Note: Guys! I'm back from my vacation at the beach! And I brought home something... Aside from the two shiny Magneton... I brought home a chappie too! Things are getting more complicated, so fasten your seatbelts for this chappie!
Rose's POV:
"W-what... is this?" I mused.
"Fascinating, eh? I found this while I was excavating my hideout for Treasure Town," Ruse muttered, her eyes transfixed to the huge tablet in front of us.
True to her word, Ruse led me down to some more stairs. Once we had reached the bottom, she had opened the lights to show me a huge tablet erected on the dusty ground.
"So, how is this gonna help me?" I asked her, still amazed at the intricate carvings on the tablet.
"How should I know," Ruse rolled her eyes, "All I did was follow that pink legendary's orders..."
"Cresselia?" I retorted, putting my hand on the huge tablet.
"Yeah, whatever she is," Ruse replied, "So, what does it say?"
I felt my way through the tablet, flakes of dust began to fall of. I felt smooth grooves beneath the dusty exterior. My eyes lit up as I began uncovering parts of a huge image.
The center of the tablet portrayed some image.
It seemed like six different things... All with some instrument all in a circular position.
Inside the circle was a triangle. The triangle's edges seemed to have some sort of carving onto them. The lower left had a blue spiky draconian creature, standing still. The lower right had some pink bipedal dragon like creature engraved on it. And the top of the triangle... There was some black creature, a huge six legged dragon with hazy wings.
At the center of it all was a circle. A circle that looked like some doorway to a hazy dimension. I squinted to get a closer look.
"What is that?" Ruse suddenly spat out, pointing to some words engraved under the circle.
I squinted my eyes to read them.
"This is thy destiny, O chosen ones... Gather the seven keys, and prove thyself to the guardians of time and space... This sha... llow thee to enter Ar... domain! Put an end to the crisis that the cre... is going through... fore the... destruction," I slowly read, noticing some parts were missing.
"You can READ it?" Ruse gasped, her eyes as wide as Oran Berries.
"Yeah? Why? It's just normal text here..." I replied.
"U-unbelievable!" Ruse continued, "I... I can't read it... It seems like gibberish symbols to me..."
"Hmm... I have to show this to the rest..." I called out.
Rise nodded.
"Fine, I'll get them..." Ruse said as she left me alone.
I continued to shake some dust of the stone tablet, until I came across an image that intrigued me.
There was a huge circle... And in its center, were four hooves... The rest of the being's body seemed to be gauged out from the tablet... But what was more intriguing was that the entity seemed to be in battle with two other figures...
I shook the dust off again to reveal more. There, I saw crudely carved figures... One was a bipedal creature with long blade like arms... And the other one was a more slender figure with a flowing gown from its waistline...
Could it... be?
I knew it... It was a Gardevoir and a Gallade. No doubt about it. That shape... I'd know my own kind so well... Enough to determine that the carving was indeed a Gardevoir and a Gallade.
I began to slide my hand again... Shaking of more of the flakey dust covering the tablet... I had wanted to reveal more... I needed to know more about what we were up against.
"Rose?" Blade called.
I spun around to see that the rest were already here, courtesy of Ruse and Violet.
"Where's Ace?" I warily asked.
"Cooking dinner," Ruse shot back, "Now, I've brought them down here... What do you want to show them?"
"Guys... Check this out..." I quickly shot, "This was what Cresselia had been warning us about!"
The rest simply gawked at it.
"So... the end of the world is coming from a stone?" Celsus snidely snorted.
"Can it, Celsus," Sandra snapped, at which he timidly became silent.
"No! Didn't Cresselia appear to you guys in your dreams? Shouldn't it be clear now?" I stamped.
"No..." Blaze retorted, "Don't forget... None of that happened to us... We just happened to take your word for it because Claire was the only one who claimed of having such a dream."
"Hmm... There seems to be some ancient text there..." Sandra mused, "But I can't read it... No matter how hard I squint my eyes..."
"Umm... Rose? What is that picture up there?" Claire pointed at the huge triangular carving.
