I'm still alive! The long drought was school's fault. Being a senior isn't all its cracked up to be. But, I'm back! And hopefully updates will occur a little more often than once a month.
Once again; a big thanks to bobdaduck, Twilight- The Moon Spirit, and Galalithial for their continued support and reviews!
Chapter 9
Indebted
Kael pulled Exodus to a halt, his red eyes slowly trailing to the far reaching peaks of Mt. Moon. The white fur lacing the back of his neck rose to an intangible energy, sending chills down the Lucario's spine. The reigns slackened as he slid off the side of the quavering saddle, his paws lightly touching the dusty earth. Exodus tossed his head in worry, his dark eyes rolling backwards, his ears flattening against his head.
"There's definitely a Gathering Point beyond there." Exodus murmured, pawing the hardened turf uneasily with his crystalline hooves. "I can sense the energy beyond." The Rapidash cocked a single eye Kael's way, his nostrils flaring. "You must have felt the powers long before this point."
Kael sighed softly. "Indeed. The Gathering Point here in Mt. Moon isn't a close guarded secret as was the Grove inside Viridian forest. The caretakers here depend on the sheer insurmountable capabilities of the mountain to safeguard their sacred treasures. Their pride will lead to their downfall."
Exodus snorted in agreement.
Kael reached into his meager bag of supplies, his paw clasped around the sphere that would encase the nervous Rapidash.
"No," Exodus interjected, twisting his shoulders around in a single movement to place himself before the mountain and the Lucario. "Don't withdraw me; not yet. It's better if I wait out here." The Rapidash tossed his head out towards the stilled land beyond. "Lady Emayla may be on her way here right now."
Kael smirked, folding his arms across his chest in disbelief.
Exodus replied with a grin of his own. "Don't deny it, Kael. You know she won't be happy to hear about your unexpected trip; she's probably strapped herself to Pyre with the bed sheets, her I.V. dangling behind her as she runs."
"I trust Syhn to keep her save."
"Not unless she escaped." When Kael didn't relieve his stubborn position, Exodus lowered his head, laughing. "Fine. There's no way she could have escaped." He agreed, a light dancing in his eyes. "But, please, just grant me this time to run around for a bit. I know that I'm only kept in the Pokeball as a convenience, and that my... Erm..." Exodus paused, shuffling a hoof along the dirt in slight embarrassment. "My cowardice would only get in the way. But, seeing as how you won't need my help in there..."
Kael smiled. The white Lucario gently gripped the bridle of the subdued Rapidash, shaking Exodus' head back and forth a few times in play, before slipping the leather off his long head. Exodus lifted his mighty maw to the heavens, stretching out his jaw. Kael quickly untied the buckles along the Rapidash's side, loosing the oppressive knots with practiced ease, allowing the large seat to simply fall to the sun baked earth as the larger Pokemon inhaled.
"Ah," Exodus murmured, closing his eyes for a moment in rapture. With a subtle grin, the Rapidash tossed his head into the air, lifting his front hooves entirely off the ground as he reared up, his legs flailing madly in the air.
"Now, Exodus," Kael called over the noises of the Rapidash's exuberance, the bridle still clasped in his paw. "Keep in sight of the mountain. I don't know how long I'll be in there, hopefully no more than a few hours, but I need you to be ready when I return. Also," Kael reached down and deftly scooped up the saddle with his other paw. "Find a place to put these. Somewhere close, preferably, and out of sight."
Exodus nodded, bending down slightly to allow the Lucario to loosely place the objects on his powerful back. With a parting neigh, the fiery Pokemon turned eagerly on his hooves, blasting away with a single swish of his blazing tail.
Kael stood silently for a moment, allowing the buffets caused by the parting Pokemon to whip his fur wildly into the air. The clouds gently passed by overhead, their long arms casting deep shadows across the silent land. The dusty landscape stretched on for miles and miles; the far reaching town of Pewter lost among the vastness of the plain. Few Pokemon dared tread so close to a Gathering Point unless welcomed, leaving the air in a hushed state. With a subdued sigh, Kael twisted lightly to face to oppressive might of Mt. Moon.
