Sorry for being late AGAAAAIINNN :C

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! See you guys next week!

Chapter 30: The void

Rebecca and Lucia were standing face-to-face atop a massive asteroid that floated in space. Nothing but stars and other asteroids surrounded them. Rebecca was clad in her invoker armor, and towering over her was Pokémon, Palkia. Rebecca's daughter had chosen Shelgon, who was standing right next to its trainer.

"We're so far deep in space, that time cannot access where we are right now." Rebecca said. "In other words, we can spend as much time as we want here, and no time will pass on earth. However, we can only enter this space once a year."

"So if I win, I'll have enough time to rest." Lucia said.

"It's a huge if," Rebecca said. "And if you lose, you're going to the hospital and staying there until everything is taken care of."

Lucia said nothing.

Rebecca couldn't help but crack a smile. "I've known you for your entire life. I know when you're nervous, you start becoming overconfident. It's to hide your fear. But now…" Rebecca's proud grin widened as she stared at her determined daughter. "Not even once, have you said anything smug or conceited. You're completely quiet."

"You can do it!" Anastasia cried. She was standing far away on a distant asteroid that floated by the ones the two family members were standing on. She was far enough to be safe.

Lucia turned around and waved her hand at the lone spectator.

"That's because I'm not afraid of losing." Lucia said without turning to face her mother. "Besides- It's hard to be scared when I've got someone I trust watching," Lucia raised her arm and swung it down- and in a blink of an eye her sword made of dragon flame erupted to life and came to her hand. She then turned around to face her mother and pointed her blade at her. Shelgon leapt to her other hand and latched onto it, preparing to act as her shield. "Ready?" The young girl asked.

Rebecca crossed her arms and closed her eyes. She drew in a sharp breath through her nose, and then breathed out from her mouth. Then, she opened them wide.

"Palkia!" Rebecca shot her arm at Lucia, and Palkia raised its claws. Lucia prepared herself, and Palkia finally swung- but not at Lucia, but rather at the asteroid itself. With one strike alone, the asteroid they stood on shattered.

"Whoa- WHOAAA!" Lucia yelled in terror as the four of them fell deeper into space. Rebecca had her arms crossed and looked completely calm as she and Palkia plummeted downward back-first.

"Draco meteor, Palkia!" Rebecca shot her arm out- and Palkia bellowed a roar. Several portals appeared behind the Spatial Pokémon, and meteors flew after Lucia. They approached the girl with incredible speed. Flames erupted around the meteorites just as they drew near their target. Lucia bellowed a war cry and thrust her body toward the meteor. She stood atop it and ran over it as she leapt to the next oncoming meteor. She landed onto of that one, then sprinted across it to leap onto the next one yet again.

Shelgon cried out a war cry.

"You're right, Shelgon!" Lucia cried. Lucia thrust her arm- the one that Shelgon was attached to, and upon opening its mouth. Shelgon released a hyper beam that blasted right through and destroyed oncoming the meteorites one by one. Rebecca saw the hyper beam coming her way and looked calm and collected. She shot her arms out and summoned a massive portal in front of her and Palkia, and the beam flew right into it- like a stream of water falling into a drain.

"Drat..!" Lucia cried as she continued to fall downward. Shelgon sighed in exhaustion. Once the beam was gone, Rebecca slammed her hands together. Suddenly, a portal appeared behind the young trainer. Lucia spun around and saw Shelgon's own Hyper beam fly right out of the portal and come for her. Lucia cried out in terror and used her sword to guard against the hyper beam that pushed against her.

"Ugh..! Shelgon…!" Lucia grunted. "Use Protect...!

Shelgon let out a heavy breath of exhaustion- it had to rest after using Hyper beam.

"It's over." Rebecca shot her finger at her daughter, and Palkia rushed after her. Lucia turned her head to see Palkia coming after her with its claws raised.

"Ughh! Shelgon! I can't use Protect right now..! Blocking this beam's taking everything I've got, Please! You have to do it!"

"Shelgon…"! Shelgon roared to fight off its fatigue. Palkia drew near, and it was now or never. Palkia swung its claw, and the moment it did, an explosion rang out once the hyper beam finally hit its mark. Smoke and dust exploded outward.

"LUCIAAAA!" Anastasia cried from afar. As soon as the smoke cleared, however, a bright grin came to the white-haired girl's face.

Shelgon was able to use Protect just in time, for a barrier was summoned around the two of them.

"Nice job..!" Lucia cried.

Rebecca frowned. She fell into a portal that appeared behind her, and the portal closed.

