Why is it still here?
Visions of calamity and strife flood the darkness, flickering in and out like waning candlelight. A war against what binds, the bickering of nations, the falling star, the collapse of Temporal Tower…they have seen it all.
Keep it steady, stay your talons, do not do anything you will regret.
No matter what happens out there, the people of the Sea take priority here. As long as you have eyes in this world, you will know when or when not to release the arrow.
But for twenty long years he has been blind, the darkness becoming thicker with time. No eyes, no voices, no ears in the living world. Temporal Tower, he can still feel the ripples of that calamity, and when his last set of eyes faded in this world one message remained with him in the darkness.
There is still a wound in time.
Someone is out there, something, whose mere existence poses a threat - standing in aggression to the very forces that be. It still walks. He can feel it slithering across the earth, wandering from continent to continent, immortal and purposeless.
One day, it will trek into this land. What then? His people will let it through, they would not sense the wound, and it would continue to exist.
All his people need is to produce an heir, all he needs is another set of eyes to see this wound for himself. He has been blind for too long. He needs to warn them, the people must know of this imminent threat. It is only just.
Embers crackle through the darkness. Fire floods outwards, and rainbow wings sprout from the ashes. The flames melt his golden chains, freeing him from a decades-long slumber.
Cole, we need to talk.
It has been a bit, I know, I barely remember - well actually I do remember when last you were here. Different senses of time, time traveller and all, you know. You're always welcome to visit me, I know you may not like it here because of everything-
I'm rambling, sorry!
Look, I really need to talk to you, okay? In person. I didn't want to open up a fresh wound, though I think I may have waited a bit too long.
I hope those birdies can get this message to you, wherever you are these days. I'll be here waiting. You know I've got all the time in the universe!
Yours true and always: a friend.
The cold sea wind hits his face as he reads the letter for the umpteenth time. Was he expecting it to suddenly change, why has been staring at it?
It feels weird to be riding on the back of Lapras alone. It is just him, Lapras too, but despite the usual "how do you do's" and "where you've been?" they have been comparatively silent. There is no band of temporal heroes, of fools united by hate for one particularly ambitious whelp, no intrepasid duo looking to steal time gears for their own. It is only Masters, alone.
He has gotten used to it. Oracle and Darkrai are good company, the latter not so much. It feels strange to be breathing in the same room as him from time to time. Oracle is the one who relayed this letter to him, got Lapras' attention some way or the other then had him fairy it over. No idea how.
He gets the gut feeling he is gonna have to sit in the room with them after all this. Legendaries do not say they have something to talk about unless the world is at stake for the umpteenth time, because it always is, and he is always going to be there to put the squash on it. Though comparatively, these last five years have been plenty peaceful. The Dusk Continent is doing good, he just never had much of a reason to visit unless it was to speak with Oracle about a thing or two - and whoever she is - has her ways of getting to him if need be.
Still can't wrap his head around Oracle, though he rather it be her than Palkia and Dialga's alleged sibling.
His clothes have seen better days, he would say he has too but thanks in part to being a ghost he is "ageless" so to speak. Looks no different than he usual self, probably more tired. Who can blame him?
"I wonder what she could want with you." Lapras speaks up, filling the whistle of wind with his voice. "I do not speak with Celebi very often, I think she has her own means of crossing The Sea without me."
"She is a patron of time; of course she has a way." Masters grumbles, returning to his senses.
A new addition to his bandolier, a small explorer's pouch, is where he stuffs the letter away. He had the symbol embroiled onto it for ease of access.
Not like anyone other than him knows what it is, anyways.
"That she is." Lapras huffs with amusement. "I doubt her role is as important as the one who controls the tower, though she still has her place, as I am aware. Given the choice of conversing with her or the bigger one I would happily have her anyday.
"I concur."
He looks down, forcing his head into his arms. He knows to treat those billowy clouds everywhere as fog. Helps him ignore the fact that if he were to fall he would never be seen again.
Eventually the clouds part, a floating mass of red earth stands before them, emerging like a titan in the mist. Lapras gracefully glides to the isle, landing them on a familiar outcropping, easing Masters off his shell.