The gaping maw of the mountain swallowed the white Lucario slowly as he carefully entered its depths, his left paw lifted upwards to allow an aura sphere of illumination decorate the cavern with shifting lights. Every step he took echoed loudly against the spacious walls of the cave, unnerving the Pokemon. He glanced backwards towards the shrinking exit as he delved deeper into the heart of the mountain, a deep sense of foreboding traveling rapidly up his spine. His eyes narrowed as the din grew more intense, a supernatural light blocking out the usually grand fingers of his aura sphere. The stalagmites rose in peculiar patterns around the edges of the cave, their fangs reaching to the verge of the cave, but never quite touching the crumbling roof. The center of the cave wove on in an unbroken wave, cleared long ago of all obstacles by some massive power. Zubat occasionally broke the din with a ferocious screech, diving past Kael in hurried formations, their wings barely an inch away from the white Lucario. The air grew progressively colder and damper, its obscuring fingers clutching heavily to Kael's lungs, causing him to gasp with every breath, small plumes of mist issuing from his throat every time he did so.
The passageway gradually leaned towards his left, rising slowly upwards as it swerved. The decorative stalagmites grew more sparse the farther he walked, soon giving way to a blank expanse of passageway delving deep into the heart of the mountain. He could hear Pokemon whispering along the lengths of the hallway, but he never caught a glimpse of their shadowy forms; he traveled alone.
The tunnel suddenly opened into a large chamber, branching off in five different directions. Each tunnel look deceptively like the rest, leading in a straight line away from their entry points, giving no hints to where they may lead. Kael rolled his shoulders to ease his cold, tensed muscles, padding lightly to the second door to his left, knowing from experience that this was the correct arch.
Almost immediately after he passed the threshold of the door the passageway changed, twisting rapidly upwards in a vast stairway, vanishing into the darkness beyond the reach of Kael's light. The white Lucario climbed slowly, carefully keeping his footing on the precarious perch with each step. The stones beneath his feet were slick with ice, threatening to send him barreling over the edge at the slightest mistake.
At the farthest reaches of the stairway stood a door. No intricate designs spotted its surface. No oddities gave hint to what was behind its depths. Kael regretfully reached for the stone handle, his ears folded back in anger. He needed to speak with Arceus. He had to know.
But, despite his obvious need, Kael hated asking favors from Deoxys.
EC
Kyron leaned back against the soft seat of his limousine. The long, black car sped rapidly past a myriad of untouched countryside, its form barely a shadow against the large backdrop of land. The quite engine added no noise to the overall silence of the fields, its quite hum dying into the background of drowning Pokemon bellows. The long power lines that laced the edges of the road rose and fell slowly with the waves of the land, their long fingers tickling the edge of the sky.
Kyron slipped his probing fingers into a basin of chilled water, swirling the liquid around absentmindedly as he searched for his quarry. The freezing Cherubi screeched wildly as his grasp wandered near them. They scurried along the edges of the basin in a frantic attempt to escape his wrath, ramming into one another in their terror. His merciless grip latched onto a large, squealing Cherubi, his nails puncturing into its thin, pink skin. Kyron gazed at it with an apathetic glare, twirling its plump body around without interest. With a subtle glint in his eye, he bit savagely into the side of the cherry Pokemon. The Cherubi went limp as Kyron chewed thoughtfully.
"What purposes does the target serve to our organization?" Kyron asked again, his gaze flickering to the man seated opposite of him. The Rocket agent tensed as his leader addressed him, his muscles twitching in worry, causing Kyron to grin.
The man cleared his throat several times before he could speak, sweat rapidly growing on his brow. "W-well," He began, fidgeting with his fingers on his lap. "He has abilities quite unlike... Unlike any we've seen."