Palkia pulled its free arm and prepared to swing with that one. The barrier around Lucia shattered like glass as the girl spun around and parried oncoming swing from Palkia. The Dragon/Water type roared as it swung wildly at the young girl, and with quick and excellent sword swings, Lucia warded off each and every attack from Palkia. Every time her blade clashed with the spatial Pokémon a loud metal clang sound rang out. Lucia gritted her teeth and bellowed a war cry after deflecting another claw strike from Palka. The spatial Pokémon suddenly stopped attacking, and Lucia's eyes widened in confusion.

Above Lucia, a portal opened, and out came Rebecca with her hands clasped together and raised above her head. Rebecca slammed her clasped hands onto her daughter's head and sent her plummeting downward. As Lucia flew down like an arrow, Palkia grabbed Rebecca, and threw her after Lucia. Rebecca swooped in and grabbed her daughter by the face.

"You still don't get it...!" Rebecca cried as flames erupted around them. From far away, they looked like a shooting star- a shooting star that was rapidly approaching an asteroid field! "I'll show you the pain that awaits you if you go down this route..!" Rebecca roared. The two of them went spiraling toward an asteroid and crash-landed onto it. Rebecca's hand was still firmly grasping Lucia's head as they both were on the small asteroid. Rebecca swung her fist down at Lucia only for Lucia to raise her leg and kick her mother off. Rebecca grunted in pain as she flew toward another asteroid. She flipped in midair, landed on the asteroid she could have crashed into, and leapt after Lucia again. With a flick of her wrist, Lucia extinguished her flaming sword.

The relatives' wrists clashed onto one another with so much force that a shockwave exploded and shattered the other asteroids around them, all except the small one Lucia stood on. Lucia glared with grit teeth at her mother, and her mother did the same. Lucia pushed her mother away and swung Shelgon at her target like it was an arm-blaster.

"Dragon rage! Now!" Lucia cried. Shelgon opened its mouth and a torrent of azure-colored flame flew after Lucia's parent. Rebecca shot her arms out, and a portal appeared in front of her to absorb the blast of flame.

"Right back at you!" Rebecca shot her finger at Lucia as another portal appeared above the older woman and blasted Shelgon's Dragon Rage right back.

Lucia grinned.

She shot her hand out, summoned her sword made of dragon flame, and pointed it at the oncoming blast of dragon fire. She gritted her teeth and yelled out a battle roar as the flames poured into her sword. The sword absorbed all of the flames, and then began to grow in size.

Rebecca's eyes widened as the sword became larger and larger and larger. Lucia leapt from the asteroid she stood on and swung the massive blade at her.

Rebecca had to bend her head back to dodge the sword that just barely swiped over her nose. She flipped and retreated into a portal.

"Where do you think you're GOING!?" Lucia leapt after her mother and jumped into the portal right before it closed.

The moment she entered the portal, Lucia was in hyperspace. All she could see were stars rapidly flying with so much speed they were leaving lines of light in their wake. Lucia realized then that she was now floating. She spun around to see Rebecca floating beside Palkia.

"You shouldn't have come." Rebecca said. She shot her hand out at Lucia. "Palkia! Use Spatial rend!" The young girl's eyes widened as Palkia dashed forward with blinding speed. By the time she could blink, Lucia felt Palkia's claws slash her body- Tens and thousands of massive, pink-colored claw marks that slashed through space appeared on her body as Lucia cried out in pain. Palkia appeared with its back turned to Lucia, and the massive pink claw marks on Lucia's body exploded into glass, and finally sent Lucia flying. Rebecca opened a portal behind her daughter and she flew right into it.

The moon.

The very thing that every being on earth could see from the sky at night watched the earth from afar.

Suddenly, Lucia flew out from a portal and onto the moon. Her body spiraled onto the moon's floor, and once she crashed, her body bounced from the lack of gravity. Eventually, she fell toward the ground again, her body rocked back and forth like a feather that floated gently in the air and toward the ground, and then she landed on the ground softly on her back, the dust flew about her body after she landed.

A portal appeared high above her, and down came Palkia and Rebecca. Rebecca floated in the air, her long purple hair flowed gently, as though a wind were carrying it. The mother looked down at Lucia.

Lucia was breathing heavily, her clothes were slightly ripped, and her body was covered in scratches, dirt and bruises. Shelgon was equally as wounded. Rebecca nearly recoiled at the sight of her but regained her composure. She gently floated down and landed right next to her downed daughter.

"Why don't you just give up?" Rebecca asked.

"Ugh… I-..!" Lucia grunted as she remained on the ground.

