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Chapter Text

“Dawn…” 

“Dawn?” 

“DAWN!” 

“Ahhh!” Dawn awoke and smacked her head on her headboard. Her vision was blurry for a moment. When it cleared, she saw the signature head of Barry, her friend and rival. 

“Woah! If you die, I’m fining you nine million dollars!” Barry imitated a deep voice and stood in a ‘professional’ position.

Dawn laughed. “I don’t think I’d be able to pay you if I was dead.” She yawned and lifted herself up. “Also, what the hell are you doing in my house?” 

Barry shrugged. “I dunno. I’m bored, and you’re the champion of the Sinnoh region?” 

Dawn froze for a moment. The Sinnoh Region , she thought. I’m really back home, just like that. She scratched the back of her head, which was throbbing in pain from hitting it. I really went back in time to Hisui, didn’t I? 

“Uh…helloooooo? Dawn?” Barry was waving his hand in front of Dawn’s face. “Did your soul leave your body?” 

“Oh my god, Barry, chill. I’m literally fine. Now get out of my room, please.” Dawn shoved Barry away from her face and lifted herself out of her bed.

Barry scurried down the stairs and Dawn made her way to her mirror. She was wearing her usual pajamas. She looked over at her desk, which was adorned with a gaming PC, her collection of vinyl figures, and various sketches and drawings. 

The teenager’s mind was scrambled. One minute, she was adventuring through the ancient world, where computers didn’t even exist yet. The next minute, she wakes up in her bed in Twinleaf Town, surrounded by technology and modern clothing. 

At this point, Dawn couldn’t even remember which name she was used to. She had been called Akari for so long that Dawn felt wrong. However, the people of Sinnoh knew her by Dawn, not Akari. 

Dawn sighed and searched her closet for an outfit. She chose a simple hoodie she bought from Veilstone City paired with dark gray leggings. She tied her hair in a low ponytail and made her way downstairs.

“Good morning, Dawn!” Dawn’s mother called to her daughter with a bright smile. In a sudden rush of emotion, Dawn bolted toward her mother and embraced her. She hasn’t seen her mother in months, although it had technically been only a day. 

“I love you, mom,” Dawn pulled her mother in tight.

“Uh, I do too, dear! Is there…any occasion?” The two broke from the hug and Dawn awkwardly shook her head. 

“No, just uh…felt like you might need a hug?” She smiled.

Dawn’s mother nodded graciously. “Sometimes I always need a hug.” 

Dawn proceeded to the front door of her home. She stepped outside and was greeted by immediately running head-first into Barry. 

“Ow! Geez, can’t you learn to move out of the way sometimes?” She stepped back, a little further than necessary. She brushed off her pants and looked back at the overenthusiastc child. 

Barry gave Dawn a proud look. “I don’t have time for that!” He jumped towards Dawn. “Also, there’s some kind of event in Canalave city today. I’m pretty sure it’s a fishing competition or something. Wanna go check it out?” 

“I’ll meet you there later. I just wanna take the morning for myself, if that’s ok.” Dawn glanced at the opening of Twinleaf town. 

“Pff, you’re so boring, Dawn!” He ran back to his house nextdoof. Dawn scoffed and proceeded towards the exit of the town.

______ 

Route 202

“Hey, you! Battle me!” 

Dawn whirled around and saw a small child wielding a bug net. He looked at her with determined eyes. 

“Uh, are you sure you..” 

“YEAH!” The child jumped up and down quickly. “Let’s see who’s Pokémon are stronger!” He threw a Pokeball forward, summoning a Wurmple. 

Dawn sighed and threw her own Pokeball. She was startled when an Infernape came out instead of Hisuian Decidueye. Oh, right. I have my Sinnoh team. This is Henry, not Xandyr.

With one Aerial Ace, the big catcher’s Wurmple had fainted. He started at Dawn with big, sad eyes. 

“I’m sorry, kid. You asked for it.” Dawn awkwardly smiled and then made her way out of the situation as fast as possible. 

When Dawn made it to a Pokémon center, she was confused at the sight of so much technology. She had even almost asked Nurse Joy where she could rest. 

The team that appeared on the healing monitor was briefly unfamiliar to Dawn, but she eventually recognized them as the Pokémon she used to become champion of the Sinnoh region. Infernape, Luxray, Crobat, Gastrodon, Garchomp, and Roserade. She had seen each of these Pokémon in the Hisui region, too. But she hadn’t used any of them, coincidentally. 

Dawn sat down in the Pokémon Center for a bit. She opened her bag and noticed the usual items: potions, Pokeballs, and revives. Of course, they looked wildly different from the items that Dawn used in Hisui. 

She reached her hand around in her bag and felt something pointy. Her hand closed around the object and she pulled it out, not expecting at all to see it.

The Arc phone. 

It wasn’t her usual phone, like she would’ve guessed. The Arc phone still had it’s Arceus symbol on the back and it’s white case. Dawn turned on the phone, only for it to act like a usual one. She scrolled through some apps, reminding herself of the horrors of social media. 

The teenager sighed. She put the object back in her bag and got up from her seat. She reached for the exit of the Pokémon Center. 

“Dawn?” 

