Watcher of Arceus

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. Only the idea and OC's.

Author Notes:

-X-This will be used for scene breaks and for when the story switches to another character, but it does not mean that a new section of the story has started.

~xXx~ This will identify where each paragraph breaks.

"Human Speech" 'Character Thought' {Pokémon Speech}

Co-author: Catsithx

The following is a total and complete Reboot of the story "Watcher of Arceus".

~xXx~

Chapter 44 : The Tomb of Pokelantis

Entei moved in quickly, hearing the shouting match building, only to quickly move up now. "Not to interrupt anything, especially the topic of the rites of the Guardian Aegis, but there is something of a ceremony starting outside, and the lucarios are expecting the guests of honor. We should at least humor them, make an appearance before we dishearten them for all the work that they have attempted to honor us with."

"You stay put, we aren't done here. Mother, please be gentle with them, they deserve a chance." Dahlia stated looking and glaring at Darkrai before turning and giving a much softer look at Arceus.

"Oh, am I not enti-" Darkrai started, only find his voice, or rather his mouth in general note work as Dahlia's form gave off a soft glow.

"The rest of you, please enjoy. I need to settle this before it becomes any more of a problem." Dahlia added.

Arceus was worried for a second, but another firm nod from Dahlia at least convinced her to go and investigate the celebration outside.

The lucarios of the kingdom had gone through quite a bit of work to try and impress Arceus as she slowly walked outside. Almost every lucario in the kingdom was there and greeted her with cheers and praise. Music quickly started, drums and some flutes, while a few just started humming.

There were a few barrels of whiskey, mead, and ale, and several platters of food, a banner, and even a hand carved chest full of sweets and sugar cane that was just harvested and stored. The lucarios were eager to try and share their praise while showing off their own attempts at gifts. Many even tried to share some of the gifts with the other legendaries as well, and it was quite the crowded event.

Morag did her best to try and keep things moving at a proper pace and maintain some control, until Mew rushed in with a whole pack of sugar frenzied and now hyperactive riolus, each carrying a bottle of mountain dew, and a large bottle at that.

Things quickly broke down from there and while Morag worried that it was a disaster, Arceus laughed hard at how things played out and assured Morag that all was well. Arceus was happy enough just seeing that, and did quietly ask to make sure that they wouldn't be hurting themselves trying to praise her before returning to the temple letting Suicune try to corral Mew and letting Morag try to clean up.

-x-

The group of them were all gathered in the Heart Chamber once more. Arceus was resting in the center, reviewing the chamber while the others had waited. A few of them were in meditation beside Thomas and Radara again, but there was no sign of any local disturbance again, only the pounding of something from the distortion.

"I see nothing to suggest that there was anything here. This is both good and bad news. You would never lie, but without a trace of what had happened, we cannot hope to try and find its source of origin." Rayqauza stated, in meditation with Thomas and Radara, Raikou and Entei both giving a nod. Even in mediation though, their voices echoed lightly in the chamber, despite their entirely still forms.

"It does further enforce the seals being strong and unbroken, giving safety to the world, and yet without any signs, we have nothing to find proof of what we need. I will not set foot in that tomb, any of the three of them... but someone may have to travel there, and I am against having The World Mother travel there. The humans are too riled. If they were catch wind of her presence, they could do a lot of serious damage trying to find where she had gone." Entei added.

The three tombs that helped contain the great evil that lead to the War of Legend weren't exactly welcome places for any of them any more. While they were still well guarded, if something did get into any of them and a fight broke out, there was a chance that it would weaken the seals in place that held the evil in check.

"I'll go to the ruins of Pokemopolis on my return to Johto. I will ensure the keys to the Inner Chambers remain secured and check to see if there has been any damage to the defenses we placed over the ruins. I feel that it would be most the likely place where any damage might be with its proximity to the growing human settlement of Pallet Town." Raikou stated.

"It would be wise to check the seals of all three tombs just in case. Does Heatran still walk the fallen halls of the Golden Cathedral?" Suicune asked.

"When they visit Johto, but it has been nearly a century since their last visit." Entei added, only to give quick shake of his head, utterly disliking the place anymore. "Although golden may be a bit of a stretch anymore. Heatran's picked the place mostly clean of gold by now."

"That still leaves the matter of checking in on Pokelantis though." Rayquaza stated.

"I'll go." Dahlia replied, slowly getting up from where she had been sitting.

"Are you sure sister?" Rayquaza quickly asked.

