Xerneas sat in Lugia's office at te top of the academy, from the balcony he could see the forest outside and it felt like the trees were silently laughing at him, mocking his fall from grace. It was all his fault. He had let himself becoming disillusioned with his role in nature and how it affected the world. He had neglected the very thing he was charged to protect, now the most precious person in his world was paying the price. He was disgusted with himself. How could he have let this happen? Why did an innocent have to pay the price for his actions?
Lugia, who went by the name Darck this days for reasons that completely escaped Xerneas, was sitting at his desk, listening intently to Xerneas story. It was not the first time that these two hybrids had met. Roughly 100 years ago, Lugia had found Xerneas and had asked him about his powers. While he had become uninterested with his role in nature at the time, Xerneas obliged and discussed his powers. Lugia had said at one point that he wanted to create a school where hybrids could to learn about their powers and lead happier lives far from human eyes. While admirable, Xerneas had lived for long enough to know how people and hybrids said they would do big things like that and nearly every time they would fail. More credit to Lugia though, he gathered the resources necessary and built his academy.
"A very serious problem you are facing, Xerneas" Lugia said, after hearing Xerneas out. "In all my research I have never heard of any hybrids powers being diminished to the your extent."
"I scared, Lugia." Xerneas said, "I allowed myself to become complacent and now, many of my powers are gone and people I care about are paying the price."
"Please, stop calling me Lugia. I have long given up using that name in favour of Darck."
"Why?" Xerneas said, confused "Lugia is a fine name and it is your name. Legendary hybrids such as us have long held a tradition of keeping our species name."
"True, but the name 'Johiko Darck' has grown on me, you see. It helps humans to feel more comfortable around me, which I need in order to secure my academy's legal protection" Lugia said and Xerneas nodded
"Fair enough." Xerneas said, "But Darck, I have never felt this lost in all my years. You are the most studious hybrid I know, a researcher of the old and new ways. So I come to you for help, there must be a way to get my powers back.
"You know what you must do," Darck said softly. "Go to the World Trees. Reconcile with nature. Save your son."
Xerneas froze, who did Darck know that?
"I read your mind." Darck said "Sorry, I couldn't resist. Out of all the legendaries I talked to, you were the one I never expected to see again, so I had to know what was going on. Know this, I am willing to support you anyway I can to help you become the servant of the world and the father that you wish to be."
Soon after the meeting ended, Xerneas quickly made his way out of the academy and into the forest, heading for the nearest world tree. As he left the campus, he noticed the students in the school. Some of them were staring in wide eyed awe of him, while others who hadn't noticed were studying or playing game with each other. Seeing that there was a safe place for hybrids to live and learn made Xerneas smile. Darck had done well with his academy and he hoped that one day, he could reward him for his efforts.
After a day's hike, Xerneas made it to one of the world trees. These colossal trees served many purposes to hybrids, including growing food and providing quick transportation to any other world tree. They also once served as Xerneas' home. Darck was correct, if there was one place that could restore his powers, it would be here.
Xerneas couldn't help but smile as he saw the tree. It had been quite a long time since he last stepped foot into one of his greatest creations but seeing them still stand tall even today, after some had been around for hundreds of years, made him happy.
Not wanting to waste any more time, he quickly crossed the route bridge and entered the mighty tree. Once inside, Xerneas took a moment to look around and let ancient memories of the world tree refill his mind. Pools of water lay at the base, feeding the routes and flowing through into the lake that surrounded the tree. Xylem and phloem flowing through transparent tubes up the walls. Many flowers and bushes that had gone extinct in the outside world still thrived inside. Across these ponds lay many paths leading to portals. These provided quick access to any of the world trees that Xerneas had planted. He had admitted to Darck that it can be disorientating the first time you use one, seeing as how you travelled hundreds of miles in a matter of seconds. In the centre, a natural wood spiral staircase lead up to the place that long ago Xerneas called his home and training ground. Long branching corridors with rooms that lead to long, leafy branches that double as balconies.
As Xerneas took it all in, the guilt he had felt during his talk with Darck crept back into his mind. These incredible trees had served as his home and sanctuary for many years and they had always welcomed him. To think that he had abandoned them…
Xerneas quickly made his way up the steps and towards one of the inner sanctums, using his ancient memories as a guide. This particular room had served before as a training and deep meditation room and it was the perfect place for Xerneas to focus on recovering his powers. He laid the task out in his head, he would remain in the world tree, living of the berries, fruits and vegetables that grew here, all the while training to regain what had been lost.
But before he started training, Xerneas felt a pang of fear. Even though Darck was right about the world trees being able to restore his power, there was no telling how long it would take to do so. The people closest to him where in this mess because of his selfish actions, including his own son. It could take anywhere between days to decades before his power his restored and his lover and child could be either in old age or dead by that time. Just thinking about made tears prick at Xerneas' eyes.
"This is all my fault... I neglected my duty... and now my child is paying the price... WHY?! WHY COULD YOU NOT CURSE ME INSTEAD?"
Xerneas sank to the ground, tears streaming down his face, pattering onto the ground.
"Don't worry my child... I won't let it end this way..." Xerneas breathed, slowly getting to his feet "I won't let you suffer for my mistake... I'll train, harder than ever to regain my full power. and when I do, I will come back and restore you... Just hold out for me."
Xerneas' eyes shot open as he woke from his dream. No, not a dream, a memory. A reminder of who he did all that training for and why. He heard breathing noises and turned to see Ranger, sleeping in a nature bed that Xerneas had made last night. Xerneas smiled at the sleeping Ranger, the young hybrid had so much enthusiasm for his new look and his future training that it was hard not to be excited with him. Xerneas knew though that, as he had warned Ranger before, there would be no life for him to return to once he took on his real look. There would be very few safe places for the young hybrid now but Xerneas would make sure that he was properly trained and then shown where Ranger could be safe.
Xerneas walked over to Ranger's bed, putting a hand on the young hybrid's shoulder.
"Rest easy, Ranger" he whispered "I will watch over you."