Sinnoh Arc II: The Escape Plan
Dialga and Palkia finally regained consciousness and stood up, even if they still looked weakened. When they recognized Arceus, they bowed their heads in reverence. Jacky walked up to the two, holding the Lustrous Orb in her hand. "I believe this is yours. It's time it was given back to you." Palkia looked down at the crystal and then closed its eyes. The stone began to glow and then slowly floated in the direction of its true owner before merging with it. 'Thank you, human child.'
Mari stepped forward and returned the Adamant Orb to Dialga.
"You are wise children", Arceus stated, and the girls turned to the god of their world again. "You have chosen to return these stones that were left for the world in ancient times to those whom they rightfully belong to. So it does not seem like I have made a mistake in giving you my blessing to carry.",
"Your blessing?" Mari repeated. "What do you mean?",
"I have given up on ruling the world a long time ago and decided to leave it to grow and develop on its own. I have isolated myself in the Hall of Origin, with nothing but my remote consciousness watching over the world. However, even though I myself no longer roam this earth, I have placed part of my blessing on humans a long time ago, as they are the ones who will drive it forward. These humans were destined to use their hidden talents for the good of this world and to drive away the shadows that try to gain a foothold in it. My chosen ones... heroes to bear my divine blessing. Humans with pure hearts who have a bright future ahead of them; that are fated to reach greatness and leave a footprint of their own in this realm.",
"You... you selected people to carry out your will?",
"I would not say that. It is true that I often look into people's futures... and that I give special powers to some particularly brightly shining souls... but I do not expect them to follow their destiny until their last breath. On the contrary... many a slumbering talent remains dormant forever...",
"Are you saying that we... are divinely blessed heroes...?" Jacky asked. Arceus closed its eyes. "Indeed. You carry my light within you in form of special talents. Use them wisely.",
"So... so that's why we were suddenly able to... do things?",
"It is as you say.",
"That... is an honor", she said, putting a hand onto her heart.
"I don't expect you to fight every shadow that plagues this world from now on... You have already done the world a great service. Live your life as you wish, and follow the path of your journey wherever it takes you. As for the flute...", the flute Jacky had put away again, freed itself from her bag and floated into the air, "... it will be sealed again, where it belongs." It lit up and vanished into thin air. "You have saved this region from chaos with your heroic deeds. This achievement deserves the utmost recognition, and I will forever remember what you have done here." Then, Arceus was once again enveloped in golden light. "I thank you for your efforts. But now, it is time to return. Farewell." The light grew brighter and rose toward the sky before growing even brighter and Arceus disappeared. Dialga and Palkia bowed their heads to the girls as well, before they, too, departed.
"We did it..." Jacky gasped breathlessly. Mari nodded. "Yeah... it's over... We saved the world... We can go back to Unova at last..."
That's as far as she got before Jacky hugged her laughing and with tears in her eyes. "Whoa, hey! Slow down!" Mari almost lost her balance, but was able to remain on her feet, enabling her to return the hug.
"I can't help it!" Jacky laughed while tears of joy and relief ran down her cheeks. "We finally made it!" Absol and Gardevoir joined them. Both of them had returned to their normal forms. They looked a bit worn out, but still proud of what they had accomplished. "Heh... Who would have thought we'd have to do something like that someday..." Mari smiled gently. "I guess none of us expected this when we set out for our journey.",
"That's true... Haha... And now look at us. We've become heroines!",
"We also took a lot on ourselves for this moment. I think we deserve a break now.",
"I agree!" They broke away from each other and withdrew their starters back before getting on their fliers and leaving the mountain behind.
At the foot of Mount Coronet, they met up with Elesa and Skyla, and Cynthia was also there. "Well, look at that! The new heroines of Sinnoh!" Cynthia clapped her hands. "You could tell from a distance that it's gone quiet over Mount Coronet.",
"You guys really need to tell us what happened!" Skyla exclaimed. "It looked really intense!",
"Yeah, it was pretty intense." Jacky nodded and told the three of them what had transpired at the Spear Pillar.
"Now that's what I call a genius move." Skyla could hardly contain herself. "You guys really showed him up.",
"That wasn't easy..." Jacky giggled. "But now, I'm really exhausted.",
"Yeah, you guys look tired. You definitely need a rest..." Elesa opined, but then turned around as she watched a group of people approaching the mountain. "...Oh, we have company coming."
Mari followed her gaze. "Oh Arceus, no", she groaned. "The press is coming..." They stared at people with cameras and thick microphones who were making their way over to them in dismay. "They're not coming to see us, are they?" Jacky asked.
