Chapter 54 Truth or Lies

When Ash and the others enter the place known as Citae Arc-d'Astrae Aerie, they find Adrienn, Gardevoir, and El.

Cain: (Demands) El, what did you do to Gardevoir?!

El: Please do not defile this holy place with your unintelligible shouting.

Gardevoir: El has done nothing to me. He has only freed me. Why is this so hard for you to believe?

El: These heretics would not so much as believe in the Lord Arceus even if it bestowed holy Judgment right before them. Their minds are made up already based on fiction they heard prior. One cannot see the truth without first questioning their eyes. Come, Gardevoir, and Adrienn. Let us ascend.

El leaves with Gardevoir following him, and Ash just stares at Adrienn, who is still there.

Cain: This is getting weird...

Adrienn: It is strange. When I fell down here, I was certain I would be trapped and alone. But almost immediately, I saw a girl climbing up the cave wall, and then El and Gardevoir appeared... And now you all. Is this some kind of secret tourist spot?

Radomus: If so, I'm displeased with their customer service.

Adrienn also walks away into the door, causing the three to be alone again.

Cain: Well, that is not at all what I meant, but, uh, okay?

Radomus: It seems they were able to open that door with the power of the Amethyst Pendant. If I heard correctly, do you, Ash, not also possess the Ruby Ring and the Sapphire Bracelets?

Ash: I have, but the Sapphire Bracelets are only half.

Radomus: In that case, perhaps we can access a different door...

Ash nods as he opens the red door since it is the door that the Ruby Ring reacts to. But when Ash enters the room with Pikachu, he finds that there are three statues and four pedestals, Chimchar, Monferno, and Infernape, and an empty pedestal without the statue.

Ash: Light becomes dark as dark becomes light. Truth becomes hidden, twisted in lies. Each power of its own seeks to impart Itself unto the innocent heart. Those of the light- speak only the truth. Those of the dark- speak within lies. The divine will distinguish and ably sleuth The right from the wrong; the lies from the truth.

Radomus: So it is a game of Lies and Truth...interesting.

Ash knows what he means, and he decides to read each of the words.

Chimchar says: Monferno always tells the truth, but Infernape has aligned with darkness.

Monferno says: "Chimchar and Infernape both have succumbed to darkness."

Infernape says: "Chimchar speaks in lies. Monferno, too, is ripe with darkness."

Ash: So if Chimchar is lying, then Monferno is lying, and Infernape is telling the truth...I guess that's the puzzle...The answer is both Chimchar and Monferno are dark and Infernape is light.

After pressing each button, the teleportation device opens and they can get out of the room. While walking, they also notice the puzzle that El and the others are solving, they are Cleffa, Clefairy, and Clefable with similar questions. After rushing forward, they find Adrienn in the way.

Adrienn: El and Gardevoir have continued up to the aerie. He asked to take the Ruby Ring from you so that you can't follow us. Will you give it to me?

Ash: I'm not going to give him the ring.

Cain: That's right! No way you're getting that ring!

Adrienn: Yes, you said something like that about the Amethyst Pendant, too. It really doesn't seem like you're lying. But El insists that they belong to him. And he did seem to know about them.

Radomus: These are old artifacts. It is not a simple matter of a single owner knowing their worth, or I'm sure several conflicts would have been solved already.

Adrienn: I believe that. It's plain that they hold power. I had been wandering around down here for nearly an hour, yet I couldn't manage to open the doors at all without them. Just what is this place?

Radomus: I believe that that answer will become clear as we press forward.

Adrienn: Which brings us back to the ring, huh? One of you is definitely lying to me. But who?

Cain: I dunno what's up with Gardevoir, but El kidnapped her from Radomus. Luna wants us to get her back!

Adrienn: Yes, that Luna girl he keeps mentioning. Surely there's some way to prove one way or another?

Radomus: Elementary, my dear Adrienn. Allow me. (Takes out the message that Luna gave him a few hours ago) This is the ransom note left for me by El. Please, read it. The others can attest to the fact that it is not a forgery.

Adrienn: (Reads the letter) "To one Radomus Vanhanen... I have captured your precious 'Gossip Gardevoir'. Should you wish to see her again, you will return my daughter to me immediately. -El"

Radomus: If I were really so bad of a Trainer as to warrant the hate that Gardevoir confesses, would I have followed El here?

Cain: I'm not gonna lie- you didn't seem too happy to go at first.

Radomus: Yet here I am.

Adrienn: None of this makes any sense.

Cain: Right? But we're gonna get to the bottom of it! Or the top, since we seem to be going up, but... Well, bottom, top, whatever. I'm a switch; I don't care~

Radomus: Again, I'm going to pretend that I didn't catch that.

Adrienn: All right, let's go find out together. All of us. Through the Ruby Door, then. (Walks towards the door and turns to Ash) Ash, would you do the honors as the ring-bearer?

Ash nods as he opens the door, and then they get teleported again and this time there are Tyrogue, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, and Hitmontop statues.

Tyrogue says: "Hitmonchan is a liar, but Hitmonlee remains true to light."

Hitmonchan says: "Hitmonlee serves the darkness, but Hitmontop always speaks truth."

Hitmontop says: "Hitmonlee is an accusatory liar, but Tyrogue still speaks truth."

Hitmonlee says: "Young Tyrogue has not drifted from the light, but Hitmontop has twisted into darkness."