"If my brother and sister shall join, the three of us can check upon the container holding the evil. I'd... feel better at least knowing for myself that everything is as it should be for as long as possible before I pass in this final life. It would be nice to know how much time I have to help prepare my brother, to help return to his true self. There's a lot of history for me to reflect upon there as well." Dahlia explained, looking to Thomas and Radara.

"If Palkia will provide transportation there and back, I will not argue. It would be best not to be seen at all though, and travel on foot by any means will not be easy. If we are spotted, then the knights will cause no end of trouble and may set it free." Thomas replied.

'An unwelcome visit, but one with purpose. I would ask our visit be brief. I too harbor a strong hatred of that tomb.' Radara added.

"If you feel that are sure, then I will not stop you. I'm going to check up on the library here, see if Latias and Latios left any extra notes about ways to reinforce the seal just in case. We know how they are." Rayquaza stated starting to wake up now.

"I would advise against your visit there, but if you feel that you are capable, its not like I can change your mind." Entei stated, only for all of them to slowly leave the space of meditation, finally waking up in full.

"Did you sense anything within meditation?" Arceus asked turning to face them, all of them shaking their heads while Rayquaza flew off down the halls now, Raikou moving to follow Rayquaza.

"There is no traces of it left there. Whatever power it used to reach us in meditation while we reoriented our senses was not a physical power." Thomas stated as he slowly stood up.

"We will require a direct visit to see if anything has disturbed the cage." Suicune added.

"Then I shall-" Arceus started, only for Dahlia to speak up.

"May I go in your stead mother. With the whole world riled up, maybe a more quite touch would be needed. If Palkia would provide travel for us, then I could quietly explore the ruins of Pokelantis with Thomas and Radara. I would feel better going there, and at least seeing things with my own eyes." Dahlia asked.

"It... may be unwise for you to travel to that ruins currently. The humans have taken the message revealing the questions of our younger brother as a challenge lately. If word were to get out about you and your travel, any such place would be swarming with humans. While the defenses we have left in place remain secure, it wouldn't stop the humans from attempting to tamper with things they should leave alone. It could inadvertently give the evil a chance to influence them sooner." Entei stated, and Arceus gave a slow nod.

"There is much truth to this argument... It does remain a very delicate matter." Arceus nodded before turning to Thomas and Radara. "Are you truly sure that you would wish to visit the tomb of Pokelantis?"

"With Dahlia, we should be fine. I don't like it, but it needs to be done. I have deep knowledge of the ancient grounds, I would easily be able to find my way around and remain hidden if needed." Thomas replied, Radara just giving a nod.

"I... don't mean to interrupt anything, but are you talking about checking in on the prison where this great evil is kept?" Xent asked, having been listening from outside chamber and now standing in the door way, not fully entering remembering their warnings.

"Didn't I order you to go interact with the lucarios or party or do something other than hang out inside the temple hiding?" Dahlia grumbled, giving Xent quite a stare.

"I have not learned to like parties in the past week and I still don't trust Kepto, that thieving bas-bass." Xent countered, once more biting his tongue.

"I will domina-" Dahlia started, only for Arceus to gently pull Dahlia closer.

"If he desires to avoid such large festivities, we should not make him attend. Dominating his mind does not solve anything." Arceus stated softly, before giving a soft smile towards Xent, Xent still unsure how to feel about such kindness from a god though that he saw was vastly different then what he had imaged, from one so family oriented.

"Look, if your going to check in on this thing, I want to go." Xent quickly shook his head to get back on track.

"You are ill suited to such a place. What exactly do you think you intend to do there with no knowledge of such things. Its not safe for you there." Suicune asked walking up to him, a bit concerned, but mostly for Xent's well being more anything.

"Think differently then you. I'm not trying to be rude, and I'm really not trying to make it sound like you're stupid or anything, but... well. You're all old, you've seen the changing of ages. You know a lot of things yes, but from what I've seen, the older you are, the less likely you are to embrace new ideas. This thing has been trapped for a little over two thousand years. You said it was at the start of our new calendar, so at least 2004 years ago. If its been alone all that time, and it's as dangerous as you make it out to be, its got to be learning. Its had time to think, to plan, to learn what doesn't work and try something else right?" Xent asked.

"He does have a point. We would name our own champions in older times, before we choose silence to avoid war with the Knights, which did not work. A few mortals of modern times may yet of be help. Those champions we have named have always been use for their greater understanding of the current era." Darkrai stated, starting to leave the chamber, the group moving out into the hallway now to talk more freely.

"Are you seriously thinking about naming Xent as your champion Darkrai?" Thomas grumbled.

