~ Chapter 94 ~

Reunion at Hearthome

"I have no words for what happened here…I…it's best just to tell you. I could never had imagined this would happen before it did, but I suppose it all worked out for the best, in the end."

The ceremony was over within the hour, after a small parade.

After it was done, Sam and his friends had immediately run back to their hotel—not the Pokémon Centre, but one of the nicer hotels in Hearthome City.

Sam felt that everyone had earned and deserved a small break, at a nice hotel, with spas, and pools, and all the food and room service they could want.

Price be damned, they had just saved all of creation and captured gods.

But that wasn't why they rushed back—they rushed back to get ready for their celebration party.

All their friends and family and allies would be there, and that was the celebration they wanted.

But more importantly though, Sam wanted to speak to Niya—as did everyone else.

She had told Valentina that Cyrus had died within the Distortion World, and she could not bring his body back for burial, as it had been lost in the void.

But she had told her friends—and Saturn—the truth.

It would be a secret they would take to their graves. She had also neglected to mention that they had received funding from a mysterious, and obviously wealthy and well-connected benefactor; a benefactor who likely had others under his command or on his payroll, as they were able to get Master Balls and Spiritum Steel.

Of these, the Master Balls were perhaps the most worrying asset of this mysterious benefactor.

They bore the logo of Silph Co. and were shipped in an official Silph Co. crate.

Did this mean Silph Co. had more sinister intentions for the world? Or were they an unknowing pawn in all of this?

Sam had no idea.

No one had any idea.

There was no one to ask, no answers to get, because the only person who could give answers was in the Distortion World.

Alyssandra was zoned out the entire time during their walk back.

She had taken the last couple days to walk or sit around, Palkia's Master Ball in one hand, and her Lustrous Orb to communicate in the other.

She had taken to writing down what Palkia had taught her.

Scribbling down furiously the secrets of space and dimensions.

Palkia had not been forthcoming during their original meeting; he had been angry and afraid, and had only lashed out to protect himself. He had only submitted after intervention by Arceus.

In a way, Alyssandra felt cheated—something she never verbalized to the obviously scared God Pokémon—but she had spoken about it at length with Sam and the others.

They had all learned so much; information that no other human, not even Nilama, could ever hope to know.

Alyssandra was determined, however, to gain Palkia's trust.

The God himself had declared Alyssandra to be purer of heart than even he expected.

Truly a Champion worthy of his knowledge.

The more Palkia opened up to Alyssandra, the clearer and calmer his speech became…and the more Alyssandra learned.

In a way, Alyssandra was learning things that now even the others were jealous of.

If Sam wasn't so pressed for preparing for his final Gym Battle to come, he'd love to learn more from Arceus…and at the same time, he had a feeling Arceus had said all he would tell Sam; or at least, Sam's information would come slower from the Creator God, as his information was a touch more precious than the other Gods.

Gods had secrets to keep for a reason.

Giratina had more to say to Niya apparently about the nature of chaos and the universe and fate, and Jeremy learned and reviewed everything that was taught to him by Dialga.

The three had begun to coordinate their writings the more they learned, and had compiled a sizeable amount.

Sam added what knowledge he could, especially about the creation of the world, and what Arceus told him about Mew, and how there were other creatures out there besides Pokémon and animals.

They hadn't a name for it yet, but Alyssandra was drawing pictures and diagrams to go along with this book, to depict things described and Sam had to admit, the attempt was beautiful.

"You okay, Lyss?" asked Sam.

Alyssandra took a second to zone back in. "Hm?" she asked, confused.

Sam laughed.

"Oh, sorry, I was just…" she stated, pulling her hand out of her jacket pocket, to show she was firmly grasping the small, purple Master Ball that held Palkia.

Sam nodded. "I understand…you've really bonded with Palkia since we returned from the Spear Pillar, haven't you?"

Alyssandra nodded. "I never knew I could learn so much about space and dimensions…so many worlds…so many dimensions. There are so many fragments of our lives, different if but for a single choice, and yet, despite us not having chosen that choice in our world, a world exists where we made the wrong choice, or a better choice. It coincides nicely with Jeremy's treatise on Dialga and Time."

Sam nodded. "Like a world where Cyrus never went evil?" asked Sam.

"Humans have developed batteries that charge themselves at the flick of a button, in that world," explained Alyssandra, "Bullets trains coat the Four Regions, Cyrus and Saturn are paragons of renewable energy, and have even found a way to turn oxygen into energy."