Ash: If Tyrogue is a liar, then Hitmonchan speaks the truth, and Hitmonlee speaks lies...if Hitmontop speaks the truth, that will be wrong since we already set the Tyrogue being a liar. However, if Tyrogue is telling the truth, then Hitmonchan is lying, and Hitmonlee is telling the truth. Hitmontop also lies as well. I guess that's it? The answer is that Tyrogue and Hitmonlee speak the truth while Hitmonchan and Hitmontop speak lies.

When they get outside, the room, they finally find El on the top floor. He is standing in front of the gate, Ash can also feel Arceus' power emitting from the gate as well.

El: As I thought, the door to the innermost sanctum will not open without all four keys. So, Adrienn, you failed to detain them.

Adrienn: I think there are some questions that need to be answered, El.

El: This is a holy place. This is not the place for trifles such as those. Beyond this gate lies that from whose dreams our world unfolds. Behold, o unworthy ones- the birthplace of Arceus. For it is known that the God of Pokémon did create unto the Earth all other species. But wherefrom did the divine itself undertake its existence? For it is known that Pokémon are often found on voyages from space beyond our reach. Here, upon our Earth, did a meteor crash, bearing upon it our Lord. Here, in this sanctum, doth that very meteor lie. Yet, how vile it is that it should be buried so far beneath the filth known as Reborn City. My Lord, I beg your forgiveness for humanity's sin. Ignosco, Venia, Defaeco... And yet, what if the door would open for us? What if Arceus could be born anew? For what might we use its holy power?

Radomus: If anything can be said to be heretical, I believe you've just named it.

El: And what does a deceiver as you know of declaiming heresy?

Radomus: Isn't it ironic for you to say that with that Pokémon standing by your side?

Gardevoir: Radomus, I've had more than enough of your constant lying. Why don't you just admit what you did to poor Luna?!

El: Return Luna to me, and I'll return your Gardevoir.

Adrienn: If Gardevoir even wants to go back.

Radomus: If we're going to consider the wishes of those whose custody is questioned, let us not ignore Luna's adamant wish to remain with me.

El: Such a wish is born in falsehood. You control her mind to make her say such things! It is the only explanation.

Radomus: Really, what a foolish accusation.

Gardevoir: I know it's true though! I was there when you did it! Radomus, you are an awful monster! I've always hated being your Pokémon!

Radomus: (Sighs) How long are you going to keep this up?

Cain: Don't you even care about your Pokémon's feelings, Radomus?

Adrienn: I'll second that question. You really don't seem affected by her words at all.

Radomus: A Pokémon like that? Why should I care?

Gardevoir: Oh! He says such cruel things! Adrienn, please protect me from him!

Cain: I don't want to believe it, but maybe Radomus really did brainwash Luna...

El: He is a callous and two-faced swine who has no moral compass.

Radomus: Better no compass at all than one that points south.

Adrienn: One of the best measures of a person's worth is how they treat those in their power. Your Gardevoir truly seems to resent you, Radomus. I cannot agree that she should be returned to you.

Radomus: (Stares at Adrienn) Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, Adrienn.

Adrienn: The way you say that it's not an apology at all.

Radomus: Perhaps it is better judged by those who met Gardevoir with Luna. (Turns to Ash and Cain)

Cain: You mean you're asking whose side we're taking?

Radomus: If you choose to view it that way.

Cain: I don't know. You don't seem to care at all about Gardevoir, and you certainly didn't react when she was taken. You made jokes instead. On the other hand, Luna really seems to want to stay with you, but that could just be a trick. And honestly, I had enough of being lied to after Ace. Ugh... I don't get it at all. Ash, what do you think? Should we side with El, or with Radomus?

Ash: (Sighs) It has been really fun playing those true and false games when we are coming here, and I thought the both of you are smarter than this. I am going to side with my father, because my Dad's Gardevoir is not the only Gardevoir in this world.

Radomus: (Smiles) Very good. I am relieved that I am not the only one to whom this charade is transparent.

Adrienn: Charade? What are you talking about?

Radomus: Adrienn, your main reason for siding with El is the testimony of my Gardevoir, correct? However, that's a foolish basis. After all, you've never met her.

Adrienn: But she's... right there.

Radomus: Is she, really? (Takes out a Poke Ball, and aims at Gardevoir, but nothing happened) If that's my Gardevoir. It should have returned to my Poke Ball.

El: (Grits his teeth) So you knew all along, do you?

Just then, the Gardevoir turns into a purple blob, and everyone realises that it is a Ditto.

Cain: It was a Ditto this whole time?!

Radomus: Unlike the riddles in this ruin's towers, light and truth do not always go hand-in-hand. As I'm sure our friend Adrienn can attest to, things don't neatly fit into black and white categories. Sometimes, light can be even more blinding than darkness. And I, for one, think it would have been silly to be taken in by the dramatic confession of a false Pokémon. That's why I was uninterested.

El: You are as obstinate as ever, Radomus. Do not speak to me of blindness.

Cain: (Notices El's eyes) Wait- your eyes. You're not...?

El: I once was. Yet no sooner did I undertake a prayer to the Lord Arceus did he bless me with my vision. I have followed his name ever since. Now, I will deign to borrow his power. Can you feel it? The holy energy that charges this place? It emanates from the stone of Arceus. Ditto. Embrace the Lord's blessing. Take the energy into thyself! Opprimo Oppressi Oppressum!

Just then, Ash and the others are blinded by a white light, and they are also bounced back to the ground. When the light was gone, everyone is shocked to see that besides El, the Ditto has transformed into Arceus.


And I'll end the chapter right here, as you can see, the whole Gardevoir thing is actually Ditto. I hope you like this chapter and we'll have the conclusion in the next chapter.