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Chapter 39: Transitions

Fox: I don't want to say who exactly is the perspective here, but I thought it would be neat to try something a little different than just fast-forwarding to the end game. This is what happens while Aaron and group are traveling towards Unova. It becomes apparent pretty quickly anyway. No spoilers here, but I wanted to make it clear that it's from another's perspective.

Exskotadi upon hearing the chapter 40 synopsis: "I'm going to grab a smoke and crack a beer, because it deserves it!"

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I was not allowed to go anywhere unwatched. Perhaps that was for the best. My followers have been extremely protective of me, perhaps even more so since the Shard of Arceus freed me from being lost. My paws brushed aside berries and fruit brought for my consumption. I was not in need of anything. If I wished for something, it was brought to me without question. There was one thing that was not to my satisfaction, and that was the location of the Shard that saved me.

The last we heard of them was before he, his other human friends, and the Rayquaza left the mainland that humans call Hoenn. I frowned in recollection. It was there that I attacked him. Forcing those thoughts out of my mind, I turned to my surroundings. The chamber I was in resonated with a soft glow that came from the numerous crystals lining the walls and ceiling. Tunnels led to either the surface or deeper into the earth; areas that I wouldn't want to go into.

Two Suicune charged in, interrupting my thoughts. Both stopped nearly simultaneously in front of me. One was panting heavily, while the other stoically watched me with a steely gaze. As soon as the first one was done panting, they lowered their heads.

"Good, you're back." I said with a smile. "Any reports?"

"No, my Prime." the stoic one replied. "It has only been a day since they left the mainland. It will take much longer for them to reach the castle."

I knew that. Still, I worried for his safety. There were so many things that could happen. The Rayquaza were doing everything they could to get him to Unova. Why wouldn't they allow us to help, either? A flash of a memory came to me. They happen too often for my comfort, but this may be the only way for the previous Prime's knowledge to pass to the successor. Memories flooded me, moments of seeing Arceus in our world, flanked by numerous Rayquaza wherever He went. We, the rest of his children, followed His every footstep, clinging to every word that came from our Father.

I shook my head, sweeping aside these memories that were clearly not my own. They must be from the previous Prime. Hopefully they will stop appearing at such inopportune times. As I gazed upon them, they wore a face of worry. Did they see how I reacted to the vision? All of my fellows worried about me. I smiled at them, shaking my head side to side.

"I am fine." I reassured the two in front of me. "Is there anything else?"

They both shook their heads. "What is your command?" one asked.

"Do we know how any of the other Primes are reacting to the news?" I asked.

"No, not yet, but I suspect we will be soon."

"Please let me know when we have news of any announcements made." I said. "I feel that I may need to make an announcement soon."

Both Suicune bowed silently and left. I was once again alone with my thoughts. Was this really all that was needed? One human to defy us until the situation was explained so? Even after everything has been done to him, he still wants to help. It feels like a debt that we could never repay.

Could this be how the others that do not want Arceus resurrected feel? That they are so ashamed of what they have done in the past that they rather not see our Father again? A cold wind blew through the cavern. It didn't bother me physically, but it sent a shiver down my spine. I felt like I was making progress in understanding a little of my predecessor and how he felt. How long did he live for? A few hundred years? A thousand? Has he been our Prime since the very creation of our kind?

Silence answered my questions, though perhaps that was for the best. Knowing what happened before, while helpful, was not going to solve what was happening now. At this moment, I need to fix what my predecessor instigated before it runs out of control. I know Kyogre and Groudon already attacked the Shard, but if they were to attack again, it wouldn't bode well for anyone.

To be fair, I don't think it would turn out well for Kyogre and Groudon more so than for Aaron. I'm not sure how he will react to them if they were to attack him again. With everything so close to ending, what will he do to protect what little life he has left?

Another Suicune approached me, this time significantly less hurried than the previous two. She lowered her head before addressing me.

"My Prime, we've found Kyogre."