"Don't give up!" Anastasia cried. Rebecca spun around and saw Anastasia, standing on an asteroid. Behind Anastasia was Ditto, who had turned itself into Rotom, specifically the Plasma Pokémon's Fan form, and was blowing as hard as it could to propel Anastasia closer to them both. "You can still win! Come on, Luica!"

"Ugh..!" Lucia slowly stood up. Despite her wounds, she managed to climb back to her feet. "Of course… I can still win…!"

Rebecca grinned widely.

"Your resolve's awe-inspiring." Rebecca said. "It really is."

"This isn't over..!" Lucia cried. "It isn't over until I win..!"

Rebecca's smile faded.

"You're right." She said. Rebecca looked up at Palkia. She took a deep breath.

"Palkia and I have known each other for years. Our bond is true. It's because of that, I can do something that I wasn't able to do before as the Champion of Houenn." Rebecca slowly floated into the air.

"Palkia… I beseech thee." Rebecca said. She lowered her head enough for a shadow to be cast over her eyes. "Scar my DNA with thine very dignity. Tear my flesh and make it yours. In return, I ask of you use your power, though it were mine."

As if in response, Palkia roared loudly. Its entire body began to glow purple. The ground began to tremble in response.

"Wh-What's going on!?" Lucia cried.

"L-Lucia!" Anastasia cried. "What's happening!? What's going to happen!?"

Suddenly, Palkia's entire body became encased in a pearl-like sphere. The sphere shrunk in size, so much so that he became the size of a pebble, and then floated over to Rebecca, who closed her eyes. Soon, she too was encased in a pearl-like sphere.

"I think I understand..!" Lucia cried as the wind and dust blew past her. "My mom… She's fusing with Palkia..!"

"FUSING!?" Anastasia fell down to her knees and grabbed the edge of the asteroid as she looked down. "What do you mean!? I thought that was only artificially possible...! Y'know- like back when Quinton did it with Dialga when he was a bad guy! He used a machine to do it!"

"Yeah, but this is different..! Instead of forcing it with technology… Palkia as the Pokémon of space is able to grant its ability to anyone it wants, as long as it trusts them! It's the only explanation I can think of..." Sweat fell from the young girl's brow. "We can do this, right Shelgon..!?"

"Sh-Shelgon..!" Shelgon cried.

Suddenly, the pearl began to crack.

"Here she comes.!"

The pearl completely burst; the shards scattered across the space sky.

Rebecca's entire body, her skin, her invoker, her hair, were glowing with a crystal-pink color. Rebecca's sclera was completely black, and her irises were pink. Behind her back were wings that were reminiscent of galaxies. Her hands were transparent, and mini galaxies floated on it like it were her skin.

"I am Space." Rebecca said. She slowly raised her hand. A mini galaxy encased in a sphere appeared above her palm. Then, it turned into a sword. The galaxy's entire solar system was spread about on the blade. "I am the all-consuming void." Her voice I am the vacuum. I am all consuming."

Lucia gulped.

"Y-You…" Lucia's legs began to shake. "What- whatever you are… You're nothi-"

Rebecca extended her free arm slowly, and then moved toward Lucia like an arrow.

Lucia was too frightened to even move. Rebecca's ice cold fingers grabbed Lucia by the throat and lifted her into the air.

"I am neither Palkia, nor Rebecca. I am the eraser..." Rebecca's words brought true terror to Lucia.

"What-!? M-MOM!?" Lucia cried, struggling to break 's grip grew tighter. Lucia could hardly breathe.

"Mom- You can hear me, right?! It's me! It's- It's Lucia! You- You can't-"

"Your words cannot reach your mother," The being said. Lucia punched Rebecca on the chest, but it did nothing.

"Let go...!" Lucia punched her again and again. "Of me..!" She cried. "Mom..! Please! You have to-.."

"STOP IT!" Anastasia cried. "LET HER GO!"

The being that was neither Rebecca nor Palkia turned its head to Anastasia. It slowly raised Rebecca's arm to her.

"NO!" Lucia cried. "STOP IT!"

"Begone." The being said.

An orb of dragon flame flew straight toward Anastasia. Anastasia cried out in terror as it came close.

An explosion rang out once it finally hit its mark.

Lucia's eyes widened in sheer shock.

That's when Lucia felt something within her. Something that she'd never felt before began welling up within her like a volcano ready to burst.

Her strength returned to her at that moment.

"HOW DARE YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUU!" Lucia roared with so much intensity that an intense blazing azure aura exploded around her. It was so intense that the being had to pull Rebecca's arm away and distance itself.

After landing back on her feet, Lucia breathed heavily as she clenched both her fists and roared at the very top of her lungs.

