Dawn woke up with a headache. She last remembered Cyrus, the emo douchebag whom thought the world wasn't to his liking and decided to frick with the legendaries and change the world. No way she would indulge his cosmic temper tantrum. Last she recalled she was on Mt. Coronet. She was pretty sure she wasn't there anymore. In fact she probably wasn't anywhere in the world, rather another one.

The fact that she was on a floating piece of land while other landmasses were floating in the sky (?) at odd angles, weird plants grow over them and always upwards form where they were standing. A waterfall flowed from one mass to another, and upwards. Gravity was all kind of messed up, up was down, left was right, it was trippy.

"What the Distortion?" Dawn asked.

'Exactly!'

Wait, what kind of voice was that? Was that even a voice? She even didn't feel like she heard it. More like…it sounded in her mind, if that made sense. She wasn't too sure. And then she felt a shadow loom over her. Though it wasn't really a shadow that you get when light is cast upon an object. It was like the being was entirely made out of shadows. Two red eyes, flickering lights in the darkness of its being, but it was also so unlike light, it felt off. As it cast its gaze upon her, she felt a pressure, that she felt small and she was surrounded by something big, something ready to crush, something that could wipe her out, like she was insignificant.

'Do not be afraid, I'm not an enemy, Dawn Berlitz.'

"You're…you're Giratina! The Legendary Pokémon, the lord of the Distortion world." Dawn realized.

'You are correct. And like I said, no need to fear me. I do not mean harm. In fact I saved you. I took you and that fool whom caused the incident away from the…blast zone. That's the best I can explain it in terms you may understand. Luckily your interference allowed my siblings Dialga and Palkia to break free and contain most of it. For that I thank you on behalf of myself and my siblings.'

"Er…you're welcome." Dawn said. Well, this is her life now. She thought she would have a normal life as a trainer and coordinator. But now she met what was basically believed to be the Devil and they were kind of nice. It was hard for Dawn to comprehend and she was straining every fiber of her being to not go mad.

'Though they had to act quickly and rush things and there was some margin of error, there were consequences.'

"What kind of consequences?" Dawn asked.

'Parts of time and space aren't as stable as they should be. People and Pokémon displaced from various timelines and worlds. Rifts in the space time continuum. Otherworldly energies leaking in. Luckily the worst is contained, and even what is present…the Creator has foreseen there will be heroes that can handle it when the time comes.'

"The creator…Arceus?" Dawn asked.

'Yes it is the one you humans call Arceus. However, there is a task that needs to be done. To bring stability back. And it is a task only few can be trusted with. And you…you were brave enough to tackle this problem head on, when someone tried to harness my siblings' power for his selfish ends. That kind of bravery may be what we need. I hate to ask this if you but I wouldn't if it wasn't dire. Would you help me, my siblings, my creator with this task?'

"To be fair, I don't know what I can do. But it sounds dire. And it could affect a lot of innocent people if unchecked right? Maybe my loved ones too."

'It would, yes.'

"Then there is no choice at all." Dawn said. She had just tackled Cyrus trying to tame physical gods to protect her home region and those whom lived in it. She would refuse the aftermath to hurt anyone in the process.

'You are brave, kind and determined. You are just and willing to go the distance to do the right thing. It is your spirit, the very thing that fool Cyrus denounced, what saves everyone.'

"Now I think of him, where is he?" Dawn asked.

'He is a prisoner in my realm now. We can't risk him going out there and seeking my brethren out again, or one of our cousins from the other Pantheons. No other whom tried to use those called Legendary by humans, for their own ends have been able to do as much damage on a large scale as he. He'll have no one to project his delusions upon, in his isolation he will be forced to confront himself and his mistakes. Only his own madness as a companion.'

That sounded harsh. But messing with space time was pretty big so Dawn couldn't say he didn't deserve it. "So, what follows next?"