"Good! What did-"

"Both of them are going to attack the Shard come sunrise." the Suicune continued. "When we asked them to stop, both Kyogre and Groudon attacked us. I'm the only one that survived."

"How many died?"

"Ten." she answered.

I stared at her silently, watching as her body slumped to the ground. I got up immediately, dashing to her side. Tears began matting her fur as her body was wracked with sobs. Time was quickly running out, and I have no idea if I can help him anymore. Focusing on the task at paw, I turned to the crying Suicune.

"Rest now, child," I said gently. "You did everything you could. It is time for me to act in your stead."

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By the time we reached the battlefield, it was too late. Bodies of dead Rayquaza laid floating on the ocean surface while others, perhaps, had sunk to the depths below. The ocean was bathed in blood. It disturbed me greatly to even be near this water, let alone be standing on it. A few other Suicune wavered where they stood, openly displaying their revulsion of the bloodied water. I suppressed my reaction, keeping my composure as demanded of my station.

A Suicune walked up to me. "Report," I said.

The male nodded. "Yes, my Prime. As you requested, we did not engage. The battle spiraled out of control quickly. The Rayquaza fought valiantly but many fell due to Kyogre and Groudon appearing to stop the human boy from arriving at their destination. I wish to express my solemn apologies to you."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"The boy was never afraid to send his Pokémon into the fray. The Rayquaza did not hesitate to obey his commands. The other two humans helped with their Pokémon, fighting alongside him. I don't believe they would have made it without fighting."

He stopped speaking for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "I must apologize, my Prime. I believed that that we may perhaps have been wrong, or that he wasn't a Shard. After seeing him act, and the Rayquaza following his commands, I no longer have any doubt."

Their lives were in danger. It would be foolish for them not to fight back. "Apology accepted, young one." I said. "Continue."

He hesitated to continue. I remained silent, continuing to mask the revulsion of my surroundings. If he felt the same, it would be hypocritical of me to say anything else.

The silence grew to uncomfortable levels. "How many are dead?" I asked.

"Twelve Rayquaza that we've found on the surface. Another six below. Also, Kyogre-"

I turned to face the Suicune. My face must have shocked him, as he quickly took a step back.

"What happened," I demanded.

He shook in place. "Before you arrived, my Prime, we had sent a team to retrieve them from the depths. Both Groudon and Kyogre were at a point that, were they not who they are, they would have surely died from their wounds."

Thoughts that were not my own entered my mind once again. We did not have a name for this state, but it was as close to death as any Prime would get. They would not truly die, but the pain of their wounds continues to escalate. It's a means to stop one from continuing without affecting the balance of power too much between species if relationships between Primes went at the point of no return.

"How are they?" I asked.

"Alive is a word I would not use to describe their physical state." he said. "If I may be so bold, I dare say that they might have actually died."

I didn't say anything. The memories of my predecessor did not come, nor would they be able to help me decipher this mystery. It is impossible for a Prime to die without passing their role to the next generation. For a Prime to die would create a power vacuum for others to fill, plus throw the very balance of our world into chaos. Was it even possible for a Prime to die in combat? It was supposed to be impossible to do so. Would the Shard have the power in him to counteract a fundamental law of existence?

"Find them." I stated. "We have to. Do your best to convey that this is our most important mission right now."

"Find who, my Prime?"

"Kyogre and Groudon." I clarified. "Find them, alive or dead. I want them here by morning, or it will be you who has to explain what has happened."

He didn't immediately move at my request. "NOW!" I exclaimed, glaring at the Suicune.

He bolted immediately. I heard him bark orders, other Suicune obeying him without hesitation. Right now the Shard, Aaron, was on his own. We had other priorities that we had to take care of before we would meet again. The Rayquaza had suffered losses, but they must have known what the dangers would be by aligning themselves with the boy. He never struck me as someone to lie.

I pawed at the water under me, crimson liquid dripping from my fur. The blood of innocents and guilty flowed just as freely as it pumped through our veins. Looking down, forcing myself to look through the tainted water, I wondered where Groudon and Kyogre were.