As she did this, Shelgon began to float into the air and shined white. Slowly, the small round Pokémon began to change in shape as it ascended higher into the air.

Eventually- the Dragon type began to grow in size.

Its stubby legs and body doubled in size.

Wings erupted from its back.

Its body became blue- and as it continued to shine white, it took the shape of Salamence. And finally- the shining white light faded away to reveal that Shelgon had finally evolved.

As the flaming aura exploded around Lucia, something began to change about her.

Two dragon Wings erupted from behind her body. Armor made of azure dragon flames took shape and attached itself onto Lucia. On Lucia's right arm, a flaming shield with a dragon crest appeared. On Lucia's left, her blazing dragon sword erupted into life.

Lucia glared up at the being.

"How could you..!?" Lucia cried. "How DARE you do that to Anastasia..! I loved her… I LOVED HER! She was my strength..! You're…! You're gonna PAAAAAAAAYYYYY!" Lucia roared at the top of her lungs as her dragon flame erupted around her.

"Let us begin." Rebecca raised her sword before teleporting higher into space. "Draco meteor." Rebecca said. she gently lowered her sword, Meteors started to fall toward Lucia and Salamence. Lucia grit her teeth and crouched before leaping into the air with so much force that a crater was left behind. She landed atop Salamance's back, who roared loudly. Lucia pointed her new and bigger broad-sword dragon blade at her opponent, and Salamence started flying toward Rebecca. The meteors came close, and Lucia climbed onto Salamance's head and stood on it as she held her sword with both hands.

The meteor was coming too close- and just before it touched Salamence, Lucia slashed it in half.

Rebecca's eyes widened in shock.

Lucia roared like a warrior as she slashed the oncoming meteors into pieces- it was like watching grass being mowed by a lawn mower. Lucia slashed an oncoming meteorite vertically before leaping up and taking flight herself.

"Take this...!" Rebecca cried.

Rebecca swung her blade rapidly, releasing waves of stars and space that flew like a crescent wave. Lucia and Salamence took a nosedive before barrel rolling and dodging the oncoming salvo of attacks.

"We're going to put everything we have into this next attack..!" Lucia cried. The two of them flew with so much speed that they became like azure-colored shooting stars. As they came closer together- they began to merge.

They took the shape and form of an azure-colored raging dragon made of nothing but dragon flames. with its incredibly long body, the dragon finally went upward toward Rebecca again.

Rebecca's eyes widened in sheer shock.

"That's impossible..!" Rebecca cried.

The flaming dragon was simply too fast. It grabbed onto Rebecca with its maw and then, dove into the moon. The force of the attack was so strong that the Dragon managed to rip straight into the moon itself- and tear a hole into it and come out from the other end. Rebecca grit her teeth.

"TAKE THIIIIIS!" Lucia cried at the top of her lungs as the dragon shone and finally exploded. The brilliant explosion was large enough to create a mushroom cloud.

From the smoke and flames that rose, Lucia and Salamence both plummeted toward the ground. Lucia landed first, then Salamence fell to the ground with a massive thud.

Lucia groaned before slowly standing up and saw Rebecca's body, which was covered in smoke, fall to the ground. Her entire body shone white as a small, tiny orb exited her body, and took the form of Palkia, who was covered in bruises as well. Lucia slowly stood up and walked up to her downed mother.

"...Lucia…" Rebecca mumbled.

Lucia began to tear up.

"Mom.. you weren't in your right mind… Anastasia… She-..."

"YOU DID IT!"

The moment Anastasia's voice reached her ears, Lucia gasped. She spun around, looking for her.

"UP HERE!" Lucia looked up to see her safe and sound standing on an untouched asteroid from far away. Ditto was back to his pudgy self and standing next to its trainer.

"What!?" Lucia cried. "But- I saw- I saw you-.."

"Your Mom used a Portal right before that blast hit me and brought me and Ditto to safety!"

"What?! Portal!?" Lucia turned to her mother. "Then- wait-"

"Did you… Really believe that speech about me not being myself nor Palkia?" Rebecca said. "That kind of stuff… only happens in Cartoons and Anime."

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?" Lucia was overjoyed and angry at the same time, she couldn't help but laugh with extreme relief but tried her best to stay angry. "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!? I WAS-"

"I was trying to test you… to see how you'd react against a threat who would attempt to come for you life.." Rebecca said. "And you passed with flying colors… You're ready."

Those words were like music to Lucia's ears. She felt an overwhelming sense of happiness that she fell to her knees. This feeling she had was better than any gym badge she'd ever get.

