Arceus Elyon, the Original One, He Who Is Alone, ARCS, The One Above All Titles And Thrones landed upon the Mystri Stage in a discord of howling from the frenzied guards and the soft singing of spirits and folk from afar, having awaited this hour of doom from the beginning to the end, the start to the finish, the marring of the redemption, and Rei realized something that he never could have foreseen.
The incarnate form of the Original One was like an equine qilin, with a dark gray, grooved underside. The grooved pattern continued to recur on the underside of its mane, tail, and its face. It had four pointed feet with golden hooves, and a long mane that jutted away from the head. Its face was grey, with verdant eyes and scarlet pupils with a green circular pattern below its eyes. And Rei then beheld the Old Hope that Cyllene spoke of fulfilled, the great Mystery above all other Mysteries revealed. The episode in the world's history that would be called the Incarnation had begun.
And Arceus was mighty, but Rei saw it for what this Pokemon-creature was; a sacrificial lamb from the Original One, not wholly apart from its Father, but not wholly of it, and thus no wound that befell it would indeed harm the One Above All. It was known to the folk of Hisui that anyone who looked upon the true face of the Original One would have their blood turn to scorching fire and bones to fine sand, Rei guessed without the risk that Marcus had been double-crossed, (or cheated, as he no doubt saw the whole affair in such a way) and that the schemes of the plotter had turned their tail and impaled their master at the last. In summoning Arceus, Marcus had set the stage for the Redemption of Men and Pokemon, not their doom. What the Dark Lord had intended for Evil, the Original One had used for good.
But there was still a terrible peril. The Lord of Light would not be wounded, but the Free Peoples would pass like a dried river in a desert if the Mbelekoro gained the power of even this regrettable facsimile of the true Arceus. Marcus was blinded by his webs of schemes that went farther than a mortal mind could reckon, and he did not seem to notice his uttermost failure as he flew unsupported in the air before Arceus.
"It is finished!" Marcus cried. "I hath brought the Original One down low, in the form of an earthly thing so that I might acquire its power! Let the Cleaving begin!"
Eighteen small grains of dust, barely visible in the dim light, emerged from the burnt hands of Marcus and made a circular pattern around Arceus's golden ring. Akari fired another dart at the Dark Lord amid a pause in the combat, and Iscan's Kleavor charged, blades spinning with ebony streaks. The arrow disappeared in a blast of violet smoke, and Kleavor was thrown back to the temple floor by the Will of the Mbelekoro.
Then silvery liquid so cold that Rei could feel the chill from a great distance emerged from the cracks and frosted crevaces around the Mystri Stage. The quicksilvery fluid reached up into the air with questing fingers of amorphous sheen and then slid over Arceus's legs, binding them down. Arceus fought back with a terrible storm of wrath and ruin, and a great number of beams of scarlet fire burst out of the jewels in its golden wheel, consuming several guards and creating vast smoking craters wherever the thrumming blasts impacted.
Rei readied his dagger with pale hands, prepared to throw it at Marcus from a closer distance. to delay the scheme of the Mbelekoro "This battle has not yet finished!" Malacus cried. "Do not lessen your Willpower in this manly contestation!" Snealser Protected itself from another sharp attack, and then tried to poison the enemy Bisharp with its venomed claws. Bisharp evaded the hit, and struck back again.
...
The Evil Djinn stared into the eyes of his greatest foe, and he realized that this was not the One that he had sought.
Irrelevant! The Original One has sent a being with the same power within, and I will take it for myself! At last, what was rightfully mine from the beginning of time shall now be given to me...the very throne of God!
Arceus seemed to recognize the eighteen grains, but it could not Will them away, for that was not appointed to it in this hour. "Thou seeth thy own doom," Marcus said. "And thou shalt not be delivered by your Father. Yes, False One, these grains are from thy beings which thou hast crafted, gathered by Me, and put to work in My designs. All the fragments of the Types and Fashions of Pokemon are gathered here, from scaled skin to downy feather, and I shall take unto me what remains upon the Draining of your Spirit! Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"
The Mbelekoro raised his hands. Wisps of energy, made of all colors, vibrant and undulating, suddenly started to pour out of the golden ring of Arceus, and into the hovering grains. Creation groaned as it surrendered all its Evil, all of its Marring, all of its affliction and agony and exertion and terrible labor-pains into the body of Arceus Incarnate.