'Next step is in the hand of the Creator. They'll bring you where you need to be. I must warn you, time and space is still not fully repaired, so there may be some…side effects. No long time harm, as a Champion of the Creator they won't allow that but…it isn't smooth sailing. Though whatever happens, that heart and spirit of yours will guide you through even when your mind can't.'

"I…don't know if I understand." Dawn said. Of course Legendaries had to speak in riddles.

'We'll also meet again. In your future but my past. I will be different. Just hope you'll remember that when you meet me again…Show me your strength. Then show me your heart, and you'll be fine.'

"That still doesn't…" Dawn said, but she couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence.

'It will. Good luck, young one.'

And things faded to white again. And Dawn confounded it all with a "Not again…"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Where is she?" an angry Zoey said as she was shaking Saturn, whom was tied up after the little curbstomp that was given to him, like a ragdoll.

"I-I-I-I-I d-d-d-d-don't know!" Saturn muttered, whom felt his stomach about to vacate itself due to the heavy shaking.

"She can't have just vanished. Your boss was doing something and Dawn went up there to stop him." Zoey growled.

"He was creating a new world, that's all I know! He used a chain made from the jewels of the Lake Guardians but I don't understand the progress behind it, I swear!" Saturn said.

"Useless." Zoey said as she let go. "She can't have vanished in thin air…she can't be gone, it's Dawn. Something like that wouldn't…"

"It won't. Dawn doesn't go down easily. I know her my whole life and I know how tough she can be." Barry assured her.

"She is the only one whom can consistently hold her own against me. She wouldn't be as weak to lose to a fool like Cyrus." Paul said. It may have been the kindest thing he ever said about anyone.

"She wouldn't…But…where is she? She has vanished, she is not here. She may be out there, she may be hurt, lost…I can't bear the thought…" Zoey said as she ran back and forth frantically. "I couldn't bear to lose her…" She ran her hands through her hair. She suddenly stopped in her tracks as if some thought hit her. "I love her." She said softly. "I love her, and I was never able to say it. We were dating, I gave her compliments and I said I liked her a lot but…I never said those three words. I…why couldn't I have told her?" Zoey dropped onto her knees and broke down.

"You will get a chance to tell her. I promise to do anything in my power to get her back." Cynthia said. She was composed. But she was stoic, cold…unlike her. She was clearly keeping herself together, to prevent herself from panicking.

A flash of pixels appears from her Pokétch, and hence Glitch the PorgyonZ appeared. "If I may interrupt this moment, mistress? I was surfing the web and handling communications but Miss Dawn Berlitz isn't the only one whom has vanished. Whatever happened has affected not only Sinnoh but several other regions. And people vanishing isn't the only thing that happened."

"Can you give more details?" Cynthia asked.

"Rifts in time-space across Alola, islands that vanish and reappear at random across Hoenn, stirring in the depths of Area Zero in Paldea…Miss Dawn has prevented a much greater disaster but even then it still has effects worldwide." Glitch explained.

Barry whistled. "Dawn saved the world? That is quite impressive."

"That all still sounds worrying. If that was what happened with Dawn interfering, I don't like to imagine what would have happened otherwise." Lucas noted.

"That was the man you served." Paul said as he turned to the Galactic Admins. "A madman whom nearly unraveled the universe. And he calls himself some great leader?"

"No! It cannot be…it would have been a wonderful world. We would have been queens in the new world." Jupiter shouted, refusing to believe it. She was tied up and couldn't do much else but wriggling like a paralyzed Caterpie.

"I am not so sure…have we really been in over our heads?" Mars said, whom went pale.

"It is great what she did. Saving the world and all. But it doesn't change the fact she is still not here. Where could she be?" Zoey said.

"That's what we'll have to figure out." Cynthia said as she scratched her chin.

There was a flash of light. A Beheeyem has teleported in, and joining in was Johanna and the rest of Dawn's Pokémon that were left in her care. Johanna looked furious, and several Galactic Grunts got flashbacks to Cynthia's Garchomp, whose sheer terror level was matched. "Cynthia! What is going on? Where is my daughter? Where is my husband?"