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Morning came without fanfare. The sun rose slowly across the horizon as the rest of my subjects slept through the lazy morning. I hoped that they wouldn't be plagued by nightmares and the potential downward spiral that our very existence would go down if what I feared was true. Sleep was something that mortals were offered. Primes, on the other paw, were not allowed to sleep.

I still needed to physically rest in order to restore my body and mind. But the act of sleeping was barred from me. As long as I restrained myself from doing anything strenuous, I would eventually recover.

I closed my eyes for a moment, if just to blot out the bodies still floating on the water in front of me. A wave of revulsion was pushed to the side. I only hoped that I would be informed of the whereabouts of Kyogre and Groudon. In the meantime, things weren't going to become right immediately, and I felt a bit peckish.

Food might be necessary for anyone else, but the Primes don't need sustenance. We still feel hunger, though. I honestly couldn't imagine not eating for any amount of time. Definitely the part of me that was not used to being immortal.

I opened my eyes and turned around, walking away from the beach and towards the island. There probably wasn't anything around that would be easily accessible, but it shouldn't be impossible to find a berry tree or something. The sunlight felt amazing on my fur. After being encouraged to stay hidden after the Shard... Aaron... saved me. Being free and being outside is something that I will never take for granted again.

"My Prime!"

I had to fight back the urge to run away from whoever just called for me. Responding took more of my willpower than I would admit to anyone else.

"Yes?"

A few moments later two other Suicune appeared, panting as they stopped near me. They hurriedly bowed to me before speaking.

"We found them." one of the two said. "Kyogre and Groudon."

"Where are they?" I asked.

"At the beach. When we mentioned that you were here, they wanted to speak directly to you."

"Breakfast will have to wait, then," I said with a sigh. "Please rest before joining me."

"My Prime?"

"That is an order," I continued. "Also, if you find any berries, bring some with you, if you can."

I hurried past them, leaving the two to recover. How long did they search? All night? It was possible, but at least we have results. I will have to make sure to check on them and possibly send them back if they are truly exhausted. No use breaking their bodies and their minds. Hopefully, Kyogre and Groudon will be cooperative.

It was easy to see them, the two ancient Pokémon, gigantic in size. Their wounds were equally as terrifying, gashes along their skin oozing out their life force. A sense of unease made its way through me, seeing them like this. Neither my entourage nor our two injured guests seemed to be taking kindly to each other. As I approached, my people backed away if only slightly away from our two 'guests' that were resting on the beach.

"Suicune." Kyogre said. "An honor to see you once more."

I didn't respond immediately. Maybe they thought I was still on their side. "Greetings to you, Masters of Sea and Land." I said, lowering my head in respect. "I'm glad to see you again."

"If it wasn't for Arceus' gifts, we would not be here." Kyogre said. "That child, the Shard, we underestimated him."

"From your first encounter?" I asked.

"Yes. Your information was wrong, Suicune. He is not the vulnerable child you convinced us he would be."

"I didn't think that the Rayquaza would be personally escorting him to the castle, either," I pointed out. "Whatever the reason, it seems like the best course of action is to wait."

"For the Shard to reunite with the others and awaken Arceus?" Kyogre demanded. "No. We will rest and attack once more before they reach the castle."

"No. Risking your life would be unwise at this point," I said, stepping forward. "It looks like your plans are done."

"Are you with them now?" Kyogre asked.

"I was never on your side," I answered truthfully. "The previous Prime was using my body to continue living in the world. The Shard that you attacked helped him finally leave me."

Kyogre looked at me, the sand shifting underneath him. "What do you suggest we do?" Kyogre asked.

"I suggest that the both of you recover." I said. "There is no point in fighting right now. The Shard will be reaching the castle in a few days. With any hope, Arceus will return soon after."

"Unless he can defeat Truth and Ideals at their own games."