"I honestly don't know yet, but the text underneath it seems to give some clue about it..." I gently explained to Claire.
"This is thy destiny, O chosen ones... Gather the seven keys, and prove thyself to the guardians of time and space... This sha... llow thee to enter Ar... domain! Put an end to the crisis that the cre... is going through... fore the... destruction," Blade slowly read.
"B-blade?" Blaze seemed puzzled, "What did you just say?"
"I was just reading the text underneath the image..." Blade replied.
"Interesting..." Ruse mused, "So you can read it too..."
"Huh?" Blade returned, "Can't you read it?"
"Nope," Ruse shook her head, "It seems that only the chosen ones can read the text... Rose could read it too..."
"Interesting..." Claire mused, suddenly looking serious, "So... These guardians you speak of... They don't happen to be Dialga or Palkia, do they?"
"Claire?" I called back to her, "Where did you get that information?"
"Cipher..." she closed her eyes, "They muttered something about capturing both Dialga and Palkia... They wanted to open the road to what they called... The Original One..."
There was a short silence after that. Everyone seemed to be use thinking.
"So..." Blade broke the silence, "How do we prove ourselves to these guardians if we do not know their locations?"
"I might have an idea..." Violet broke the silence.
The Mismagius gently floated towards Blade.
"Well, you happen to be the leader of an Exploration Team yourself, are you?" Violet calmly asked Blade.
"Yes..." Blade retorted.
"Then I presume that you've heard about the legendary explorers who managed to beat both Dialga and Palkia to prevent this world from ending in the past? You remember? The Legend of the Time Gears?" she floated around him.
Blade's eyes widened.
"Yes! That Shinx... The one who claimed to be human... And his Mudkip friend... They were all well-known at Wigglytuff's Guild!" Blade quickly stated.
"Yeah... Maybe they know the location to where Dialga and Palkia is? I mean, I was once an outlaw that got captured by them..." Violet returned, "Their strength isn't just for show... They could have possibly beaten those dragons..."
"There is a problem..." Blade continued, "The last time I checked, they've been out on an exploration since last year and they haven't returned until now..."
"Oh... But I hear they have some of their members take charge of their team for the time being... Maybe they know something?" Violet quipped back, leaning on Blade.
"Hmm... I guess so... But it's pretty late right now..." Blade mused, "Is it okay with Ruse if we spend the night here?"
"I happen to be fine with that..." Ruse returned, "Though my spare rooms aren't exactly... spacious..."
"We don't mind," Celsus stated, "Sandra and I probably don't take up much space anyway..."
"But I happen to be worried about Rose?" Ruse sneered, "I mean, with her stoutness... I hope things won't be so cramped."
"Why you!" I started to strike her with Thief, but Blade held my hand firmly before I could attack.
"Now, now... Rose... She was just joking... No need to be childish about it," Blade calmly comforted me, "Besides, Ruse is about the same weight and size as you..."
I smirked as Ruse stifled a small grimace.
Everyone cracked a laugh. It was times like these that I felt that the end of the world wasn't so imminent yet.
After we headed up, we ate dinner, and promptly went to bed... Much to my luck, I happened to be sharing a room with Blade... well... and Celsus and Sandra too...
"Celsus? I think you forgot to close the door..." Sandra called out to the small blue Masquerain nestled behind her back.
Celsus responded with a snore.
Sandra gently smiled.
"Wow... He hasn't changed a bit..." Sandra silently chuckled.
"I'll get the door for you..." I returned, closing the door.
Blade was already asleep. He slept like a log, his lifeless form walled inside a sleeping bag.
"So, when are you going to just spill the beans on him?" Sandra softly interrupted my thoughts as I stared at him.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" I replied.
"Well... We all know that something's going on between you and him..." Sandra continued.
"No... There is absolutely nothing going on between Blade and I..." I calmly returned as I get into my sleeping bag next to him.
"Oh c'mon... Just admit it already... Some guys like Celsus can be quite hard to read... But Blade... He's an open book! He clearly adores you!" Sandra coaxed, gently staring at Celsus's sleeping form.