"How…even?" asked Jeremy.

Sam laughed. "What a world that must be. It must be beautiful," smiled Sam.

Alyssandra shrugged. "Perhaps…there is much about that world I don't necessarily like."

"Palkia has shown you?" asked Niya, "Is that possible?"

Alyssandra nodded. "Mesprit taught me how to utilize the Lustrous Orb to form a permanent link with Palkia. Were you guys not aware of that?"

Everyone looked at each other.

"Azelf hasn't mentioned a thing about that," stated Jeremy curiously.

"Same with Uxie," added Niya, "And I would imagine they would say something to us as well…how else are Champions supposed to…Champion."

Alyssandra shrugged. "Perhaps it's just me then?" she stated matter of factly.

Sam's eyes darted to Alyssandra's pocket.

She had bonded with Palkia in a way no others had…it was interesting.

And familiar.

Sam had bonded with his Garchomp in a similar way once…Sam swore the only other Pokémon he could connect with mentally besides Empoleon was Garchomp.

Was it a coincidence?

Was it a bigger coincidence that both Pokémon were dragons?

That was a question Sam had for his returned grandfather later.

"So what about that world do you not like?" asked Sam.

"We never left Twinleaf," stated Alyssandra, tuning back in, "Or at least, Jeremy and I didn't…Sam you left at the age of seventeen in that world, because we never went on our Pokémon Journey. We haven't spoken to you in years…you've gone off to go work at the ranch in Johto…you left after your grandmother passed."

There was silence as everyone paused outside the door to their hotel.

Alyssandra had dropped no small bombshell on everyone.

"How far ahead did you look?" asked Jeremy.

"I started with the start of Team Galactic half a decade ago," she stated, "And proceeded to go forward from there. Sam's grandmother passed on the day we were supposed to start our journey, and Sam moved away shortly after. I looked ahead five years from now…and that was where I stopped."

"You're just spying on other dimensions?" asked Niya, slightly concerned, slightly impressed.

"And Jeremy hasn't spied on different times?" asked Alyssandra with a wry smile.

Jeremy laughed. "Got me there…just not to the same extent."

Sam had told no one he could do the same, at the same time. He had access to the Hall of Origin, though he feared using it for becoming too reliant, and too lost in a world that could have been, would have been, might have been, was, or was to be.

"How is she able to look ahead and back in time?" asked Niya, "If she's in control of the Space God?"

"Time and Space are two halves of the same whole," explained Sam, knowing this answer from a recent small talk with Arceus, "They draw upon each others power. Palkia has command over Space, but can borrow a portion of Dialga's power to look upon limited paths across time. While Dialga can control time, and can view all times that have been, will be, or could be, yet as each time is within its own dimension or branch, it uses a portion of Palkia's power to examine the different worlds to a limited extent."

"And what do I get to do?" asked Niya, "Cause doom and destruction?"

"Giratina can bring order, or chaos, as needed, simply by being there," explained Sam, "Giratina is the Great Equalizer. It's like a sponge. It can absorb excess chaos, or exude it, as needed, to create a state of balance between order and chaos…or to cause the opposite of the world's current state based upon the fabric of fate."

"My head hurts," sighed Niya, "This is getting meta-physical…who knew being Champions to the gods would be—"

"So fun?" smiled Alyssandra.

Everyone laughed and continued up to their suites to continue their conversation.

Sam had gotten a suite on the higher floors of the hotel.

The suite contained several rooms, two closets, two bathrooms, large estate tubs, and a bed for everyone.

It was a well-earned break after everything they had been through.

Once they reached the privacy of the suite however, the conversation turned from gods and creation and matters of existence and creation and changed to the mysterious benefactor of Team Galactic.

"So who do you think it is?" asked Alyssandra, placing Palkia's Master Ball with the others in the room's safe.

"No idea," sighed Niya, "Cyrus never told me, and there are no public figures or known wealthy people that I could see ever supporting something like this."

"Any luck looking into Silph Co.?" Jeremy asked.

Sam shook his head. "I tried asking my uncles, but he said that shipments of Poké Balls and other supplies have maintained consistent…sometimes they're a little late, or a few pieces short, but nothing terribly worrying," explained Sam, "It was hard to ask without looking too suspicious. But it leaves us two options."

"Which are?" asked Niya.