I nodded. "Yes, there is that."

"You did not warn him of this, did you," Kyogre stated.

I shook my head. "It didn't seem important at the time, seeing as how you were a risk to his life twice now."

"I suppose that would supersede knowing future information if you wouldn't be alive to see it happen," Kyogre said.

"The boy is more concerned about the future than the present," I said. "Unfortunately, I fear that he may not be willing to do what needs to be done."

"Do you think that he will run away?"

"No, but I feel that he might choose not to go through it."

"Truly?"

"I do not know." I said. "I feel that what's happened to him has changed him. He may change his mind and live in a land far away from here, outside of our influence. He may even take his life, as unlikely as that is."

"And then this cycle repeats."

"Ad nauseum."

"What do you suggest?"

"We do nothing directly," I said after a moment. "We need to get everyone to stop fighting. This feud has gone on for far too long; that, I believe, we can all agree upon. I don't feel like this is something that we have much control over. We need Father back. All of us do, even the humans."

"I understand what you are trying to say, but many of the more warlike of us won't surrender."

"A truce then, until the Shard makes his decision at the castle," I suggested. "We unfortunately do not have a lot of time left."

Kyogre nodded, waves forming underneath the giant that broke against the beach. "That I think we can manage. A truce, for now, until the boy chooses his path."

I nodded. "Please rest a bit more before you make contact with the others. Showing them that you fought with the Shard may put them on the defensive."

"Perhaps showing a few scars will prove to them that he is not one to be trifled with."

I couldn't rightly argue with that kind of logic, as I didn't really know how to. I nodded to Kyogre. "Thank you."

"Do not thank me just yet, and now is not the time to be complacent. We have a duty to perform, and you are the most capable of us at the moment. We are trusting you."

The weight of responsibility felt like carrying a mountain. Time was of the essence, and we didn't have any to spare to chance or inaction. I nodded to Kyogre before raising my head and howling. My followers immediately surrounded me, bowing as I turned to face them.

"We have a sworn duty to perform. As of right now, we are not to fight any of our kind that wish to see harm come to the Shard, except in self defense. We are to talk to them, and tell them that he is on his way to end this cycle. A truce has been declared, and that we extend it to them freely and willingly. Make contact with any and all Primes and their followers. Go!"

"Where do you suggest to meet again after completing our missions?" One of my fellows asked.

"To the Castle of Truth and Ideals. They will know where to go from there."

My followers bowed, some organizing together and others leaving by themselves immediately. It didn't take more than a few moments to be accompanied by two other Suicune, along with Groudon and Kyogre.

"My Prime, what are your orders?"

I shook my head. "We wait for now. Then, we move out to spread the news and gather for the end of this era."

"While we recover, do you mind if you could tell us exactly what happened to the previous Prime of your kind?" Kyogre asked.

The answer was obvious, but blurting it out suddenly seemed childish. I closed my eyes, trying to think of a way to explain myself. "I thought that the way he was doing things would endanger us. He also wished to abuse our position as guardians of the waterways. He suggested to poison them and outright attack human cities to kill the Shards before they ever had a chance to realize what they were."

"When did you challenge him?"

"After finding the last Shard, Aaron, and helping to heal his Milotic." I answered. "When I explained myself when I returned, the Prime wanted to know where the boy was. He must have known that Aaron was a Shard when he demanded to know where the boy was headed. I refused to answer if he was going to hurt him, and I challenged him then and there."

"Obviously you won," Kyogre said. "Pity."

"He threatened innocent lives for his ideals. That's not how Arceus would want us to live our lives."

"You DARE to-"

"Yes, I DARE to think that Arceus would want us to live in peace and harmony. Yes, I DARE to think that your vision of the world is completely wrong, but I don't believe that you should be killed for it!"

Both Kyogre and Groudon were staring at me wide eyed at my words. I needed to calm down, and both Kyogre and Groudon seemed to want the same for me. I nodded after a few moments, taking a few deep breaths and putting aside my anger for the moment.