"What if I tell you that I do not know myself?" I started.
"Huh?" Sandra raised an eyebrow.
"I do not know myself... if I have feelings for him," I gently replied.
"Well," Sandra slowly smiled, "Just leave it all up to life then... Don't fight it... Invite the possibilities..."
"Alright," I yawned, "I'm gonna go and get some sleep then."
The night sky was beautifully dotted by stars. The moon wasn't present, probably because of the new moon phase or whatever they called it.
I blinked my eyes. I was on some garden. A garden filled with vines and other sort of stuff... The light of the stars shone down like light from the heavens.
"Oh c'mon, Cressie! I told you there's nothing wrong!" Dakrai's voice echoed.
"Aww... No fair!" Cresselia's voice echoed, "You promised me that you'd tell me what was on your mind when my student beat yours... sure enough... She did!"
"But she cheated!" Darkrai stammered.
"No! Blade was just distracted! That accounts for a fatal mistake too, y'know..." Cresselia smirked.
"Cressie..." Darkrai gently called.
"Just tell me... I won't bite," she smiled gently at him, causing Darkrai to blush.
"Fine... Fine..." he continued, "Just give me some time..."
"I'll wait as long as it takes then..." she grinned back at him, wrapping her wings around his arm.
I frowned.
"What is it with you two this time?" I called out, emerging from my spot.
"Oh... uh... R-rose..." Darkrai stammered, suddenly glowing cherry red when he noticed my presence.
"This isn't what it looks like!" Cresselia stuttered as she let go of Darkrai's hand.
"Yeah," I snorted, "And what was this bet I heard of... involving my victory over Blade..."
"Err... Nothing..." Cresselia shyly answered.
"Either way... Rose... Where's Blade?" Darkrai asked.
"How should I know?" I snorted, "You brought me here the moment I fell asleep... Can't you do the same thing with him?"
"Hmm... Then that means he's already here..." Darkrai mused.
"Where am I anyway?" I batted an eye.
"Well, you are in the same world that we recreated for entering your dreams," Cresselia answered, "Which is why you two are hard wired to enter it as soon as you fall asleep... Either way, can you look around? Blade's sure to be somewhere here..."
I looked around until I noticed some bushes... I remembered that when I had entered the dream, I appeared somewhere near there... It occurred to me that maybe those bushes could be some spawning point...
I walked through those bushes, searching for Blade. I continued shoveling past those bushes until I felt my foot step on something warm.
"OWW!" Blade's voice rang out.
I looked down to see that I had actually stepped on Blade. He sleepily stood up, rubbing his heavy eyelids. So that was why we couldn't find him... He was asleep... even in his dream.
"I think I may have found him," I called out to Cresselia.
"Ouch... What was that for, Rose? My stomach hurts... I can't believe you're quite heavy," he sleepily remarked, rubbing his eyelids.
I bit at my tongue, ignoring his comment on my weight.
He soon realized what he said though, and immediately tried to add, "Err... I meant heavy, as in... Spiky feet... Yeah..."
"Oh... Excellent... You found him," Darkrai continued, "Now... The reason why we have brought you two here is to tell you about your next task... Well, you two are probably ready to face XD002... I guess... But that is not yet possible..."
"Why?" Blade interjected.
"XD002 resides in another dimension... One that is in a higher plane than ours... Entering it will not be easy from our world... But it is possible..." Cresselia explained, "Rose... Blade... You two have seen the tablet, right?"
"Yes..." we replied in unison.
"Hmm..." Cresselia continued, "Then you do understand what you must do, right?"
"If it's seeking out Dialga and Palkia... Then yes," I continued.
"Correct," Cresselia continued, "However, they are not the only ones we need... We also need the guardians of the Seven Treasures... However... Darkrai and I have already contacted them... You must seek Dialga and Palkia out for yourselves... This will prove to be your final test as they are found in yet another plane."
"So... In other words... We just have to go find these two dragons so that we get sent to our doom to XD002," I rolled my eyes.