"Is that so?" Kyron retorted, smirking as his subordinates cowered back against their seats at his words. Popping the rest of the dripping Cherubi into his mouth with a satisfied crunch, Kyron turned his attention to the slowing landscape, indicating that they had finally reached their destination. His patience would soon pay off.
As predicted, the limousine slowed to a gentle stop, its tires crunching lightly on a graveled path underfoot.
Kyron waited, his arms lightly folded across his chest, his complementary plumed hat already placed atop his head. He could hear the others in the car scramble to their positions, relishing in the sheer panic of their movements, but he didn't bother cast his glance away from the stagnant countryside. The door clicked open, sliding past his view quickly, allowing the gaping hole to emerge for the cunning man to exit through. Kyron readily obliged, grinning wickedly at the agents that dared look his way.
The gravel roadway, coated on either side by a wall of congested trees, ended rather abruptly at a concrete building that ran longer than it was tall. The slanted steel roof sagged heavily inwards, indicating at years of neglect. Ivy crept along the corners of the structure, seeking any hold upon the unyielding surface.
A long line of Rocket grunts shielded the entrance of the only door with their bulk, their grim faces all set upon their singular task. Pokemon of varying shapes and sizes milled about their master's ankles, their snarling visages keeping one another in line.
Kyron slipped out of the warm limousine into the chilled air, his feet crunching heavily on the gravel below, his breath sending a puff of mist out into the skies. He walked forward slowly, savoring every worried glance that was shot his way, glancing behind him to smirk at his former escorts with his trademark grin.
He proceeded onwards to the mouth of the building, his gloved hands barely passing over the pearly surface of the door before it opened rapidly for his coming. A sudden onrush of air swept past the cunning man, sending the feather on his plumed hat into a frenzied dance above his head. Kyron eased back on his heels as his bloody eyes inhaled the view from within the building, his arms clasped lightly behind his back. The moody light from within cast flickering shadows across his face.
His boots clicked loudly on the steel surface of the improvised floor, the echoes of his passing reverberating off every orifice. The loose fabric of his garments swished ominously, his rather small form seeming to take up more and more space of the scant building. Those few elect Rocket grunts that had managed to score a position in the heart of the delicate operation hastily got out of Kyron's way, scrambling over one another in their desperation to avoid causing the Master displeasure. The dying lights flickered overhead at his passing, his movements no more than a consort of the shadows.
Kyron's path ended abruptly at a steel box. Sides reaching all the way to the roof, the box stood as a massive monolith of protection, the only entrance and exit taking place as a thin door at its front. The insurmountable cage had only four airways, each taking form of small holes at the verge of the box. A single man stood guard at the entrance, a single key dangling from a thick chain wrapped around his neck. With a single gesture from Kyron, the man hastened to insert the iron key into the slot at the front of the door. A small click echoed from inside, and the five inch thick door swung slowly outwards to reveal the prisoner within.
Kyron scoffed at the young man tied to the single chair. "This is what all the fuss was about?" He questioned, glancing towards the cowering Rocket agents beyond. "He's a mere child!"
"W-well, not t-t-technically, sir." A subordinate stammered, holding a rather rickety clipboard in both sweaty hands. "H-he's 18, a-as far as we c-can tell."
Kyron raised a single eyebrow.
The man slunk farther into the din of the building, lifting the insignificant piece of thin wood in a gesture of protection.
Laughing, Kyron shifted his attention back to the boy. The prisoner lifted his blood smeared head to gaze at the merciless man, his indigo eyes prying for an answer. His shoulders rotated slightly as he attempted to relieve the pressure on his blood starved arms.
"What can he do?" Kyron asked simply, one hand reaching up to his plumed hat to pull it back into its proper position.
Another, braver, Rocket brute stepped forward from the group, his Aggron following closely behind with a limped gait. "He has innate restorative qualities." He began, drawing the attention of the bored Master. "The boy can concoct remedies that rival the healing properties of most potions."
"Oh, really?" Kyron retorted, slightly annoyed that this particular agent didn't cower in submission in his presence.
