The group had soon rejoined at the Coronet Highlands as they headed up the mountain.
"So…I take it things went well?" Hope asked.
"It was difficult…but we managed to capture the Lake Trio and get the Draco Plate." Twilight said.
"I captured the Forces of Nature and got the Pixie Plate." Leia said.
"With the others we acquired over time, that only leaves the Spooky Plate." Hope said. "Meaning Giratina is likely waiting for us."
David, Senku and Richard just kept quiet as they made their way up the mountain to the former temple as they saw a certain merchant looking around.
"Volo…I guess you came to check it out too." Tsubaki said.
"Yes…it's hard to believe that this was the temple. A once proud structure now reduced to spear-like pillars." Volo said.
"But you're here for something else aren't you?" Ace asked.
"Wow…you can be so harsh sometimes." Volo said. "And after all the times I've helped you."
"Yeah…you helped us. But…most help isn't out of the generosity of others." Hayase said.
"Volo… There's something we want to ask you." David said.
"Where's the Spooky Plate, Volo?" Richard asked with a stern expression., surprising almost everyone there.
"So you figured out that much, huh? Well there's no point in hiding it." Volo said as he went and showed the Spooky Plate.
"You found the Spooky Plate before us? But why?" Hope asked.
"Not quite. I was given it by the one who was brought here by it…in exchange for helping them locate someone they were looking for." Volo said. "Besides…I only have 1/18 of the set. I would like the ones you have as well."
"What? You can't be serious. Why?" Ayase asked.
"For Arceus…that's all you've really cared about, hasn't it? It's why you did it, didn't you? Why you tore that rift in the sky?" Senku asked.
"And there's only one reason you would take it this far." David said. "Arceus's Power."
"It's true. Ever since I've heard of it…I couldn't help but long for Arceus's power…the power to reshape the entire world…all of Hisui…The powers of a true god. But…I am a mere man. And Arceus lives in a totally different dimension. So…I had to enlist help using just this." Volo said looking to the Spooky Plate.
"You used Giratina to tear open the sky to get Dialga and Palkia to fight each other so you could try and lure Arceus out." Richard surmised.
"But that didn't work." Volo said. "You all saw to that quite well. Especially you three." he said pointing to Perfuma, Tsubaki and Hayase. "You three…I had this feeling you would start this chain reaction that day you fell from the rift."
"You're basically saying we're the ones at fault for spoiling your plans." Perfuma said.
"Um… When you think about it, we kind of are." Tsubaki said.
"That is true. We arrived on that beach. We sought out all Pokémon. We even calmed the nobles and claimed the plates. His plan was finished the day we entered this land." Hayase said.
"Finished? No…we're quite far from finished." Volo said, removing his uniform to show his white robes. "I will be the one to end this chain and finally get to meet him…meet the god of this entire world."
"And for what…?" Richard asked back, as he stepped forward. "...What makes you desire Arceus so much?"
"The power to remake everything." Volo said.
"Power corrupts, and do you honestly think Arceus will listen to you?" Ace asked.
"It doesn't matter if it does or not…I have an ace." Volo said as a shadow formed behind him as emerging from it was a large ghostly looking dragon.
"Giratina!" Hope said.
"If you won't surrender the plates willingly… I'll just take them by force! Giratina! Strike them down!" Volo said as Giratina suddenly vanished before reappearing as it attacked some of the group.
"That was Shadow Force!" Titanica said.
"Giratina is under Volo's command… but it doesn't look like it's totally his." Hope said. "Which means we can catch it!"
Giratina roared as it gathered power for a ghostly Aura Sphere as it launched it.
"Oh…this is crazy." Mari said as two of her Pokéballs shook. Emerging from them were Dialga and Palkia. "Eternity, Astra."
Giratina took notice of the two as it let out an angry roar as did the other two Pokémon.
"What's going on?" Mari asked.
"Dialga and Palkia are enemies of Giratina. As such, they bare strong hatred towards one another." Volo said. "So use this chance, bury the past once and for all!" he called out as Giratina rammed into the two legends.
"I will not let you harm them any further." Mari said. "Eternity, unleash your Roar of Time! Astra, do the same and release your Spacial Rend!"
A swirl of pink energy from Astra's Spacial Rend swirled around Giratina as Eternity unleashed a beam of blue energy at the Spacial Rend as both attacks imploded on Giratina, dealing it massive damage.
"Ha! Take that Volo! Giratina can't stand up to both of them at once." Hope said.
"Possibly…in its current state." Volo said, holding a strange yellow stone as Giratina's form began to morph. It was soon a legless serpent with six long tendrils as it floated in the air.
"It transformed?" Mari asked.