"Err... Yeah... Sort of... When you put it that way..." Cresselia sheepishly smiled, "But here's one last thing. You must seek Dialga and Palkia independently... Rose! You must form a group with your current allies now... Then go straight to Temporal Tower!"
"And you! Blade!" Darkrai started, "Must do the same and head over to Spacial Rift to seek out Palkia."
"Wait..." Blade started.
"We have to go separately?" I continued.
"Yes..." Cresselia continued, "This is your final trial. Dialga seeks only the stubborn and persistent, for time can be stubborn and persistent as well."
"As for you, Blade," Darkrai stated, "Palkia seeks only those who can see the endless possibilities, the good in the bad, and the bad in the good; for space is eternal, and leads to many endless possibilities."
I began to sulk. I had seemingly grown attached to Blade... I honestly felt stronger when I was with him... But if he is willing to go through this trial, I can do so too!
"Understood!" we both nodded in unison.
"Well, there is nothing else I can do for you... So I wish you both the best of luck," Cresselia bowed.
"Wait just a second!" I started.
"Yes?" Darkrai responded.
"If we've been this far... Can you at least tell us who this XD002 is?" I began to ask.
The two looked at each other with nervous looks and turned back to me.
"Rose," Darkrai began.
"All will be clear in due time..." Cresselia continued.
"What?" I yelled, feeling myself fading from the dream world, "You guys are escaping my question! Answer me!"
With a flash of white... I felt my body taking its shape back on the sleeping bag.
"It's best..." a masculine voice whispered.
His female companion continued, "if she never found out..."
My eyes shot open. It was already dawn. Everyone seemed to be asleep, save for Blade. He was wide awake, probably due to the dream.
"Well... uh.. Good morning, Rose?" Blade greeted as he held out his hand.
I took it and allowed him to pull up my body so that I could stand.
"Well, you seem wide awake," I teased.
"Who wouldn't be, after that kind of night..." Blade smiled.
I slowly walked out of the room, allowing Blade to follow me... I climbed out the hatchet and exited Ruse's hideout to see that the sun was just rising.
"Wanna go to the beach? The sunrise seems quite beautiful today..." I smiled.
Blade smiled in return, "Indeed, it does seem quite beautiful... However, I know something else that's more beautiful..."
We both began to sit down at the beach. The sun began to show up on the horizon, its golden color shooting out over the edge of the sea.
"What is it..?" I continued, unconsciously leaning towards his shoulder.
"Why, it's y-" Blade suddenly coughed in the middle of his sentence.
"Pardon?" I nudged him, somehow wondering what was he saying.
"Um... I do enjoy the... sunrise, but I was saying that..." he began to sweat, "uh... Yanma are more beautiful than the sunrise... Their clear wings... uh... reflect light... into... uh... seven colors."
"Oh," I returned, disappointed.
For a moment, we sat in silence, watching the sun rise. With such a beautiful sight, I wondered how it was possible that the world was ending.
I smiled to myself. I actually saw this world beautiful. This was coming from someone... who would give anything to destroy it all in the past. I wonder if I am still that selfish person in the past.
I stared back at Blade. I guess he changed me... He changed me a lot.
"We should be heading back now... We have to round up the others now..." Blade held out his hand and pulled me up.
We walked back to the alley, where Ruse seemed to be waiting.
"Where did you two go?" she snapped in an annoyed tone, "You two didn't do anything funny, did you?"
"No! We didn't!" Blade blushed.
"If I see any of those dang bounty hunters following you... I swear..." Ruse mumbled to herself.
After we rounded up the whole group, Ruse flew off on Ace. She said that she would go and check ahead if the route was clear.
Violet offered to guide us over to the base of this Shinx they were talking about.
"So..." Violet floated beside Blade as she guided us, "What rank are you?"
"..." Blade grumbled, "Normal..."
"My..." Violet exclaimed, "I honestly thought you would be Master by now..."
"I got demoted... When I helped Rose escape..." Blade silently cursed under his breath.
"Oh dear," Violet struck a concerned face at him as she patted his back, "That must have been harsh... But, that was quite sweet of you..."