The man nodded, his guarded eyes traveling past Kyron to stare into the cell beyond. "And, the most astounding property by far, is his ability to heal Pokemon." The man paused, waiting for his Master of offer his complementary scoff. When Kyron remained silent, he continued. "Once a day, as far as our research shows. He even brought Fell back from the brink of death," He said, gesturing to the Aggron standing guard behind him.
Kyron offered no retort, his mind wheeling with the possibilities. Sweat gathered on his brow. His pulse quickened rapidly, causing the cunning man to gasp for air.
Tirus couldn't know about the child. If he discovered... Kyron's usual scowl returned. "Dispose of him." He snarled.
"But, sir?" The braver man asked, confused.
"Silence!" He roared, causing every underling inside the building to freeze. "Take the child away. Far away. This meeting never happened. If I find that one of you have told anyone, anyone else about this, I will personally rip your heart out through your throat."
The building went deadly quiet.
Kyron smiled, his false grin a savage attempt to quell the panic that was slowly growing from within. He turned on his heel to face the youth. "Nothing personal, kid. But I can't allow you to jeopardize everything that I've worked eight thousand years to achieve."
Still the child didn't respond.
Kyron smirked, his emotions slowly regaining control. "Oh, come now? Don't you even know how to talk? This will be your last opportunity before you die, after all. Do you not have a name, little boy?"
"Felix," The prisoner slowly replied.
EC
Blackfire carefully picked his way over the fallen, charred logs that barred the way to his prize. The Stantler flailed madly against the ropes that held it in place, frantically trying to pry away towards the relative safety of the woods beyond, its antlers scraping away deep gouges into the sides of a nearby tree. The Pokemon tossed its proud head in agony, its leg spilling blood down onto the baked earth below from the newly opened wound.
The former rocket lieutenant crept around the edges of the trees, moving along with the currents of the wind to avoid detection. Carefully bypassing a litter of strewn twigs, Blackfire skirted around the Stantler, keeping his dirt smeared body close to the ground as he moved. The frightened Pokemon swerved its head towards the unknown threat, letting out a pleading bleat in a final attempt at salvation. With a smirk, Blackfire dove forward out from his cover directly towards the startled Stantler, his glittering dagger drawn in anticipation of the kill. The big horn Pokemon reared back as far as the restraints would allow, its sharp hooves flailing to keep the human at bay. Blackfire pulled back slightly to allow the Stantler's attack to wear out, waiting for an easy opening in the terrified Pokemon's defenses. His chance came not a moment later. As the Stantler was forced back to earth by the relentless force of gravity, the former Rocket lieutenant surged forward, his tiny dagger leading the way. Before it had time to react, the weapon had found a place inside its chest. The Stantler let out a startled gasp, life fleeing from its eyes, its muscles buckling under its weight as it died. Blackfire shifted his weight forward to catch the falling beast, ignoring the gushing tide of blood that doused his already destroyed clothing.
As the Stantler gave a final kick, the former Rocket lieutenant shouldered the massive body of hide and muscle, balancing its substantial weight on his broad shoulders, a smile finding its way onto his normally grim features. Creed would last another night.
EC
The Lopunny peered over the dying forms of the trees that offered her shelter, her small paws brushing the charred surface of the bark. She watched in mute fascination as the man carried the massive Stantler back to his suffering partner. The flame orb around her neck, a gift from her missing trainer, shimmered in the dim light of the dead forest.
As the man moved, the Lopunny kept several paces behind him, her ears perked forward to catch any words that he may deliver. She felt awful for not having assisted that Stanlter out of those traps, but if she was to find her trainer, that man had to survive. He wore the same garb as those who took her master away. His voice held the same arrogant mannerisms that haunted the vocals of those who stole her life. Only by his aid would her endeavors succeed. No matter what the cost, she would rescue Felix.
