It began with a voice, then a smile, then eyes. Human eyes became the eyes of a Pokémon. Two hearts beat thump, thump, thump, then gradually fell into silence as well.
All of it melted and sank into the light.
A great wind that illuminated the world wrapped around the planet.
The Star Child's laughter and the silver radiance gradually spread across the high heavens, shining in response to the distant silver comet.
The energy from space finally poured successfully into Hoenn's earth. The stars from Leo twinkled, one after another, about to offer this world a magnificent sight.
They had come here from different places. They had set out from countless planets and worlds, beginning a thousand-year journey, and the world where Pokémon lived was the final destination of their voyage.
Hikaru : ["In the end, the stars from Leo crossed from Far Shore to Near Shore and became one with the world."]
["They poured their love into this world, nourishing every living being and allowing all life to grow strong."]
Hikaru used psychic power to retrieve the Galaxy Ball.
The cosmic monster had been gravely wounded, and its crystal had nearly exploded and vanished completely. It could not be reborn inside this ball. Or rather, even if it recovered its original form again, it would be nothing more than an ordinary Deoxys.
Its power had fallen. Its level should also drop drastically along with it, since level was the quantified expression of power.
However, within the starlight, Hikaru seemed to hear some kind of echo.
Perhaps it truly was the voice of those outsiders from the divine world, from the Land of Light. They were watching this place, using thought itself to observe the universe from afar.
Hikaru : ["Pour love into the star of water. The azure star of water sleeps softly. As time flows, golden ripples rise. At this moment, someone is already searching for your trail, calling out in hopes of meeting you…"]
Didn't that all line up perfectly?
In a dark world thirty years ago, a gentle star of water had forever awaited the pilots' return.
Within the shining silver light, Jirachi spoke to everyone. Its strength fully restored, it replaced the sun and lit up outer space for the remainder of the long night.
"Everyone, say your wishes!"
"There's still a little time left. Two wishes remain. Although I can't do things that happened too long ago, from this moment onward, any wish can come true!"
Zinnia: ["All wishes… Is that true? If even the dead can… Near Shore… Jirachi, please bring Shikana…"]
Far Shore's words stopped abruptly, because on the Dragon God's head, she saw her older sister wrapped in starlight.
She's so beautiful.
Far Shore froze for a moment.
That starlight was like a thin veil, like a heavenly maiden from myth.
Shikana smiled at Zinnia.
"Far Shore, there are things more important than bringing me back to life. Even if everything returned to the beginning, I would not be revived with it. My body no longer exists."
"But there is no need to worry about me."
"My life, my soul… from this moment on, I will enter the age of the stars together with the Dragon God. We will follow the eternal laws and begin a thousand-year journey."
"Far Shore, you will accompany your own Dragon God too."
"When you turn back, I will be right here."
When Fiore's Rayquaza obtained the mikado organ, it also gained the right to be called a Dragon God. As for the jet-black Rayquaza, it had been revered and worshiped by the warlords of the Ransei region five hundred years ago.
There were three beings of the same kind on the field. Three [Dragon Gods].
And there were also three [cosmic supermen] on the field.
["Zinnia, you should make the wish. Although you previously triggered the fierce battle between Team Aqua and Team Magma, awakened Groudon and Kyogre, and caused a massive natural disaster… I don't think those things can simply be written off."]
Brendan's voice came through the communicator.
["Zinnia, you have always praised me. You once searched for me too, thinking I could replace you as the Lorekeeper and remain together with the Dragon God. But even so, I still do not think your method of drawing out the Dragon God was correct. As a Lorekeeper, you should have known better than anyone how terrifying the disasters caused by Groudon and Kyogre could be, but you still did it."]
["In the end, Mr. Steven—the person you hated—was the first to go into space. He did not have a single Pokémon capable of fighting in space, but as Hoenn's Champion, he still came."]
["You are a good person too. That is why I hope you will make the wish and erase everything that happened in the past."]
["May, Ash—what do you think?"]
Although Brendan had never met Ash before, they had already become familiar through the communicator.
["I don't really know what happened before, but having Rayquaza's partner make the wish sounds best, right? As long as Miss Near Shore and Jirachi don't object, I don't either."]