"Ingo is missing as well?" Cynthia asked.

"One moment he was by my side. The next there was this flash coming from Mt. Coronet and he was gone. Only his Pokémon remained behind. Now tell me, where is he? WHERE IS DAWN?" Johanna looked so fierce Cynthia had flashbacks to the last time she faced with an eldritch deity.

She was very good at keeping composure. "We don't know. She vanished." There is no way she would lie to a worried mother's face.

"What do you mean she vanished?" Johanna asked, sounding louder and angrier. "You said you watch over her, protect her, did you lie? Did you sacrifice my daughter, send her out like a Wooloo to the slaughter? You let her walk to her death?"

"She is not dead." Cynthia said. "We just currently don't know where she is." She did her best to remain calm. She could understand Johanna's outbursts though.

"You say that, but what else can you do but repeat that phrase and standing there? Are you even affected by what is going on? Do you even care?" Johanna growled.

"I DO CARE!" Cynthia shouted back. This caught Johanna off guard. Cynthia composed herself by taking a deep breath. "I am sorry. It is my fault, I thought Dawn was ready. I could have gone out there and stopped Cyrus myself. And maybe…I should have. But Dawn was strong, she has faced off against him before, and she…I thought she was what the region needed." Cynthia didn't shed tears but she looked…Tired. "I didn't want this to happen."

"Well good job in that regard." Johanna said with anger and venom in her voice.

"ENOUGH!" Zoey shouted. This drew everyone's attention. "Dawn wouldn't have stayed back. That is the kind of person she is. She tackles every challenge head on. She doesn't let up, she doesn't waiver. Especially the stakes are high. If she hadn't…she wouldn't have been the girl I loved. And I truly love her. We dated, we liked each other company. We had fun. But now I know…I do love her." Zoey hugged herself. "She is not gone, I can sense it. Just…I want her to come back to us…to me."

Johanna's anger vanished like a sandcastle at the beach after a flood. Her face now showed sadness and concern. "They are both like that, aren't they? Ingo and Dawn alike." Johanna moved over and hugged Zoey. "They're my world, I can't lose them. I just can't."

"I'll devote all my resources to finding out where she may have gone. Even if it is the last thing I do." Cynthia said. "For all what it is worth."

Johanna didn't become angry again, just looking defeated. "You'd better."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Zoey woke up in the middle of the night. Not uncommon. She had trouble sleeping. Three weeks it has been, and no sign from Dawn. She is staying with Johanna for the time being. Dawn's Uncle Emmett has a few days ago after hearing how his brother and niece were missing. Dawn's Pokémon were holed up in her room.

Kentaro the Infernape was the foot of the bed, leaning against it and asleep. Valerie the Luxray had the little Piplup Ozzy cuddled in her front paw, on the bed. At the head on the bed, where the pillow is, was Tune the Togekiss had roosted. Khebhut the Lucario was tucked under one of her wings. With Dawn gone, without their 'momma' Tune was trying to be the comfort to her little sister. The other Pokémon were strewn across the room, in various positions, all sad in their own way and worried for their trainer.

She went to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror. Bags under her eyes, barely any sleep. Dawn was on anyone's mind. Lucas had thrown himself in his missions with STAT. If you thought Barry was hyper before, he was even more restless. Going out on weird limbs or quests to distract himself or thinking it may help find Dawn. Even Paul was kind of subdued. He was mostly quiet and spoke little. Johanna was barely keeping it together; Even Cynthia, while keeping up a mask of strength and composure was clearly affected.

It was torture. There was no sign of Dawn. She wasn't confirmed death as there was no trace of her. And while Zoey didn't want Dawn to turn up death, the sheer ambiguity of it all, the uncertainness is hurting more. There is no answer, constantly in doubt. Any news would stop her nerves from being wracked. Please let there be a sign. Big, small, it doesn't matter, just something.

It was then that the door rang. It was in the middle of the night, so that was unusual. She worried for a little bit. However, she felt her Meowtiful rub against her leg. Best to have a Pokémon out when facing the unknown.