...
Rei could not see what was happening with the Enemy and Arceus as he fought with the Bisharp. Sneasler was tiring, and the Bisharp was strong, trained over many years, given life for combat and not aid or help for Men in their works, enhanced by the Dark Powers of the Enemy. The battle would soon end, and not in the favor of Rei.
Malacus raised his dark hand. "Once more...Night Sla-"
A spear had run the captain through in the foray. Cyllene withdrew the heavy object, casting it to the side with slender arms as Malacus gurgled, and died. The Bisharp looked back to its fallen master. It now faltered, steerless and bereft of a Will behind it. All the thought of the Enemy was on his own deeds, not his thralls or many slaves. The opposing Pokemon faltered and quailed. Another swipe from Sneasler, and the battle had ended.
...
The sense was solidifying like liquid metal cooling in a blacksmith's molding, making a rectangular shape around each of the grains taken from the bodies of the firstborn Children of Arceus. Each plate of fair energy was growing in their own immense power, and Marcus could now see that they were all different hues; they were of the glint of white lights and silver candles, of the sheen of pearls and diamond and the half-color of opals and dun metal and perfect glass that the craft of even Groudon or Regigigas could not surpass in beuty.
He felt the death of Malacus, as he did all his servants, since they had tied their own lives to his Will. But Marcus gave them no heed, and he deserted his allies for his own gain, and they fell without his guidance; but he cared for them not. As the other plates began to finish in their making, a unique object came as a specteral lumosity out of the forehead of the weakening Arceus. The new, nineteenth plate had a four-pointed star in the hot center, with points all around the four corners of it. On it the inscription could be read of graven words: From all creations, over all creations, does the Original One watch over all.
Marcus's victory was nigh. "It has come...the Legend Plate that I most desire! Let I will be given to it...here at the End of All Things!"
...
With all the guards and servants of the Enemy present and bearing arms, the members of the company should have fallen to the sword by now, but the seven still had breath and were not grievously harmed. Their Pokemon struggled in the fight, but the guards of Marcus had none; thus they were sorely outbattled.
It was as if the soldiers of the garrison lacked Will, and some force that they had once possessed to steer them was gone. They fell easily, their own strokes easily evaded or blocked by the quick-footed and keen-eyed Hisuians. The Pokémon of the company committed great slaughter to the guards, and many fell like waste kindling under the behemoth swipes of Laventon's Gurdurr or the poisonous vapors of Akari's Parasect.
Rei saw what Marcus was doing, and tried to rally the others to stop the Evil Djinn. "Look, before all ends! Something is about to happen!"
...
The Plates had physically manifested by now in the Seen, along with the Legend Plate. Marcus reached for it in his claws. Then...
It was cleaved. Taken. Stolen! The Followers! The Sickly! The Usurpers! The heavy-handed! Men! They have done this wicked deed to me! I shall crush them utterly!
Time was stopped. Time was mourned. Time stewed at a standstill, and every day was as long as a life upon earth. The song of the lands that flowed into the cavern ceased, and the fair melodies of elohim in distant lands grew silent.
Marcus howled with laughter as his devices were fulfilled to the last.
The Plates filled with newfound power.
Father...
Father! Why have you forsaken me...
The silver water glinted.
Mount Coronet trembled.
The earth roared.
Arceus collapsed.
Marcus blinked, feeling a tremble in the air. A new force came from Arceus' fallen body, and into the forms of the members of the Golden Company, into the south, north, east, and furthest west, into the Earth and the bodies of every Man and Pokemon that had ever lived and died in the Circles of the World. And the voices of the elohim in Deep Heaven rose into a song that was fair and terrible as they rejoiced at the Great Victory, and the fulfillment of the Old Hope to the last.
What was this?
