This is the second chapter! *is all excited* I love this pairing to death, I don't know why! That oneshot was so fun to write, though, so maybe I just realized how awesome it was.

Oh, and I may add some other references to pairings in here. . . like, I dunno, maybe one of Glory For Sleep's favorites. . .

Anyways, here's the second chapter!

"Try as hard as we may for perfection, the net result of our labors is an amazing variety of imperfectness. We are surprised at our own versatility in being able to fail in so many different ways." ~Samuel McChord Crothers

Unable to fly, it was rather difficult to convince Arceus' "secretary", Shirley, to Teleport him to Mt. Silver–but eventually Dialga was able to persuade the Gardevoir by promising to in return get some of Palkia's soaps (after all, she had to do something in her spare time) that he had recorded. The white-clothed greenhead flicked her hand as the other rested on his leg, and shimmering turquoise sparkles surrounded them making his head spin before, suddenly, they had arrived. A bit shocked at the quickness, he thanked her and watched her disappear in amazement, wondering, can Palkia teach me how to do that? Shrugging it off, he turned around to survey his surroundings in search of the perfectionist that had brought him here.

A light flashing on the ground caused him to glance up and see the bird circling overhead, her brilliant feathers causing him to squint along with the sun's harsh light. When she finally alighted with a ruffle of her feathers, he found that she looked surprised, as if not really expecting him to come. She then told him, "You're early."

He scowled as if to blame her for such a thing and muttered, "You told me sun high, but not whether you meant sun high here or somewhere else." He then shuffled his feet anxiously and a bit embarrassed after she pointed it out. "So, just to be safe . . . I came early."

". . . Oh." The soft sound barely made it out of her beak as she blinked in shock, still not able to comprehend him being early, before she shook her head and said matter-of-factly, "Well, that's a good start, so I guess we might make some progress today after all." She ruffled her feathers again, turned to pick something out of them with her beak, and then chirped, "Well! I suppose we should get started on your perfection, shouldn't we?"

Dialga gulped. "Yeah, umm, about that . . . can't I just call in sick that day and avoid the whole thing?"

"What?" Ho-oh scowled. "You can't get sick!"

"I can try!"

Ho-oh scoffed. "For someone who hates work, you're going out of your way to avoid it! That's just more work!"

"Is not," was all he muttered, and she rolled her eyes at his immaturity before turning and making something of a whistling sound. As he pondered over how she could manage to do that, the bushes nearby rustled a bit before two familiar faces popped out of hiding.

First in line was the water wolf, Suicune, which was expected; the canine was able to keep her counterparts under control, so she'd be a big help disciplining anyone that was considered unruly or irresponsible. Her light blue fur was silky and her purple "cape" well-kept, making her look stunning in the sunlight, and the snow white spots were flawlessly clean. Her slender legs fit her sleek profile, and she elegantly padded over as if she was purifying a lake to stand before him, her cherry eyes twinkling with some amusing secret.

Right behind her was her best friend, Latias, who giggled lightly before doing a loop-de-loop in the air and hovering just over his head. Shaped like a jet plane and just as fast, her feathers were glossy and wet with dew as if she had gone for a swim on the way there. (The Lake of Rage wasn't too far off, actually. The Red Gyarados probably had a heart attack.) Her roses-and-clouds-themed coat was flat against her body to make her completely stream-lined, and Dialga was sure he would never be able to escape if she was around, Teleport or not.

With the two girls before him, the Temporal Pokemon turned to Ho-oh and questioned, "Why are they here?"

"To aid in the perfection lessons, of course!" She gave him a calculating look, as if wondering what else he thought they would possibly be there for, before she chirped and turned to them, bouncing in place excitedly. "Alright, girls, it's time to help perfect this imperfect abomination!"

Latias, at the remark, frowned and mumbled, "That's not very nice . . ." She was shushed by the bird, though, and quickly forgot it as she was whispered instructions. With all of the secrecy going on, Dialga couldn't help but grow nervous, and it was only when their "huddle" dispersed that he felt any tension leave his muscles–that is until Latias turned to him and giggled once more. "Okie-dokie, artichokie! Let's hop to it!"

". . . Artichokie?" He frowned at the strange word. "What in the world . . . ?" He was distracted from the bizarre phrase when he asked her curiously, "So, what now?"

"Now," the young dragon answered politely, "we're going to work on manners!"

Oh, Arceus, I knew it. He steeled (haha) himself and told her sternly, "I don't need any working on. I'm perfectly fi–"

"You are not perfect!" The Rainbow Pokemon sounded furious as she shook her head vigorously. "You are nowhere near perfect. That's why you're here! Or did you forget?"

