"Everyone, do not be alarmed. I am performing a secret rite to ascend the Great Temple into the heavens."
The massive doors of the Pope's hall creaked open. The Pope, now restored to the image of a vigorous young man, walked out with measured grace. His eyes glowed with a prismatic, seven-colored radiance, making him look like a living deity descended to the mortal plane. Captain Darren followed closely behind, his hand on his sword, vigilant.
A milky-white sphere—the newly forged Jewel of Life—hovered just above the Pope's head like an angelic halo, bathing the temple in a light as bright as midday. The ground groaned as the entire palace began to shake and detach from the earth.
As the temple ascended into the sky, a massive void was left in the center of the temple grounds. The Pope raised his golden staff high, and with a series of sharp whistling sounds, sixteen stone plates of varying colors—the Judgement Plates—shot out from the depths of the palace. They interlocked to form a floating platform beneath the Pope's feet.
High above, Jirachi felt the approach of the Millennium Comet. It floated toward the hollowed ceiling of the hall, acting as a conductor for the celestial energy. The starlight of the entire cosmos seemed to converge on the temple, draping the architecture in a dreamlike, azure mist.
Jirachi began to pulse with a brilliant golden light. As the comet drew closer, the light intensified until the Wishing Star was nothing more than a sphere of blinding gold. In the Pope's hand was a small "Wish Tag," covered in minute, tightly packed script—his ultimate list of demands for the universe.
Shadows in the Dark
On the ground below, High Priest Shaka and his four elemental priests watched the floating palace with fanatical eyes. They had been lying in wait for ten days. Shaka, too, held an ancient Wish Tag.
"A thousand years ago, I found the Wishing Star," Shaka whispered, his eyes glazed with the memory of a past life. "But the moment I made my wish, the true Ho-Oh descended. It unleashed the Flames of Purification, sealing the Shadow Sky God into the deep ocean trenches."
"In my desperation, I tore the second tag from Jirachi. Before I could use it, I was burned alive by the Phoenix. But when the Sky God's residual power resurrected me, I found this tag still clenched in my hand."
"Once I present this to the Wishing Star, the Shadow Sky God will shatter Ho-Oh's seal and return to this world. Our Pure Heaven Sect will become the masters of existence, and the Hellfire will burn this filthy world clean."
The Infiltration
While the Pope prepared for his godhood, Furukawa—the "hero" who had stolen the Dragon Orb—rushed into a side hall filled with crates and artifacts. He placed an intricately carved wooden puppet on the floor and waited.
A ripple appeared in the air, and Feng Che stepped through a spatial rift. Furukawa immediately dropped to one knee, looking at Feng Che with unwavering loyalty.
Furukawa had indeed been a Temple mole, but Feng Che had discovered him months ago. Instead of executing him, Feng Che had used his psychic powers and the Garden family's resources to "reprogram" him. The incense used to drop the Garchomp guards had been custom-made by Feng Che specifically for this heist. His goal was to let the Pope assemble the Orbs to save himself the trouble of finding them all individually.
Feng Che read Furukawa's mind, absorbing the recent events of the Temple.
So Cyrus is indeed a subordinate of the Pope, but his loyalty is paper-thin, Feng Che noted. And the Pope has rejuvenated himself. He's back in his twenties, and his Pokémon are likely at their absolute peak.
"Ditto, transform into Furukawa."
The Ditto slid from Feng Che's shoulder, its body rippling until an exact replica of the priest stood in the room.
"Return to the surface via Teleport," Feng Che told the real Furukawa. "Live under a new face at the Garden estate from now on."
Feng Che, now disguised as the Pope's attendant, walked out of the side hall.
"Priest Furukawa! The Pope has been calling for you! He's losing his patience!" a guard shouted.
Feng Che hurried into the main hall and dropped to one knee. "Lord Pope, I am here."
Beside the Pope stood the three legendary Priests of the Temple: Sol, Luna, and Nova.
Sol: A stern man with long red hair; his partner was a powerful Pyroar.
Luna: A woman with short silver hair; her partner was a high-level Luxray.
Nova: A boy who appeared to be ten years old but possessed the most terrifying psychic aura of the group; his partner was a Sigilyph.
Feng Che kept his head down, but his eyes scanned the room. The sixteen Judgement Plates were humming above them, and the air was thick with the scent of ozone and ancient magic. The stage was set for the final act.