"They're either helping whoever this benefactor is," explained Sam, "Or they're up against a wall, helping against their wall. They're keeping up appearances so they don't get in trouble with this mysterious person, and the occaissional slip ups have been because of this."

"So we're literally no further than before," concluded Jeremy.

Sam shook his head.

"Why did you tell my sister about this?" asked Alyssandra.

"I…I don't know, habit?" explained Niya, "I'm just so used to us figuring all this stuff out on our own. Besides, if it were just Valentina I wouldn't mind, but if she knows, she'll have to tell the League, and I don't trust the League to not mess this up, or, to eventually end up on this benefactor's pay roll once they start investigating. If this person can take over, or recruit, Silph Co., then they've got influence beyond imagine."

"One mysterious bad guy to another, eh?" joked Jeremy, "Too bad you'll be doing it without me."

"What do you mean?" asked Sam.

Everyone looked over at Jeremy.

"I've applied for the Pokémon Rangers Exam," explained Jeremy, "In two month's time, I'll be heading to the Battle Zone to do my entrance exam, and hopefully, if I get in, I'll be off for my Basic Training…who knows where they'll post me."

No one could say anything.

"How can the four Swords of Justice get along without the fourth?" asked Sam.

"It's the three Swords of Justice and you know it," smiled Jeremy, "This what I want to do…so you'll have to solve this mystery without me."

Sam sighed. "One run in with the destruction of everything and you're giving up, eh?"

Everyone laughed.

"Look, in the end, if this is what you want to do," started Niya, "Then go do it. We support you. We'll miss you but…we can't stop you, really. Just leave this mystery to us, and we'll let you know when we figure it out."

"Thank you," smiled Jeremy, at the support his friends showed him.

"Come on," said Sam, "Let's get ready. We'll be late."

Everyone agreed and began running around to get dressed up for their fancy reunion downstairs in the reception hall.

"Hey Sam?" asked Alyssandra as she grabbed her make up bag.

Sam turned to face her.

"Do you think we'll ever stop sticking our noses where they don't belong?" she asked.

Sam laughed. "Never."

Sam gulped down the water with a speed and veracity of a very thirsty man.

Jeremy and Niya were beside him doing much the same.

There had been food, dancing, and revelry all evening.

It was late into the night and people were still celebrating.

Even Saturn had been invited to the festivities.

Sam was happy to see his grandmother again after so long, and Jeremy was excited to see his family.

Alyssandra and Niya, too, spent a part of the evening with their families, having gone so long without seeing them.

Dinner was quiet—as quite as it could be with everyone laughing and talking.

Sam sat with Palmer, his grandmother, his uncles and the ranch hands who had served during the campaign against Team Galactic.

He had even invited Saturn to sit with him, so he didn't feel left out.

But then the dancing started, and everything got louder—and thirstier, and now Sam needed a drink.

As he asked for another glass of water, Alyssandra came up beside him, and gently sipped from a glass of water given to her—so not to ruin her lipstick.

Sam had to prevent himself from looking.

Alyssandra was wearing a black backless sheath dressed, a set of black stilletos.

She had her nails done up with a crimson nail polish, and wine-red lipstick to match.

Sam couldn't even remember the details of her face make-up, because he couldn't stair for too long.

Her normally straight hair was done up in a three-inch thick braid that went down to the middle of her back…Sam hadn't realized her hair was that long before now.

One thing Sam would never forget was how her perfume smelled like roses…pure roses, fresh from the earth.

The music started to go slower, and the sounds of Hank Sonata blew through the stereo system.

Niya looked over at Sam and Alyssandra who started chuckling over the song. "Something Stupid", a song the two once sung together in their youth at a karaoke night.

She smirked. "Hey, Jerry, let's dance."

Niya grabbed Jeremy's hand and yanked him off to the dance floor.

"Are we back at that again?" sighed Jeremy, "I have a name you know."

"I like this one better," chuckled Niya as the two disappeared into the crowd.

Sam and Alyssandra laughed as Jeremy and Niya's friendly bickering could be heard even though the two of them were lost somewhere in the crowd.

Pikachu was passed out on the table, a plate of Oran Berries smashed to juice beneath his bloated body.

"I know I stand in line until you think you have the time

To spend an evening with me."

"Hey do you want to—" started Sam.

"Dance? I'd love to," smiled Alyssandra. She grabbed Sam's hand and yanked him out on to the dance floor.