EC
Kael shuddered openly as the door swung open slowly, the freezing air rushing past him to the pinnacle stairway beyond. He could feel the atmosphere changing; feel the tangible energy of control that suddenly struck upon his will. The inner forces of Mt. Moon swept into motion, their many arms seeking to protect the secrets within.
Voice whispered in his head with surprising force, shoving doubts into his mind. They danced around his form, murmuring of his false hopes and his failed tasks. They probed his mind for his agonies; his inward trials that he dared not visit. The white Lucario saw with increasing clarity the faces of his family, all dead upon the floor by his own doing. He saw Emayla lying upon the charred battlefield, dying by his own attack. He could hear the voices screaming at his insignificance, seeking to tear him down to the seams. The cold air dropped suddenly to a bone chilling degree as the bombardment continued, freezing the stones on the wall instantly into a fine sheet of shimmering glass. The voices slowly gained shape in the cold, their smoky forms congealing into the tortured souls of Pokemon killed by his actions. He was a failure; an abomination. Doomed to forever destroy all the he worked to achieve. All his endeavors failed miserably, begging the question of his importance in this world. He fed off deceit and lies, trying to build a barrier around himself to supposedly protect those he loved. He was a monster.
Kael growled as the ghost Pokemon continued to bombard his consciousness with their lies. He would not be beaten down by their screeching gales. The transparent Pokemon let out a collective gasp as the white Lucario took a single step forward, his movements shuddering under the weight of his guilt. The necessity of his mission took hold, breaking away the thickening fingers of the dead Pokemon.
The short chamber yawned lazily to allow Kael admittance, the defeated wails rising in tempo from behind his retreating back.
His path led him down an increasingly narrow hallway, the air growing warmer and thicker with every step, congealing thickly into a mass of superheated smog as the white Lucario paused at the second door. The mist that drove the chill away from the dead slurped idly through the cracks in the wall, bathing the obelisk door in a halo of silver. Kael paused for a moment, his thoughts still collecting themselves. The defenses of Mt. Moon were designed to deter unworthy visitors by attacking their inner fears; by tearing them apart from the inside out. No physical entities would bar the way.
At least, none that he knew of.
Kael gently pushed the stone portal open, his ears perked forward as the rocks silently slid open to allow his admittance. The small stone room arched slowly overhead, the zenith hardly taller than the original apex of the roof. Broken chairs spanned the boundaries of the room, their shattered stone husks piling over one another in tempered forgiveness, their hardened tips hardly moved for decades. Worn tables and benches lay haphazardly in the corners. Molded sheets of worded paper coated the ground in a thin sheet of slime. A single pillar rose up in the center of the chamber, its perfectly smooth, shimmering sides reflecting the scenes around it with dark clarity. The white Lucario stared at the reflection of himself, his eyes narrowing as he saw his shape distorted in the otherwise clear image.
A lock clicked from somewhere around the pillar, causing Kael to freeze in anticipation, crouching down lower to the rocks in preparation for flight. A man came shuffling into view, his shape covered heavily by a thick, dark cloak, a brightly colored book in his hand. He wrapped around to the front of the pillar without even glancing towards the tensed Lucario, his hood obscuring all but his nose. With a sigh, the strange man plopped down at the base of the pillar, his book already opened to a specific page near the middle as he lifted it to cover his eyes.
Kael cocked his head slightly in confusion, having expected a challenge akin to the dead beyond the door. He took a single step forwards, an eye trained on the human as he moved. As the man did nothing, the white Lucario eased upwards into a standing position, still confused but hardly worried. Whoever this was apparently held no threat to him.
Kael padded lightly across the quick expanse of the antechamber, his ears twitching towards the center every time the man flipped a page. As he reached the far end, the white Lucario glanced back, his eyes widening in surprise.
A small Sableye skittered out from behind the reading human, its purple skin contrasting oddly to the grays and blacks of the stone lair. Its crystalline eyes glittered brightly in the light from Kael's aura bulb, a wicked grin trailing up its features. It crouched down, sniffing the rocks at the human's feet, scrabbling at the solid floor with its sharp claws. The purple head lifted slowly, pivoting on its neck as it rose to stare directly at the unnerved Lucario.