Ash reached one hand out from under Celesteela's steel shell and waved.
May paused.
Her song stopped. After taking a deep breath, she spoke to Brendan—and perhaps to Zinnia as well. Her voice through the communicator sounded slightly choked.
["During the disaster two years ago, many other people also lost things important to them! Miss Zinnia, if you had to sacrifice something to protect something else, what would you do? You already made that choice, didn't you?"]
["But now, Miss Near Shore has returned. Yet the things lost in that earlier disaster will not come back."]
["I can understand how much you love Near Shore. Before Brendan moved to Littleroot Town, I didn't have any friends close to my age either. That is why I am very happy now."]
["Neither people nor Pokémon can live alone in this world. That is what I came to understand after helping my dad with his research as a professor. When a partner passes away, people have to find new partners to fill the wounds and emptiness in their hearts."]
["Someone who abandons their partners will become something like a monster… just like the cosmic monster."]
["Miss Zinnia, please save every life. Truly fulfill your duty."]
["The story has not reached its ending yet."]
Zinnia looked at everyone, and the things she had once done returned to her mind in painful detail.
All of it had been done to call forth the Dragon God. It had caused a disaster that warped heaven and earth. But she had believed that those disasters could not compare to the danger brought by the giant meteorite.
Of course, the final result had been exactly as she predicted. It was just…
Yes. Perhaps some things should never have happened. Sometimes, she really had lacked imagination far too much.
She looked at the other person lying on Fiore Rayquaza's head and softly apologized through the communicator.
["I'm sorry, Steven."]
["I'm sorry, Brendan. May."]
["May, whose name means distant horizons. Brendan, whose name means faraway depth. You came from Littleroot Town and connected the history of Johto and Hoenn, untouched by any color."]
["The purest people… I am truly, very sorry."]
["Near Shore, I am sorry to you too. So… thank you, all of you, for being willing to give me this chance."]
Zinnia looked toward Jirachi, which shimmered with silver light. The Star Child laughed.
"Are you going to make a wish?"
["Yes! I want to make a wish!"]
["The second wish!"]
["The scarred world that Groudon and Kyogre once ravaged, and all the consequences of the disasters caused by them and by us—please bring back what was lost, and return the Millennium Comet's orbit to the way it was meant to be!"]
["Please restore everything across the land of Hoenn, from the boundless universe to the distant earth and the vast ocean, back to its original peace and tranquility!"]
Jirachi nodded earnestly. The True Eye on its abdomen opened completely, releasing a brilliant, flowing radiance.
"I will grant any wish for you!"
"Your wish has already come true!"
A silver stream of light rushed from the universe toward the land of Hoenn. The loving power of the stars poured into that deep-blue star of water.
——————
Sky Pillar.
With a prayerful heart, Skyla hung the rings she had collected at the top of the pillar. Flying-type experts had already gathered at the Dragon-Summoning Altar.
They were shocked that such a facility existed here, but they also watched with curiosity. Clouds and mist surged, and green flames burned fiercely.
On the ground, it was still daytime on the sixth day. But the moment for the stars to rise was drawing near.
People's prayers traveled into the high heavens. Under their astonished gazes, those prayers flew into space and burst into scattered streams of light at the very top of the sky.
No one knew what they were. They simply watched those daytime meteors, sharing their thoughts and joy with one another.
Perhaps wishes really could come true.
"The starship… I actually saw the starship from Alola's legends. And that great wind that illuminated the world just now—it must have been a sign of something."
"Hoenn's wind blew from the universe to Alola and raised a brand-new wind there."
Kahili leaned on her golf club and looked up at the sky.
In the end, she had still failed to defeat Skyla and become the champion.
But her opponent was a pilot, while she was a golfer. In terms of sky training, perhaps there had been a huge gap between them from the beginning. Among everyone present, only three people seemed to be professional-grade pilots.
Walker, the father of Falkner, the Gym Leader from Johto.
Skyla, the Mistralton Gym Leader from Unova.
And Winona, Hoenn's local Gym Leader, Flying-type expert, and organizer of the event.
"The Island Kahuna is up there. Now, the resentment I felt over the Island Kahuna's delayed arrival has disappeared."