Dawn turned around and saw a boy about the same height as her. 

“Hey, Rei.” 

“Rei?” The boy said. “Who’s Rei?” 

Dawn stared at him for a moment, then smacked her face with her hand. Goddamnit, they look so similar. “Sorry, I mistook you for someone else I know. What’s up, Lucas?” 

Lucas shrugged. “Aren’t you supposed to be doing champion things? Like, isn’t that a big deal?” 

Dawn shook her head. “Nah. If someone shows up to the league they’ll probably send me an email or something. Nothing’s happened yet and to be frank, I doubt anything will happen any time soon.” 

The teenage male nodded. “Huh, ok. Well, have fun? I guess?” He walked past her and left the PMC. 

Dawn stared at the floor. I need to remember I’m not in Hisui anymore. It’s such a weird feeling, but I don’t really think it’s something everyone should know about. 

Someone popped into Dawn’s head. She had an urge to talk to someone , and she knew exactly who. 

_______

Celestic Town

A woman was investigating the ruins inside of the cave in the center of the town. She analyzed the tiny details closely, taking note of anything peculiar or unusual. 

Cynthia sighed. She had investigated these ruins far too many times, yet she never could figure out what message lay within it. She had researched Sinnoh’s myths and legends for longer than she could remember, yet this specific spot seemed to be giving her trouble.

The sound of footsteps hitting the stone floor echoed throughout the cave. Cynthia turned to face the source of the noise. She spotted a man, a bit taller than her, glancing at the paintings on the cave walls. His blonde hair was long and tied up, and he wore old-style tunic and trousers. 

His focus went from the walls to Cynthia. His eyes widened for a moment, almost as if he was surprised at something. 

“What do you know about this place?” He finally spoke, breaking the awkward silence. Cynthia looked back at the wall. 

“This painting is meant to depict the guardians of Sinnoh’s lakes and it’s deities of space and time.” She pointed to the shapes in the painting.

“ Sinnoh… ” the man echoed. “Oh, my apologies for intruding. I’m not from…around here.” He stepped towards Cynthia. “May I take a closer look at the painting?” 

“Of course,” she replied politely. She watched the man inspect the painting. She shuddered at his expression and general aura. Something about this mysterious man didn’t quite…sit right with Cynthia. 

“Tell me,” the man said suddenly. “Do you know the names of these Pokémon?” He pointed to the depictions of the lake guardians. 

Cynthia nodded. “Of course. These are Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie. And the deities are Dialga and Palkia.” She pointed to each one respectively. 

The man looked back at Cynthia. He narrowed his eyes slightly, in a manner that increased Cynthia’s suspicion. 

“Dialga and Palkia,” he said. “Do you by chance know where they reside now?” 

Cynthia raised her eyebrows. “The champion of the Sinnoh region caught them, and is using them to keep the balance of the universe. She’s a very responsible Pokémon trainer.” 

The man nodded once again. “I see. Could you tell me her name?” 

“Dawn.” Cynthia’s suspicion grew immensely. She had never met this strange man before, despite knowing practically everyone in the region. The fact that he was asking about legendary Pokémon concerned Cynthia. 

“Dawn,” he repeated. “Well, thank you for your answers.” Without another word, the man walked out of the cave. Cynthia followed his path with her eyes until he was out of her sight. 

That wasn’t right . She placed her hand on her forehead. That man has something else behind his simple look. I can tell.  

The blonde woman walked outside the cave herself. She proceeded toward her grandmother’s home. Suddenly, she caught sight of a Crobat flying into the town from above. She was startled for a moment, then noticed a rider on its back. 

The Crobat descended to the ground. It’s rider hopped off and returned it to its Pokeball. Cynthia recognized the small, dark-haired teenager almost immediately.

“Good evening, Dawn,” Cynthia said. “What brings you to Celestic Town?” 

Dawn was breathing heavily. “I wanted to talk to you. About…a lot of things.” 

Cynthia nodded. “I don’t see why not. Here, we can go to my grandmother’s house.”

The two women walked to the back of the town. Upon entering the house, Cynthia’s grandmother smiled and welcomed Dawn. They sat down at a nearby table. 

“Cynthia,” said Dawn, “have you ever heard the name of the past Sinnoh?” 

Cynthia shook her head. “I can’t say I have. In all of the myths and legends I’ve read, it’s only ever been referred to as the Sinnoh region.”  

Dawn sighed. “Huh. Well, would you believe me if I said I was sent back in time, before Sinnoh was even called Sinnoh?” 

Cynthia looked up at Dawn. “Honestly, based on all the events you’ve been through with legendary Pokémon, I wouldn’t be.” She laughed, and then her expression got serious. “What was it like?” 

“It’s called the Hisui region,” said Dawn. “There’s no computers or anything modern. Pokeballs had just been invented. And everyone I know from the future seemed to…have an ancestor.” 

“Is that so?” The blonde woman tried to imagine someone who would be her ancestor, but the only things she could think of looked stupid. “Do you know why you were sent there?” 

Dawn reached for her bag and shuffled around in it. She pulled out a phone of sorts, covered in a white case with a familiar symbol on the back.