"Thanks, for the vote of confidence? Good to know you trust me." Xent added, rather annoyed now.

'Its him we don't trust or rather what he trust him to do... and him we don't want training you because of it. One of him is enough.' Radara countered.

"Unfortunately for you, its not your decision should I name a champion, and I'm growing fond of him. He could be a real asset, he helped saved Dahlia already and brings up a lot of good questions worth asking." Darkrai grinned.

"And its also not your decision forcing the Guardian Aegis into our hands, but look where that's gotten us." Dahlia snapped back.

"And you would stop me from training him? That seems like all the more reason to do it then. He's stuck at your side for his life anyway, the two of us training him would surely give him the best chances of survival." Darkrai stated, Arceus stepping forward now, between Darkrai and Dahlia.

"We can all be nice. Let's not go picking fights for the sake of fighting." Arceus asked before looking back to Dahlia. "I know things are hard for you still, but this is a matter for all of us to discuss, when we are ready. Do you truly wish to go to the tomb of Pokelantis? Can you handle being there safely?"

"It would make me feel better going there in person." Dahlia repeated softly.

"Are your senses returned Soular? Radara?" Arceus asked looking to Thomas and Radara now.

'We feel that they are. We sense no need to visit any such place right now and we still feel the world as a whole. I'm still not sure about taking Xent however. Ignorance may cause severe problems, and teaching him may take weeks.' Radara replied.

"So... do you like me or not? You're really sending some mixed messages here." Xent grumbled.

"The metaphorical safety class to be there with Xent might as well be an advanced college course Xent. Former Priests would spend a decade learning our ways, understanding the dangers before ever stepping foot into the depths of the cathedral there and its a lot more dangerous now." Thomas said. "Just taking anyone there without training is a bad idea."

Verna had walked in on the conversation now though, things finally calming down fully outside, and coming in now to check on the others and see what was getting their voices raised again. "Then just... I don't know, download it into my head like Mewtwo did."

'Absolutely not!' Verna yelled, running up and turning Xent around to glare at him. 'You head is still a little messy from when he did that, we are not encouraging a second round.'

"I'm fine Verna. And I can't help if I'm not there. I have to see this prison to try and figure out how something might get out." Xent stated.

"That's a bad idea Xent. A few minor memories stored into the short term memory of the brain like I did trying to convince Samantha of things can cause some headaches and minor pains, but implanting large amounts of information into the mind of a non-psyschic can cause lasting damage. I had to pick and choose every detail of what I put in Sarah's head, trying to keep it down well under an hour of memories and information. I've had generations of practice, I've learned how to minimize the lasting effects and damage it could do and I wouldn't even risk starting to put any more information like that into your head." Dahlia stated quickly.

"What all did Mewtwo do to Xent?" Arceus asked, a bit concerned now, giving Xent a slightly worried look.

'Gave him about a week's worth of information as far as we can tell, all at once in just a few seconds. Anything we shared with Sarah from the incident in Goldenrod City when Suicune was accidentally released into a crowded street up to us... finding the wall.' Radara stated, a little sure what to say as to not cause any scenes, still waiting for Arceus to talk about the home she had meant to give all of the watchers.

"I'm fine." Xent grumbled, only for Arceus to pull him close as she knelled down over him.

Almost instantly Xent froze, unsure what to do, the growing weight of how he was measuring himself in the past few weeks coming down hard on him. Arceus held him lightly between her front legs while she leaned down, looking over him intently as he didn't know to do until he started to try to back up. "I-id,ju-fen, fi-fine..." He stuttered hard tripping over himself hard, but Arceus gently him in place.

"It is fine my child. Let me see your mind, make sure you okay. That kind of power Mewtwo has demonstrated, it can induce a lot of strain on a mind unprepared for it. You do not possess the genes for such psychic interaction yourself, let me just make sure that your mind is not damaged." Arceus stated softly, Xent almost freaking out at the kindness showing being shown towards him.

"I know that you are troubled by my presence. But everything is fine. You have come to hate the image others use of me, and it will take time to learn who I truly am, but we must make sure that your mind is in tact, that it is still healthy." She said, holding him still for another minute, and then letting him go at last.

"You will be fine." Arceus stated as she stood up, but turned towards Radara and Suicune. "But you should have told me what all had happened."

'I have taken special care in monitoring Xent's condition. There has been no form of permanent damage, but sorting those days out has been a small task for his mind. Mewtwo seems to know what he was doing thankfully, but it was still reckless. Verna has been assisting me, and we're making sure that there remains no risk of harm.' Radara stated looking to Arceus.

