Sinnoh Arc II: Arceus Descends

They returned to Snowpoint and traveled through the underground to Hearthome City. There, they checked into the Pokémon Center and stayed the night. It had gotten late upon their return and they were tired from all that walking around. Despite her tiredness, however, Jacky could hardly sleep. She woke up from nervousness again and again. The confidence she had shown the day before was wavering with every minute. She was afraid that something could go extremely wrong. What if they were massively overestimating themselves...? What if there was a variable in the equation that she hadn't calculated yet? What if Cyrus could outsmart them after all and they would end up losing everything? She looked over at Mari, who was sleeping like a rock. Her friend seemed absolutely unconcerned in the face of what was ahead of them. Maybe she was just worrying too much. ...but could one worry too much in a situation like this?

When the sun came up, Jacky was already busy with breakfast and tried fried eggs, but that... unfortunately did not go so well. Mari woke up from Jacky's exasperated cry. "Ugh, crap! What's wrong with- what happened?!",
"...?" Mari got up yawning, then noticed the smell of something burning. The information that arrived in her brain was something along the lines of, 'Jacky in the kitchen. Get fire extinguisher ASAP'. She rushed to the stove and shoved her friend aside. "Is this an oil fire? What the hell did you do?",
"I-I don't know, it just started burning!"

Mari did damage control at record speed, but was unable to save the eggs. She sighed. "Leave it to me... You better get ready.",
"But I already started-",
"I don't care. You'll set the whole room on fire.",
"...Haha... uhm... yes, I guess you're right. I'd rather leave it to the expert." Jakcy hid in the bathroom, embarrassed. That was a great start into the day. Absolute world class. She did not even manage to fry eggs.

A shower and a few minutes of blow drying later, she sat at the breakfast table with Mari. "Are you nervous?" she asked. Mari crossed her legs. "Nervous? ...A little maybe, but we can't show fear in this situation. Otherwise, we'll be done for. If Cyrus notices that we ourselves don't believe in what we're doing, then he won't take us seriously. And then it will be hard enough for us.",
"You're right... I must admit though, I could hardly sleep.",
"I'm not surprised... I can relate. But we are so close to our goal... now, we can't let it go to waste. It's in our hands... "

When the time came, the girls met in the lobby with Elesa and Skyla. "Good luck to you," Skyla wished them. "Be careful. You guys have to make it.",
"I didn't think the fate of Sinnoh was going to be up to you two youngsters..." Elesa clicked her tongue. "But I hope you know what you're doing. We can't help you in this situation.",
"We know..." Mari nodded and clenched her hands into fists. "But this is a do or die situation. No matter what we do, if we remain idle and do nothing, everything is gonna go down the drain.",
"We believe in you guys." Skyla smiled at them. "You can handle it.",
"Thank you..." Jacky nodded and exhaled before turning to Mari and nodding at her. "Let's do this.",
"Yep."

Cyrus was already waiting for them at Mount Coronet. The setting sun in the background bathed the world in a blood-red light, which already spread the vibe of the end of the world. "So. There you are." He grinned. "You actually listened to my warmest recommendation. Good girls." Behind him, Palkia and Dialga roared. "I must say, I admire your dedication..." The leader of Team Galactic paced up and down the Spear Pillar. "You guys really came up with a brilliant plan to snatch the flute right out from under my nose. Impressive, really impressive... Risking everything to send me on a false trail... Too bad I was smarter than you this time.",
"...I guess you were." Mari kept a forced straight posture and implored herself to remain calm. "It was careless of us not to check the surroundings beforehand, I admit...",
"Heh... At least you're not fooling yourselves. That's remarkable. At this point, many would try to justify themselves, or put the blame on others. I must thank you for making it so easy for me. I didn't have to worry about how to get my hands on the only legacy of Arceus... Speaking of which." He stopped and turned to face them. "Hand it over. That's why you came all this way, isn't it? To be sensible and bring the current ruler of the world his beloved treasure."