“This is the only thing that stayed after I came back to the future. It’s called the Arc phone, so you can probably guess who gave it to me.” Dawn held out the phone to Cynthia, who took it and inspected it.

“It looks like Arceus,” she said. “It was the one that sent you back in time, wasn’t it?” 

Dawn nodded. “And back here. Though I can’t determine why.” 

Cynthia turned the object on. “It acts like a normal phone,” she observed. She scrolled through the apps, looking for anything out of the ordinary. “Oh!” 

“What?” Dawn rose from her seat and went behind Cynthia. The screen was golden. Ancient-style letters appeared on the screen. 

“Break the Solar Flow,” Cynthia read aloud. She narrowed her eyes and looked at the letters again. 

Dawn tilted her head to the side. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” 

Cynthia shrugged in response. “Do you usually get cryptic messages that take over the screen?” 

“I mean,” said Dawn, “I guess a message appeared there when I first got it saying ‘seek out all Pokémon’. But I’ve never seen this one before.” 

Cynthia looked to the side. She thought about each word in the message, trying to figure out what the goal of it was. Break the Solar Flow. What exactly is the solar flow? Is it Earth’s rotation around the sun or something? Is it the sun’s reflection on the moon? 

“I’m gonna look into this,” the taller woman said. “Let me know if anything else pops up.” She handed the phone back to Dawn. 

Dawn nodded. “You got it.” She put the Arc phone back in her back and headed towards the door. “Thanks for talking with me.” 

“Any time,” Cynthia replied.

_

Passageway to Route 211 

A very tall, blonde man entered the passageway between Celestic Town and Route 211. He glanced at the route guard, who was staring at their smartphone. He approached the guard, who looked up from their device. 

“Can I help you?” they asked with a somewhat shaky voice. 

The tall man nodded. “Could you tell me,” he replied slowly, “where the champion of the Sinnoh region lives?” He loomed over the route guard, who was staring at him with an eyebrow raised.

“Twinleaf Town,” they said. “The furthest house in the back, I think. If I remember correctly.” 

The blonde nodded, then proceeded to the exit of the passageway. “Thank you. I’d like to pay her a visit.” 

The route guard kept their eyebrow raised. They stared at the man as he closed the door and left the passageway. Something about that man didn’t seem correct to them. 

The blonde man walked quietly through the route, and a smug grin spread across his face. 

Chapter Text

Cynthia and Dawn sat at a table in the Canalave City Library. They had a couple books laid out on the flat surface, covering the topics of Arceus and Sinnoh’s astronomy. 

At the center of the table sat Dawn’s Arc Phone. It kept the message of  “ Break the Solar Flow ” displayed. Dawn reached for the book on Arceus. She opened a page featuring a drawing of the deity, next to some information about its origin and relevance to the Sinnoh region. 

“Arceus is the mythical Pokémon who created Sinnoh,” she read aloud. “Legends say it created the world with one thousand hands. Oh, we know all this stuff!” She harshly flipped through the pages. “Here.” 

She turned the book so Cynthia could see it. Dawn began to read aloud. “Rumor has it that Arceus is spiritually linked to one human from their birth until death. The spiritual connection is then moved on to a newborn child when the current human dies.” 

Cynthia rested her chin on her hand. “Hm. What else does it say?” 

Dawn pointed to another paragraph. “Myths say that Arceus will present the human with tasks to protect the balance of the universe. This may even include catching it for the time the human lives.” 

Cynthia’s eyes widened. “That’s you, then.” 

Dawn scoffed. “What? Ugh, I hope not! I don’t want god constantly yelling at me telling me to do things.” 

“I don’t think it works like that,” the blonde woman said. “I think the tasks are constant. They are only very rarely, according to this. Perhaps your tasks are closer together, if the universe is in need of mending.” 

The teenager groaned. “ Why me ?” She shook her head and reached for the book on astronomy. “Now the question is, what does ‘break the solar flow’ have to do with this?” 

Dawn flipped through the pages, looking for anything in particular that could relate to the message. She stopped when she saw the word ‘solar’. The page had information about solar eclipses, and what effects they had. 

Dawn skimmed through the paragraphs. She analyzed the images and captions. Cynthia peeked at the other page. 

“A solar eclipse happens when the moon covers the sun’s light. The sky goes pitch black, and Pokémon will act strangely,” Dawn read. She looked at Cynthia, then continued. “The mythical Pokémon Darkrai gains equal power to Sinnoh’s deities under a solar eclipse.”

Dawn shivered. She had enough experiences with Darkrai recently. She didn’t need more. 

Cynthia pulled a smartphone from her pocket. “There’s  supposed to be a solar eclipse three nights from now.” She looked back up at Dawn. “Maybe you need to find a way to stop it.” 

Dawn barked a laugh. “Stop a solar eclipse? I don’t think I can just go up to the moon and be like ‘hey! Moon! Do me a favor and scoot over a few miles, would you?’” 

Cynthia was silent for a moment. “What about…Cresselia?” She looked back up to Dawn. “According to legend, it can shift the moon’s orbit slightly.” 

Dawn shifted her position. She no longer had Cresselia. She had Dialga and Palkia, but she hadn’t caught the moon guardian yet in this time period. Her mind was fuzzy, since she had caught it back in Hisui. 