"Hmm..." Cynthia smiled. "Yes, I think they are. I heard that what happened on the mountain was broadcasted on TV, too."
Jacky had to chuckle softly and sighed. "We brought this on ourselves. That's the price for playing the heroes.",
"Oh, great!" Mari grumbled. "Interviews, smiling nicely at the camera... I'm incapable of doing that.",
"I definitely agree with you on the smiling nicely part."
The reporters stopped in front of them. "Hello, you two." A woman greeted the two.
"Good evening", Jacky replied with a put-on smile and winked with a trace of mischief.
"It's hard to believe!" the reporter exclaimed enthusiastically. "You stopped the destruction of the world and Team Galactic, didn't you?",
"We did..." Jacky nodded. "You know, since we've been traveling, there's almost always been something we got dragged into. As of today, I couldn't imagine living any other way, and that's a good thing." She put a hand on Mari's shoulder and pulled her close. "But saving the world makes you tired and hungry, so if you'll excuse us... We'd like to rest." With those words, Jacky swung herself back onto her Noivern very quickly. "Come on, Mari!" Mari didn't need to be told twice. She jumped on Skarmory's back. "With all due respect", the reporter said, "...could you maybe tell us the whole story first?",
"Tired and hungry," Jacky repeated with a teasing smile toward the camera. "I'll tell you the story after I've had a full day's sleep.",
"Don't worry about it." Elesa waved off. "We'll take care of that for you.",
"That's sweet of you! Thanks, girls!",
"But it would be nice to talk to the heroines in person, wouldn't it?" the reporter wanted to stop them, but Jacky just waved. "See you!" Noivern flew off, leaving the stunned reporters behind. Mari immediately followed her to escape the situation.
"That was brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Mari said laughing. Jacky grinned gleefully in Mari's direction. "Their faces were priceless!",
"Yes, indeed. I could bask in those expressions all day. But Cynthia said the whole ordeal was broadcasted on TV. So that means the whole world knows what happened by now.",
"Well... can't be helped now, can it?",
"I wouldn't know how. Eh... whatever, stuff happens. Cyrus has been taken care of and the rest of Team Galactic has been arrested. I call that a win in every aspect. We might have gotten away from the reporters for now, but we may see more of them in the near future. Gotta prepare for that."
They landed in Hearthome and stopped at the Pokémon Center. The TV was on and they went to the bar to get some drinks before settling down at one of the tables. "I think nothing's ever gonna be like it's been before", Jacky said, nipping at her cocoa. Mari nodded. "I think so too..." They watched the TV program together, where the newest broadcasts of the events were displayed. How fast those things went these days. "We have just received a report that Palkia and Dialga, as well as Giratina, have disappeared again and the battle is over. This heroic deed is due to two brave young trainers from the Unova Region, who took a long journey on themselves to prevent the destruction of our world. Sister Nadia from the monastery of Lacunosa shared thiswith us in an interview..." The broadcast cut to the recorded part of the interview. "Our abbot, Nate, allowed the young ladies to ascent our sacred mountain to find our guarded treasure together with his grandson, Jayden", the nun from the monastery explained.
"Where is he?" one of the reporters asked. "May we speak to him?",
"I'm sorry, but Jayden is not here at the moment." The nun smiled apologetically. "He left shortly after the girls did. He said he was going on a journey of his own." Mari raised her eyebrows. "Jayden went on a journey...?",
"Probably doing a candy marathon across Unova.", Jacky giggled next to her.
"Hahah... yeah... that would sound a lot like him." Mari leaned back. "Time sure flies... A lot has happened in the meantime."
When the news broadcast ended, Mari and Jacky could hear whispers coming from all corners of the Pokémon Center. The rest of the people who were here looked at them and whispered to each other. Jacky blinked in puzzlement. "Um... can we help you?" she asked. A woman smiled politely. "You're the girls from TV, aren't you? It's really great what you've done for us. We thank you so much.",
"Um... no problem. Really sweet of you." Jacky laughed sheepishly. Then, she turned to Mari and blushed with embarrassment. "Wow... So this is what recognition feels like.",
"Seems so..." she yawned. "Sheesh... I'm beat.",
"Yeah, me too... It's been a long and anxiety-causing day. We..." She stopped in the middle of her sentence.
"What?" Mari asked. Jacky stared at the Pokémon-Center's entrance, where a certain someone entered at that exact moment. Mari followed her gaze... and went white as a sheet. "Oh. Hell. No. You're kidding..."