Chapter 31: Fly me to the moon

A portal created by Palkia appeared in front of Lucia's house, and out of it came Lucia, Rebecca, Anastasia and Palkia. Palkia was healthy and ready to fight.

Rebecca looked up at the dragon/water type, then looked at the two kids with her, who were staring at her wondering what to do next.

Rebecca sighed.

"Palkia. Start Pinpointing Lucian's location." Rebecca said.

Palkia nodded and did that. Rebecca hurriedly got onto her phone and started dialing.

"Things got complicated…" Rebecca said.

"How so?" Lucia asked.

"Remember when Palkia teleported us into space that was so deep that time itself couldn't travel there?" Rebecca asked. She dialed the number and put her phone next to her ear. "When we were in that deep space- it wouldn't matter how much time we spent in there, by the time we came back, absolutely no time would pass on earth."

"Ohhh, okay. So if, say, back when you and I were gonna fight," Lucia said. "If I had decided to leave Anastasia behind, she'd just blink and we'd come back?"

"Exactly," Rebecca said. She pulled her phone away from her ear and noticed that Lucian didn't pick up. She groaned and tried again. "But for us two," Rebecca continued. "the battle can go on as long as it needs to."

"So essentially we were in a place where-"

"Time itself couldn't access.." Rebecca finished Lucia's sentence. "It's the reason why Dialga has a hard time fighting against Palkia. However, there's a problem. When you entered my portal, I had to blast you away with Palkia's Spacial Rend. That attack sent you flying. If I sent you back into empty space while you were flying like that, there was a chance you could have just floated uncontrollably… for the rest of your life. So I had to teleport you to a place where I was certain it would catch your fall."

"Ohhh!" Anastasia cried. "That's why you teleported Lucia to the moon!"

""Precisely. Though upon doing so, we exited the place that was so deep in space that time couldn't access- and went to the moon. Compared to that deep space, the moon is rather close to the earth. That means time moved normally again the moment we stepped foot on the moon." Which means, I have no idea what's going on right now. I just thought i'd explain quickly- Yes? Hello?" Rebecca turned away with her phone still on her ear. "Sweetheart? It's me, Rebecca…" She walked off.

Lucia and Anastasia were left alone, and they were completely lost on what to say or do. It was a bit awkward for them. Lucia glanced over at Anastasia, who had her eyes glued to the ground and her face reddened.

Silence. Absolute silence. It was maddening silence. So much so that Anastasia balled her fists.

"L-Lucia?" Anastasia asked. Lucia turned to her.

"Yes?"

"I just want to know…Why me?"

Lucia raised her eyebrows. "Huh?"

"Why do you L…Love me? I mean- I'm me. I thought you'd be better off being with Beatrice of all people, but me? Why do you like me? All I do is flirt with you. I mean, im kind of… I didn't expect it to go this far- for it to actually work, I-...I'm just-..."

"Shocked?"

"Yeah." Anastasia nodded quickly. "Yeah, I am, actually," She laughed a bit at the irony.

Lucia took both of Anastasia's hands and brought them together. Anastasia's cheeks immediately reddened even more.

"To be honest…your flirting was what made me have a crush on you… but your honesty, your support and cheerfulness was what made me fall in love with you. The time I spent with you…were some of the best days of my life."

"O-Oh…" Anastasia's hands began to tremble. "W-Well, when you put it like that… I- uh-" She chuckled nervously.

"Heh. Before you were the one teasing me and complimenting me, and all I could do was be embarrassed." Lucia smiled. "Now it's the other way around…. I can't help but laugh." And that's what Lucia did. She chuckled for a bit before finally taking in a breath, then exhaling. "Ana- Listen, I-"

"Guys-?" Rebecca came walking in from behind them both. Lucia and Anastasia spun around. "Sorry to interrupt, but we have to go. Palkia pinpointed their location. Lucia, how are you feeling? I took no damage from our fight because of my invoker armor, but I'm worried about you."

"I'm going to be fine," Lucia said, still not letting go of Anastasia's hands. "I mean, honestly, I've been hit by worse."

"Really?"

"Oh- you have no idea." Lucia said. "I went through a training arc and everything. You should have seen it, I tanked the strongest attack that Gym leader Wattson could throw at me. From a Mega-evolved Pokemon. My body's a lot tougher now."