"No, I think that Arceus would want us to live in peace, like he intended us to," I said. "I don't think that our creator would want us to fight against each other, hurting and killing simply to be right. That's why I want to see Arceus return. I want to see this era of violence and deep seeded hatred washed away. To see newborns not being taught to fear and distrust others not of their kind, but know that we are all one and the same."

Silence is what filled the space after my outburst. Kyogre was speechless for the moment. I continued after refocusing. "When was the last time someone approached you, not out of fear of your wrath, but wanting to just speak to you?"

"Ages."

"Wouldn't you want to be known for your kindness instead of being feared for your wrath?"

Kyogre didn't answer, but avoided looking at me. I didn't press the issue anymore. It seemed that my point was now understood now a little better. And perhaps the stance of the others that wanted Arceus to return...

"We may not know how to behave in such a system," Kyogre said softly.

"You will not be alone," I said. "Everyone would be honored to help."

"We are getting ahead of ourselves. Arceus must return before any of this can happen. We will wait until this is concluded."

It was something, I suppose. At the very least, Kyogre was willing to listen to the idea of bringing back Arceus. Could I use Kyogre as leverage against the other Primes that may not be so willing to listen? It was in my best interest that they would help me convince others to reason. If not, I would be in serious trouble.

Kyogre moved slightly, the ocean water surging to flood the surroundings. Neither of them flinched as the salt water flowed over their wounds. How could they force themselves to move when they are so injured?

"Shouldn't you rest longer?" I asked. "The Shard will still be days, perhaps even a week before he reaches the castle."

"No. We go now. The Rayquaza know the skies better than we know the waters of the world. They will reach the castle in four days, if they keep the pace they were on when we fought them."

That didn't give us much time at all! "Please, let me know if I can help if you require it." I said.

"Your concern is appreciated, but not needed." Kyogre said. "We go to meet with the Cresselia, the Zapdos, and hopefully, the Moltres and Articuno."

"After that?" I asked.

"Your people will reach them, hopefully. It is our luck that the Zapdos nest is not too far away from here. They would know of our fight with the Shard, and will probably be eager to know more."

Before we left, Kyogre turned to Groudon. "I need you to wait for us at the castle."

The red giant didn't respond at all, staring at Kyogre mutely. Magma bubbled out of the cracks of Groudon's skin, flowing from what I imagine were natural pores and from the wounds sustained when fighting the Shard. Groudon shook its head slowly. Kyogre's eyes narrowed as they both stared at each other. I was about to bring up that time wasn't on our side when the giant began to turn and head into the ocean. Kyogre didn't say anything, turning towards the open ocean and moving forward.

"Where did Groudon go?" I asked.

"He will explain to the Shard our intentions when they arrive at the castle." Kyogre explained. "In the meantime, we should get moving. The day is not going to wait for us."

I nodded and turned to the two Suicune that stayed with me. They both waited for my commands patiently. Turning back towards Kyogre, I followed in the giants wake, silently hoping that everything wouldn't go straight to the Distortion World in a basket.

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The island that Kyogre took us to wasn't much of an island. It was more like a pillar of rock that defied the ocean's will. The multiple crags on it made it easy to spot areas where the Zapdos looked down at us as we approached. We didn't attempt to hide ourselves though. It wouldn't have been hard, if either of us wished to arrive in secret. Let them know that we are here. It will get the Prime to come to us all the faster.

It didn't take long for any sort of commotion to start spreading like a wildfire. Lightning arced skyward as an enormous shadow threatened to blot out the sun. Kyogre snorted, bubbles popping as they reached the surface.

"Zapdos, I know that's you," Kyogre said derisively. "Come down here this instant or I'll freeze your wings."

"Well, that's one way to start negotiations," I remarked wryly.

The giant shadow approached from the sky quickly, only stopping when it almost touched the ocean. Sharp edged wings and yellow feathers defined our greeter. Electricity arced from one wing to the other. The Zapdos' eyes roamed over us. At least this one wasn't immediately hostile.