Without preamble, Kael slipped out of the pillared room, closing the second door rapidly behind him as he did so, silencing the dribbling noises that erupted from the crazed Sableye.
"Excuse me!"
The small, twittering voice startled Kael. The white Lucario stared downwards as a small Clefairy came trotting into view, a clipboard held tightly under her arm, a pen resting on her large ears. She stared haughtily back at the crimson gaze of the larger Pokemon, her free paw resting lightly on her hip, her lips pulled up into a scowl. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to see Deoxys," Kael responded with a growl, the mannerisms of the tiny Pokemon irking his already ravaged composition.
Swiveling her arm around to catch the clipboard in front of her, the Clefairy gazed down the single sheet of blank paper. "No, I'm afraid that you aren't on the list." Gripping the pen from off her ears, she tapped it lightly against her brow. "You can't simply walk in here and expect to enter the Lunar Hall without first setting up an appointment."
Would the strangeness of the mountain ever end? Kael sighed, clapping his paw over his eyes in frustration. "My mission is urgent. I don't have time to sit here and argue about etiquette with you."
"Well neither do I," The Clefairy responded with a huff. "A mountain this size doesn't run itself, you know!"
The two Pokemon stared at each other for several moments, the stone room lapsing into a dull silence as they eyed one another. Kael lifted his eyes slightly to gaze at the door beyond the indignant Clefairy. The Lunar Hall was beyond that door; Deoxys' lair was beyond that door. A communion with Arceus was a tall order to ask of anyone, even a Legendary, but Kael was in desperate need of answers. With an apologetic glance shot the Clefairy's way, Kael swerved around, his back right paw swinging freely in the air. The Clefairy connected to his paw with a startled gasp, her clipboard and pen flying out of her hand. The smaller Pokemon was sent whirling across the room, slamming hard with the stone wall on the opposite side as she stopped her crazed ascent. Before the Clefairy had time to regain herself, the white Lucario dashed through the unguarded door to the shimmering room beyond.
The door closed behind him on its own accord as he passed through its portal. Kael paused reverently in appreciation for the sacred ground he now stood upon, bowing his head in humility to the vast power he could feel beyond.
Before he could lift his gaze, however, a booming voice reverberated off of every glowing rock, slamming hard into Kael's consciousness with startling clarity.
"Kael," It roared. "Welcome back."
EC
Tirus glanced out the window of his indiscreet car, watching Kyron slip into the low building with a smirk trailing up his face. Spies within every network. His scouts had informed him of the prisoner within the building long before Kyron had even received word that something was wrong. Though the exact identity of the child was still unknown- his spies' informants had been mum on the subject-, if he was important enough to drive the second in command from their base in Saffron, then this matter was well worth looking into.
Tirus watched with narrowed eyes as Kyron slipped into the low building, his mannerisms telling the Master that he knew nothing of the second party's presence. Within only a few moments a shouting match ensued, followed by the prompt exit of the furious Kyron.
Slipping farther into the shadows of his own vehicle, Tirus eyed the building for long after Kyron had left, watching with interest at the collective movements of the Rocket grunts left behind. They swarmed in and out of the heart of the structure, taking ropes, chains, and various other objects of restraint in with them.
The sun had passed over its zenith when the Rocket agents finally revealed their labors. One by one they evacuated the building, dribbling behind them glistening lines of gasoline. After roping off the only door to prevent any possible means of escape, a single agent tossed a burning lighter into the building. With a savage roar, the flames burst into life inside the steel structure, their fingers reached maximum heat in a matter of seconds, causing the steel supports of the massive roof to shudder as they melted.