"Thanks, once again." Masters says, gingerly sliding onto shore.
"And no need to thank me. I will be here, you know the deal."
Masters nods, and within moments he wanders down a familiar road. The threes, once wilted evergreens, are flush with life. They surround a tunnel leading into the heart of the hidden land where a dungeon awaits. The dungeon which long has been silenced feels like nothing more than a brisk walk with occasional, admittedly mortifying holes in the earth replacing lakes. It is nothing keeping one's wits about them cannot solve.
As for dungeon pokemon, well.
They are still here, moping around, blank looks upon their eyes. But they do not seem to notice him, or maybe they do not care. While most are in various states of comatose or slumber, those who do not wander aimlessly. There is no saving them, never has been, though it seems they are soothed enough by what the Dialga or Celebi might be doing here that they aren't attacking on sight.
He still remembers those blue and red constructs, disgusting things, flooding floors of the tower in electrical discharges. Woe be to anyone who decides to try to repair the tower.
The forest path ends in the same old mural-plastered ruins. It seems this time Celebi has actually been taking care of it, making sure the vines remain well trimmed, and the murals on full display. As he passes through one end, then nearly out the other, he almost gags at the sight of Palkia staring at him in painting form.
Ruined everything for him. How he wishes he could punch that-
"Cole!"
Tiny wingbeats flood the tunnel before he even leaves it. There Celebi is ecstatic to see him once more. He cannot help but instantly notice the bottle in her hands, corked, untouched Enigma Wine.
He musters up a smile, maybe the first one in a while.
"Got your word, and what's with that?" He gestures to the bottle.
"Just a surprise gift, you know how I am about gifts." She giggles, tossing it over to Masters with a psychic push. He catches it. "Figured you'd need it anyways."
Masters blinks.
"Wait, what?"
She doesn't say a thing, just beckons him. He gulps.
This is going to be bad, he is wholly expecting it. No one's first instinct is to give him a drink unless he is about to be hit with the worst news imaginable. After what he has been through he does not even want to think of what "worst news" can be.
He just follows her up one side of the pyramid then down another to the garden of blossoming trees. He sits himself down on the edge of the fountain where he is handed a silvery goblet and is told.
"Drink up. Need some snacks, too?"
"Pinap, please."
He groans. He uncorks the bottle, pours himself a glass. Might as well start.
Few things about this place have changed other than it being well kept, and maybe a bit more flowery than usual. The beds in the back are still their old rickey selves, but their flower-stuffed mattresses look much more comfortable than the usual straw mat faire. Upon being given a Pinap Berry, he bites down into it, suffocating his few taste buds with sourness before a drink flushes it down with even more sensations.
He takes a deep breath, sets his meal down, watching Celebi take an adjacent seat.
"Okay." He starts. "What is it? Please tell me it is not more Temporal Tower stuff, I've had my fill of…everything for my life."
"Oh, what? No, no, nothing that serious!" She tries to laugh, it comes out sounding off. "It is serious, just not. What's the word they like to use?"
"Calamitous."
"Yes, yes, that word. Nasty thing. It is more personal than that, something I'd really want to keep between us because I don't think Grovyle's gonna be doing much about it, or that other…guy we don't talk about."
Dusknoir. Masters nods.
"Cole, I uh, I don't know how to really say this."
What, that she loves him? No, no, can't be. The corners of her mouth are trembling, her antenna curl into diminutive half-spirals. She is a nervous, poor little wreck. Masters offer her an arm, something to hold.
"You can say anything to me, we don't have much to hide from each other. Okay, you understand?"
She holds his hand tight, though pulls herself no further. She seems to settle, gathering her confidence to speak again, shedding her worry for a moment. Celebi sighs deeply.
"Legendaries, we don't normally have people around us, people to raise, you know? It is not because I don't dislike company, I love it in fact!" She flashes a smirk which fades into a serious expression. "Some don't, though, some only keep certain people around whom they really, really trust and some don't have anyone whatsoever. We're pretty superstitious. Once you get to a certain level of wisdom you come to know things about the world and how things work you begin to game things to an advantage. Like betting, I suppose."