"What are you two doing here?" Zapdos asked. "Last time I checked, the two of you didn't see eye to eye at all."

"There has been a change of plans," Kyogre said before turning towards me.

I stepped forward, standing next to Kyogre before speaking. "We wish to invite you to the Castle of-"

"You're talking about the Shard, right?" Zapdos interrupted. "Is he real? I've only heard of it second hand."

Did Zapdos not know of the fight between Kyogre and the Shard? Best to keep this information in mind. "Yes, this is about him. And yes, he is quite real."

"So, are you two now working together to stop him?" Zapdos asked suddenly.

Perhaps Zapdos asked this because of Kyogre's predisposition and my predecessor. I took the lead in the conversation, taking a step forward.

"We are working together, but not to stop him," I clarified. "I am the new Prime for the Suicune, and I wish to see Arceus return."

"Figures. That hard head got what he deserved," Zapdos said callously. "Sorry if I offend, but your previous Prime wasn't the best to lead your people."

The words stung, but I knew what the Prime meant. After a moment, I continued. "We wish to invite you to the Castle and help spread the message that he is headed that way as well."

"Are you being serious?" Zapdos squawked. "No joke, the last Shard is headed towards the Castle to revive Arceus?"

When I nodded, the Prime immediately released a high pitched screech. The temptation to push my head through the water was something I had to push down. Before any rash decisions could be made, the noise stopped. The sounds of wings flapping made me look up. Hundreds of Zapdos were flying. There was a large flock that moved together, with a few stragglers that went separate ways after a time.

"You two had better be telling the truth." Zapdos said. "A Zapdos doesn't take lying lightly, and I'll personally hunt you down if this 'Shard' is fake."

"From whom did you hear this?" I asked before the Prime left.

"Another Zapdos, renegade. She was all lovey-dovey over some human a few years ago. Haven't really kept in touch with her since she kept to one of the mainlands and didn't contact us unless forced to. To be fair, this is simply speculation because in truth the information is based on human facts that we hear from their 'radio'. Whatever that is."

I shook my head. "No, you're right. One of the humans accompanying him has a Zapdos in their possession."

"What?!"

"She didn't seem to mind too much," I continued. "She followed her trainer's orders to the letter."

"How do you know this!?" Zapdos demanded.

"I fought one of your kind when the previous Prime tried to kill them through me," I said sourly. "It's a little complicated, and I'm not sure exactly how that worked."

"I can attest to that," Zapdos said. "Not the killing, but the previous Prime taking control. They refuse to die, even when they know it was their time to pass the torch, willingly or not."

Zapdos looked a little uncomfortable, eyes downcast slightly. "So, a daughter of mine is truly with a human?" Zapdos asked.

"She's with a human accompanying the Shard towards the Castle. If you hurry, you can reach them before they go inside."

"Do you think the guardians of the castle will let the Shard's companions inside?" Zapdos asked.

"I don't know, but he will insist if they refuse." I answered confidently. "They've helped him get this far. He won't go any further without them."

"And what about these companions?" Zapdos asked. "Do they know what the Shard intends to do?"

"Most likely." I responded. "The Shard doesn't hide what he is from them, nor do they mistrust him for being one. After fighting so many Darkrai before, I doubt they have any doubt who he is."

"Alright! You have me convinced," the Prime said. "I've sent some of my kind to spread the news of what's going on today. Hopefully we'll have a full event to gather for."

"Perhaps it will be something to be gathered for," I remarked idly.

"I hope so," Kyogre said.

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Nights of the full moon is when the Cresselia meet. Tonight was an exception. The pale orb was merely a sliver in the night sky, but the Cresselia had gathered on their island just as Kyogre said they would. How did Kyogre know of this, let alone that they would even be here in the first place?