"Is that really the best they can do?" Tirus scoffed, watching as the flames coated the blue sky in a choking cloud of ash. With a lazy click, a Pokeball popped open in the confines of the car, Tirus' Dusknoir taking shape hastily in the din. "Equilibrium, if you will," Tirus asked, grinning as he waved his hands towards the melting building. The ghost Pokemon let out a hum of understanding. Slipping back against the steel of the door, the Dusknoir slipped into a corporeal state, its body melting into and out of the car as though it was water, its dark body taking shape on the far side of the metal vehicle. With a final bow to its waiting master, the ghost Pokemon slipped away into the belly of the inferno, headed directly towards the smoldering metal heart.
"Take the prisoner far away from here." Tirus murmured to the empty air, knowing full well his Pokemon could hear him. "Keep him outside of Kyron's sphere of influence."
Within moments a misshapen dark shape filtered out of the side of the crumbling structure, taking form slowly of the Dusknoir and a boy as the ghost Pokemon sought refuge from the searing heat. Into the skies the ghost Pokemon rose, its lifeless burden casting a dark blot against the wavering clouds of smoke.
Tirus grinned maliciously.
EC
"Is it really you, little Kael?" Deoxys rumbled, his form slowly taking shape on the roof of the glittering room. His wildly colored skin cast odd shadows against the glowing rocks that illuminated his chamber, causing the Legendary to look several feet larger than he really was. "I'm honored that the high and mighty white servant of Arceus would bother to visit my humble abode!" His mocking voice reverberated off of every angle, ripping deep into Kael's consciousness without room for salvation.
Deoxys floated lazily downwards, twisting around in the air as he did so to gain the best angle of advantage when facing the smaller Lucario. "Why have you come here, little one?" He whispered, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Being an archangel of the Lord no longer comes with special privileges?" Kael returned the glare with a murderous stare of his own, causing the Legendary to chuckle in amusement. "Or, perhaps, you have fallen out of his favor?"
"Thats enough, Deoxys." Kael snapped, his emotions already cut short by his ordeal in the mountain. "I seek a simple communion. That's all."
"That's all?" Deoxys repeated, sneering. "Perhaps you have forgotten the immense power required to summon an audience of the Lord? Perhaps you have forgotten that this power comes with a price?"
"Don't patronize me, Deoxys." Kael growled. "I know that Arceus has set aside a store of power for when his servants seek a communion."
Deoxys' interweaving arms crossed lightly in front of his jeweled chest, causing the lights of the chamber to dim in response. "Perhaps," He mused, a steely glint forming behind his eyes. "Perhaps."
A silence engulfed the two, causing the very air around the room to sputter and die, an absolute quiet surrounding the Pokemon. Deoxys raised one of his arms, causing a platform to appear in the center of the room. The simple stone dais rose slowly into the multicolored air, its simplicity giving way in an immense aura of power. Kael eyed the floating Pokemon suspiciously.
Deoxys lowered himself to the ground, his feet touching the floor without even the slightest hint of sound. "If I were to allow this communion to commence," He drawled, lazily leaning backwards against the air. "The draw on my own power reserves would be absolutely tremendous. The defenses around Mt. Moon would whither and possibly fail." Deoxys paused, allowing a thick tension to coat the room. "Unless, of course, there was another source…"
"No," Kael interjected, his mind easily connecting to what the Legendary was inferring. "The child is not part of any bargain."
"Oh, but it would only be a small portion of his immense supply. Surely he wouldn't notice if a bit was missing?"
"Maybe he wouldn't," Kael stated. "But even the slightest shift of power could cause catastrophic failure. Even simply scraping the surface of his power could kill him!"
"Only the more reason to explore such a daunting possibility!" Deoxys argued, a fire raging behind his normally placid eyes. "If that child holds enough power to change the alterations brought by Arceus himself, imagine what we could do with it!"
Kael snarled. "No."
Deoxys moaned in exasperation. "You may think you're protecting your charge by preventing the use of that Pichu's power, but you're only causing her agony in the end! You know you cannot win! Why do you persist so?"
"Arceus sent me to do a job. I will do his will until the day he no longer has any need of me." Kael retorted.
