Author's Note: Nope. No regrets making up the Azure Hall. Name derived from the Azure Flute used in Pokemon Platinum to summon Arceus. Also probably one of the few all-serious chapters I'm ever gonna post. Enjoy.
P.S. I do not own the characters. However I'd like the Azure Hall and the Island to myself. Same applies to the rest of the story. A little late, but better than never.
Four
Azure Hall
Where Magikarps swim gracefully throughout the Mural
They were all back at Rayquaza's house in the lounge, the two accused troublemakers both seated on bean bags, while Meloetta and Celebi sat together on the couch, the little girl holding onto the egg like it was her lifeline. Meanwhile, Rayquaza paced back and forth between the two pairs of people.
'What is there to think about, Ray? Your kids just performed vandalism and thievery in my house!' Meloetta was still in her Pirouette form. All her green dye had flaked off during her Hyper Voice to reveal her flaming red strands of hair, and in a hurry to get to Rayquaza she had tied her mess into a loose bun. She looked much fiercer, and definitely much more intimidating now. Her arms were crossed, and her manicured fingers tapped impatiently against her upper arm, suddenly looking very sharp as if she had claws. Even Celebi scooted a little ways away from her on the couch.
'Technically, it's your personal property, Mel, so it's not vandalism, and I don't remember Celebi here mentioning any signs of them wanting to leave with the egg, so I think we can put out on that other crime as well.'
'Um, actually,' Celebi's eyes darted back and forth when she noticed everyone staring at her. She continued to stammer, 'I overheard Groudon saying about getting rid of the egg…' As she whined and wrapped the pillowcase tighter around the egg protectively, Rayquaza shot a glare at Groudon, who only looked to the side with an ignorant expression.
'Note this, boys, that this does not change my decision. In fact, this only further encourages me to make the two of you immature brats work together as parents.' The two were about to complain when their guardian quickly continued in his lecture, 'You are Legendary Pokemons. You are supposed to take care of the Pokemon and humans of the world, keep the world in balance, like every one of us on this island should. And yet you can't even handle a simple egg. Or have you forgotten your roles as rulers of the oceans and the continents?'
The boys stayed silent.
'You are not young anymore. I have talked to Arceus this afternoon, and he has agreed to give us an audience tomorrow. Dress up nice for the day. Don't humiliate yourselves, or you're going to have the worst time as long as I live.' With this Rayquaza's gold eyes gleamed an impossible shade of darker gold, and everyone in the room shivered for a moment, even the ladies who didn't really get to see his creepy stunt. He let the silence hang there for a dramatic pause of moment.
'There.' He finally turned to Meloetta. 'I hope you are satisfied.'
'Oh, very.' The woman put on a sly smile, pleased at his sternness with his children. He was not such a lazy guardian after all. 'I hope to see them at peace together one day. Such a feat must be possible under your care. Come, Celebi. We need to get ready for tomorrow. Oh, and boys…' she turned around to give a glare of her own, her eyes suddenly in deep contrast with her flaming hair.
The two men unconsciously scooted closer to each other.
'You're still going to need to pay for my precious piano.' She added. In a flash, her face turned back into a smile as if she had given no dangerous warning to anyone. 'Well, I'll be seeing the three of you soon. Good evening.' She made a polite curtsy, and Celebi eagerly did the same. The little girl kissed Rayquaza affectionately on the cheek before she dashed after Meloetta.
'Well, we all had a rough day. We shall have a hearty dinner, and then retreat to our beds for tonight.' Rayquaza sighed as he stretched himself. Groudon stood up and went into the kitchen to prepare some food, while Kyogre yawned and decided to take a shower before Groudon takes up all the hot water for the night. Although it's not that he doesn't do the same to him when he gets to have the bathroom first.
Rayquaza's eyes lingered after Kyogre's back. 'Kyogre.'
He turned around at the mention of his name.
'Do you hate me for this?' his guardian sounded all businesslike when he asked. Kyogre still couldn't tell if he's scared or just plain nervous.
But at least he still cared.
'Never.' Kyogre hesitated before he added, 'Not even the blockhead either. You're family.'
And they both left the lounge, maybe a little awkwardly, but also a little satisfied at that.
Three alarm clocks rang at the exact same time that early morning. It wasn't the wisest choice to do such a timely thing, but it was also a habit the family couldn't break.
Rayquaza had his own room upstairs right next to the attic. The sunlight greeted a good morning to him as he gently clicked the alarm, and the cheerful ring stopped at so. He made his way into the bathroom and did his usual routines, shaved his moustache completely and put himself in a smart shirt instead of the ugly one with Pikachu print for the day.
Then he went down to the kitchen, and started preparing breakfast for his two children.
Meanwhile, two sets of stereos blared their loudest music in two separate rooms. Two men with equally wild hair sprinted from their beds and nearly fell off to the ground, if it weren't for their reflexes and adaption to their morning routine. They didn't bother to shut their stereos, and in a frenzied hurry slammed into their bathroom doors.
