep spiritual damage the Jade Orb inflicted on her. Her gaze drifted to the unconscious forms of Latias and Latios, and let a soft expression settle on her face. "Rest well, little ones."
Skailyn cracked open an eye and looked up at her. "Want me to keep an eye on them until they wake up?"
"Please do. I'll be keeping an eye out too, in any case." Ho-Oh opened her beak and fired off a gentle wave of multicolor fire ahead that washed over the black Rayquaza and covered her under an intense veil of polychromatic fire. The countless wounds on Skailyn's body flared with the radiant fire and gradually regenerated. Torn muscles mended together, skin and flesh reformed and weaved back together, and scales swiftly regrew to cover the healed flesh anew. The Sacred Fire faded away into quaint cinders and revealed a pristine sea of black scales that reflected the afternoon sunlight stunningly.
"Thank you." Skailyn gave her a grateful look. "I was afraid I'd have to spend a few weeks here to heal those off."
Phaedra gave the group next to her a kind smile. "Please stay here, I'll be right back." She calmly walked over to the healing spring and stepped over the water as if it was an extension of solid ground without hindrance. "I'll leave soon myself, but there's something very important I need to let you two know."
Ho-Oh and Skailyn turned their attention to her.
"While I fought to free Skailyn from the Jade Orb, I was able to critically damage it. Probably not enough to damage it beyond repair, but I got a good look at its insides," Phaedra began.
"Was taking it not an option?" Ho-Oh asked sharply.
Phaedra shook her head grimly. "My priority was freeing Skailyn to protect the twins."
"It's alright, then," Ho-Oh acknowledged.
"Well, what's it made of?" Skailyn asked.
Phaedra grimaced. "The Sky Plate. There's no mistake about it."
Skailyn gasped. "The… Sky Plate?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "So, that's where it is…"
"If he created the orbs with stolen plates, we'll have to talk urgently with Rayquaza about this," Ho-Oh noted while looking at Skailyn.
"We will," Skailyn agreed. "You're right. If that's where the Sky Plate is, I think we can safely assume that's where the Splash and Earth Plates are. Those have been missing as well."
A tense flare of anxiety ran through Phaedra at the mention of the Splash Plate and its likely whereabouts. Her eyes trailed down toward the water, betraying her attempt to hide it.
"I don't think the Blue Orb would affect Antaeus as badly as it affected me."
Phaedra started at the abrupt comment, eyes snapping back to Skailyn from where they had wandered. "What are you talking about?"
"You're worried about Antaeus and the Blue Orb, right? After seeing what it did to me?" Skailyn smiled softly at Phaedra, knocking her head against the Lugia. "You look like you're ready to bolt to check on your brother. It's okay if you want to go, but I don't believe Antaeus would suffer in the same way I did."
Phaedra sighed and took the comfort the other legendary offered, pressing close to her for a moment before pulling away. "Great, you mean to say that the orbs are not only affecting the children on top of the adults that they were created for but also potentially affecting all of them differently?"
"Are you doubting me in matters of the soul?" Skailyn shot back quickly.
"I don't think that's what Phaedra meant at all. I think she's just questioning where this belief comes from when this is only the second real run-in that we've had with the orbs," Ho-Oh interrupted, halting the potential budding argument.
Skailyn turned to Ho-Oh and shook her head while saying, "second or third, depending on how you want to look at it." She paused and let out a low growl. "But I was involved both major times. I saw how they worked and now I felt how they worked on myself, and it was very different."
"Because of your death power," Ho-Oh deducted.
"Yes, because of the power the Jade Orb doesn't tune to. And that's where the opinion comes from." Skailyn returned her attention to Phaedra and gave her a slow and piercing up and down stare that looked far deeper into her than just the physical level. "You know, you and your siblings' inherited powers are more… infused and entwined than mine. Your storm powers mix with your water powers in a way that air and death just, don't."
"She's right," Ho-Oh agreed. "I can say as much as a wielder of air and life."
"I don't think the Blue Orb would tear at him the same way the Jade Orb did to me, though it'll probably hurt. Not as perfectly fit as it is to Kyogre." Skailyn paused and frowned, with her deep gaze still focused far into Phaedra's soul. "I'd... be more concerned about the effect the Blue Orb could possibly have on you and Silver. I doubt it can control you. But, for you especially, it could have some effect."
Phaedra sighed. "That's not entirely reassuring, but thank you. I'll be sure to let my mom know so we're careful."
"And I to my father," Skailyn agreed. "Us," she added, glancing briefly at Ho-Oh.
"We shall. Well, thank you for your discovery, Phaedra. I have much to think about." Ho-Oh flapped her wings and took off into the sky.
Skailyn watched Ho-Oh depart and then laid her head down on her coils again. "What a mess," she mumbled.
"Yeah," Phaedra agreed. "Judging by what you said, that means physically, you're fine. But spiritually—"
"Not good at all," Skailyn finished. "It'll take me a while to heal it off."
"I'll let you rest then." Phaedra leaned in and gave Skailyn's cheek an affectionate lick. She took a deep breath and turned around to leisurely walk back to Ash's group.