“I’ll need to find it then,” she said firmly. “If it’ll stop the chance of Darkrai causing problems, then I’ll do it.” She stood up. “Thanks for your help, Cynthia.” 

____

Twinleaf Town

Dawn’s Crobat landed in the center of Twinleaf town. She returned it to its Pokeball, then proceeded to her house. She creaked open the door, expecting to find her mother working on her computer at the table. She was instead greeted with an empty kitchen. She sighed and made her way to the cupboard, where she grabbed the entire bag of Lays Chips. 

The dark-haired teen walked into the living room. She collapsed into the worn down couch and reached for the remote. She turned on the TV and watched whatever was on. She didn’t really pay that much attention, but she could make out something about a truck crashing into a tree and getting trampled by a pack of Tauros. 

Dawn stuffed her mouth with chips and yawned. She nearly fell asleep, but a sudden burst of noise from the TV jolted her back. She looked up and realized that the screen was buzzing with black and white. The light above her head was blinking. The air conditioner began to make loud, whirring sounds. Dawn stood up and looked around, trying to find the source of the chaos. She heard squeaking. The sound drew Dawn to a Pachurisu, who was standing next to the TV’s power outlet.

“How did you get in here?” She reached and picked up the small Pokémon. It chirped proudly. Dawn opened a nearby window and placed the Pachurisu on the rim. “You should go home, little one. I don’t know how you got in here, but it’s not very safe.”

The blue and white Pokémon squeaked once more, then scurried outside. Dawn sighed and closed the window, then began to head back to the couch. She stopped when she heard the sound of her front door creaking open. 

“You know, it’s not very safe to leave your front door wide open.” 

That voice. That goddamn voice.

Dawn looked up and saw the shape of a tall, strong figure. His blonde hair was tied up, and he wore modern dress pants and a somewhat formal sweater. His arms were crossed, and he showcased a dark, twisted smile. 

He stared harshly down at the teenager, who received a sudden burst of fear. 

“Hello, Akari.” 

“How the hell are you here…” Dawn growled. She tightened her position, preparing to reach for a Pokeball if necessary. 

“Why speak in such an aggressive tone? We’ve only just started, haven’t we?” The tall man stepped closer to Dawn, who increased her tension. 

“Answer the question.” Dawn held her ground. She applied extra pressure to her feet and kept her focus on the blonde figure. 

He replied with a scoff. “That portal you jumped through? It stayed open briefly, so I took the opportunity and dove in myself.” 

“You…” Dawn trailed off. “W-why?” 

The man laughed. Dawn shuddered at his laugh, which reminded her of the awful memories she had near him in Hisui. “Two reasons. First, I’ve always wanted to see the future. Second,” he paused and smirked at Dawn, “I think my urge for vengeance has reached its highest.” 

Dawn shivered. “On me?” 

“On you.” He nodded. 

The teenager grunted. “How did you even find me?” 

“What’s with all the questions? Can’t we have a little fun?” He dropped his arms and placed them on his hips.

“I don’t wanna know what you’re implying with ‘fun.’” Dawn moved a few feet to the left, keeping intense focus on the human in front of her.

He laughed again, then raised an eyebrow. “Since you’re not too much in the mood to chat, I can offer you a challenge.” 

Dawn tilted her head. She remained silent.

“Three nights from tonight there will be a solar eclipse. As you know, my Darkrai will gain power equal to that of even Arceus. However, we both know there is a way to prevent the eclipse.” 

The teenager nodded. She looked at the man’s hand, then back at his eyes. 

“If you can successfully prevent the eclipse from happening, then you’re safe. I’ll be out of your business.” 

Dawn narrowed her eyes. “What’s the catch…?” 

He chuckled. “If you fail to prevent the eclipse, then Darkrai will gain the ability to create a portal in time. In that case, I will take you and we’ll go back to Hisui, where you and your Pokémon will be under my control.” 

Dawn’s pupils shrank in fear. The man must have noticed this, since his smile greatly increased. He thrust his hand toward Dawn, who inspected it for a moment. Eventually she took it, and they shook. 

“Deal?” He asked.

“It’s a deal, Volo.” 

__

Dawn walked through the streets of Veilstone City. She was informed by Cynthia of one of Veilstone’s residents who read the myths of Cresselia and the solar eclipse. 

“A gray brick house with a tan roof,” Dawn repeated from a text she had from Cynthia. She gazed around the city and found what she was looking for.

Dawn made her way towards the house. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. 

“Hello?” A voice spoke. “Who’s there?” 

“I’m Dawn,” the teenager responded. “A friend of Cynthia’s.” 

“Oh! Come inside!” The door opened and Dawn was greeted with a friendly face of a man a bit older than her. He had chestnut brown hair and dark skin. 

He led Dawn to a table close to the floor. On opposite sides of the table were pillows. The man and Dawn removed their shoes and sat down on the pillows. 

“I’m Elliot,” he said. “What can I do for you?” 

“Cynthia told me you know about a Pokémon called Cresselia. Can you tell me about it?”

