Sorry for taking so long! I've been busy. Enjoy this installment!
Chapter 6: Wish
As they trekked on, Oshawott felt a small droplet of water hit his nose. He looked up and saw more water descend. It was starting to rain; more evidence of the movement of time. Celebi commented, "It's about time. It looks like it hasn't rained here in ages. The thing is that those ages haven't technically passed. Don't think about it too hard, though. You'll get a headache."
"As time moves, the land will be restored, but we must hurry. I don't know what exactly will happen to us if this world ceases with us still inside," Dusknoir advised.
"Then let's keep moving," Piplup agreed and walked forward. "I asked Chimchar to fill the Shaymin and the Guild apprentices in on the plan tweaks. We're home free once we get to the Passage of Time."
"How did you know where the Passage of Time would be?" Celebi asked Piplup. "I never told you."
"It just seems like a good place to put one," Piplup shrugged. "Oh, and one other thing." He stopped and turned to the three Mightyena. "Some other high rank explorers, including Wigglytuff and my team, are going to debate what your repercussions should be."
"We understand and are fully ready to face our punishment," the eldest Mightyena sighed and claimed nobly.
"Well, now that you know the truth, I wouldn't expect anything too severe. Of course, I can't guarantee anything," Piplup winked, but tried not to get their hopes up.
"As for Darkrai, we will search high and low for him," Uxie added.
Oshawott and Eevee looked at each other. Eevee was soaking wet. She shivered as a result. Oshawott didn't like that. He thought fast and found a big leaf. Then, he found a smaller leaf. He said to Eevee, "Hold still." At the sound of his voice, everyone stopped and watched him as he tied the smaller leaf to the top of her head with a piece of string he found in the Treasure Bag. I'm sure Pidove won't mind if I borrow some of this string, he thought to himself. With another piece of string, he tied the larger leaf to her body. He had made her a makeshift raincoat.
"Thanks," Eevee smiled at him weakly. They both were still injured from when the rocks fell on them. As the group continued their journey, Oshawott and Eevee brought up the rear, slowed by their wounds.
"Do you two want to stop and take a break?" Piplup glanced back and asked his apprentices.
"We don't have the time for that," Eevee shook her head.
"I'll rest when we're safe," Oshawott added.
"Uh…okay," Piplup nodded hesitantly and faced forward.
"And you," Oshawott started talking to Eevee, "will rest now. Here. Climb on my back." He got in front of her and took on the position to give her a piggyback ride.
"I can manage, Oshawott," Eevee informed him.
"I know, but you're hurt and you need some rest."
"Oshawott, you're hurt, too. I don't want to put any stress on you," Eevee protested.
"All you bring me is joy," Oshawott insisted.
"No. Oshawott, I'm sorry, but you bring me joy, too, and I don't want you to be in more pain," Eevee argued.
"…If you change your mind, just let me know," Oshawott submitted. He only wanted to help, but he guessed that she didn't need it. When he was beginning to feel sad, he was immediately surprised when she licked his nose and smiled at him. Her smile was like a sunrise!
"Thanks. Aren't you cold?" she asked him.
"I'm a Water-type! Conditions like a little rain are comforting to me!" Oshawott told her proudly. Just then, a clap of thunder rang out with a boom. Eevee whimpered frightfully and Oshawott clung to her in a supportive hug.
"The last time I was in a storm like this…" Grovyle tried to remember. "Could it have been when I first acquired the Time Gear in Treeshroud Forest? I've been in a lot of storms."
"Having trouble keeping track," Dusknoir asked teasingly, but it was hard to tell with his deep, ghostly voice. Grovyle seemed to smirk as if the comment amused him.
"Grovyle, my dear?" Celebi spoke up.
"Yes, Celebi?" Grovyle turned to her and asked. She had his undivided attention.
"I think the Passage of Time is under ground," Celebi announced. She giggled nervously. "And I forgot all about it. Funny, huh?"
"Uh…" everyone else gave her a strange look like she was out of her mind as much as Pidove.
"Alright. I'll find it," Grovyle sighed and used Dig. After digging around under the soil beneath their feet, he surfaced and announced, "I found it." They all dove into the hole he dug and soon enough, there they were. Before them was a doorway of blue energy. It radiated with the power of time. Grovyle gestured to the Passage of Time and bowed before Celebi. "After you, milady."