I inserted myself between the two of them.
"Err... Yeah... Listen, Blade's shy around strangers so can you please... uh... concentrate on guiding us?" I spat.
Violet hid a grimace and continued to float ahead of us. Blade seemed to begin blushing, but I ignored him for I was blushing too.
A few more minutes of walking, and we arrived at the end of the road... It was a cliff in the shape of a Sharpedo. I recognized it as Sharpedo Bluff.
"Alrighty!" Ruse called from below us. She had already descended down the cliff with the help of Ace.
"Yeah... This used to be Team Trio's base, but they moved it further down as they claimed that they would be away for some time... Right now, the base is being managed by the co-leaders..." Violet explained.
Ace landed on the edge of Sharpedo Bluff.
"Who's next?" he called, "Hurry! We don't have all day, and my back isn't feeling well today."
Soon, everyone else had already been carried down safely to the bottom of the cliff. Everyone but me, as the last passenger, I gingerly tried to sit on Ace's back.
"Are you sure about this?" I nervously quipped, trying to find some way onto his back.
"What? Is that fear I detect in the Great Rose? Scared of flying?" Ace taunted.
"No!" I retorted, digging my skinny legs into his feathers as I tried to clamber up.
"Yeow! Watch it!" Ace yelped in pain.
Sooner or later, I finally made it on his back. His feathers seemed to be tickling my bottom, but I ignored that and hugged his neck tightly.
"You seem like you're scared out of your wits... " Ace gasped for air.
"No! Now get going!" I scowled.
"Well, if you're not scared, why are you suffocating me?" Ace choked.
I let go of arms.
"I was just... checking to see if your neck was in good shape," I replied, holding on to his feathers instead.
"Suit yourself," he smirked, "Here we go!"
He took off and I immediately continued hugging Ace's neck. I closed my eyes as we soared downwards. I could feel the contents of my stomach going upward as we descended down the windy cliff.
"Whoah! Stop that, I don't want you ruining my finely arranged feathers!" Ace scolded.
By the time I had gotten off him, I was sweating heavily. I got off his back, my legs gingerly shaking as I squatted in a frozen position.
"You okay, Rose?" Blade pulled me up and offered me an Oran Berry.
I accepted the berry and swallowed it, feeling my nausea fade.
"Yeah, I'm fine..." I muttered.
"Ugh... You were yanking on my neck that badly back there..." Ace cursed, "I swear, if I die, it will be of suffocation... You drenched my neatly arranged feathers too... That had better be sweat..."
The nine of us soon began to enter the base.
It was located in a spacious cave. Decorations dangled from the cave ceiling though, giving it a more civilized feel. A table and some chairs were present for guests and a huge table was located in the center. As we entered, we were greeted by an Umbreon and an Espeon.
"Our boss isn't here... But if you intend to bring a mission, just leave it to us and we'll handle it for you," the Umbreon greeted.
"Oh, don't mind him... He's always eager, make yourselves at home and feel free to discuss problems and all... We're not all missions, mind you," the Espeon batted an eye at her companion.
"Aww... C'mon, Shine! You know that you wanna get out there! We've been stuck here for days with nothing to do!" the Umbreon purred as he playfully bit the Espeon's, presumably Shine's, ear.
"Luno... We also have other duties other than just exploring," Shine flatly stated, "Anyway, what brings you here today?"
"We just came here for we need to know the location to Temporal Tower and Spacial Rift," I bluntly stated.
Shine's face grew pale.
"No! I do not know anything about those dungeons! They're awfully dangerous! I discourage you guys from searching for them!" Shine stated.
"Really? Last time I checked, Spacial Rift was a comfy home for me," Luno purred.
Shine gave him a piercing glare.
"Please... We're not ordinary travelers..." I started, "This is important... The whole world is at stake."
Shine shook her head.
"No, I cannot allow such a thing... It's too dangerous," Shine muttered.
I put my hands in my hips... The Espeon was really getting on my nerves... I didn't notice that as I put my hand on my hip, my bag tilted sideways, revealing the Divine Crescent.