Arceus nodded lightly now, believing Radara, but would have still liked to make sure that Xent was fine herself sooner. Turning back to face him for a moment, Xent still seemed to back up some more, before she moved her gaze elsewhere.

"Very well. I will leave him in your care. If anything goes wrong though, make sure to ask for help." Arceus stated, once more turning to Dahlia.

"It will take a few days for you to prepare a trip to the ruins of Pokelantis. I know that we must check it, and perhaps you are right, it would foolish for me to go at this time. We cannot risk too much attention turned into those ruins. I will prepare a temporary key that will allow you access into the city ruins, but it will only last for a few hours. Make sure you're well prepared. If the little power I will give the key fails and you're still inside, it will take me a few days to make another before we can get you out." Arceus stated.

Dahlia gave a hard shudder at the mention of possibly being stuck there for a few days, and Verna quickly looked to her. 'You... are you sure you want to do this?' Verna asked, having felt the discomfort from the thought.

"I'll be fine for a few hours there. It should be an in and out trip, no more then two hours tops. I need to see the prison myself, to make sure I have time to help prepare Thomas." Dahlia stated.

"And I'm going too." Xent repeated again, quickly trying to distract himself from Arceus's gaze and help, still shook up from it.

'You really shouldn't be there Xent.' Radara stated again while Verna moved up closer to Dahlia and gently took her hand, even pressing her head to Dahlia's.

'You need help there. I can feel that you want to do all you to help, but part of you knows that it's maybe not the best idea.' Verna stated softly.

"I'll be fine. Please trust me. Thomas and Radara will be with me." Dahlia said, pulling Verna a little closer, happy to feel Verna right now, but knowing that this was really something that she needed to do.

'Then I'm going with you. I can feel the doubt you have. Arceus said it would be a few days before we can go. Show me then, show me how to take care of myself in there.' Verna stated.

"Wha-... no. No, not happening. If Verna goes, I go, end of story." Xent half snapped now.

'Xent, I'll be fine. We psychic types are used to sharing thoughts and more with each other. Its far easier for us to know our limits and with the bond that me and Dahlia are developing, there will be less strain on me for accepting knowledge and memories. Lacking the practical experience of doing things the proper way shouldn't be a problem for me either since this should be a one-time visit and I only need to be there for emotional and mental support.' Verna countered, only for Xent to shake his head.

"The thing that's locked up in there nearly destroyed the world. It was responsible for mass enslavement and murder, its deeds were so powerful and felt over the world that it caused a literal change in the calendar, and its apparently trying to get out and pick up right where it left off. You are not going without me, this is not a subject for debate." Xent stated overly firmly now, making it entirely clear what his thoughts were.

"As dangerous as it would be, he did make a few points already. His viewpoints, as foolish as they are in some ways, may give some insight to how that thing might try to influence others or even try to break out." Darkrai stated.

"He does have a point. Its unwise, but we would be foolish to try and ignore a potentially valuable second opinion. I'm honestly against both options, taking him there would be reckless, but he is champion material if he can let go of his hate. An extra set of eyes and a new viewpoint thinking like thief could prove valuable and we may be the greater fool for ignoring it." Entei stated, Suicune shaking her head, but having to agree with the basis of the argument.

"I don't like it, not at all." Suicune stated quickly though.

"It will take roughly three days to make a key. That gives us a little over forty hours to try and instill as much information as we can with the boy. We should use it wisely and start first thing in the morning." Darkrai grinned.

"Hold o-" Thomas started, but Xent interrupted him.

"I'm not budging on this. I will not let Verna walk into a dangerous without going myself. Me and Zai can handle ourselves, but Verna lacks the physical strength to handle major things, and if we get stuck and she can't use her psychic abilities, she can't really fight and could have some real trouble just surviving an dangerous place." Xent continued. "She goes, I go no. This is not a discussion. So let's get started on these lessons I need."

"There will be no lessons tonight. Go, get some sleep and rest up. Tomorrow we start your lessons in transversing the ruins of Pokelantis. But it will only be you and Verna accompanying Dahlia, Radara, and Thomas. The fewer who walk those halls, the better." Darkrai stated.

"Really... can't bring Zai with us?" Xent asked.

"No offense to her, but she's a little reckless. Patience will be needed there, and there's an ancient winery there, which use to cater to us." Dahlia stated.

"Point taken. She can stay here." Xent stated. "Well, it is kind of getting late and since you won't start the lessons now, I guess I'm going to find a spot to get some rest. Wake me at first light and we can get started." Xent turned and started to leave now, not happy about things but figuring that the sooner he got to sleep, the sooner these lessons would start.