Ash, Brock, Bianca, and Pikachu watched as Ho-Oh disappeared into the distance, leaving a faint rainbow in her wake. "Where's she going?" Brock asked curiously.
"She has a home here in Sky Pillar," Phaedra answered.
"Is it that huge tree?" Ash asked. "I was there not long ago."
"Yep, that's the one," Phaedra confirmed with a nod. "She'll probably hang out there for the time being. If she was brief, it's because she has a lot on her mind right now. So please, understand her."
Bianca nodded slowly. "I wonder what I can ask of her. It could be anything." She stopped, hummed with curiosity, and looked on at Phaedra. She wondered for a moment how the lake's surface sustained someone as big as her without sinking, especially since the Lugia's heavy footfalls only caused a minimal splash. "Huh, how do you do that?"
Phaedra stood up fully so her feet were clearly visible. "Power over water. I do it by increasing the water's surface tension to the point it's strong enough to sustain my weight. Pretty neat, isn't it?"
"That's impressive." Brock clapped. "Quite handy, even."
"It's not as cool as Ho-Oh regrowing your wing, though," Ash commented. "She beats you there."
Phaedra rolled her eyes. "Of course not, but I can do far flashier things with water other than just standing on it." She smiled at them and resumed her stride until she was next to them again. "I'd show off, but you're all probably tired. It's been a long day and you should rest."
Bianca sighed and looked at Brock's weary face. "Yeah, we should." She glanced at her surroundings. "So, uh, do we just… hang out here or what?"
"Well, the twins are still unconscious and it's not like you guys can get off Sky Pillar yourselves," Phaedra began. She glanced over her shoulder at the resting form of Skailyn and the two dragons. "So, yes, just stay put until they wake up and decide what we should do about you." Phaedra returned her attention to them. "I'm sure Rayquaza will come soon to formally welcome you. It's his home, after all."
Brock nodded slowly. "I guess we just wait here, then."
"If you leave, though, how do we move around?" Ash asked. "I mean, Rayquaza and Ho-Oh are here, right? Would they help?"
"Or, what if another Legendary has other ideas?" Pikachu crossed his arms and glared pointedly at Phaedra. "We've had a pretty spotty record when meeting you Legendaries as of late."
Phaedra shook her head. "Don't worry about that. You're all the twins' mortals. No Legendary would do anything about you unless the twins approve of it. Anything the twins wish done regarding you, any Legendary near will see to it, even if it's not myself," she explained.
"Okay, that's a bit reassuring," Bianca commented.
"You should just stay near here. Just don't get yourselves into trouble until then. Ray probably wouldn't be happy if you do." Phaedra chuckled at the mental image. "By the way, keep in mind most Pokémon here have not seen a human, ever. So, don't be surprised if you get curious visitors. There's also a very large number of territorial dragons. So, stay near Skailyn for now and you'll be fine until then."
"What about you?" Bianca asked. "You'll be leaving, right?"
"Yeah, I will," Phaedra responded. "I want to return to my parents. They're probably worried about me after the fight I had to take part in—my dad especially. And, I want to check on my siblings."
"Wait, parents? Siblings?" Ash asked perplexedly. He gasped and hit his palm with a fist. "That's right! I was confused why your voice sounds different from when we met in Shamouti. That's because you're not him. And, if you have parents, that means you're…"
Phaedra grinned and nodded. "Yep, that big drama queen is my dad. My name is Phaedra, by the way. Pleased to meet you, Ash."
"Oh right, you mentioned that when you flew us in," Brock recalled. "With your mother being Kyogre."
Ash tapped his chin with a finger. "Oh, I didn't know he had a daughter." He frowned. "Huh, now I wonder, why didn't that Lugia we met in the Whirl Islands talk telepathically to us or introduce herself? So far, every other Lugia has."
"Whirl Islands? A Lugia?" Phaedra asked curiously.
"Yeah, we saw another Lugia at Whirl Islands. She was much, much smaller than you or your father. She was a mother with a baby Lugia named Silver," Ash explained. "You know them by any chance?"
Phaedra snorted. "Mother?"
"…Yeah," Brock confirmed uncertainly. "Is something wrong?"
"That was mostly me. Though, Silver is my baby brother, not my son," Phaedra clarified. "We sometimes let humans call us mother and child, even if Silver throws fits over it."
"He's your baby brother? Why didn't you tell us or Oliver, then?" Ash hummed thoughtfully. "And, if you can speak, why not say anything with your telepathy back then?"
Phaedra shrugged. "Because there's no real point in correcting if they're humans we don't communicate with, to start."
"Well, that would've been really helpful considering what happened," Brock pointed out.
Pikachu crossed his arms in annoyance. "So, that Lugia was you? You tried to kill us! Even though we were only trying to help you!" He rolled his eyes. "I remember being quite annoyed with you back then because you behaved in a strange and very off-putting manner and refused to engage in any form of meaningful conversation." He gave her a look. "Why are you so radically different now?"
Phaedra blinked. "Oh! I think I remember what specific day you're referencing. Some humans tried to catch Silver? With a fake Lugia? Put him in a cage, all that?"