She hadn't need to worry as it was Cynthia. Still in her usual outfit, looking composed and perfect like always. Only the smell of make up betrayed how probably she was hiding how pale and tired she was. "I'm sorry to disturb anyone in the middle of the night, but we all need to go to Mt. Coronet now!"

"What?" Zoey asked. She was not awake for very long so she couldn't say more then that.

"I believe it may have to do with Dawn." Cynthia said. That would be enough for Zoey to wake up everyone.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

There they were again, where it started, the final bout with Team Galactic took place here. "You are not giving us false hope here, are you?" Johanna asked Cynthia.

"The team of scientists I hired were able to find an energy signature exact to what has happened three weeks ago. Only this time on a smaller scale. It would help us get one step closer to finding her. Because of their theories are right…" Cynthia stopped because she didn't know what else to say.

"You are certain it is something good, not something bad? Like an event as bad or worse than whatever Cyrus caused?" Lucas asked, sounding worried.

"No, the scientists have assured me that it isn't. It won't be anything bad." Cynthia said. 'I hope!' she mentally added.

"So, what do we do, we just wait?" Paul asked. It didn't have his usual snark or bite. He sounded genuine.

"I am not sure how long it will take." Cynthia said.

"I'm not patient, I'll tell you." Barry noted. "But I know I also shouldn't expect something to happen within the next six seconds." Then all of a sudden a strong wind picked up. And in front of them a blue and pink glow appeared, turning into a portal. "Holy Muk, I thought that only worked in the cartoons."

"What are the chances it's her?" Lucas asked. No one answered.

The portal grew large enough, so that two humanoid shadowy shapes became visible. They moved forward and stepped through. Everyone was still unable to see thanks to the bright glow of the portal. But that ended once the two figures have stepped through and the portal closed.

And the two were very familiar. A bit more disheveled, a bit more weary, and dressed differently, but they were unmistakable. "INGO! DAWN!" Johanna shot in gear and tackled the figures to the ground. She broke down in tears of joy. "It is really you…it's really you, is it?"

"It is really us." Ingo assured her.

"Dawn…that's my name right. Dawn, not Akari…I remember again." Dawn droned a bit as she was almost in a trance.

"What is wrong, sweetie?" Johanna asked.

"It's ok, I'll tell later. I'm happy to be home. I missed you, mom." Dawn said, also slowly shedding tears.

Johanna didn't waste time in first kissing her husband passionately. Then kissed Dawn's forehead, and then pulling them both in a tight hug. They of course returned the hug.

"They're coming through, can't hold them back any longer!" Lucas warned as he stepped aside. And an avalanche of Dawn and Ingo's Pokémon came rushing in.

"Mama!" a certain Togekiss and Lucario got to her first, and Dawn found herself back on the floor as a big ball of feathery fluff and a humanoid doggo whom was heavier then she looked (steel type after all). Dawn didn't mind as the familiarity of the hugs kicked in. She didn't waste time to hug the two mons she had like a mother.

Next was Ozzy, the little Piplup jumping into her arms. Then Kentaro, the giddy Infernape wrapping his arms around her and spinning her into the air in joy. Which was joined by Skadi and Valerie tackling her down, nuzzling and licking her. Then Brisen rubbing her head in her neck affectionately. Then Rosalinka and Rie hugging her legs. And that repeated for every Pokémon in her possession. "I'm…just so happy to see you all again." Dawn said softly. She had a bit of sorrow in her eyes, as she was reminded of something else she left behind. But she recomposed herself.

Then the next person she saw. A red haired beauty. Zoey was so overcome with emotion. She didn't know what to say except one word: "Hey."

"You're the girl from my dreams…you're real. You're Zoey…I remember again." Dawn said.

"You forgot me?" Zoey asked, shocked.

"I lost my memories for a bit, but it comes back to me bit by bit. I saw you in my dreams, I didn't recall with my mind, but my heart sang when I had those dreams. But they're not dreams, they're real." Dawn said. She reached out with her hand towards Zoey's face and stroked her cheek. "I remember again…I remember that I love you."