"Perhaps the grand trial of Poni Island really can be postponed for a while. I was too proud and confident, blindly chasing the storm without noticing the higher scenery."
"And ever since coming to Sky Pillar, I have had a strange feeling."
Skyla turned back and smiled at the serious-looking girl.
"That must be the feeling of life passing on."
"In Unova, I also manage Celestial Tower. Celestial Tower is where the righteous souls of Pokémon sleep. There is also a great bell at the top of the tower. If that bell is rung, it can purify souls and grant wishes."
"I once saw him awaken the souls inside the tower. That incredible presence offered passionate souls to living life."
"A great medium who governs the far shore of life and death. I think Hikaru spiritual power is probably no weaker than Miss Phoebe of Hoenn's Elite Four."
Kahili said, "So that is it…"
"In Alola, the bodies of the dead are placed at Memorial Hill on Akala Island, where they sleep alongside the ancient kings. Because it is near the Ruins of Life to the north, the departed can rest forever near Tapu Lele, the guardian deity of Akala Island. That ruin is regarded by people as the place where life begins."
"As for the souls of the departed, they travel to Poni Island. There is a garden there where purple flowers bloom in full glory. Nectar loved by Oricorio can be gathered there. On that island, there is a place called [Resolution Cave], and also the [Ruins of Hope]."
"The ruin where the guardian deity Pokémon Tapu Fini is worshiped is regarded by people as the place where life ends."
"Now I understand why the king of the fourth island had not been chosen for so long. It is not only because no one could replace the concept of souls, but also because of the true reason someone we did not know was chosen to take the role."
"He is [the King Who Connects Far Shore and Near Shore]."
"I think that if he goes to Alola to take office, then that guy will definitely be the strongest Island Kahuna!"
Kahili closed her eyes.
"The impatience in my heart has completely disappeared. I have already passed the trials of three kings, but right now, I have absolutely no confidence in fighting the fourth king."
"The final trial, after the Poni Island trial is completed, will have the kings gather at Mount Lanakila to complete the [Great-Great Trial]."
"Before the fourth king returns to Alola, I will sharpen my strength. Big Sister Skyla, let's battle again next time."
"If you come to Alola for vacation, you can visit Hano Grand Resort. I'll host you. Don't worry about the price. Everything will be free."
Skyla blinked. "Hano Grand…?"
A gloomy man carrying a briefcase suddenly joined the conversation.
"Mm… Isn't that the largest resort in Alola? I heard the hotel is already fully booked through next year."
"So you're a rich young lady."
The gap between lives could be so vast that Larry could not help sinking into reflection. Employees like him were as common as stray dogs on the roadside, yet some people were simply born in Rome.
If he had to go on a business trip, Larry actually wanted to try a place like that.
Enjoying Alola's food, beaches, sunlight, and so on—if it was for vacation, that kind of place had to be excellent. And since Alola was very far away from every other region, if he went there, he would not have to worry about being temporarily assigned overtime or suddenly called back to the company.
But Hano Grand Resort was really… too expensive.
He wondered whether his overtime pay from all this work would be enough to stay there for a few days. Then again, if he tried to take vacation, Geeta definitely would not approve it—or she would stuff some strange task into his hands.
Thinking of this, Larry lowered his head again and sighed.
"Luxurious decor, attentive service. Hano Grand Resort has several swimming pools and a golf course. It is in Heahea City, the gateway to Akala Island. The city warmly welcomes all visitors, and is also called the city that welcomes guests."
"It is said that the city was built around Trainers who had traveled to Kanto and Johto long ago."
Skyla blinked again. Looking at the middle-aged man before her, she was just about to say something when she suddenly clapped her hands.
"You! You must be Mr. Larry, the Flying-type Elite Four member from Paldea!"
"How do you know me?" Larry found that a little surprising. How could a young Flying-type expert like Skyla know someone like him, a part-time worker?
But he soon understood.
Skyla explained that it was because Mistralton City and Levincia had business dealings, so she had happened to hear about him from the Gym Leader over there.
"…If Iono said it, then that is not strange."
"Hano Grand Resort really is Alola's proud super hotel…" Kahili's gaze also shifted toward Larry. "Mister, it feels like you didn't use your full strength in the competition. Your body looks very stiff."