"Yeah, some dudes known as Team Rocket," Ash confirmed. "We had to rescue him."
"Well, that's because that was me, but it actually wasn't me," Phaedra answered. "That was a substitute I made and tasked with protecting and entertaining Silver while I was nearby, catching up on some lessons from my parents." She gave them an apologetic look and winced. "If my substitute tried to attack you, then it was because it may have incorrectly judged you as a threat. I'm very sorry about that. I've practiced improving them since that incident."
"Substitute? Like the attack Substitute?" Brock asked.
"Yeah," Phaedra confirmed. "Legendaries can create far more durable and lively substitutes than mortal Pokémon can. I typically make mine out of water to give them a better physical feel."
"Isn't it a bit unsafe to leave a baby out there like that?" Bianca asked with concern. "I don't know what happened as I wasn't there, but it doesn't sound good."
"It's not that unsafe, no. It helps Silver and his development if he's allowed to play around and explore the world at his own pace and, as you saw from the fact my Substitute almost killed you, he wasn't exactly unguarded. Plus, my parents and I were nearby. Had my substitute taken enough damage to dispel it or if we sensed Silver left the Whirl Islands, then we would've gotten there in a minute." Phaedra's eyes narrowed. "Then those guys would've had to deal with an entire pissed-off family of deities."
Brock gulped. "Judging by what we saw you do earlier, that wouldn't have ended well for them."
Phaedra smirked. "Obviously." Her expression shifted to a warm smile. "Still! I do want to sincerely thank you for helping Silver out. Even though it'd have been safer for you all to leave and not put yourselves in danger for him, you did help. I appreciate that."
Ash smiled back. "You're welcome. It was nothing."
"We just help whenever we can," Brock added. He crossed his arms. "Even if we often get in trouble for it."
"Far too much trouble, if you ask me," Pikachu said exasperatedly.
"I guess I can see why that Lugia wasn't you in person. Also, that explains why you're so much… bigger than back then," Ash commented with a nervous laugh. "But, I'm not sure if we can tell you two apart, to start."
"Oh, it's possible." Phaedra smirked. "Let's see if you nail it."
Brock watched her thoughtfully for a moment and then gasped. "I think I got it." He turned to his friends. "Do you?"
Pikachu nodded. "I got it too." He looked at Ash. "What about you?"
Ash's eyes widened. "I got it too!" He pointed at her chest and then moved his finger up to the Lugia's face. "Your chest and mask. They're very dark blue. Your dad has a much lighter blue on him."
Phaedra gave them a nod. "You got it." The Lugia angled her body and spread her back plates. She moved her tail so it curled inward and to her front. "My tail and back as well."
"Are you bigger or smaller? I honestly can't tell," Ash asked curiously. "Maybe if you let me ride your back, though. But that was a while ago."
"I'm only a bit smaller than my dad," Phaedra replied. "But I'll probably end up bigger than he is. I've still got some growth to do. Thank my mom for being so huge."
Ash, Brock, and Bianca gasped. "Wait, wait, wait, you can still grow? You're not fully grown?" Brock asked incredulously.
"I knew it," Pikachu muttered with narrowed eyes. "Your scent didn't quite give off the vibe of an adult."
"I'm actually a teenager," Phaedra clarified. She burst out laughing at their flabbergasted expressions. "Hard to believe, but indeed I am."
"It is, especially given how serious you were back there," Brock commented.
Phaedra's expression adopted a somber look. "Well, the situation called for it. I didn't exactly know what would happen regarding your friend, nor did I know if you were heading into news that'd make you mourn. But I'm glad it turned out fine in the end for you all." She looked in the direction of the healing springs. "Now, it's just a matter of waiting for the twins to wake up."
"Yeah…" Ash said in a bare whisper. He idly wondered if Latias knew what she did. 'If she does, what do I tell her? If she doesn't… how do I tell her?' He frowned and slightly shook his head. 'I'm terrible at these kinds of things.'
"You have a good heart and the best intentions, Ash," Phaedra said telepathically, ensuring only he heard her. "Trust yourself, follow your heart, and tell her what's in it."
"Uh…" Ash blinked, taken aback. "That's what Ho-Oh said."
Brock and Bianca looked oddly at him. "Something happen?" Bianca asked.
Phaedra gave the young trainer a reassuring nod. "It's getting late and it's been a long day for you all. I'll let you set up camp and rest. As I said, until you meet Rayquaza, please don't stray from the area and stay close to Skailyn."
Brock nodded slowly. "We won't."
"Also, I know you're most likely still worried, but let Latios and Latias rest. They're in good claws." Phaedra rose to her full height and spread her wings. "Any questions before I leave?"
"Yeah, just one, Phaedra," Ash started, prompting the ocean goddess to glance at him and wait for him to elaborate. "You promise we can meet Silver and your dad soon? We'd love to see them again."
Phaedra grinned. "Sure. I'll be sure to drag him into visiting sometime. I doubt he'd mind." The Lugia flapped her wings, kicking off a strong gust that spread rings of dust around her as she took off into the sky.
Chapter End
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