Love. The word that Zoey hadn't managed to say before, but now she heard Dawn say it to her. She didn't want to spend another moment never having said the word herself. "I love you, Dawn!" she said. Dawn didn't hesitate to pull Zoey into a kiss, and Zoey definitely didn't resist. They lost themselves in the moment, the taste and softness of their lips, the passion…the fire burning in their chests. Their hands traveling across one another's bodied, but didn't go too far.

'Damn, she got buff!' Zoey thought as she felt Dawn's arms. But that thought vanished behind 'She's a damn good kisser!' After what was an eternity they broke apart. Zoey panted a bit and muttered a simple 'Wow!'

"Hey, let the rest of us have a turn!" Barry said as he rushed in and tackled Dawn into a hug, bawling his eyes out. "I missed you sohohohohoho much Dawn." Tears and snot rand down his face as he was ugly crying. Dawn was merely amuse.

"I missed you too, bro!" Dawn said as she ruffled Barry's hair.

"I see you're back." Paul noted. "I didn't miss you because I knew you weren't gone. My only worthy rival wouldn't go down that easily." It was his way of being nice.

"I'm glad to see you too." Dawn noted.

Paul didn't expect that response and had to do his best to keep his face as neutral as possible. He felt something in his chest. No one ever said that they were happy to see him. 'Did my heart just skip a beat?'

"Whoa, it was bad if you are happy to see Paul." Lucas chuckled. Welcome back Dawn. "Say, how did you grow so much in a short amount of time? And how did your hair get that long?"

It was true, aside having becoming more muscular, she has grown taller, now equally in height to Zoey, and her hair now reached her waist. "How much time has passed for you guys?" Dawn asked.

"Three weeks, give or take a few days." Lucas responded.

"To me and Dad…it was a year." Dawn noted.

"WHAT?" everyone shouted out.

"How?" Barry asked.

"Timey-wimey, wibbly-wobbly stuff. Was stuck in the past, didn't have my memories at first. Joined an explorer team, got a new starter and a new adventure in a much older Sinnoh back when it was known as Hisui. Pokémon were more aggressive towards humans and less easy to train. I helped in the research that would create the very notebook inspiring the modern day Pokédex, fought Noble Pokémon, found Pokémon variants and evolutions whom are now extinct in Sinnoh, dealt with time distortions, may have accidentally invented Pokémon Coordinating as a whole, got myself a new team of Mons that basically made me a Champion of Sinnoh before there was a concept of Champions and fought an evil ancestor of Cynthia called Volo whom had Giratina on his side. I manage to turn Giratina around resulting in the future version I met before I was sent into the past, perfect time loop." Dawn said rapidly.

Everyone went wide eyed. "You know about the black Wooloo of my family? I never told anyone about that." Cynthia said.

"We are going to need a lot more details than that, girl!" Zoey said.

"I will…in due time. But first…I am hungry as f***. And I am so tired of potato mochi that I will not eat potatoes as a whole for years to come." Dawn noted.

"…A pizzeria owes me a favor and are willing to open in the middle of night just for us, especially if I promise a huge tip." Cynthia said.

"I want all the cheese!" Dawn said as she drooled.

"That sounds so good right now." Ingo said, whom was also salivating at the thought.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dawn had first ate until she was sick…the next few days she ate like a Mudsdale. And so did her dad. And she reconnected with her friends and family. Spending as much time with them as possible. Any deadlines for the Contests and Pokémon League were extended as not only Dawn's family were affected by the blip (as they've called the time space distortion caused by Cyrus).

Some of the missing people had turned up like Dawn and Ingo. A missing Hoenn Frontier Brain was found in Alola. Others like a professor in Area Zero, leaving behind his wife and newborn son, or the husband of the Aether Foundation president in Alola were still missing.