He gritted his teeth and resisted answering that question. The sooner you play along, the sooner this is over, he reminded himself. Taking a deep breath and counting to ten in his head, he then asked the Eon Pokemon, "Alright . . . what do I have to do?"

After a few trial sessions with Latias, Ho-oh stepped in and commanded, "Alright, now it's time for the perfection test. We have to make sure he was paying perfect attention." Glaring at him when he rolled his eyes at "perfect", she then glanced to Suicune and nodded her approval, and the water wolf stepped forward and stood regally in front of him. He had to admit, she looked beautiful, and the sunlight was very complimenting on her sparkling skin–but he wasn't here to compliment her. He was here to get Ho-oh to stop pestering him.

Once more, he steeled himself up for a tough examination. Knowing that bird, he mentally grumbled, I'll have to do a crabwalk before I've even gotten to the third question!

Suicune looked him up and down with her cherry eyes before cooling stating, "Dialga." She looked so sophisticated, it intimidated him, and he almost forgot that he was supposed to answer her.

He gulped, but tried to look indifferent as he towered over her past ten feet tall. This may be tougher than I thought. He struggled to keep his voice calm as he nodded his head in recognition. "Suicune." And now that he had passed the introduction, he knew there was going to be hell, because that twinkle in her eyes returned and he found himself a bit frightened of it. Not enough to freak out and run, though; just the sort of feeling in your stomach that was disturbing and foreboding.

"Anything interesting happen today, Dialga?"

Well, that's a bit of a vague question. "Not a lot, actually, considering I haven't done much." A pause, and he added quickly, "How about you?"

A smile came across her face, and she replied, "Oh, the same for me, too. Other than Raikou and Entei's ridiculous antics, of course." She gave a small sigh at the mentioning of them, gazing into the distance. "You'd think Entei would be able to keep him under control, but when they're together they just seem to get into even more trouble."

Dialga grinned at the thought of what they had done last time she had left them alone together. "Where are they now, then? Not together, I hope."

She shook her head with a giggle. "No, I'm smart enough to learn after last time. This morning, I checked on Entei to see him roaming the Lake of Rage, and then I made arrangements with Latios and Mew to keep a watch on Raikou."

He frowned. ". . . Mew?" The hyperactive ball of pink fur that loved to prank Dialga when he was sure he wouldn't get caught?

"Yes, I asked him to help too." She smiled. "He can be useful sometimes, you know."

How? Shaking his head slightly at the suggestion, he returned his focus to the situation at hand–claw. Just have to pass this, and I'm home free!

He felt like he had just been cross-examined in court in a murder case, not practicing his "perfection."

But finally, it was over, and he relaxed the tensed muscles in his shoulders when the blue canine took a step back to allow Ho-oh to walk before him, like a dictator before her followers. She narrowed her eyes at him, as if searching for weakness, but he refused to back down, instead standing tall and proud before the brilliantly feathered bird. His eyes settled on hers and shot back an intense stare that would have made lesser–less "perfect"–Pokemon tremble, bringing them to their knees to bow before his enormous body. Of course, she had stood her ground against Arceus, the creator of all, so she was not fazed by this display of testosterones.

"That was horrible!"

His jaw dropped at the blunt statement. He had been expecting criticism, but this? Gritting his fangs in fury, he shouted, "What do you mean, "that was horrible?" I did everything that–"

"There is a difference," she interrupted coldly, "between parroting or copying someone like a Chatot or Ditto and actually following the rules. You can't just bob your head and go "yes, ma'am," "no, sir," and expect that to be okay!" She cast her wings above her in a "u" formation, shrieking, "You have to form an aura of importance, of legacy, that causes awe and disbelief in your presence! You have to make the air shimmer around you, make them feel as if the entire world was cradled in your mighty claws–when it rightfully does! You have to cause fear and faith simultaneously when you unleash a mighty roar–and this? You call this being perfection among Pokemon?" She snorted. "You make me laugh."

Cold, icy rage racing through his veins and turning the highlights of his scales a dangerous yet faint yellow, Dialga roared, "What gives you the right to tell me what makes a legendary?" Stomping the ground once in emphasis, his eyes flashed with a hatred for the bird before him. "What gives you the right to come into my life and tell me that I'm completely and utterly wrong? That I, the Guardian of Time, existing ever since Time began and even before then, have been going down the wrong path all of this time?" When it looked like she was going to respond, he suspended her argument by continuing, "And what are you, Ho-oh? Huh? The Legendary of Beauty? Is that all you're good for? Preening yourself and fixing every damn feather that's out of place?"