Irregardless, my followers were exhausted. They did an admirable job at keeping pace with us though, and deserved their rest. It was my hope that they could sleep through this night and be refreshed for when we left to find the other Primes. To convince Zapdos and Cresselia on the same day would be more than I could hope for. Traveling this far put us further away from the Castle, so we have to convince the Cresselia to see reason.

I'm not sure exactly where all the Primes stood in the conflict for Arceus. It looked like Kyogre knew more than anyone else. Why? Has Kyogre fought against them previously? It was a reasonable guess, but one that probably wasn't the best to bring up at the moment.

"Kyogre?"

"Yes?"

"What are we waiting for?" I asked.

"For them to finish their rituals." Kyogre explained. "The Cresselia are... stuck in the past. Their mannerisms, unless the Prime has changed, are probably not something that you will be used to. They take their charges seriously."

"I would imagine that all of the Primes take their charges seriously," I observed.

"You can say that the Cresselia border on fanaticism," Kyogre said. "They do not forgive or forget. A slight, either real or imagined, can earn you the ire of the Cresselia for your entire natural life. A promise to them is a blood oath. Most others don't deal with the Cresselia very often due to this."

"And you know this how?"

"I've had to speak with them before, on numerous occasions." Kyogre responded. "It's not as bad as you may think. Just know that you shouldn't speak until spoken to, or asked to speak."

"They're really old fashioned," I muttered.

"I agree. Unfortunately, this is how they operate."

"How long are we to wait?" I asked. "My people need their sleep, but we've been here since sundown."

"They don't begin until what humans call midnight."

I snorted and began walking in circles. "When is that?"

Kyogre's head shook the water. "I don't know. It's not my specialty to keep track of time."

I struggled to keep my composure. To the Distortion World with waiting! I began walking towards the shoreline. Kyogre began protesting, but I ignored anything that was said. Waiting hasn't done anything so far for us and I needed to know what the Cresselia would do once they knew about the Shard's decision.

Stepping onto the island, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The trees made any outside viewing impossible. Thankfully, it wasn't too difficult to traverse. I didn't know where to go, but I wasn't going to waste more time waiting until the Cresselia were ready to meet us.

The foliage began to thin out eventually, and I could hear the murmur of voices ahead of me. Slowing down, I observed my surroundings and tried to find a path or some way to approach the congregation. It didn't seem a good idea to sneak in and make myself known that way. Luckily, there was what looked like a well used path through the trees. There weren't any footsteps on the ground, so humans haven't passed by here. Probably the Cresselia then. I decided to follow the path after some deliberation. Staying still wasn't going to find them for me either.

As I walked forward, the voices grew in volume enough that I didn't have to focus on listening to hear them. The path seemed to stop at the entrance of a large gap in the forest. It was here that the murmuring originated. If anything, I'm surprised that it was only just a murmur considering just how many Cresselia were present. There was nowhere to hide, and it would be futile to do so as I had hope that I would be spotted soon.

I decided to wait in the open. The nearby Cresselia began whispering among themselves, which began to spread to their neighbors as time passed. Sooner or later someone was bound to come to me. Sure enough, a pair of Cresselia floated towards me. Both their eyes looked at me but didn't seem bothered by my presence. They may even have expected me by their nonchalance. They tipped their heads respectfully in my direction and I returned the gesture. Once our silent exchange was complete, they both turned around. One of the two made a small gesture with their head and I followed behind them.

As we moved forward through the throng of Cresselia, no one made too much of a fuss. A few hushed whispers here and there, though mostly a lot of stares. Some looked angry at my presence, others looked at me with curiosity. No one truly stopped whispering until we finally reached the Prime. There weren't any outward tells that would make this Cresselia stand apart from the others. Somehow, I just knew.

I remained quiet, remembering what Kyogre mentioned to me previously about the Cresselia's need to observe their etiquette or whatever. The wind rustling the leaves and the constant whispers behind me where the only sounds that were made. My tails twitched. The standoff was beginning to make me restless. Was the Prime waiting for me to make the first move? I growled, stepping forward. Damn their need for ceremony. We've done enough waiting. I'm not going to wait any longer!