Dawn told about her adventures in the past. While she recalled little about her life, her natural instincts allowed her to thrive as a Pokémon trainer there. She made new friends and made a new team…But she had to say goodbye to them before she headed home. She had to give up on so much but…she had people to return to in the present. And she missed modern luxuries.

How she was meant to close a time loop to stabilize the time stream and do the final repairs that were necessary for the present to be all right. There are still a few smaller anomalies left but they would be dealt with in time according to a reliable source. But it has been tiring and draining for Dawn. Now she was just happy to be home and get readjusted to the present.

She was at home, with Zoey whom had stayed for her. She wanted to enjoy every second of her life with Dawn now. After a movie marathon Dawn had fallen asleep with her head on her shoulder. Zoey felt happy to feel the warmth and the weight on her shoulder as she ran her fingers through a sleeping Dawn's now longer hair.

Dawn shot awake though. "Alpha!" she shouted as she panted and looked panicky. She had shot up and grabbed an orange from the fruit bowl, ready to throw it as a Pokéball. She panted and looked around and saw where she was. "I'm…I'm home? I am not dreaming? It is real?"

"it is real, sweetie." Zoey assured her as she got up and hugged her. Dawn had a bit of lingering issues, being gone for a year from her perspective, and dealing with guilt issues because there was a lot she didn't remember. She only had the feeling of emptiness as there were people she missed but with the added frustration to not put names and memories to the flashes of the people in her dreams.

"You're real…you're real…" Dawn said as she put her hands on Zoey's face. "I'm not in Hisui, I'm in Sinnoh…I'm Dawn, not Akari…"

"Yes, you are here, you're my sweet Dawn. How about we get you to your room." Zoey said as she guided Dawn upstairs.

"I'm Dawn. Can't forget again…I am Dawn…" Dawn muttered.

"You won't. It's all over now. You are where you are supposed to be. Now, take a good night's rest. You deserve it. You've been through so much. You are…you are so brave and strong, my shining pearl." Zoey said as she laid Dawn in her bed. She pulled the covers over her and kissed her forehead. "Good night, my love." She said as she left to go to the guest room where she had slept for the past few weeks. But she felt her arm being grabbed.

Dawn looked up at her. "Please…Don't leave me. I'm sorry but…I need you here. I…have to know everything is still real."

Zoey's heart broke. Dawn has gone through so much. Of course she'd stay. "I promise I'll stay." She sat down on the bed as Dawn made room so she could lie down. Dawn then wrapped her hand around Zoey and put her head on her chest, to use as a pillow. To hear her soothing heartbeat which would rock her to sleep. Dawn would eventually recover, she would bounce back, but for now, Zoey promised herself to be the most supporting and caring girlfriend she can be.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Creator's heart (or equivalent ached). They had asked a lot of the girl. But she was the only one who could, and it was necessary. Luckily she wasn't alone. As a being comparable to a God, they had to see a bigger picture and that came at the cost of having to make hard decision. But this mortal girl, she would thrive, she had a great future ahead, so he had foreseen. A future she deserved for all that she did.

She deserved her fair share of rewards. So they waited patiently. The avatar he bestowed on her in the past, waiting in the Hall of Origins, where they'll wait to be reclaimed, and not just them. Several old-time Pokéballs were at the hall too, their occupants in a special sleep, waiting for their mistress, how many years it would take. No time and space or era to keep them apart. She'd find her way back to them.

Other relics of the past, thought to no longer exist in the present. Things Dawn had worked hard for to obtain and it would only be fair if she could reclaim them. It were small things and in some aspects pale rewards for the work that she did. Nothing would be a reward big enough. But it would at least make her a little happier.

So the Creator continues to wait. And waiting they could. As time is a superfluous concept to them as they were an eternal being. Though in the meantime they could continue to enjoy the show, they knew that Dawn's life was always going to be interesting.

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NOTES

took longer then expected. May not be fully satisifed with the chapter. I hope to end the arc at some point this year as there are other pokemon characters and concept I want to explore. And this was hard to write as it was.