The Evil Djinn screamed.
The Old Hope had been seen to the last. He had bitten the foot of his enemy, and the blood had destroyed him. He was defeated, and the Children of Arceus, both Firstborn and Follower, had been redeemed. In attempting to reach his greatest heights, he had been bested, and the Original One had won his greatest victory. The Mbelekoro howled on and on, but nothing changed. Not a single facet of the new era.
It was over.
...
Once Marcus stopped wailing, the Legend Plate started to glow once more. More peals of rumbling emitted from the mountain, and dust fell like rain. Adaman turned to leave in alarm, but he stopped as if something has stricken him dumb and witless. Rei did not know what to do now that Marcus lay upon the ground in a ruined heap of sorrow and pity. He started toward the bride, but something stopped him. A voice that came and went with the wind, greater than anything and everything that lay about, spoke to him.
Be silent...be still. Watch. You still have a purpose in this long battle, but not for now. The greatest purpose of your journey has come to fruition: to witness the failure of the Mbelekoro, and to slay his servants and foil his scheme with your noble Willpower. Be still.
"Yes, sir!" Rei burst. "I will."
Be still.
...
The other Plates made an orbiting circle above Arceus's ruined frame, while the Legend Plate shone like the countless stars in Heaven's field. As dust is scattered to the passing wind, the eighteen Plates flew off on the four winds, going up, up, up through the stone sky like it did not exist, vanishing from all sight and mind until they should have a purpose again in some far future era, where new hands and minds should shape the world and fight the enemies of Arceus and Good. But that is a story that is not told here.
The Legend Plate vanished with a great boom, and Rei, to a strange and joyous seizing of his heart, then felt a sudden weight in his pocket! He fingered the object with quaking hands. It was still warm, and pulsing in melody with the deep breathing of Arceus that held the Firmament in order. He sealed his pocket and then stood in wonder and awe and what would then occur.
...
The lying form of Arceus stirred. The silver water receded and fled away, and it stood, tottering on its weary legs. Its eyes glimmered with hateful fire, hate at Marcus, hate at Rei and the awestruck others, hate at everything that had made it suffer, hate at its Father that had sent it for the redemption of others.
With a colossal moan, Arceus lowered its mournful head, and went to sleep. The Mystri Stage vanished as Arceus dived into the Earth, going into eternal rest, only to be woken in a far-off time when the evil that had been done was amended. But that was a tale to be carried out by others, the same folk who would gather the Plates once again, and the cave was shattering.
...
Rei and the others were borne away by the Will of the Original One, out of the doomed temple, and above great Mount Coronet the Cruel, as it shook with terrible convulsions.
...
Marcus wept, the only time he had done so since the beginning of time when he first felt anguish. Then the tears gave way to silence, and then laughter. Stones fell from the ceiling, crashing around him and shattering the hewn bodies of his fallen servants.
He would retreat into the South, where his power was great. The other plan was still an option to end the reign of Arceus. It would be finished soon enough, be it a year or an eon. He would rise his hordes up in opposition to Logaria...then he would undo Arceus's petty, yet hard-won victory. Eternal redemption for all? Bah! He was far mightier, he was greater than the Children, and he would never fail again-
Then the ruin of the cave crushed Marcus, and he was like a naked flame, alive but perilously weak, able to be felled by a mere gust of strong wind. Putting all his will to the south, he fled like a spirit of malice into the Black Land of Dor Daedeloth, further south of which lay the land of Roria. After that day, the Evil Djinn was never able to assume a form fair to the eyes of Men ever after. The hand of the Evil One now appeared black and hideous, a being devoid of existence, emitting a harsh and terrible light from Nothing.
...
Mighty Mount Coronet's' peak shattered into nothing, its great ruin falling into the surrounding vales in a tumultuous avalanche. The glowing magma was extinguished in the fall, and the temple was nearly broken to naught. In future years to come, after the War of Wrath had shored the rubble, many folk in the land that would be known as Sinnoh in later days would see the ruins of the temple, and call it a place where shattered pillars turned into spears and pierced the sky.