With clumsy hands they fumbled for the doorknob, and when their grip was firm, they finally barged into their shared bathroom to face each other in their horrendous morning state, just like any other day in the life of Groudon and Kyogre.
They glared for one moment at each far end of the room, before they started their race.
'Move it, you fat lard!' One of them screamed as they both dived for the shower. Unfortunately the tub was situated on Groudon's side of the bathroom thanks to his athletic schedule. But being the stubborn person he is, Kyogre dived in anyway, and one landed on top of the other inside the tub, trying to strangle each other only in their nightshirts and boxers.
After a noisy and hasty shower and another fight for the last of the body shampoo, the two drenched men shoved each other in front of the mirror while violently brushing their teeth. Then they rushed back into their own rooms and changed into casual clothes for the day, hoping to accomplish more than the other in one day.
That's when they finally remembered, that they had to meet Arceus on that afternoon.
Rayquaza had just finished making omelettes for three when his boys came into the kitchen wearing their usual trademark jackets, Groudon fiddling with his beret. They took their own sides if the kitchen island and ate their breakfast. Humming in agreement of the silence, Rayquaza also sat in the middle of the duo and enjoyed this precious moment.
The Azure Hall was on their other side of their Island, no matter who you asked. It served as the living quarters of Arceus. It is also his throne, the Judgement Court and the heart of the Island. The halls are decorated in Roman architecture, its ceilings carrying paintings of golden skies and chandeliers of a thousand crystals. Each white pillar was a Legendary Pokemon in their original form, holding the edges of the ceiling with pride and honor.
The entrance would be greeted with a huge Giratina worming around the frame of the huge double doors, the bolt and handles laced with a series of Unown around the surface. On the walls that loosely surrounded the Azure Hall is an expansive mural, filled with every Pokemon that ever existed, all of them showing their own sense of elegance.
Even the Magikarps surrounding one part of the frame looked of use, which was actually something.
Kyogre whacked Groudon in the head for his crude comment.
'Fine, be a man-bitch. Getting protective over tiny little Magikarps in your own domain. I have many more species of Pokemons on my land than yours.'
'Shut your cranky mouth there, idiot. Show some bit of respect as a Legendary.'
'Boys.' Rayquaza called. Groudon quickly went back to the entrance, followed immediately by Kyogre. Their walk around the mural will have to wait another day.
Meloetta and Celebi are already by the entrance. Meloetta had thankfully dyed her hair back green again, which meant she was no longer mad and might go off at any minute. Meanwhile, Celebi's eyes were wide as saucers as her hands groped around the sculpture of Giratina, not realizing she was on the tip of her toes. 'It's…godly.' She whispered.
'Well, let's get in now. We don't want to keep Arceus waiting.' Meleotta ushered everyone past the immense sculpture and into the Hall. It was awkward looking at statues of their own selves. Celebi's pillar appeared first amongst them. Her cheerfulness was wonderfully captured by her swift wings and kind smile in mid-flight among a beautiful twist of vines.
Meloetta's Aria was standing beside Keldeo, her hair flowing and merging into the music bars with notes clinging onto each and every line. Her eyes were closed as if in eternal peace, her hands together in a praying stance. She looked like a wise musical God. Being cheeky, Groudon looked back and forth the pillar and the real Meloetta, who to him was vicious, possessive of her instruments that seemed to litter every corner of her house and a plain bitch to be with. She noticed his attention on her, and he quickly looked away.
That's when he saw himself.
There, right next to his guardian's pillar. The giant red creature looked to the side as its tail curved a little to the front, claws resting in midair. Its jaw was open, but only slightly, not enough to look intimidating, but surely enough for others to recognize his sheer size and power. The man looked into his own eyes, and suddenly he felt unworthy of this place. Small, useless and irresponsible, that's what he thought to himself at that one moment. Groudon looked to the next pillar, and saw his uncle's long body twisting around thin clouds, its claws extended to each side as its head was looking downwards to them. Rayquaza truly lived up to his role, and Groudon felt his heart suddenly weigh with shame and guilt.
He looked, only to see Kyogre returning his gaze.
They looked into each other's gold eyes, and he knew, that the other person felt the very same thing as he did.
Kyogre looked back at his own pillar, and Groudon followed his gaze. The body seemed to be supported by crashing waves, with its fins extended to the back to make it seem as if he were swimming upwards into the sky. Groudon couldn't help but keep comparing the three pillars together, the Weather Trio. How different they seemed to be compared to these perfect imitations, how they would be frowned upon if their true personalities were to be revealed to those humans.
It was too painful, so the two men looked away, keeping their eyes ahead.
So they continued up the carpeted path, recognizing friends and neighbors as they went. The path slowly turned wider and wider, and when it ended the room seemed to be worth the width of a football field, perhaps more. The entire floor was waxed with gold and flushed with red carpeting. The air breezed into the room, much better than air-conditioning.