"And if we go some place to dance, I know that there's a chance

You won't be leaving with me."

The two took up their positions, Sam with one hand on Alyssandra's waist, the other in her hand, while her free hand was resting gently on Sam's shoulder.

"You're a natural at this," smiled Sam, "Have you done this before?"

"Yeah, with you. Remember?" blushed Alyssandra, "The—"

"School dance, at Graduation," laughed Sam remembering, "I remember!"

"Then afterwards we drop into a quiet little place

And have a drink or two."

"It was so long ago," nodded Sam awkwardly.

"Six years," added Alyssandra.

More awkward silence.

"And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like 'I love you'" sung the two friends in unison.

They both blushed. "You remembered the lyrics?" asked Alyssandra.

Sam nodded. "This one I remember vividly like it was yesterday. Karaoke Night in Sandgem two years ago. The first time our parents let us out on our own at night."

"That was a lot of fun," smiled Alyssandra remembering.

She rested her head on Sam's chest.

Then, the two continued to sing the song, going on together in a harmonized duet, whispering to each other under their breaths.

"I can see it in your eyes that you despise the same old lies

You heard the night before.

And though it's just a line to you, for me it's true

And never seemed so right before."

Sam twirled Alyssandra around a little, adding a slight flourish to the dance between the two.

Alyssandra couldn't help but laugh out loud as she spun around, landing once more in Sam's arms as they continued to dance, and they continued their duet, not realizing the eyes of everyone were slowly focusing on them.

"I practice every day to find some clever lines to say

To make the meaning come through.

But then I think I'll wait until the evening gets late

And I'm alone with you."

The two drew each other in close, staring deep into each other's eyes as they sang, not event realizing what they were doing as they did it.

"The time is right, your perfume fills my head, the stars get red and,

Oh, the night's so blue.

And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid

Like 'I love you.'"

Jeremy and Niya stopped dancing to watch, as a few others were, Sam and Alyssandra's intricate dance and karaoke routine.

The two looked at each other and smiled. "Think he'll do it?" asked Jeremy.

Niya shrugged. "At this point if he doesn't, she will."

"Five bucks she does it first," laughed Jeremy.

"I don't take stupid bets," shrugged Niya.

"The time is right, your perfume fills my head, the stars get red

And, oh, the night's so blue.

And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid

Like 'I love you.'

I love you

I love you

I love you"

Sam and Alyssandra leaned forward at that last I love you, and gently pressed their lips against one another in a passionate, but shy, kiss. Awkward as it was deep inside, the two, on the surface, did not seem to notice that fate had finally drawn them together. As they pulled back, together the two whispered the last "I love you."

Then a pause. Realizing what they had just said to each other. They stared at each other, eyes wide. And then came the realization that people were watching them.

Sam and Alyssandra turned as red as the top half of a Voltorb.

Alyssandra stepped back, her face red and warm. "I…I need to go, I'm sorry!"

Alyssandra ran through the crowd, grabbing her bag from the table as she ran back towards their villa on the outskirts of the Resort Area.

Sam sighed, dejected, and feeling the weight of his mistake on his shoulders. He looked over at Niya and Jeremy as he realized they were staring.

"Really?" asked Sam sharply as the two approached him.

"Look I…this wasn't supposed to happen," responded Niya.

"What do you mean? You planned this?" demanded Sam.

Niya laughed. "You think I'd go off and dance with Jeremy on purpose?"

"Hey!" cried Jeremy defensively.

"Right, sorry. What I mean is, I just don't dance. Jeremy can attest to that."

"Absolutely no sense of rhythm. It's like dancing with an Machamp doing a handstand," chuckled Jeremy confirming Niya's story.

Niya shot Jeremy a look, as Sam started to turn away.

Niya grabbed his arm. "Sam wait," she cried, "Please."

"Why?" sighed Sam.

"Because…she feels the same you idiot," sighed Niya, "You both said it. You both meant it. She kissed you too."

"So, she ran away because she loves me?" asked Sam, almost hurt.

"She ran away because she's Lyss and she's probably embarrassed," added Jeremy, "She's always been a shy, awkward little duck. Remember? Between kissing her best friend, telling him she loved him, and then having everyone watch on top of that? That's a lot to take in at once."