Once he was gone though, Verna turned back towards the others. 'How dangerous is it there really?' Verna asked.

"If you don't do everything we say, you might doom the world to a war that could destroy the planet by casting it into the distortion." Thomas sighed, knowing that Verna wanted the full truth.

Verna just gave a small nod, before turning to Dahlia. 'And, you really feel that you want to go there. Are you really prepared to go there?' Verna asked again.

"I... I need to know I have time to help Thomas. We all knew this day would come, that it could get out. The War of Legend drained us all, but we sealed it away knowing that we would recover. If it wasn't for the knights, then we would all be far more prepared for it. Mother... lost a lot of the strength she had recovered trying to save who she could on that night, and in the coming years. If they hadn't turned on us, then maybe we would be ready right now." Dahlia sighed loudly, but still held Verna, pulling her closer and leaning into her some.

"I'll begin packing up a bag for our time there. Any preference on what rations I take for us?" Thomas asked.

"No sandwiches... but maybe salads?" Dahlia replied and Thomas nodded.

"I'll begin preparing a key for you to use. Please, try to be in and out and before it fades." Arceus asked now, looking over them.

"I'll assist Thomas in preparing things for a stay in the ruins just in case. I can mold a few crystals to hold heat and make sure they stay warm. Darkrai, if would assist me, I'd like to talk with you." Entei stated, moving out of the chamber, Darkrai curious enough to follow Entei for now.

Before any of them have move much further however, a loud scuffle outside had drawn there attention, Zai screaming and running on all fours down the hallway. [Stay away from me you damn bastard!] Zai screamed out, Xent running full sprint behind her to try and keep up.

"Tell that thing to leave us alone!" Xent snapped as he ran past the group of them, everyone one very confused only to see a Registeel walk into the hallway shortly after.

"Really... That's the one who had to show up..." Thomas sighed loudly, shaking his head.

"Why are Xent and his zoroark running like they fear for their lives from a Registeel?" Entei asked, having not even left the hallway just yet and the two of them were just as confused as everyone else.

'Because that's the Registeel from The Tree of Beginnings. And when we went there to try and hide for a few days before that pokemon poacher showed up, that Registeel grabbed Zai, tried to baby and pet her, and she was having none of it.' Radara explained.

"Oh... that's the fluffy fur loving Registeel."Arceus stated. "Surely it didn't hurt Zai."

"Physically no... but it might have scarred her by trying to treat her as a baby that needed care and handling." Thomas replied.

'Let's... at least try to keep the two of them separated.' Radara sighed softly.

~xXx~

The next three days passed slowly. Xent's and Verna's lessons about how to safely transverse the ruins of Pokelantis were long, slow, and at times a bit complicated. Darkrai was eager to help impart some lessons of his own and while Dahlia and most of the other legendary pokemon in the kingdom were willing to teach a few things to Xent and Verna were okay with it, Darkrai still tried to sneak a few points about pushing Thomas back onto a more suited path.

At last though, Arceus had finished making the key and Thomas and Radara were confident that they wouldn't be needed anywhere.

Thomas checked the bag one last time, making sure that they had enough food to last almost a week just in case, as well as all the general supplies before closing his satchel bag and looking up. "Well, I'm pretty sure this is everything." Thomas stated, Zai growling a bit.

"Zai, look. I'm sorry, but you can't come. Technically, I shouldn't be going either, but I'm not letting Verna go alone. The five of us will be fine though alright." Xent stated as Palkia walked into the chamber again, Arceus, Suicune, and Darkrai there as well.

"Remember your lessons well Xent. It would be a shame to lose you so soon. I'm really starting to like you." Darkrai laughed a bit.

'Damnit Xent, I should go too.' Zai snapped a bit again, Radara translating at her insistence.

"I'll be fine, we'll all be fine. I'll see you in a few hours. Just, stay out of trouble until then." Xent stated, putting his own satchel bag over his shoulder and looking back, the group only waiting on Dahlia and Verna now.

They didn't have to wait long before the two of them walked into the room at last, bringing a small bag with themselves. "Apologies, the lucarios seems to sense my... discomfort about this and wanted to make sure that I had something pleasant to eat. They seem to think sugar helps the pain go away." Dahlia stated.

'We're ready whenever now though.' Verna stated, as Palkia looked over them all.

"You are just in time then, I've only just arrived myself." Palkia said as he moved up.

"I'm ready as well. I would prefer to get this over with." Thomas said, Radara nodding as well as she moved up.