Shine turned pale. She seemed like she had seen a ghost... Well... Not Violet... Or Claire, for that matter...
"That... feather..." she mumbled, "Then you must be..."
I decided to give one more try.
"Do you know the location of Dialga and Palkia?" I asked.
"Yes... Wait here... I'll get Miles..." Shine muttered as she scampered off.
"Well, Miles does know the locations... He's been a longer member than us... So just wait here while Shine gets him..." Luno cocked his head sideways.
After a few minutes, Shine came back with some serpentine creature behind her. The serpentine being was clad in cream colored skin with a glittery red and blue tail. Two antennae rose from her... or his red hair that drooped from his head.
"Here... Miles... These are the ones..." Shine told the huge Milotic.
Miles lowered his head as he surveyed us with his beautifully black pupils.
"Ah... You have come for the location of the guardians of time and space?" he questioned with a silky and mellow yet masculine voice, which took me by surprise.
"Uh... Y-yes?" I retorted, pulling up my composure.
"Hmm... I see... But be warned... The path to destiny is dangerous," he paused for dramatic effects, "Do you still choose to follow it?"
"Yes..." Blade and I responded.
"Very well then... Temporal Tower and Spacial Rift have changed... There are obviously newer and more dangerous traps than before..." he continued, "But if you still choose to claim your destiny, then allow me to mark your map then."
I took out my map and handed it over to him, at which he pulled out a small brush with his tail and began marking some places...
"Lastly, to enter Temporal Tower, you must first proceed through the Sea of Time," Miles continued, "Lapras would be happy to guide you there so long as you tell her that I gave you permission to do so. Now... Both Temporal Tower and Spacial Rift are sealed off now... To enter them, you will need these..."
Miles dropped two small keys in the shape of an Unown-G...
"Use the Unown Key should you come across runes which prevent you from entering," Miles continued, "Now... I wish you luck on your travels..."
"Thank you," Blade gratefully bowed as he took the keys.
Once outside, Blade called everyone's attention.
"Cresselia told us, last night... That we must split paths for now... Rose must go and prove herself to Dialga, while I must head over to Spacial Rift..." Blade continued, "However, we cannot make it through alone... Therefore we request that some of you join us in our journey..."
"I'll go with you!" Violet immediately grinned.
"Meh! No way! I will!" Ruse smirked.
Soon enough Ruse had dragged Violet and Ace into joining Blade. I scowled as I eyed Ruse enviously. Ruse looked back and gave a mischievous smirk back at me.
"Any room for me, buddy?" Blaze smiled as he walked over to Blade.
"Hey!" I yelled, "That's not fair! Isn't anybody gonna come with me? Don't just send me off to my death alone!"
"Um... I'd like to come with you... Rose... If that's okay with you," Claire shyly approached me, at which my voice softened.
"Well, I go wherever Sandra does," Celsus proudly scoffed.
"Hmm... I can't exactly leave you alone... Not after all that," Sandra smiled, "What do you say, Rose?"
I sighed... I felt as if I had been chained to the same freak show that I had escaped from before... But inwardly, I smiled... At least I knew that these were friends that I could count on.
"It's decided then, Rose..." Blade calmly muttered to me, "I'll meet you when it's all over... Have a safe trip!"
"Oh... We'll finish our trip before you finish yours!" I smirked.
"I just hope that you finish your trip back to the top of the cliff quickly... Because I'm getting tired of flying others back up," Ace grumbled.
I remembered about the cliff and I grimaced when I was forced back onto Ace. Sooner or later, I was being flown up the cliff. I just hope that Lapras don't fly... I wouldn't want the same thing to happen with Lapras.
And so... May our paths split! But may we achieve, the same happy ending.
Note: Looks like things are gonna go two way now... Which chapter will be next? Rose's Path or Blade's Path? That's up to me! Ahahaha! Either way, plkease leave a review... Remember, every opinion counts... I'll get working on the next chappie sometime soon, so I'll be right back soon!