Mari gave Jacky a sideways glance and nodded. Jacky pulled out the flute from her bag with trembling fingers. "This one?",
"Ah..." Cyrus grinned. "Wonderful, you have it with you! The Azure Flute. Very nice. It looks a bit... different than I would have thought, but what it looks like now doesn't matter, does it?",
"How do you know we're not pulling a fast one on you?" Mari asked, crossing her arms. "How can you be sure this is really the Azure Flute? It's not even blue.",
"... Hahaha... You're actually trying to play mind games with me, huh?" Cyrus laughed in amusement. "Well, it's true that I can't know whether this is the real flute or not. And that it is quite possible that you want to take me for a fool. But... would you ask me such a question if it were really so? Would you really want to make me suspicious if it was your master plan to trick me with a fake?",

"No answer?" He grinned smugly. "Well, I guess I've left you speechless. Enough of the chatter. I don't have the patience for that. Give me the flute.",
"Don't be so hasty." Mari shook her head. "Let me remind you of one thing: We are the ones who currently have the flute in our possession. We have done hard work to get it. Do you really think we're just going to hand it over? No. If your new universe is so important to you and you really want to fulfill your dreams... then fight for it. Defeat us in a fair battle and we'll give it to you voluntarely."
Jacky gave her an alarmed look. 'What the heck are you doing, Mari?! Do you really want to provoke him? He could just have Dialga and Palkia turn us into dust!',
'He could, yes. At the risk of him destroying the flute with us', Mari replied via Telepathy. 'I don't think he'll take that risk. The flute itself is the perfect bargaining tool, because he needs it to be intact to use it. Should he destroy it by accident, he's failed his mission.'

Cyrus smiled. "You're really bold", he said. "Putting conditions on me like that."
Jacky now understood what Mari was trying to do, and gripped the flute tighter with her hand. "You heard her. Either you conquer it in a fair battle, or I'll break it.",
"You wouldn't dare." Cyrus narrowed his eyes. "You wouldn't want to risk incurring the anger of a god, would you?",
"What if I did?"
"..." He started to laugh. "You guys are bluffing. You wouldn't dare doing that."
Jacky narrowed her eyes and sent out her Absol. Its blade began to glow brightly as she held out the flute to it. "I'm not bluffing. I'd smash it right here and now if you don't play by our rules.",
"I'll wreck the whole Sinnoh Region if you dare to do that.",
"That wouldn't get you any closer to your goal. So, what do you say? We'll make it easy for you. The flute... in a fair fight.",
"..." Cyrus didn't seem thrilled that the girls dared to make demands of him. His hesitation alone, however, told them they had him where they wanted him.

The boss of Team Galactic sighed and then grinned. "Very well. If that is your demand, then I will comply." He ordered Dialga and Palkia to stand down with a wave of his hand. "A fair fight... two against two.",
"Agreed." Jacky put the flute away again and nodded at Absol, who stepped in front of her and lowered its head. Mari sent out her Gardvoir. "We are ready." Cyrus sent a Weavile and a Crobat into battle. "We settle this as fellow Pokémon Trainers then. Poison Fang, Crobat! Hone Claws, Weavile!" The dark type Pokémon's claws flashed as the Crobat quickly attacked, but Gardevoir, which would have been the target of that attack, teleported to the side, evading the attack in the process. "Psychic!" Mari commanded, and it sent the bat crashing into the ground. Weavile shot towards it and aimed at it with Night Slash, but Absol repelled the attack with its blade and threw it back. It was fast. They had to be careful. "Pursue it, Absol! Don't allow it to execute any kind of counter attack!" Absol growled and started to viciously attack its opponent, but Weavile managed to dodge every single one of its strikes. It was quick on its feet and its reaction speed was enormous. "Ice Punch!" Cyrus shouted, and Weavile waited for an excellent opportunity to counter strike. Its attack collided with Absol's blade. Jacky's partner clenched its teeth and stood firm against the ice biting into the most sensitive organ of its body. Weavile grinned maliciously and performed the same attack again, hitting the side of Absol's head. Absol jumped back. "Razor Wind!" Jacky ordered. Absol's blade started glowing brightly and it unleashed a massive volley of blades at the opponent. "Poison Jab!" Weavile repelled the attack successfully. 'His Weavile is fast, faster than Absol... If only I could get it to lose its footing for a moment...'