"I hope that this key shall last four hours, enough time to travel to the temple and leave." Arceus said, a small golden disc beside her slowly rising up and moving into Dahlia's hands.

"That should be enough time." Dahlia said, looking over the disc for a bit.

"Are you truly sure that you want to go there?" Arceus asked again.

"Yes... yes, I'll feel better knowing I have time to help Thomas carry the Guardian Aegis in this life or his next." Dahlia said, forcing a smile and then slowly turning back towards Thomas, Radara, Verna, and Xent.

Zai however, tried to hide herself though, and get close to Xent, only for Xent to reach out and find her with a sudden check. "Zai, no. I'm sorry." Xent stated, as her illusion dropped and she bared fangs at him.

Sarah came rushing in at last herself. "I didn't miss this did I?" Sarah asked looking up as she panted to see them still there. "Oh good."

"I was just getting ready to send them along. Did you need something?" Palkia asked.

"I just... didn't want to miss this?" Sarah stated, a little confused. She knew that she couldn't go on this trip, but at the same time, she wasn't sure what she should be doing. The past month, she was pretty much under Thomas's care as he guided her to safety and helped her try to understand everything that was going on, and now that she had some free time, she wasn't quite sure what to do. She was supposed to be avoiding others, but at the same time, this kingdom was open to her to be herself again for a while, which conflicted the need to hide for safety.

"It will be fine Sarah. You'll be safe here. Just follow the rules we explained already about outside contact and things will be okay. You could use a break too, and the lucarios and people here won't be an issue. If you have any problems, you can just ask Suicune okay." Thomas stated, and Sarah nodded.

"Well, alright then." Sarah replied as Palkia moved up to them.

"Sarah... can you me a favor and hold Zai's hand for a moment, and make sure its real?" Xent asked, Zai snapping back at Xent again.

"Well, yeah sure I guess." Sarah stated, reaching over as Zai roughly shoved her paw into Sarah's hand.

"I'm going to take us to the southern reaches of the city, by the springs. There's lots of space for me to crawl into there for a nap while I wait. If you get out before I'm up, just go ahead and wake me up, but if it gets too late, I'm coming back here to wait for another key." Palkia stated, Dahlia nodded quickly.

"Let's get this over this already." Dahlia said, and Palkia turned, opening a portal for them. A shaded pond under thick trees with a rock wall along one side, and a large shaded pond on the other.

Thomas and Radara were the first ones though, offering a hand to Xent to let him walk through, and then Dahlia and Verna came though, before Palkia came at last and then portal closed behind him.

It was quite at the moment, and Thomas took the lead on a short walk around the pond, coming to a small cave. Walking into the cave and around a few turns, and they came up to a small carving in the wall, Dahlia moving up now. "Set your watches to beep every hour, with an alarm set in three hours." Dahlia stated and Thomas and Xent quickly did that, setting notes on their pokedexes.

'We are ready when you are.' Radara stated, and Dahlia looked back to the carving. Holding up the light, the carving was revealed as just a large disc shaped indentation with what looked like a cross of Arceus in it. Dahlia checked the disc she was holding again, turned it around and then pressed it into the indentation. It was too small to fit proper, but for whatever reason, once she set it in, it stated there and there was the sound of shifting stone, part of the cave wall lifting up beside them.

"Let's get this over with." Dahlia stated, Verna holding her hand now. Thomas handed Dahlia a small electric lantern, and Dahlia held it up to lead the way into the passage which quickly started to go down, a moderately steep stair case heading down.

"Careful Xent, its a bit of a ways, and these steps can sometimes be wet." Thomas warned, Xent keeping his light on the steps now.

"Thanks for the concern." Xent stated. "No handrails?"

"It was a very different time. Also, we were more concerned with other things when this place was sealed up." Thomas replied, and Xent just nodded.

"I will remain here, good luck." Palkia stated, turning back around to leave for now.

It took several minutes before the cave passage before it opened up into a massive dark chamber. There were tens of thousands glowing crystals on the ceiling of the cavern showing its sheer size, several city blocks large and there were a thousand more softly glowing on something in the city, but none of them were bright enough to really see anything inside the cavern, their small lights and lanterns currently on barely cutting into the darkness and only showing a few things.

"Cover your eyes for a minute." Thomas stated, and all of them turned around, hands over their eyes, even Radara using her tail to cover her eyes a bit. Thomas just put on some sunglasses, before pulling out a large metal baton, checking it again, and then turning on the flashlight.

At once, the area was filled with bright light suddenly cutting through the darkness revealing a few hundred meters of buildings and a stone brick road. "Nice light Xent." Thomas commented, the others slowly turning back around after their eyes adjusted a bit.