Elliot smiled and nodded. “Cresselia, the beauty of the night sky. It’s said to be linked to the moon’s orbit around Earth.” He looked up at Dawn. “It’s connected to a part of it called the Lunar Wing. If you can get the Wing and approach Cresselia on Full Moon Island, it will see your strength and likely join your team.” 

“The Lunar Wing,” Dawn repeated. “Where is it?” 

Elliot shrugged and itched his neck. “Last I heard, the Wing is somewhere in the Solaceon Ruins. I’m not sure where in the ruins, but I did hear something that said it was guarded.” 

Dawn growled quietly. “Hmph. Ok, so I guess I’ll just go there and look for it.” 

“Oh, so you’re going to try to catch Cresselia?” Elliot looked at Dawn with bright eyes. “Is it perhaps to prevent a certain event from coming up?” 

Dawn nodded. “How does Cresselia’s power affect the eclipse? How can I prevent it?”’

“You’ll need to go to the highest point in the region. That’s Spear Pillar.” Elliot looked behind him, particularly at a painting of Mt. Coronet. “Cresselia can shift the moon’s position slightly, but enough so that it doesn’t fully cover the sun.” 

The female teen nodded. “So I guess I’m off to the ruins,” she said. “Wish me luck.” She stood up and reached for her shoes. 

“You’re going now? It’s kind of late, isn’t it?” Elliot followed her figure with his eyes. 

“I kinda have a time limit,” she added. “Better to get everything done sooner rather than later.” 

Elliot tilted his head. “I’m curious. Why are you so invested in stopping the eclipse? What’s causing the time limit?” 

Dawn exhaled loudly. “It’s…a long story.” She reached for the door. “But don’t worry about it. Thanks for your help, Elliot.” 

He waved back, and Dawn closed the door behind her. 

___

Elliot was cleaning up around his small home, picking up items and reorganizing. 

He lifted his head when a knock could be heard at his door. He made his way over to the door, expecting to see the friendly face of Dawn once again.

Instead, upon opening the door, he saw a tall, blonde man standing there.

“You are Elliot, are you not?”

“Y-yes…” he replied steadily. “Who are y-you?”

The blonde man smiled. “My name is Volo. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” He nodded slowly. “Apologies for the sudden appearance. Do you think you’d be willing to answer a few of my questions?” 

Elliot shrugged. “I’m not sure what I’d be able to tell you, but sure.” He led the tall man inside. 

The two sat down. Volo stared at Elliot, his gaze piercing the smaller man. 

“Tell me,” he said calmly, “about Darkrai’s abilities during a solar eclipse.” 

Elliot struggled to look Volo in the eye. “It’s said to rival the abilities of Sinnoh’s deities. Additionally, it can gain some of their powers, such as time travel or space corruption.”

The blonde man nodded. “So answer me this: can it overpower Cresselia if the eclipse is not prevented?” 

“Y-yes.” 

A grin that looked dark spread across Volo’s face.

“Fantastic.” 

Chapter Text

Solaceon Ruins 

Dawn approached the entrance of the ruins, realizing it’s resemblance to itself in Hisui. It looks so similar, she thought to herself.

The sun had just barely risen, so Dawn figured the ruins wouldn’t be filled with tourists like usual. 

The teenager’s footsteps echoed off the large walls of the ruins upon her entrance. She walked down the staircase to the left and followed a path for a while until reaching another staircase. She didn’t recognize this path, despite traversing the ruins multiple times. 

Dawn felt like she was walking for hours. Most of it was straight, and then an occasional left or right turn. She couldn’t count the amount of turns or how long she was walking. 

At one point, Dawn swore she was hallucinating when she could hear a second pair of footsteps. She swirled around to see nothing but an empty hallway. She sighed and continued walking.

At last Dawn reached an opening. She panted from the long walk, but readied herself and looked up. There, displayed with stone pillars, was a crescent shaped blue and pink object. It glowed and illuminated the area around it.

That’s the Lunar Wing, thought Dawn. She began to approach it, but a soft growling noise caused her to halt. She looked toward the source of the noise and spotted two glowing red eyes in a shadow. A blue, clawed, enormous foot stepped out of the shadow. The rest of the creature followed after, showcasing the form of a massive Garchomp.

The Garchomp was huge, nearly three times the height of Dawn. It stood patiently in front of the Lunar Wing, it’s glowing red eyes focused on Dawn. 

Is that an Alpha Pokemon? I thought those only existed in Hisui! Dawn approached the large beast with determination. It was covered with various scratches and scars. It looks like it’s been here a long time. And likely, it’s warded off anyone who attempted to take the Wing. She stared up at it. But none of those people have encountered Alphas before. I know how to handle this. 

The Garchomp eyed Dawn angrily, but waited for her to take the first move. She reached for one of her Pokeballs. Upon throwing it, Dawn’s pink and brown Gastodron was summoned. It was the only Pokémon on her team that had a 4x super effective move for Garchomp: Ice Beam. Unfortunately, Gastrodon was extremely slow.

Garchomp went in for the first attack. It struck Dawn’s Gastrodon with a powerful dragon claw, leaving the slug-like Pokémon barely standing. It struck back, though, hitting Garchomp with a critical ice beam. 