Mari read her mind. Gardevoir lifted Crobat into the air with its Psychic and hurled it at Weavile. The latter was surprised by it and stumbled back. "Now, Absol! Razor Wind!" Absol unleashed another vicious gale of blades at their opponents. The blindingly bright blades rained down on the nimble Pokémon, and it held its arms in front of its body to withstand the attack. Gardevoir teleported into the air and hovered above the two foes. "Moon Blast!" Mari commanded. Gardevoir closed its eyes and clenched a massive ball of brilliant light in front of it, which it then sent crashing down on both of their adversaries. They didn't stand a chance. Gardevoir landed on the ground again with an elegant bow. Cyrus snorted. "Hmph...",
"You lost." Mari crossed her arms. "That means... the flute will never be yours.",
"... Hah... Ahahaha... You think you're smart..." Cyrus laughed and shook his head. "Really amusing. It was fun playing along with your little game, but no more of that. I'll just let Dialga freeze you in time and get the flute for myself if you don't want to give it up."

Mari grinned as she saw the shadow slowly rising behind Cyrus. "Are you sure about that? Because I think both your gods are busy with something else.",
"...?!" He turned around as Giratina emerged behind him and screeched loudly. "What the- Why are YOU interfering again?!",
"Haha... You were too focused on us to notice Giratina's arrival." Mari clapped her hands.
"You were playing for time...! You...!",
"We've distracted you, yes. Giratina feels the effects of the imbalance between space and time every minute. It causes pollution, defilement and chaos even in its own antimatter realm. That enraged it a lot, you know... That is why it is rebelling against you. You have contaminated its world."

Giratina shot a Dragon Pulse at the two legendary Pokémon. Both roared and attacked, whereupon they were engaged in a fierce battle. "And now... At this moment... you are powerless", Mari continued. "All you can do right now is watching how this all unfolds.",
"Giratina alone will not be able to withstand the power of these two legendary Pokémon for long! Delaying it won't do any good!",
"Giratina is not alone." Mari raised her arm and the keystone on her bracelet began to glow brightly after a touch. Jacky followed her lead and they both activated the mega evolution of their starters. "Go! Help Giratina!" Jacky shouted. Mega-Gardevoir and Mega-Absol were veiled in bright light as they fearlessly attacked the legendary deities of time and space.
Cyrus stared in bewilderment at the battle that was breaking out over Mount Coronet's summit. "..."

Jacky pulled out another Pokéball. "Medicham- I need you for a second." Her fighting-type Pokémon appeared next to her. "We should take the orbs he used to lure Palkia and Dialga here.",
"Oh, you mean the ones that have parts of their powers sealed inside them?" Mari asked.
"The very ones." She smiled. Medicham attacked Cyrus and easily took him down. Jacky strode toward him. "Hey...! Let go, you...!"
She grabbed his bag and searched it for the stones. Of course he had them on his person, why would he not? She took them. "These stones supposedly strengthen Dialga and Palkia. Why didn't you give them back to them? Were you afraid that they might resist the power of the red chains if they had the power of the orbs with them?",
"I don't owe you an explanation, you filthy little maggot!" Cyrus hissed at her. Jacky shrugged and handed Mari one of the two crystals. "We better keep those and return them later.",
"Oh, I very much agree with you." Mari nodded and then looked at the sky. "Let's fight! As one!",
"Yes. Let's fight for our future! Razor Wind, Absol!",
"Focus Blast, Gardevoir!" A storm of blades rained down on Palkia, while a ball of energy shot toward Dialga. Palkia reared back and let the blades shatter with Spacial Rend. Dialga roared and returned a Flash Cannon. Both attacks met and an explosion followed. "Shadow Ball!" Mari shouted, and Gardevoir attacked again. Dialga sent an Ancient Power attack against it and destroyed it. Gardevoir managed to teleport away before the attack hit it. "Psycho Cut, quick!" Absol rushed forward and attempted a direct strike at Palkia. The deity of space sent a Hydro Pump at it, but Absol was quick enough to dodge it and struck one of its arms. "Now use Double Edge, Absol!" Absol executed a follow-up attack, but was hit by Palkia's Spacial Rend and brutally smashed into the ground. Absol growled and managed to get back onto its feet. "Grrrgh..." Palkia let out another roar and shot a beam of light skyward before meteors rained to the ground. Giratina reared back and unleashed a Dark Pulse attack that wrecked the Draco Meteor attack and caused dust and smoke to cloud the sky. Gardevoir teleported and fired off a Focus Blast that hit Dialga's shoulder. Giratina disappeared and then attacked Palkia from behind with Shadow Force, but Palkia growled and turned around. Its Spacial Rend struck true and it made Giratina collide with the ground. "Razor Wind, Absol! Go!" Absol jumped onto one of the pillars and unleashed a massive volley of blades at the two while Giratina got back up. Dialga roared and fired a Flash Cannon at the intruder, but Giratina dodged the attack and responded with another Dark Pulse. "It is time, Jacky. Let's end this." Mari said. Jacky nodded and pulled out the Azure Flute again. "...I don't know how to play it, though.",
"I think you can do it. You have my full confidence.",
"..." She looked at the flute in her hand for a moment before exhaling deeply. She became nervous again as she slowly lifted the instrument to her lips. She closed her eyes and... played the flute. Even though she had no idea exactly how to, she seemed to instinctively know it. A soft, yet clear melody rose to the sky. 'Please Arceus... help us! Save us and free the Dialga and Palkia!' The melody died away as Palkia pushed Giratina away and Dialga's Flash Cannon hit Gardevoir. The fairy Pokémon was surprisingly able to tank the attack, even if it was powerful enough to almost one-shot it. It held on and stood strong.