Xent only whistled though, looking over the scope of the cavern with the added light, before finally speaking a moment later. "500 lumens, pricey but worth it. I should have argued for that thousand lumen one though." Xent stated looking down the road way. "So this place has been buried here for what? Thousands of years?" Xent asked as Thomas lead the way now.

"A little over two thousand. The official turn of the era was started when the city was buried and the prison was finished." Dahlia replied as she followed Thomas, Verna still holding her hand a little tighter feeling Dahlia's discomfort of being there.

"And no one has found this place yet?" Xent asked a bit impressed that it could be hidden so well.

"Its been... disconnected from the world in a similar fashion like that of Spear Pillar." Thomas replied.

'The humans, while ingenious lack any form of means of finding this place with technology. There are three such entrances like the one we took to get down there, but as far as anyone else is concerned, its just a lot of solid rock down here, and the place was mined long ago. History already tells that the mines in this region ran dry and it was shifted from a mining colony to a farming colony, and then Pokelantis grew around it when it became a major trading route. While historians have an interest in why Pokelantis fell, this is all wild region now.' Radara explained.

Xent just nodded as they walked along, before a large dull crystal caught his attention on the left side of the road, and Xent turned his light over to see what it was. While a bit cracked, and not shiny like the other crystals, Xent could easily still make out the form of Arceus, and what looked like several bottles and a cask around her crystal statue.

"Alcohol millennia old. Zai would kill for that. Definitely good we didn't bring her." Xent stated, before quickly moving on.

'There is a reason why we didn't talk about why she couldn't come beyond the need for as small a group as possible.' Verna added as they walked along slowly.

"Just... how much of a drunk can Zai be?" Dahlia asked.

"I make it a point to teach her restraint, and enforce it, but its something that helps her. She never indulges herself when I need her, but she can get carried away at celebrations and likes to drink when things are rather calm. She's been known to steal bottles from unsavory characters when we did our own thing." Xent explained.

"So... a large drunk then when permitted." Dahlia continued, a bit curious and taking the chance to ask now that Zai wouldn't have a chance to

'Not quite. She does have a standard for what she drinks. She won't touch anything cheap just for the sake of getting a buzz, and hates beer in general for instance.' Verna replied.

"Well, there's at least. Which also just means that its even better that she isn't here now I suppose." Thomas added.

"Without a doubt." Xent stated as he just walked along, taking a better look around while they walked. "So... I mean the place is big, but its not exactly... prisony. Looks rather plain and untouched... kinda open actually, very spacious."

"This isn't the prison. We just buried the capital district of the city to make sure that it was less likely for things to wander it, which also gave Latias and Latios some space to spread out the crystals in the right formation." Thomas explained.

"So... this isn't the whole city then?" Xent asked.

'Only the rough center of the city of Pokelantis. This is maybe... I don't know like a tenth the size of the city proper. Little hard to have fit the almost hundred thousand people who lived in the city all in this portion.' Radara explained.

"There's still some chunks of the city left on the surface, and small groups of historians have looked over the pieces. Otherwise, this is really all that remains." Thomas stated.

"I see... so how long until we get there?" Xent asked.

"Maybe half an hour. We'll be going slow intentionally however. Its... best if we don't disturb things and the road hasn't exactly been repaired since we buried the city. There are lots of loose stones if you aren't careful." Dahlia replied, Xent just giving a nod.

"If you say so... not sure how I feel about staying down here too long knowing we're on a timer though." Xent stated, looking around a bit more, and then seeing a sign of the winery and giving a small glance around, could see a large building with multiple crystal statues in disrepair, each with bottles and a few more casks around them, before quickly diverting his gaze.

-x-

Finally, after nearly a half hour walking, if a slow walk in the darkness, the large structure in the middle finally came into view. Almost fortress like, with massive stone walls and small windows along the upper floors, surrounded with worn pillars up the sides, there were just one large stone entrance and it was all baron otherwise at first glance aside from the a collection of dull crystals lining the top of the structure.

Walking into the large stone building, the place was a bit brighter even when Thomas turned off the light he had been using to light the way outside, the lanterns that they were using were more then enough. There were dozens of crystals in the first room. Spacious, open, and lined with lots of broken furniture, decorations, and more, Xent could make out a lot of gold in the room, more statues of the legendary pokemon, and looking up to the ceiling, saw a massive mural on the ceiling showing all of the legendary pokemon as well.