The dragon Pokémon roared, but didn’t fall. It swiftly knocked out Gastrodon with a second dragon claw. Dawn grunted and returned it to its Pokeball. She sent out her own Garchomp, who was wildly smaller than the Alpha. 

Dawn instructed her Garchomp to finish the other with its own dragon claw. It nodded in reply, but the other one came first. It launched itself toward Dawn’s Pokémon, arm prepared to strike and…

“Dodge it!” 

Dawn’s Garchomp abruptly moved to the side, causing the larger one to jam its claw into the floor. The smaller dragon went in for its own attack. It struck the Alpha, hearing a loud groan in reply. It fell to the ground, unconscious.

Dawn stared in awe at her own Pokémon. It looked back at her proudly and nodded. She smiled, then returned it to its Pokeball.

Dawn turned her focus on the glowing object in front of her. She took a few steps towards it, it’s light illuminating Dawn’s face. She reached for the Wing, realizing it was only slightly larger than her hand. She picked it up and examined it for a moment. It continued to share its radiance as Dawn lightly placed it in her bag. 

“Congratulations. You’ve made it to phase two.” 

Dawn whipped around. “Get the hell out of here.” 

“Nah,” said Volo with all of his smug expression. “Why would I pass up an opportunity to taunt you when it’s sitting right in front of me?” 

The teenager narrowed her eyes. “Because it’s not going to work.” 

“Really?” Volo raised his eyebrow. “Then explain the shaking.” 

Dawn looked down at her legs and realized they were shivering slightly. In fact, goosebumps ran all the way up her body. She grunted and looked back at the smiling villain.  

“That’s what I thought. I applaud myself for effectively making you terrified of me. It has everything a little more on edge, doesn’t it?” He crossed his arms and winked in a twisted demeanor. 

Dawn began walking toward the exit of the room. She moved right past Volo, refusing to make eye contact. 

He laughed quietly. “You’re not very talkative today. Reminds me of our time together in Hisui, Dawn. You rarely spoke when you were with me.” 

The female continued walking silently. She growled loudly when she heard the man following her. She sped up her pace, but the sound of his footsteps only grew evenly. She whirled around and eyed him with intense anger. 

“Get the hell away from me!” Dawn breathed loudly. Volo stopped in his tracks, but his smirk remained and his eyes stayed on Dawn. “You said it yourself, I have all the time before the eclipse strikes to prepare for it. You can’t stop me right now, so there’s no reason for you to be here!” 

“Oh, but there is,” he said smoothly. “Induce more fear, pump up the adrenaline, and simply watch you cower. Soon, I’ll have all the attention I deserve. But nothing will be better than seeing you terrified at my heel.” 

Silence. 

A stare off. 

“Leave me alone,” said Dawn. “Please.” 

A laugh. “The moment you fell out of that rift, you and I were destined to clash. It’s only fate, Dawn. One of us just happens to enjoy it much more than the other.” 

His expression was the darkest Dawn had ever seen. She could tell he was enjoying her fear much more than before. 

“However,” Volo said, “the outcome has yet to be decided. I can’t wait until the night of the eclipse, Dawn. I’m excited to see what you’ve got in store for me.”

Dawn exhaled loudly. She turned around and continued, ignoring any sounds she heard behind her. She wanted to get away from Volo as soon as possible, since being around him only made her freeze up in fear. She had work to do if she didn’t want him to take her once again. 

___

Cynthia looked up from her laptop when she heard a knock at her door. She got up from her desk and moved downstairs towards the door. Upon opening it, she saw the exhausted face of Dawn. The teenager was breathing loudly and staring at the floor.

Cynthia immediately grabbed Dawn’s arm and supported her to a nearby couch. The two sat down and Dawn took a long, deep breath. She stared at Cynthia, and the older woman noticed an unusual glossiness to Dawn’s eyes. 

“Are you okay?” The blonde looked at Dawn with a worried expression. The younger female was silent, neither nodding or shaking her head. She only breathed loudly and kept her attention on the floor.

Out of nowhere, Dawn burst into tears. Cynthia startled, then pulled the teenager into an embrace. She didn’t know the cause of Dawn’s trouble, but she knew she needed to make Dawn feel as safe as possible. 

“Hey, hey, it’s ok. You’re safe now.” Cynthia pulled Dawn in tighter. The dark-haired girl dug her head into Cynthia’s sleeve. “Can you tell me what happened?” 

Dawn took another deep breath and sat up. She looked at Cynthia, her eyes terrified and worried. “I don’t know how I’ll explain this to you,” she said. 

Cynthia looked at Dawn patiently. “Just summarize. I’ll figure it out.” 

Dawn sighed. “Back when I was in Hisui, I knew a merchant named Volo. At first, he was a simple guy who traveled the region, until he manipulated me into getting Arceus’ plates. He tried to defeat me and take control of Arceus, but I s-stopped him.” She shuddered when she spoke the man’s name. Cynthia stayed quiet, responding with a simple nod.

Dawn continued. “He wasn’t done yet. He wanted revenge on me, so he caught Darkrai and used it to scare me. He tricked me, and then captured me. Since I was ‘chosen’ by Arceus, I was the core of his plan.” Dawn’s hand closed around Cynthia’s for comfort. “I stopped him again. And suddenly, I got sent back to this time period.”