"Though between you and I…" Celebi pauses. "Not even we know how to play this game."
"I know someone who does." He lets slip. Oracle was on his mind, damn. "I-I get it with the rules, this game you're describing. Makes me go nuts thinking about the laws of everything, feel like I've been better off not knowing. Reminds me of the Sea's whole…everything."
"The Sea of Time is nowhere as bad as you'd think. I respect trying to keep your head on right." She laughs through her worries. "But, you know the one rule, don't you? Only one legendary, that sort of thing."
"That's what makes most Legendaries shut themselves in. They are afraid of getting replaced. What happens if they get seriously ill? The person closest to them might happen to get that spot and they'll succumb to illness because of it. I don't think the fates are that literal but it is the one thing which can get rid of a legendary forever, being replaced is scary to some of us, you know?"
As one who has lived through the end and flushed most the memories of it down, he knows this feeling. No need to get too existential here, best not to humor it.
"I understand, it is a bit different for a ghost like me, but I understand."
A silence follows, Celebi shudders, taking the moment to recollect herself. Masters offers her a sip, she takes one, wetting her whistle.
"The worst thing you can do is have a kid, foster or otherwise, as a legendary. It ensures you're gonna get replaced, like making your own grave. I'm okay with letting people be close to me, but…"
But? He can feel the dread seeping in. It is sudden, sharp, as if the scream were subconsciously activating. He is not going to like what is coming up. Masters, his heart is too big for his own good, does not stop it. Celebi looks at him, wearing her worries on her face as she holds his arm tight.
"I have a son."
What?
"I didn't know what to do with them, I was scared, I sent them out of time and place to where I knew he'd grow up to have it good if he wanted it. I did what I could for him, because I was too scared to have him, I was ashamed. I didn't want to get replaced…"
"With who?"
The words leave Masters' mouth before he recognizes the disaster he is about to wrought.
"Rei."
One name, one word is all it takes for his heart to start racing. No, no, it did not make sense. He rips away from her, standing on his feet. He can hardly breathe, it feels like a dagger in his chest.
"Cole, Cole? Are you-
The beating in his chest overwhelms the sound of her approach. He is livid, instantly. Rei had a child, and of all people, it's Celebi's? Why? Why was he not told any sooner? And she threw him to time and space like an unwanted lump, like a criminal. Rei deserves more than to have his last mark on this earth tossed to the wayside!
It made no sense, why would Celebi - what is even going on here?
Rei, if he were here he would be the shoulder he needs. So long, and all it takes is a mention of him to crumble. She has not waited enough, then again, was there ever a time to bring back such a wound? What does she want, why did she do this?
He focuses on those questions, long and hard, reminding himself of the blue hothead whose Masters' whole reason for being here. He would go nuts if he heard this news, and Masters would've been there to reel him in, to keep his feet in reality. Just do what he would want of you; keep your head on.
Masters feels a hand on his shoulder, a grave mistake if he had any fight left in him. It's cool, like a breeze, it keeps him away from the proverbial precipice. And after a moment passes, Masters takes a much needed breath.
She is right, he is too sober for this. Celebi already has his goblet, and he takes a sip, the myriad of tastes evening out his raging senses.
"Are you good?" She finally completes her sentence.
"Fine, not good."
Feels awkward to say.
"Do you need a rest?"
"No, I'll be fine."
She hugs him tight. It feels strange. She probably needs it as much as he is, or is softening him up for what comes next.
"There is something I want from you, can you do it for me? I need you to find him, he deserves to know.."
As it should be. Another deep breath from Masters. Another day, another journey, he can treat this like a dungeon crawl. No time gears this time, no monstrosities from other worlds, just a missing pokemon mission. He has done this thousands of times, and for Celebi's sake, and to close this still bleeding wound, he will do it without hesitation.
Masters nods slowly.
"Just tell me where you've sent him."
"The Sea of Wonders."