"...Really?" Rebecca looked surprised. "That's-...That's good! That's wonderful! Though- we have to get going, now. Palkia, open the portal."

A portal appeared behind Palkia. Rebecca walked toward it alone and pointed at it, and Palkia went on to walk into it. Rebecca turned her head to the other two. "This portal's going to be open until we walk through it."

"Okay, Lucia- we have to go now," Anastasia said. "So uh- that means… you can let go of my han-"

"Nope." Lucia said. Anastasia's face became even redder.

"Wh-What!? Are you implying that you'll never l-let go of my hands?! I mean- that's romantic- really, but- now's not the time t-"

"No, not that, doofus," Lucia interrupted. "...Well of course when, and I do mean when, I get to hold your hand again, I'll do it and never let go- but uh-"

"Oh-" Anastasia said in reaction. She lowered her head and breathed in quickly, for her heart was beating even faster.

"What I wanted to say was that… you're not coming with us to this fight." Lucia said.

"What!?" Anastasia cried. "What- What do you mean!?"

"When my mom attacked you earlier- even if it was a fake out… l-It looked like you were seriously hurt from our battle. If you- If you had died… I wouldn't have been able to say the things I'm saying to you right now.." Lucia's grip on Anastasia's hands grew tighter. "That's why… I'm being so courageous right now, and saying how much I love you."

"O-Oh….Okay-" Anastasia cried. "Uh- M-My- My heart- It's- it's beating way-WAAAAY too fast!" Anastasia sounded absolutely mortified. "I- I need to-"

"I really do love you." Lucia's head slowly began to move in closer to Anastasia, and the closer she came, the more the purple-haired girl closed her eyes.

Anastasia could hear her heartbeat hammering her ears. The white-haired girl quickly closed her eyes and came closer too. She waited for the soft sensation of Lucia's lips to touch her own…

But instead, Lucia dodged her and put her neck on Anastasia's shoulder to hug her instead. Anastasia's eyes widened.

"Actually… Not yet." Lucia said. "Call this revenge for the times you teased me."

"WHAT!?" Anastasia cried. "THA- THAT'S NOT FAIR!"

Rebecca chuckled. "C'mon, Lucia. Let's go." The mother turned to walk into the portal.

Lucia pulled away from Anastasia and ran to the portal opened by Palkia.

"LUCIA!" Anastasia slammed her foot on the ground like a child throwing a tantrum and even redder in the face than she was before.. "GET BACK HERE AND K-KISS ME!"

"Sorry! Gotta go fight the big bad! LATER!, BYYYYYYYYEEEEEE!" Lucia ran straight into the portal- and Anastasia raced after her- only for the portal to close before she could reach her.

"UGHHH!" Anastasia roared. "She is SO DEAD!"

"My liege," The man named Aldrich said as Quinton kept his head held low. That man that worshiped him and the other two, Zennon and Aiden were following him in the forest. "I would like to say that it is an honor to be in your presence."

Quinton didn't respond. He wasn't proud of what he did. But walking away from Beatrice was for the best.

That moment he broke that girl's heart replayed in his mind again and again. He had planned for this from the very beginning. But he didn't think it'd be that hard to walk away from his daughter like that. He even cried. Samantha, Beatrice's mother, must have softened him too much.

Whatever the case was, Quinton couldn't have said no to them. What would have happened if he said no to their offer? This man, Aldrich, could have reacted poorly. He clearly saw him as a god, a deity, and if he's crazy enough to believe that Quinton is a god, then he would have been crazy enough to attack him and Beatrice with the power of Dialga.

There would have been little to no chance of fighting them, and that was why he said yes to their offer.

Quinton didn't want any power anymore. He had his chance to become powerful, and it came and passed. That time in his life is over. Quinton had already decided: The moment these men handed him the power of Arceus, he was going to turn on them, and then set Arceus free.

But there was a problem: How was he going to set Arceus free? He had no idea how to extract Arceus from his body once he obtained this power. Extracting a Pokémon from your body isn't something that is simple to do. So, for now, he had to gain more information.

He decided he has to pretend to be this "king" that they want him to be.

But if anything went wrong, for any reason… he may have to resort to plan B. But hopefully, it wouldn't have to resort to that. He wouldn't mind it if it did; but Samantha and Beatrice… his family…

They wouldn't approve.