“I see,” said Cynthia. “That’s a pretty evil guy, if I do say so myself.” 

“You actually believe me?” 

“Why wouldn’t I? This sounds like a real issue.” 

Dawn nodded. “He followed me into the future. I d-don’t know how he did it, but now he’s determined to make sure the solar eclipse happens. If it does, his Darkrai can create portals in time. He plans to capture me again and force me back to Hisui, under his control.” She looked down to her feet. “He’s been terrorizing me since he followed me here. And the worst part is, he enjoys it.” 

“That’s kinda messed up.” Cynthia kept her arms around Dawn, comforting her. “Why is he so intent on making your life miserable?” 

Dawn shrugged sadly. “He said when I fell into Hisui, he and I ‘were destined to clash’. He sees some sort of power in me, so he wants me under his control to have it.” 

The blonde woman sighed again. “What does he look like?” 

Dawn froze. Her pupils shrunk as if she was surprised. “I…can’t tell you that without…without hurting you.”

Cynthia tilted her head. “Hurting me? What do you mean?”

Dawn closed her eyes tightly. “You really want the truth?” 

Cynthia nodded swiftly.

“Volo is…your ancestor. You’re directly part of his bloodline. He looks just like you: blonde hair, really tall. But he’s just so different.” 

Cynthia stared at Dawn in shock. “Wow. Who knew I would’ve descended from a psychopathic kidnapper,” she joked. “It’s not a very big deal, Dawn. Ambition doesn’t apply to genetics.” 

The young teen’s breathing slowed down. She stayed silent, but her comfort around Cynthia stayed the same. 

“You know, I think I met him,” the taller woman said. “In the Celestic Town ruins the other day. He came in and asked me about the ruins, and where the champion was. I knew he was suspicious when I first met him, but I couldn’t say why.” 

Cynthia saw another tear roll down Dawn’s face. “Hey. Now that I know everything, I’ll help you stop the eclipse. We’ll get Cresselia together, and I’ll protect you until the end. I promise.” 

She pulled Dawn into one last long hug. Dawn let her tears flow, but she had never felt more safe. This is the best place she could’ve been. 

Chapter Text

Canalave City Harbor 

Dawn and Cynthia stood at the edge of the Canalave Harbor, with intense wind blowing by each of them. They stared at the harsh waves in front of them. 

“Full Moon Island,” said Cynthia. “Legend says it’s unseeable to everyone except those Cresselia chooses.” 

Dawn inhaled. “Let’s hope it chooses us.”

A horn could be heard blowing from behind Dawn and Cynthia. They turned around and saw a boat coming towards them from the back of the harbor. A short, red haired person jumped out from the driver’s seat. 

“Hey! Did I hear somethin’ bout Full Moon Island?” They swiftly jumped off the boat and onto the wooden dock with the two other people. “You’re in luck, ladies! I happen to be Sinnoh’s only captain that knows it’s location?” 

Dawn looked shocked at the redhead. “How can you see it?” 

They smiled brightly. “Me and Cress’ are besties! She’ll always let me hang out on the island with her! I’m sure she wouldn’t mind some visitors!” 

Cynthia stepped forward. “Can you take us there? We need it to practically save the world.” 

The redhead nodded. “Sure thing! Hop aboard, friends!” 

Dawn and Cynthia stepped onto the boat carefully. The captain moved themself into the driver’s position. 

“I’m Quinn, by the way! What are your guy’s names?” 

“I’m Cynthia, and this is Dawn,” the blonde woman placed her arm on Dawn’s shoulder.

Quinn looked back at Cynthia and Dawn, their face filled with awe. “You’re THE Cynthia and Dawn? Like…the champions of Sinnoh? That’s incredible!” 

“Thank you,” Dawn said quietly. 

The boat began moving slowly. All of a sudden, it sped up insanely fast.

“When you’re on my boat, we go top speed!” They smiled and stared at the water ahead of them with determination. 

Cynthia sighed and stumbled over to a nearby seat. She pointed to a spot next to her, and Dawn followed.

“So,” said Cynthia quietly. “How do you presume we go through with all of this?” 

Dawn closed her eyes and slouched slightly. “If I can catch Cresselia, we’ll bring it up to Spear Pillar right before the eclipse. Hopefully it’ll just…do its thing and move the moon.” 

“You’ll probably have to tell it to do so, won’t you?” Cynthia looked at the wake from the boat. “Normally a Pokémon would need command from its trainer.” 

“You’d be surprised when you see the Pokémon in Hisui. They know what they’re doing.” 

___

Full Moon Island

The boat reached the shore of the island. Dawn stepped out onto shiny, nearly white sand. She thought back to the black sand of New Moon Island, which was practically the opposite. 

She looked back to the boat. Cynthia and Quinn stood on the edge and waved to Dawn.

“You guys aren’t coming?” The teenager lifted her head to the eye level of Cynthia.

“Cresselia may not want more than one person near it. It’s better for us to stay here.” Cynthia smiled. “I believe in you, Dawn. If you’ve been able to catch the deities of space and time, you can surely catch Cresselia.” 