She finally had her mother's full blessing. Rebecca raised her weakened hand over to Lucia, and Lucia clutched it with both hands. "Thank you… Thank you so much.." Lucia said.

"No, thank you…" Rebecca said. "For easing my worries."

"Hey- uh, guys!?"

Lucia and Rebecca turned their heads over to Anastasia, who was still on top of the asteroid above them. "I uh- hate to ruin the mood, but uh, can you get me down from here!?"

"Anastasia, we're in space. Zero gravity, remember?" Lucia cried. "Just jump!"

"OHHHHHHHHHHH! You're right!" Anastasia pulled her Pokeball out and returned her Ditto to its ball. She then leapt from the asteroid and slowly but surely landed right next to Lucia.

"Happy to see me again, huh?" Anastasia said.

Lucia hugged her.

"Thank goodness.." Lucia said. "Thank goodness…"

Anastasia hugged her back tightly and patted her back.

"Yup, yup. I'm here. You know you can't get rid of me."

"Yeah…" Lucia pulled away but kept her hands on Anastasia's shoulders. "I'm so happy you're okay."

"By the way," Anastasia continued, "saying stuff like, 'she's my strength' is totally cheesy, but still very sweet."

Lucia's entire face went red.

Her heart was beating so fast that she had to catch her breath.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Lucia turned and took several steps away from Anastasia before crouching to the ground and covering her face with her hands.

"What's wrong?" Anastasia cried.

"YOU SAYING THAT MEANS YOU HEARD EVERYTHING I SAID!"'

Anastasia laughed.

"You're so cute!"

"S-Stop teasing me.." Lucia mumbled.

"Though, I think you're acting a little too embarrassed." Anastasia put her hands on her hips. "When you said you loved me, it was obviously in a platonic way."

Lucia said nothing. Anastasia blinked.

"...Right?" Anastasia said.

Lucia said nothing.

Anastasia blinked again. "Oh- OH!" She suddenly gasped and slammed her fist on her open palm. "I get it! You're playing a trick on me!" Anastasia cried. "Well, ha, ha, very funny."

Lucia continued to say nothing.

Anastasia's smile suddenly faded and was slowly beginning to be replaced with genuine surprise. "I-.. you- you weren't- you meant platonically, right?" Anastasia waited for an answer.

Lucia said nothing.

"R-Right?"

Lucia remained silent.

"L-Lucia! Answer me! Answer me- Or- or else I'm going to assume you- You.. You-... Come on- don't- stop messing with me! You mean platonically, right!? If you don't say anything, I'm going to assume you mean that you love me- as in, love-love me! As in, couples' love! S-So..! you have to say something!"

Lucia finally stood up with her back turned to Anastasia. Her arms were trembling. Her heart was racing. She took in a deep breath and turned around, scratching her shoulder awkwardly.

"Y-Yeah.. I do." Lucia said, "I- uh… I do love you… in-.. Uh.. the couples' way… I-... I came so close to not being able to say that to you... So yeah... I do." Lucia scratched her head and nodded in affirmation. "I love you- and I mean that in... uh... not the platonic way."

Anastasia stared in complete shock.

"...Oh." Anastasia replied. Then, her entire face became red.

She had no idea what to say. And neither did Lucia.

Complete and utter silence hung between them.

"Hey, uh…" Rebecca said. Rebecca who was now on her feet and clutching her arm, "Anybody mind using a Max Revive on Palkia? We kind of.. Need him to wake up, so we can go home."

"O-Oh!" Anastasia blinked and crouched to the ground before pulling out her backpack. "I've got a max revive… Hold on." Anastasia hurriedly ran past Lucia and Rebecca and toward Palkia. Rebecca walked over to Lucia and patted her shoulder.

"I'm proud of you." Rebecca said.

"Yeah, thanks, mom," Lucia said.

"But uh- the moment we reached the moon, we came closer to the earth... and so im sure that means time started to pass the moment we came here.So who know's whats going on back at earth..?"

"Yeah..." Lucia said with a grumble.

"...Oh and...I'm sure everything's going to be okay with your girlfriend."

"GIRL-" Lucia's eyes widened. "S-SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"

"But you confessed to he-"

"SHE'S LITERALLY NOT MY GIRLFRIEND! SHUT UP! YOU'RE MAKING THINGS WORSE! UGHHHHHHHHH!"

As Anastasia searched her backpack for a Max Revive, there was something that was apparent on her face.

She couldn't stop smiling, and her heart couldn't stop racing.

I REALLY hope you guys enjoyed this one! This evolution was something I planned a while ago and I was excited to write this!

See you guys next week!