Spear Pillar!
...
Rei felt an overwhelming sense of peace. The Legend Plate was still in his pocket, secure even as he lay upon his back far over the Ered Engrin with the other members of the Golden Company. His purpose had ended, and the Quest of the Golden Company was fulfilled. He found no words to say as he floated without care or torment.
It is time to go now, the tingling voice of the Original One said. There was a sweet smell, and Rei lay in a box with rose-red flower petals covering him. The cool petals covered his face till he was blinded in a fair-smelling scarlet cloud. My splendor, love, and strength always be upon you.
Then he heard a great cumbrous noise above him as a lid fastened over his coffin-ship, and he was taken to Jubilife Town, moved by the love that turns the Sun and Stars.
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Gloria! Excelsis Dio!
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When Rei awoke, he found himself laying on a soft bed, but over him swayed the gentle boughs of Hisui. Sunlight mingled with them, warm and fair. A sweet fragrance was all about him. He remembered that smell: the scent of Hisui, of Jubilife Town. "Bless me!" he cried. "How long have I been asleep? Was this all a wonderful dream? If so, what a vision! I am glad to wake."
Full memory flooded back. "It wasn't a dream at all! Then where am I?"
A voice, filled with pride, spoke behind him. "In Jubilife, in the quarters of Elder Kamado; and he awaits you." With that Rei's father stood before him, robed in white, his eyes gleaming like the sea in the twinkling of the leafy sunlight. "Well, my son, how do you feel?"
Rei stood up and stared with an open mouth, and for a moment, between confusion and great joy. And as he spoke he perceived his friends: Iscan and Adaman looking young and full of spring, with Akari and Lian smiling beside each other, and Cyllene and Laventon in great chairs. At last he gasped: "Father! My friends! I thought I had died! But then I thought that all of you had died. Is everything marred going to become unmarred? What's happened to the world?"
Kamado entered, and looked proud and tall, a scion of the lords of yore. "A great Shadow has departed," he said, and then he laughed, and the sound of joy was like music, or water in a parched land, and as he listened the thought came to Rei that he had not heard laughter, the pure sound of merriment, for days upon days without count. It fell upon his ears like the echo of all the joys he had ever known. But he himself burst into tears with his father.
Then, as rain will pass down a cloud and the sun will shine out the clearer, his tears ceased, and his laughter welled up, and in joy, he sprang from his bed. "How do I feel? Well, I don't know how to say it. I feel, I feel...I feel like spring after winter, and the sun on the leaves, and like trumpets and fair harps and all the songs I have ever heard at once! But how are the rest of you?"
"We are all right otherwise," Akari said. "We all woke up in our boxes before you did, Rei. I was awake early this morning, and now it must be noon! Your Pokemon are being cared for. Do not worry, the quest has ended, and the night has passed."
"More wait for us," Adaman said, looking like a tall king. "Once we are washed and clad in fine robes, and given a meal, you will see the other folk of Hisui who have heard of our deeds. You will be glad to see them once again."
...
The Golden Company followed Kamado into a beech-grove in Jubilife. As they came to an opening in the woods, they were surprised to see warriors of the Clans of Pearl and Diamond in bright mail and tall guards in silver and dark blue standing there with Pokemon, who greeted them with honor and bowed down to them. And then Iridia blew a trumpet, and they went through the line of trees to a silver stream in which the gate of Jubilife was set over. And in the fields around Jubilife the people of Hisui had been gathered into a great host, and as the seven approached swords were unsheathed, spears were shaken, horns and calls sang, and Men and Pokemon cried with many voices and in many tongues:
"Long live the seven! Praise them with great praise!"
"Cuio I Sepherian anann! Aglar'ni Sepheriannath!"
"Praise them with great praise, Rei, Akari, Lian, Cyllene, Adaman, Iscan, Laventon!"
"Daur a Berhal, Conin en Annun! Eglerio!"
"Praise them!"
"Eglerio!"
"A laita te, laite te! Andave laituvalmet!"
"Praise them!"
"Cormacolindor, a laita tarienna!"