She arched her neck back as if to strike him like an Ekans, but the sound she made was anything but malicious; it was the sound of disappointment. "Oh! Why, I never–I have never met such a rude, selfish Legendary such as you. I thought that Darkrai was a sheltered individual, but now I see that he's been surpassed!" She folded her wings beside her and looked at the blue dragon as if marveling such stupidity. "I can only imagine how you've come to the conclusion that you know everything in the world."

"I could say the same for you!" Snarling at the bird, Dialga turned himself around and shouted, "I'm leaving!" He turned away, ignoring the shocked look on Suicune's face and the disappointed look on Ho-oh's, but he was stopped by a desperate cry.

"But–wait!" Latias zoomed in front of him, eyes wide after witnessing the heated argument. "What about what Arceus–"

"I could give a damn what he thinks." Although he was furious, he didn't want to unfairly direct it at her, and so he gently pushed her aside with his snout before continuing his way off of the mountain. He didn't notice the way the rainbow-feathered bird acknowledge the action, or the way Latias examined the orange markings on his body in slight confusion and fear; all he knew was that he was going home, even if he had to walk all of the way.

As he tromped down the overgrown path humans used to travel on to get to the top, he grumbled to himself about the audacity of Ho-oh and her perfect prattle. Stupid bird, thinks she's all that and knows everything. Who is she to say that I'm doing it wrong? She's such a damn perfectionist, it's surprising she has any friends! Mulling over how she managed to convince two perfectly (he snorted) normal Legendaries to accompany her on this insane expedition, his tail thrashed behind him and toppled a tree in the process. I'm sure she blackmailed them or something, although I have no clue what in the world Latias would want to hide.

Then, after a few minutes of fuming and cutting down the pine forest, he slowed his pace and gradually stopped as he realized his folly. Oh, Arceus is going to skin me . . . damn, I wish I was allowed to bend time without him noticing. Dammit, that was stupid. Dammit, dammit, dammit. He sighed and closed his eyes, shaking his head at how he let his anger get the best of him. Well, I'm not exactly "perfect" like I'd like to think I am.

". . . Dialga?"

He snapped his head up to look at the white-and-red dragon, grimacing when she winced at the quick action. Cooling his temper down the rest of the way, he cleared his throat and asked softly, "Yes, Latias?" He didn't want to frighten her anymore than he already had.

She bowed her head shyly, looking at the pebbles scattered across the path. "I . . . I don't want you to go home alone . . . can I come with you?"

Although touched by the sentiment, he had a sneaking suspicion that Ho-oh had set her up to it, but he nodded and let her trail behind him as he began the long trip home. He doubted she would stay with him all the way through, but he was grateful for even a few moments of companionship. To be honest, he respected Latias, for with all that she went through to please the humans of her hometown she was still cheery and joyful, a wonderful friend to have. He remembered the year that she had dyed her white feathers green in the spirit of the humans' winter holiday, recalling her brother's scolding even as he thought of it. "You did this just to look like a fool and have people laugh at you? That's the stupidest idea I've ever heard! I mean, this'll take weeks to wash out, and–and–you're green!" She had said it was worth it, though, if only because of the delight that sparked in the children's eyes as she gave them rides around the town.

"Dialga?" He turned to look over his shoulder at her, eyeing the curious expression on her face. "Can I ask you a question?" When he shrugged, she hesitated before continuing. "Do you . . . hate Ho-oh?"

He thought over his answer carefully, lest word got around that he had an attitude problem. After a minute of walking, he sighed and decided to just go with it. "Yeah, but I think I'm just mad at her." His gaze fell to the ground to examine the pebbles he passed on the road. She's angered me more than Palkia ever has, even with his stupid soap operas. I need to watch my temper around her, or I might actually attack something!

Tilting her head in thought, she eventually chirped, "Well, she means well. She's just . . . a little pushy about it, that's all. She wants the best for everyone!"

He mentally groaned, but he didn't let on to his doubts as he told her, "I believe you, Latias. I just wish she was as nice about it as you." He smiled as she giggled, putting wind chimes in a storm to shame at her musical laughter, and he realized he liked hanging out with her. Maybe I should get out of the house more often, if only to talk to her. She's a great friend. And the best thing was that he hadn't broken his back trying to be nice to her–it all came naturally, and in either case she was his friend at "hello."

She's just a pure, wonderful person.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Dialga: Make sure to help your family out at the dinner table tonight.

Ho-oh: And make sure to clean up every bit of wrapping paper!

Palkia: Have fun, be merry, and pig out tonight!

Latias: Be nice to everyone, even if you don't like them!

Suicune: And most of all, happy holidays.

Lots of dragon-y love (and cookies!),
~DL ("Dragon Lover")