"Just like how Dialga did before…" Richard remarked. "Of course, if the space-time duo have it, so could Giratina… and perhaps even Arceus himself…"
"Eternity…Astra…don't give up. Even though we just became partners, you both have become just as important to me as Mercury and everyone else." Mari said. "Which is why…I believe you both can beat Giratina!" she said as the Space-Time Duo began glowing as they transformed as well. Dialga was in the form that the group previously fought before, but Palkia's form was different. The form he took was that similar to a centaur.
"They both changed via her encouragement…?" Volo asked before he crazily smiled. "Why? Why you and the rest?! Why did Arceus choose you?!"
"That's what we aim to find out! Mari, end this!" Perfuma said.
"A-Alright, Eternity, Astra, do your Space-Time tag team combo one more time!" Mari said as the two Pokémon used their signature moves once again on Giratina, dealing even more massive damage than before.
"Looks like there's definitely a boost in power with these form changes." Mark noted. "Guess this is their version of an Origin Form."
"You did it." Mari said as she pressed her hands against both Astra's and Eternity's heads as they all closed their eyes.
"Now, as for Giratina, anyone got dibs?" Luna asked, seeing the weakened Pokémon back to its usual form.
"Allow me." Cia said. She threw a Pokéball, which caught Giratina in no time.
"It's over, Volo. Hand over the Spooky Plate." Hope said.
"Why…? Why would Arceus choose all of you over me?" Volo asked.
"I think Mari showed you that reason, clear as day." David said. "Those of us here see Pokémon as treasured companions, who we share lifelong experiences with. You, however, only saw them as tools to suit your own ends. The difference is as clear as night and day."
"What's more… What do you even want to remake? Do you think that power would make everything better?" Richard crossed his arms. "Volo, even though we might not see eye-to-eye on the matter, take my word in consideration: The power of creation requires a proper drive to it, mere ideals is not enough to make something out of it."
"Fine…just take it." Volo said, surrendering the Spooky Plate.
Just as he did that, the Celestica Flute Ayase had been carrying soon changed as it became a blue flute with multiple holes.
"The…Azure Flute. I see…" Volo said as he got up and started walking away.
"Where are you going?" Hayase asked.
"I will not stand here and watch you of all people meet and fight Arceus. I don't care if it takes me hundreds of years, I will meet Arceus." Volo said as he descended down the mountain.
"...You know, that attitude and appearance of his… it reminds me of a certain champion." Siege remarked, before smirking. "...I suppose that his drive did pass down through the ages."
Hope nodded. "So. We have all 18 plates. All pokemon have been sought. It's finally time to meet the one who instigated all this."
"This is the moment you've been waiting for, Jexi. Are you ready?" David asked.
"Yeah…let's do this." Jexi said.
Ayase soon began to play the Azure Flute as a crystal stairway appeared, leading all the way up into the sky.
They ascended up the stairway before they arrived in a large ring where a lone man was standing.
"Ah…you finally made it…I was wondering when you'd show, Jexi." he said.
"You… you know Jexi?" Hope asked.
"Hmm…clueless…always asking questions…you're Ginova's kid aren't ya? Wow…you really grew." he said.
"How would he know that?" David asked. "Wait a second… Don't tell me…"
"Geez, you really like to jump right for the punch. You really are Chikasu's kid." he said.
"Though you and I have never met…though I've only heard about you from Blazer and Umbra…I can tell who you were just by looking at that aura of yours. So…this is how you wanted to make your comeback…huh dad." Jexi said.
"WHAAAAT?!" Ace said in shock.
"No way!" Mark exclaimed in total shock. "That's…!"
"I figured this was the case. I didn't want to believe it, but I knew it. How is this even possible?" David asked.
"You're joking right? This is why I refused all of those revivals…so I could wait for the one god that could do it…while also bringing in my kid." he said.
Hope then remembered the time he used the Universal Core. He also requested the revival of one man in particular, but it was denied at the time. And now here he was.
"So it's all led up to this….I see now. You were waiting for the perfect moment. Weren't you, Gold?" Hope asked.
"Wow, this is really something else. That's really Jexi's dad." Ace said.
"All of this…was for this one day." a voice said as Arceus descended down onto the arena.
"I see now…this is the ultimate fight." Jexi said. "What do I get if I win?"
"You and I shall be bonded for life." Arceus said.
"Of course, you really aren't one for picking rewards." Gold said. "You just wanna fight me, don't ya? I can tell just by looking at you." he said as his aura surged across the arena.
"Yeah…you got that right." Jexi said as his aura surged right back at it.
The two of them slowly approached one another before it evolved into both of them running before each landed a colliding punch, as it shook the entire field.
"Woah! That's some power there!" Gus exclaimed with surprise.
"So this guy is Jexi's dad. This aura…they're almost identical and they're still growing!" Siege said in surprise.
"Now…" Gold said.
"Now…" Jexi said.
The two then collided once more. "We can finally figure out which of us is on top!" they said.