"You really do need to relax. This is a vacation discount voucher for Hano Grand Resort. I'll give it to you."
Larry unexpectedly received the discount voucher. He stood there blankly for a while before scratching the back of his head.
"This… I am truly grateful."
"This voucher is extremely hard to get. And you're giving it to me just like that… We only just met."
"It's fine." Kahili's lips curved into a faint smile. "After all, you and our Island Kahuna are colleagues."
"My father is the owner of Hano Grand Resort. So I understand all kinds of service and hospitality very well."
"And everyone who came to take part in this competition gathered here and made wishes. Now I understand that too. Besides, to me, this kind of voucher is nothing worth mentioning."
She waved a hand.
"Today is a day when I don't have to train, so taking part in the competition can also count as rest."
"Rest makes the next round of training more efficient. Take a proper break, mister."
Rest. Take a break.
Skyla also covered her mouth and smiled. But in the next moment, she raised her head and saw silver streams of light shining in the dome of the sky.
Light poured from the very top of Sky Pillar, transforming into endless meteors that fell toward the land of Hoenn. But those stars were not falling meteorites. They were some extremely wondrous kind of energy and light.
A gentle, illuminating light.
Kahili looked at the scattered light in disbelief.
"Meteors… A meteor shower?! What in the world happened in space?"
At that moment, Winona, one of Hoenn's Gym Leaders, walked over. Under everyone's gaze, she pointed toward the distant horizon.
"When the once-in-a-thousand-years comet returns, it is accompanied by a meteor shower from Litleo Minor. This is the so-called Pulse of the Planet."
"The weather today is excellent. We should be able to enjoy an absolutely beautiful starry view. Perhaps we may even see three emerald stars."
"I can feel the direction of the wind. Look, the clouds and mist have all been cleared away! The people's wishes have successfully flowed into the high heavens. Thank you all."
"This place is not far from Mossdeep City. That city has the largest rocket launch center in the world, and it is also a place we in Hoenn take pride in. Mossdeep City and Sky Pillar are the best places to watch the meteor shower."
"Shining in Leo… the Lion's Eye!"
————————
On the Arctic ice field, a powerful violet-red light surged beneath the ice. With the appearance of a pure-white humanoid light being, the ice shattered, and the startled Pokémon gradually fled the area.
Then, the missing parts of the light being's body regenerated. It thoughtfully watched the dancing streams of light. During the polar night of the Arctic ice field, it could clearly see the colorful aurora appearing in the distant universe, as well as the three emerald stars that shone forever.
The three stars became one, transforming into a star of light, almost as if they had become its homeland.
Deoxys of the Arctic ice field clenched its fist, sensing the recovery of its body.
The energy poured into the world from the meteors had accelerated its regeneration.
But it had also felt the feelings of the stars. The one that had killed it all those years ago, and that other monster from space…
[To think something like this would happen… We "visitors from the heavens"… fighting side by side with that green sky dragon… So that is it. I understand now.]
[My brothers stopped another maddened one of our kind.]
[I was destroyed after falling first because I came to an unfamiliar environment and invaded another creature's territory, which led to battle. But that was a matter of life and death. There could be no compromise.]
[Where is my beloved partner? There… that direction is where the stars are falling. Wait for me. Do not be lonely or afraid. I will come to pick you up soon.]
[Let us return to Leo together.]
————————
Hoenn region, the northern waters of Lilycove City, LaRousse City.
This was the location where the movie Destiny Deoxys took place, and its timeline directly followed Jirachi: Wish Maker.
The city was located at the confluence of two rivers in northern Hoenn, built on an island. It had a large park, a Battle Tower, and a commercial district. A monorail that circled the island could bring visitors there. A large bridge lay to the north of the island. It was a technologically advanced city, with moving walkways and cube-shaped robots.
Four years ago, the visitor from the heavens crashed onto the Arctic ice field. It happened to encounter Dr. Lund, a scientist conducting research there, and his child Tory. At the same time, they were dragged into the battle between Deoxys and Rayquaza.
The violent impact frightened a herd of Walrein and caused a stampede. Tory was accidentally swept into the storm created by the crash. Because of the panic caused by the frightened Walrein herd, his heart was traumatized, and he became unable to interact with Pokémon.