"Why thank you!" Celebi giggled and fluttered into the portal. Grovyle went in next. Then, Dusknoir. Then, Uxie. Then, the Mightyena trio. Then, Piplup. And finally, Oshawott and Eevee went in together. However, when the young Pokémon couple went in, they were standing among stars.
"What the heck?" Oshawott muttered as he looked around. It was just him and Eevee standing in what appeared to be outer space. Eevee's leaf raincoat was gone. They were together, alone, and among the stars that shone so brightly in the night.
"Do not be afraid," a godly voice rang out. A white, majestic, giant horse-like Pokémon stood before them before they even knew it. The Pokémon had a huge, yellow ring on its abdomen.
"Wait a second! You're…" Eevee began. She seemed stunned. It took Oshawott a second to figure out what she was going to say, but it registered.
"Arceus…" Oshawott realized in awe.
"You two, such young Pokémon, yet you've shown love in ways that much older couples have not. You've managed to catch my eye. You, Oshawott," the deity spoke. Oshawott seemed surprised when he heard his name. Arceus continued, "I will assure you now that you needn't worry about having to live without each other. And I will grant you a wish. I am a creator. I can even grant you a wish beyond the power of even Jirachi. Just name it, for your dedication to the one you love is among the most noble in the universe and others."
"Anything…?" Oshawott asked. What he wanted was to be a great explorer! But that was something that had to be earned. Bidoof had once told Oshawott of when he met Jirachi and how he wanted the same thing, but said that it had to be earned. Money? No. It wasn't in Oshawott's nature to be greedy. To rule the world? Ridiculous! Be the father of Eevee's child? One day, but they didn't need a wish for that. They were kids! They weren't thinking about having kids, of course not! Anything I want… He looked at Eevee, and at that moment, he realized that he had everything he wanted for now, and his future goals were within his power to eventually reach. "Arceus, you are the Original One. I'm honored you would come before me and my…my lover. While I humbly thank you for the offer, I must decline. I have everything I need. I have an exploration team. I'm training under the explorer I idol the most. I've befriended so many Pokémon. And best of all, I have Eevee."
"M-me?" Eevee stammered. Did her ears deceive her? No.
"Eevee, your beauty is incomparable. You radiate kindness. You are what other Pokémon should dream of being. You've endured so many hardships, and yet your smile is genuine and pure. I love you with everything I have," he told her and kissed her lips.
"Very noble of you, Oshawott. I honor your decision," Arceus nodded and faded away. The stars went out with the Original One. Everything went dark.
When Oshawott and Eevee came to, they were lying in soft grass. They were surrounded by…it was their fellow Guild apprentices! They were finally home! Minccino hugged Eevee. She exclaimed, "Thank goodness! We were worried you would never wake up!"
"Welcome back, Eevee!" Pachirisu also hugged Eevee.
"Thanks, girls! You two are the best roommates a kit could ask for!" Eevee giggled.
"Hey, man," Tepig greeted Oshawott.
"Tepig! Hey!" Oshawott smiled at his partner and best friend.
"Oshawott!" Snivy and Pidove delightedly greeted their friend and leader.
"It's good to be back with the team!" Oshawott laughed with joy and happiness.
"This is beautiful!" Spoink was on the verge of tears.
"Aww!" Marill and Azurill cooed.
"Now this is what I call a happy ending," Excadrill nodded in satisfaction.
"The end? Heck, no!" Piplup spoke up. Chimchar was next to him. Behind him were Thomas the Turtwig and Hannah the Starly. "We've got a peak to climb!"
"Peak?" Oshawott and Eevee looked confused. They looked up and they saw a huge mountain before them. "Whoa!" It had finally occurred to them that they were in Shaymin Village.
"There's no end in sight," Thomas nodded in accordance to Piplup's response to Excadrill's comment.
"Since there isn't a lot of undiscovered territory anymore, we thought it'd be fun to take you on a little hike up a big mountain," Hannah announced.
"Okay, Pokémon, we're climbing Sky Peak!" Chimchar concluded.
"HOORAY!" all of the apprentices cheered.