Suddenly, a golden light lit up the sky. It was so bright that it almost blinded everyone. The Hall of Origin opened. Bright stairs of light formed above the Spear Pillar and a platform manifested above them. A being of golden light descended from it, shining even brighter as its feet touched the ground. The light slowly faded away and revealed... the unmatched glory of the God of their world. Arceus. "Whoa..." Mari could barely believe her eyes. Arceus opened its eyes. "Are you.. the ones who called me from my realm of eternity?" Its voice was deep and warm.
"Yes..." Jacky was almost breathless with awe. "We need your help." Arceus bowed its head slightly. "You called me to restore the balance that governed the structure of this world." It raised its head and looked up at Palkia and Dialga. "Space and time are moving away from the light. The borders are starting to blur...",
"Please Arceus, help us! Only you can stop what this man is trying to do, controlling Palkia and Dialga!", Jacky pleaded with it.
"I understand the gravity of the situation." Arceus closed his eyes before raising his head and a ball of light appeared before it. "Peace shall return! As it once was!" Dialga and Palkia roared loudly and tried to attack Arceus, turning away from Giratina and the two mega-evolved Pokémon "It is time for justice!" Arceus ordered and released the ball of light into the sky. It split open and beams of light rained down on them. They two Pokémon roared as Arceus' Judgment hit them with full force, shattering the red chains that kept them enslaved as if they were made of glass. "No...!" Cyrus watched in horror as all that he had worked for was turned to dust before his very eyes. Dialga and Palkia were freed and collapsed on the floor or the Spear Pillar. "Are they okay...?" Jacky asked. Arceus looked at her over its shoulder. "They are. Do not worry. The forced rage that has ruled them for days has left them very exhausted, but they will recover quickly. As for you...", the God gazed down upon the sinner that had dared to disrupt the absolute order, "...you will receive your just punishment for your sin of insurgence. You, who aspired to godhood and sought the destruction of my universe, you shall be locked up in the Reverse World forever." Giratina silently glared at Arceus. 'Is that your method of getting rid of your problems? To just lock them away somewhere you can't see them?',
"Giratina, cease acting like a child. Besides...", Arceus gave it a cold stare, "...hasn't he polluted your world? It should be convenient for you to see him struggle, shouldn't it? What you do with him in your world is all the same to me. For he shall become a lost soul dwelling in exile."
Giratina and its creator had a long staredown. Cyrus struggled to break free from Medicham's grip. "No! I won't let you do this to me! I am-" He was interrupted by something red that rushed up to them and a Scizor blew out his light by thundering its steel pincers against his head. The girls looked at the Pokémon with great surprise. "...Where did that Scizor come from?",
"...?" The Scizor turned around and looked at them.
"It seems to live here at the mountain", Mari commented. "Maybe it just wanted to help out...?",
"Huh..." Jacky looked down at the knocked out Cyrus. "It sure got him good... he's out cold.",
"Well, I'd like to see you getting hit by a Scizor's pincers. I don't think you'd be able to stand on your feet after that either.",
"...True."
Giratina became a shadow again, dragging Cyrus with it as it disappeared into the Distortion World.