"A slave right to the very end." Deoxys scoffed.
With a final glance shot the Legendary's way, Kael stalked past Deoxys' form, headed directly towards the dais. "Regardless of whether you help me or not," He began, glancing over his shoulder to shoot a single glare towards Deoxys. "I will talk with Arceus."
Deoxys offered no resistance as Kael marched up to the raised platform, eyeing the white Lucario with guarded indifference. The moment Kael placed a paw atop the shimmering black stone, an intangible surge of energy flooded around the room, filling the special area with waves of white hot fury.
Kael stood rigidly inside the heart of the inferno, his eyes slammed securely shut as he waited. The waves of energy quietly died down at the Lucario's determination, slowly swelling around him as its fingers connected with his consciousness.
"Ah, Kael," A voice whispered in his mind, its fatherly tones assuring the Pokemon that his presence was not resented. "It has been so long since we have been able to talk. How has your time on earth been?"
"It has been good, milord." Kael murmured aloud, noting with satisfaction Deoxys annoyed grunt from beyond the comfort of the dais. "I forever appreciate the opportunities to serve your will."
A single, warm feeling washed over Kael, causing him to smile in spite of his desperate situation. "I am glad," Arceus said softly. "But I know you have not come all this way to simply talk. Something is troubling you."
"Yes, milord." Kael sighed, rubbing his forehead lightly with his paw, wondering where to begin. Though Arceus always knew his thoughts, the Lord preferred to have Pokemon say what they needed rather than simply give them an answer. Seeking to keep the atmosphere professional and devoid of pathetic needs, Kael began slowly, his voice becoming, to his displeasure, more desperate as he continued. "Lord Arceus, for the past eight thousand years I have guarded over the Ninetales Amarri, keeping her upon the right track to salvation. I know that the only way she may return to her former self by her own means remains on the path before her, but an opportunity has arose that may put our plans at risk." The white Lucario paused, waiting for Arceus to interject his own thoughts.
"Go on."
"I speak of the Pichu named Thomas. Amarri and I found him in the destroyed remnants of Viridian forest, his clan of tribal Pikachu that once guarded over Your Grove utterly decimated. Milord, within this small Pokemon is an untamed power source of tremendous proportions. With every passing day the power grows more and more threatening, its reach poisoning the very vessel it inhabits. I fear that, if left unchecked, this power could destroy Thomas, or worse, be used by Tirus to regain his former glory. I do not want to harm Thomas simply to keep a theoretical threat at bay, but I cannot ignore the complications he places upon my task."
Arceus was silent for several long moments after Kael's speech, causing the white Lucario to shift uncomfortably on the dais as he waited for his Lord's answer. "You already know what must be done." He began, his normally warm voice carrying a hint of dread. "You came here seeking my advice in order to take a different route than the one you see before you. The only way to ensure the salvation of the one you love is to destroy the power hidden inside the Pichu. If Amarri's soul is transformed using those ancient, black magics, her countenance will be decimated, and all that you have sought to achieve will be destroyed. Her former companions will be released from their imprisonment at her will, and the world will be plunged into an era of chaos that of which we have never seen." Kael hung his head solemnly at Arceus' words. "But," The Legendary continued. "If you truly wish to save Thomas' life, there is another way to destroy the power within him."
"Whatever it is, milord, I'll take it." Kael responded reverently.
"Be warned, Kael. With every gift comes a price." Arceus boomed, his voice growing more distant with every word. "When the time comes, do not falter from your task. The lives of all goodly Pokemon are dependent upon that."
"Wait!" Kael panicked, reaching forward with his paw into the air as though to catch the intangible source of the voice. "What must I do?"
"You already know." Arceus called. "It is a task that can only be accomplished by your unique abilities." He paused for a moment as the echoes of his words faded against the stone walls. "Do not fear for Thomas for now. Though the power within him is great, his own tremendous will keeps it at bay. You have a year, my servant."