"I'm here to speak to the Prime of the Cresselia." I said diplomatically.

"You are in front of her."

"I'm here to inform you about the Shard of Arceus," I stated. "He is on his way to the Castle, and you have been invited to-"

"I accept."

Well, that was fast. Cresselia nodded towards me.

"We know about the boy. One of my daughters fought him, in hopes to gain some honor in defeating him. Before you came, we were discussing the possibility of Father being reborn. We have given it some thought, and most of us agree that it is for the betterment of our world to do so."

That wasn't what I was expecting from this encounter. "Kyogre seemed to think we would have a much harder time convincing you about this."

"I can understand where you come from now," she said gently. "Previously, we were quite sure that keeping the status-quo would bring some level of stability to the world."

"So it wasn't just some sort of self-imposed punishment for you?" I asked.

Cresselia shook her head. "No. I personally wanted Arceus to return, but that would have meant facing enemies that I did not wish to fight at the time. We are not known for our fighting capabilities, though some of my daughters try to throw off this misconception as much as possible."

"Hopefully this will be a peaceful meeting when the opposers of Father's return arrive," I said, nodding.

"Yes, you are quite right. We would be honored to be there when Arceus returns."

I nodded again. "We expect the Shard to arrive at the castle quite soon. We are doing our best to spread the news. The Zapdos already sent some scouts to let other Primes know. Could I ask you to do the same?"

Cresselia nodded. "It shall be done. We only require that you allow us to finish here. We will be leaving before the moon begins to set."

The tone that Cresselia spoke told me that we were done speaking. At least this made things significantly easier. I wasn't particularly convinced that it would be easier, but seeing as there was nothing to do here I bowed and allowed myself to be escorted away. Whispers followed me as I left. They were too quiet to decipher, but I just hoped that they didn't believe this was a hoax. Too much rode on enemies trusting each other that I didn't know how it was working. Perhaps the Primes that kept to themselves have been able to bridge the gap? I wasn't entirely sure, but it seemed to be a plausible answer.

My escorts bowed to me as we reached the edge of the clearing. I bowed in return, as was possibly expected of the situation. Being alone, my mind wandered to what Kyogre could be planning. Should we expect violence when we arrive at the castle? I sincerely hoped not. I wasn't worried about who we would fight, far from it.

I worried what the Shard would do if we weren't united in some form or another. This was something that has been forced upon him from thousands of years before his time. I feared that the others do not, and will not, understand just how serious he is when he speaks. It was highly doubtful that the messengers would be able to even remotely convey the message, especially since most of the other Primes have had no contact with him. It was up to us to make sure that they were well informed before meeting. I dared not think what making him angry would do to our chances of reviving Arceus.

-----------------------------------//////////////////////////////////////-------------------------------

We were already pushing our time while we went to speak with the other Primes, but we have run out now. The skies and the water were filled with wings and fins, Pokémon that had put their differences to the side, if for the moment, to see where our world was headed. The atmosphere was tense, but no one spoke or complained. I looked over to Kyogre, who had the unfortunate task of playing ferry to a few land walkers. A lot of the water Pokémon had to carry a passenger or two depending on their size. Kyogre's gaze landed on me for a moment. Neither of us dared to break the silence with our voices. The atmosphere was difficult enough, and it seemed that the environment itself didn't want us to arrive.

Storm clouds gathered in the horizon as we moved forward. Some slowed down, but didn't stop. The flying Pokémon began to fly lower to the water, in hopes to avoid any turbulence. Despite the rumble of thunder, no sparks of lightning made their way through the clouds. Was the world beginning to react to what was going on? Did the Shard ask the Rayquaza to slow us down?

No, I don't think so. This could just be natural phenomena after all. Still, it felt a little too convenient. In the end, it didn't matter where the storm came from. I have an obligation to meet Father, and I...

I... need to see him, one last time.

Aaron, please be safe.