"Praise them! The Golden Company, praise them with great praise!"
Blushing red and with shining eyes, Rei and Akari went forward amidst the clamorous gathering. And Kamado stood before the Golden Company, and to Rei's surprise and utter confusion, the High Elder bowed his knee before them, and set the Urim and Thummim to their feet. Turning to all the Pokemon and captains who stood by, Kamado spoke so that his voice rang out over all the host, crying:
"Praise them with great praise!"
And when the glad shout had died away only to swell up again, a minstrel of Hisui stood forth and knelt, and begged leave to sing. Kamado allowed this, and he said: "Lo! Lords and knights and wise-woman and folk of valor undiminished in Hisui, fair and free, lords and princes, and fair people of Johto, and faithful Draconids, and ye few Kantorim, and Unovans and Alolan-folk and Pokemon-kin, and greathearts of the blessed realm, now listen to my song! For I will sing to you the tale of the Golden Company and the Ransom of Arceus!"
When Rei heard that he laughed aloud for sheer delight, and he cried: "Glory and splendor! And all my wishes have come true!" And then he wept again. And all the Golden Company and host of the north cried with him, and in the midst of their joy and tears the clear voice of the minstrel rose like silver and gold, and all the Men and Pokemon were hushed. And he sang to them in the fair tongue of Hisui, and their pain was healed and their joy passed into regions where both sorrow an delight flow together and tears are the very wine of blessedness and love.
...
And at the last, as the Sun westered and the shadows lengthed, the minstrel ended the account he had received from Laventon. "Praise them with great praise!" he said and knelt. And then Kamado stood up, and all the hosts arose, and they passed into a feast-table in Jubilife made ready, to eat and drink and make merry with friends and Pokemon while the day lasted.
Rei and Akari were led apart and brought to the Tent of Worship, and they were given new raiment, and clean linen was brought to them. The Kamado came in and within his arms, he held Rei's dagger and Adaman's sword, and Akari's bow. "I do not wish for the blade," Rei said. "That time is long over."
"Tonight at least you should wear one," Kamado said.
Rei gave way, and Kamado as their esquire knelt and put their sword-belts and quiver upon them, and then rising his hands set two crowns of silver upon Rei and Akari's heads. And when they were dressed they went to the great feast, and they sat at the head of the table of Kamado and Adaman and Irdia, and Cogita of the Clan of Celestia, and the Prince-regent of Johto and all the chief warriors and captains; and there were also Laventon and Cyllene and Ginter with Lian by his side.
"The Golden Company has broken," Kamado said aloud. "And I will not say 'do not weep,' for now not all tears are unwelcome. For the Quest of the Company is fulfilled, and we have been ransomed by the Original One for our sins, and the Enemy driven from the north for ever. This is a time for mourning, for healing, for jubilee among friends and fair kin. I now deem the seven of the Golden Company great Heroes of Hisui, by the authority vested in me by the forefathers of old. Now come the days of joy, and may they be blessed while the throne of the Original One endures! Behold the seven, and know now that they bow to no one."
And at that moment all the trumpets were blown, and Kamado went forth to crown each of the Company, and amid the music of harp and timbrel and of flute and the singing of fair voices the High Elder passed through the flower-laden streets, and came to his tower, and unfurled the banner of Hisui upon the topmost flight, and the beginning of the days of peace began, of which many songs have told. In that time all was healed that was marred in Hisui and made good, and the houses were filled with men and women and Pokemon and the laughter of children and no window was closed nor any courtyard empty in the glory of the years that were to come.
Then Kamado welcomed the broken Company to his throne, and they accepted the scepters that he gave them. They went together up to the high city, and all the stars flowered in the sky as the Sun of Solgaleo fled away and turned deep orange into black. And then all was done, and the tale of the labors of the Golden Company had reached its fulfillment.
So ended the Annals of the Quest of the Golden Company
And how the Plates were Torn Asunder from Arceus.
And thus began the Quest for the Imprisonment of the Evil Djinn at a Later Date,
But all was well and good for a Long While.
End of Part I