"I'm willing to bet she's up in the room," added Niya, "Thinking, if I had to guess. Feeling absolutely guilty about everything…waiting for Prince Charming to ascend from the rickety old elevator from hell to come—"

"Okay, okay I get the point," sighed Sam in defeat, "Fine. Fine…fine."

Niya smiled, her face lighting up like a child on their birthday. "Thank you! Now get going Prince Charming!"

"Should I go in on a Rapidash?" joked Sam.

"Up to you," added Niya, completely serious.

Sam charged down the hallway at top speed. He threw open the door to their suite and frowned. He noticed the lights were off and no one was there, then something came to him. He ran back down to the lobby, and charged out to the garden out back, down a flight of stairs, where the fountains and flowers were showed off for all of the guests.

Beautiful white marble statues and walkways lined the entire garden, making white alabaster pathways criss-crossing through the garden.

He didn't have time to notice.

His mind was on one thing: Alyssandra and finding her.

Then, Sam felt himself stumble and fall at the bottom of the stairs. He slammed into the ground and notice he had run right into Valentina as he barreled down the stairs towards Alyssandra, who he assumed was the figure sitting by giant fountain.

"Way to go there, lover boy," smirked Valentina, "But at least you finally made the first move."

"Your support is appreciated," responded Sam sarcastically.

"Hey, I'm on your side," added Valentina, crossing her arms, "In fact I don't even think you did that bad. It was cute! Awkward but…cute; honestly I think she was just overwhelmed by everything."

"Yeah, Niya said much the same," sighed Sam.

"Niya would," laughed Valentina, "She's always known my sister well."

"Any advice?" asked Sam, nerves suddenly hitting him.

Valentina shrugged as she continued walking up the steps. "Be yourself. You're fine. She just needed some time to cool down. Now go win your woman!"

With that, Valentina was gone, disappeared above massive balcony patio above the garden, leaving Sam alone with himself, his thoughts, the stairs and Alyssandra down in the garden.

Sam gathered up the courage and walked himself down to the fountain. Slowly, but not too quietly as to scare Alyssandra, he approached her.

He froze, just a few feet from her.

The place was dark, but serene. The only light was the light from the moon bouncing off the water.

The water trickled from the fountain, making the sound like a creek running over a small ledge.

"I'm sorry," sighed Alyssandra, realizing Sam was there. She stood up, turned around, and looked at him, wiping tears from her eyes. "I got swept up in the song and…I don't know why I said that, I just—"

Sam couldn't hold it in and doubled over laughing. "I'm sorry what?"

Alyssandra looked taken aback. "I don't know why I said what I did, but please ignore it. You didn't have to say it back, you probably just felt forced into it because mine came out of nowhere—"

Sam laughed a little more, sitting in the sand, chuckling his head off. He cut himself off quickly though, and looked up at Alyssandra, standing up again.

"You're an idiot, and I love you," he kept laughing, wiping a tear from his eye, "You think I said what I did because I felt pressured into it?"

"I…" started Alyssandra.

"I said it because I meant it, just like you," sighed Sam, "I mean fuck. For someone so smart, you really are dumb."

"Look who's talking!" cried Alyssandra defensively, "Valentina told me you'd been crushing on me for years and you didn't know how I felt so you did nothing! I was afraid after this long…maybe you'd stopped having feelings for me"

"I…" Sam didn't have much more to say than that.

There was a pause, with no sound other than the crashing of waves.

"We're a pair of idiots, aren't we?" asked Alyssandra.

Sam laughed. "Yeah, yeah we are. Made for each other."

"Kiss each other!" cried a voice from the balcony.

Looking up, to the cliff, Sam could see Jeremy, Niya, Valentina, Pikachu, Sam's grandparents, Professor Rowan, Cynthia and Palmer.

"Don't be an idiot, kid!" cried Palmer, "Just kiss her!"

Alyssandra glared up at the group of people shouting down at that. "Absolutely no respect," she pouted.

Sam laughed. "What the hell else did you expect from them?"

Alyssandra walked forward and hugged Sam.

Sam smiled and placed a small kiss on Alyssandra's forehead. "At least we can be idiots together."

Sam's grandfather laughed. "That's my boy!" he cried.

"Hush," whispered Nancy, placing a hand by her husband's, "Let the boy have his moment."

"What was that, Nancy?" asked Palmer, turning to look at his surrogate mother.

Nancy smiled kindly. "Nothing, dear. Just talking to myself."

She gave a severe look at her husband, who merely stuck his tongue out at her and disappeared.