But considering that this is the throne room of Arceus, it is important to focus on the main object.
And majestic the throne is.
The front half of Arceus' body was presented larger than life, its height stretching for several few meters until its head was level with the ceiling. Its legs were closed together in an elegant stance with a layered dais just before its toes. Its gold crown was implanted into the wall, with four real jades on each side of the piece. Seventeen colors of stained glasses surrounded the crown like rays of the sun, each one of them representing an element. A cold breeze washed over Groudon and Kyogre, and they shared another glance, this time of complete awe.
An ageless man, dressed completely in white, came out of nowhere. He wore something of a tuxedo, the only thing that wasn't white on him was his studded gold belt and the cuts of his sleeves. His blindingly white boots were impossibly loud against the stage. It strangely hadn't been carpeted, but it only added to the majesty of the holy grounds that is Arceus' territory.
He stepped onto the dais, and came to a stop at parade rest. Then he smiled. It bore no meaning, just a simple greeting as a needed etiquette.
'Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.' Voice plain as paper. 'I trust that our lady Celebi has the egg?'
Celebi was trembling all over with her being nervous. Behind her, Meloetta massaged her frail little shoulders, her eyes flashing little bits of pink as signs of using telepathy, silently reminding her in her mind that everything is alright, that Arceus is an understanding man that will do the right thing.
Take a deep breath.
Celebi inhaled. Her hold on the egg's pillowcase hardened a little, but when she let out her breath, it loosened much more than she would usually have liked it. With newfound confidence, she walked forth, and came to her knees just before the stairs of the stage, egg presented high before her.
Another cold breeze came into the throne room. Celebi felt the weight lighten in her grasp, and finally noticed the shadow looming over her.
Giratina's long coat brushed coldness against her knees, his ghostly presence paralyzing her to her core. Meloetta quickly came to her aid and brought her to her knees again, and they retreated to the center of the room with the men.
Giratina held the egg out to Arceus. The dark figure looked indeed very ghostly, as if he were about to disappear at any given second. His coat was completely black with six red spikes erecting from the back. Inside was a turtleneck with black and red stripes along with matching grey cargos.
They looked so different in each other's presence, like they represent opposites of the world.
Arceus nodded at his companion. Giratina closed his haunting eyes, his hands groping over the surface of the egg. Celebi shivered again, terribly frightened of his presence, terribly shocked at the difference of the sculpture at the entrance and the real creature before her, and terribly worried for the egg. The only thing keeping her upright there and then was Meloetta's assuring hands around her.
'Celebi's words hold true. This Pokemon won't bring no harm.' Like Arceus, Giratina's voice was plain without accent. 'However, she is definitely one of us.'
'A legendary?' Rayquaza inquired.
'Indeed.' Confirmed Giratina. He looked to Arceus, who nodded.
'This egg needs to be received the utmost care.'
Immediately Rayquaza came before the stage where Celebi was, and came to a knee. Behind him were Kyogre and Groudon were clenching and unclenching their fists, fearing for the Alpha's wrath for such an outrageous thinking. Meloetta gave them a firm look that told them to trust in their guardian. They tried, but their palms still remained sweaty from their worry.
'Arceus… I would like to nominate my children.'
They could feel both of the God's eyes on the mentioned duo, Groudon starting to shift his beret back and forth, while Kyogre's fingers fiddled with the hem of his jacket.
'Come forth.' Arceus commanded his the same neutral tone.
Groudon shared a glance with his rival, and they both strode up, past the low flight of stairs and pausing just before the dais. Both their eyes struggled to keep in contact with Arceus' and Giratina's. Arceus nodded at Giratina, and the distorted man sighed.
'Your fights are not unknown on this Island, children.' His voice strangely echoed around the room, as if he wanted to be heard by everyone in the room instead of only the two men in front of him. 'It is true that we all have arguments.'
'But when two Pokemon come together,' Arceus continued, 'a bond is formed, no matter how small. The bond between the two of you is much stronger than most.'
The two immature men both made disgusted faces.
Giratina chuckled, the first of the two to show real expression that reaches his eyes, showing mere amusement. 'Your ways of expressing are just a little violent.'
'Perhaps this egg…' Arceus caressed the object for a small moment, and then handed it back to his counterpart. '…might help work things out.'
Giratina walked towards Kyogre and gave him the egg. With a small bow he accepted it begrudgingly.
'Rayquaza, report any changes of the egg and your children's progress to me by every week.' Arceus made another command, and Rayquaza showed his willing to oblige by giving a firm nod.
So it was that easy. The job was handed to them.
'Let us hope you will take good care of this egg.' Arceus announced.
Lowering his head, Kyogre muttered, 'Yeah, if Groudon doesn't drop it by purposeful accident and breaks it.'