Arceus was cast in gold in the middle and surrounding the sides of the mural were a few hundred other smaller figures in pairs, one human and one a pokemon. "So... that's the entire family is it?" Xent asked, Verna quickly looking up to look it over herself.

"Yeah... yeah that was all of us." Dahlia stated, looking as her hand drifted back to her amulet, holding it tightly as she already knew where she was in the mix, a gardevoir and human standing together. "That's my brother, right there." Dahlia stated, pointing it out now, Verna quickly giving it a nice look.

"Well... seeing it like this, that's uh. Well one big family." Xent stated.

'Are... are there other places like this? Places where you can see your family like this?' Verna asked slowly, not sure if she should ask it, but curious and seeing the mural though, wondered if it would make Dahlia feel better.

"There are none in modern days. The knights scrubbed what places they could find, but there's still a images if us around. Just none that has everyone." Thomas replied, still walking along into the next room now, a large dead courtyard.

'Would... would you mind if I took a few pictures? To maybe help you recreate a monument like this again? All parts of a family deserve to be remembered, even after they have passed on.' Verna said.

Dahlia stopped for just a second, Radara quickly turned around to check on her before Dahlia started to move again.

"Its fine. There are other... better images of us to use." Dahlia stated a little slow and wanting to forget this place, but happy for the thought that Verna was trying to go for.

Thomas pulled out another lantern and set it down on a decrepit fountain and just left it there for the moment while waiting for the others to follow him as he moved towards a stair case on the side of the courtyard. "Just leave that lantern there. It should last a few hours and will give us some light when we come back up." Thomas called out as Radara started down the steps, Thomas setting up another small lantern on the top of the stair case.

"So, what's the point of leaving some light up here?" Xent asked.

'More or less a just in case moment. Some of the steps here are missing and if the stair case collapses, we'll know where the courtyard is. Watch your step coming down.' Radara commented as she carefully made her way down into the lower level.

Dahlia moved along now and Thomas helped her down the steps now, just leaving over the side of the steps to help her down, before helping Verna and then Xent, and Xent offered a hand to him while Dahlia took the lead for a moment.

Another few minutes of walking through the stone corridors and the group slowly came up to one last large chamber, but Dahlia stopped them all, quickly kneeling down at the doorway, just barely peaking her head into the chamber, looking slowly over the place. "Is this it or something?" Xent asked.

"This is the edge of the prison we locked it in. This chamber will lead down into actual prison." Thomas stated, joining Dahlia and looking around carefully. After a few minutes of carefully looking around, they finally stood up and walked into the chamber.

It was a careful walk though, Radara also taking a light and using her psychic to look around with it searching for something along with Thomas and Dahlia. "Watch your step. And if you see any cracks, let us know."

Verna was slow to step in, and Xent seemed to take a lot of time looking around. There were dozens of relics on pedestals around the room, most of them toppled over and what looked liked lots of faded writing on the wall.

"These... statues or anything don't need to be one piece do they." Xent asked.

"The trinket's here don't matter, just large cracks in the walls and floors from this point on. But if you see anything resembling a sphere about thirteen inches in diameter, let us know." Dahlia stated as she walked up to a large statue at the back of the room, Verna staying close to her keeping an eye on Dahlia.

Thomas moved up to help now, both Thomas and Dahlia leaning down behind the statue. They both got on their knees, hands pressed to a stone slab and then let their godly essence pour into it before it lifted up. Pulling it aside, they both looked down into the small hole there with a crank of some kind. "Careful... and back away from the statue." Thomas called out, starting to turn the crystal crank now, and with it the statue started to move aside.

"So... whose the ugly bastard in the chair.?" Xent asked, backing up from the statue, and deciding to look it over for a moment.

'The last king of Pokelantis, who let himself get possessed for power and brought his kingdom, and a few others, to ruin. He lead the charge in the name of the evil to stop us from saving the world.' Radara explained as she watched the statue move out of the way revealing another stair case down.

"Just call him what he is, the bastard king. He saw a chance for power and sold out his people to get it. Most of his people fled the minute he tried to sell them out and were forcibly possessed afterwards." Dahlia stated as the passage was opened up in full. Standing up once more, Thomas and Dahlia lead the way again, with Xent and Verna following and Radara taking up the rear.

"And just for reference, how deep are we?" Xent asked looking down the passage as it kept circling down.

"We didn't bother to measure, but a long ways. The air will be breathable though, so don't worry about it. The crystals will make sure that we won't suffocate." Thomas replied walking slowly again down the passage, a light quickly coming view as the walls seemed to be made of a far more polished stone now, far smoother and well kept then the structure above.