Tory Lund.
The boy's name came from "to transcend," as well as "distant" and "sky."
Parts of Tory's character concept were later used for Lillie in later generations.
After the battle ended, Rayquaza returned to the Fiore region. Of the visitors, one had its body destroyed and sank to the bottom of the sea, while the other was brought back by Dr. Lund for research. He developed a high-output laser that could regenerate the crystal core of the alien.
It was like an artificial Plasma Spark.
During that time, Tory and the visitor with the green core became friends.
In LaRousse City, near Dr. Lund's research tower, the green crystal core suddenly released an unbelievably dazzling light.
At the same time, in the surrounding garden…
"Come talk to me again…"
Tory was reading a book he had borrowed from the library when he stared in surprise at the green swirling light that had always accompanied him. That was the energy body of the green crystal.
For four years, he had been unable to make friends with Pokémon. Only this strange green core could talk with him, and he was not afraid of it.
Now, something seemed to be happening to the green core. This unborn Pokémon had received the wish of the stars.
"What's wrong? What happened to you?"
[Tory, can you hear me?]
"Huh? A voice…"
[Tory, I have to go. My friend is calling me.]
[Thank you very much for taking care of me for these four years. Dr. Lund has always been shining a special plasma light on my core, hoping I could be born successfully.]
[But that is no longer necessary. The stars have granted this wish. This land has received a blessing. Even we are the same.]
[Four years ago, we were attacked by Rayquaza and fell on the ice field, losing our power. Now, that power and energy have returned. Even I, the failure who could not be born successfully, have been allowed to be born.]
[Above the universe, there are three of my kin. They became light and called out to the stars. I envy them so much… Deoxys who were truly born, who can feel this world and the universe with their own eyes and bodies.]
[We crossed the long sea of stars, walking endlessly through cold and lonely darkness. Only the companions beside us were our emotional support. We reach various worlds, are born and grow there, and finally… return to the land of light.]
"Wait. Wait! Where are you going? I… I'm alone. I'm all alone. I can't do anything by myself."
[Try making friends with other Pokémon. That way, no matter where you are, you will never be lonely again. You will surely meet partners you can trust. One who is alone cannot survive.]
[Truly, thank you so much for becoming my friend. The deep bond between a human and an outsider, the four years we spent together—these precious memories will always remain with me.]
[We crossed three million light-years from a distant world. Even across time and space, our friendship will surely continue.]
"Wait! I still have… I still have so much I haven't said to you. Deoxys!"
"Can… can you tell me your real name? You must have one!"
[A name… From the rhythm of the stars, I heard names. Deoxys is the name of our species. Our homeland is the world of light, Plasma.]
[And the individuals born on this planet gave themselves different names. Within the wish, I saw what happened in space.]
[The monster of the universe, Belial.]
[The one awakened by the voice of the stars, Zoffy.]
[The firstborn, the Firstborn.]
[The one who returned from the land of flowers and sun, the Returner.]
[As for my name… I want it to symbolize the boundless universe. So… I want to name myself Mebius. An infinite loop and an eternal bond.]
[I must set out now. You must live happily.]
[Tory, I love you.]
Green starlight rushed out of the research tower. The regenerated-core Deoxys of LaRousse flew toward the far end of the universe.
And just like that, it vanished beyond Hoenn's horizon.
"Mebius…"
Tory looked at the green light flying into the sky, tears streaming down his face. But very soon, a green aurora shone over LaRousse City. At the far end of the sky, three emerald stars were shining too.
A Deoxys's aurora was the content of its communication. After years of research by Dr. Lund and his assistant Yuko, this had been confirmed.
Tory wiped away his tears, but they still would not stop flowing.
Were these four years a dream, or were they reality?
Perhaps he had never truly become friends with an alien. Or perhaps this friendship would continue forever.
"Goodbye, Mebius. Thank you for becoming my friend."
"I'll grow up, and I won't make you worry."
"I'll read lots and lots of books, learn lots and lots of things, and I'll definitely… develop meteor technology that can cross three million light-years and send my treasure back to you."
"Have… have a safe journey!"
(End of Chapter)
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