Dawn nodded, then turned around and proceeded. She couldn’t tell why, but she felt like she knew exactly where to go. Something was…telling her to. 

Dawn’s Lunar Wing began to glow brightly in her bag. She pulled it out, and it lit up more as she continued. 

She reached a small circle of trees and stopped outside. She looked up and realized the moon was at its penultimate phase. Dawn saw more stars than she had ever seen, even in Hisui. 

“Come, Spirited One.” 

Dawn jumped at the voice. It came from the center of the trees. With caution, the dark-haired girl approached. 

She stepped between the two largest trees. Her eyes were squinted, as a near-blinding light emitted from the center. 

Dawn’s vision cleared, and she caught sight of the voice’s source. There, in all of it’s beauty, floated Cresselia. It stared at her with patient eyes. 

“My memory holds, Spirited One. You have already proven yourself to me once.” Cresselia glowed stronger upon the words it spoke. It’s psychic wings moved up and down upon its call. 

Dawn kept her focus on the shining being. “In Hisui. You’re right. You remember me, don’t you?” 

Cresselia stayed silent, but slowly floated towards Dawn. It laid its head on hers, and the two stood still for a moment. 

“Please, Cresselia. Help me stop the eclipse.” Dawn leaned more into the legendary Pokémon, feeling more and more safe the closer she got. 

“I will do what I must to protect the Spirited One of Arceus. ” It floated back to its original position. “ Catch me, then. The fate of this world depends on it.” 

Dawn nodded. She grabbed an Ultra Ball from her bag. She didn’t throw it, though. She walked over to Cresselia, and lightly tapped its head with the front of the object. 

The ball stayed in Dawn’s hand. It shook once, twice, thrice…

Cresselia was caught. 

_____

Mount Coronet - Spear Pillar’s Approach 

Dawn and Cynthia lightly trekked through the snow approaching Spear Pillar. They ignored that their shoes were soaked and kept their eyes at the pillars coming into view. 

Dawn took a loud, long breath as she saw the tips of the destroyed temple. It looked nearly identical to when she saw it in Hisui. Almost as if it’s frozen in time. 

The sun was shining brightly, and the moon was rising from the east. Dawn felt her knees and legs begin to shake. What if everything goes wrong?

A hand gripped Dawn’s. She looked up at Cynthia, who smiled at her calmly. 

“Relax, Dawn. We’ve got this, okay?” She squeezed tighter on Dawn’s hand. Without letting go, the two continued forward. 

Their footsteps amplified as they reached the stone floors of Spear Pillar. 

Dawn looked up at a Staraptor perched on one of the pillars. It eyed the humans below with curiosity as they moved toward the end of the temple. 

Upon reaching the edge, Dawn reached for Cresellia’s Ultra Ball. Her hand closed around it, and she pulled forward. 

“You got this,” Cynthia said from behind her. Dawn nodded, and threw the object she held. 

The moon now had covered a small portion of the sun. The sky had darkened slightly, and was gradually decreasing in light as time passed. Dawn stared up at the celestial bodies, intimidated by their size. Dawn looked over at Cresselia, who waited patiently for instruction. 

“Ok, Cresselia! Go…move the moon!” 

The legendary Pokémon floated silently. The sky grew darker by the second, and the sun could be seen less. 

“Come on! Don’t you know how to?” Dawn focused on Cresselia with a worried expression. It shook its head in reply.

Dawn looked back to Cynthia, but the blonde woman’s attention was not on Dawn. But rather, on the Staraptor who was perched on a pillar. It flailed around and screeched loudly. Dawn watched as the great bird grew in size, and its eyes began to glow red.

The sky had reached its darkest yet. The sun now looked like a crescent. Cresselia remained still and silent. Dawn looked between it and the Staraptor, who had flown off it’s pillar. It circled over the destroyed temple, it’s eyes glowing in the dark sky. 

“It turned into an Alpha Pokémon,” she breathed. 

Dawn began shaking like none before. Her legs felt like they were about to break off, and she felt unnaturally cold. It was a familiar feeling. 

The sun was completely covered. Cresselia returned itself to Dawn’s Pokeball. The teenager looked around frantically for Cynthia, but she couldn’t find the blonde woman anywhere. 

“What do we have here, hmm?” 

Dawn froze when the voice spoke. Before she could turn around, an arm wrapped around her harshly. 

“Guess what,” said Volo, reaching his head around to look at Dawn’s. “You failed the challenge.” 

Dawn struggled to escape his grasp, but he only laughed at her attempts. With one single arm, he could block all of Dawn’s force. 

“Oh, there’s no way for you to escape. We made a deal, Dawn. You failed to protect yourself. You’re mine now, and I’m taking you back to Hisui.” Volo pulled her forward, where she saw Darkrai with glowing red eyes. It emitted massive dark energy, which began to form a circular shape. 

With all of her remaining energy, Dawn yelled out. “Cynthia! Help me!” 

A laugh from her captor in response. “Really? You’re asking for help ? Hilarious. I find your efforts so amusing.” 

Dawn looked ahead. The dark energy had formed a portal. It looked almost identical to the one she went through in Hisui. She grunted when Volo pushed her closer. 

With no further warning, Dawn was abruptly pulled into the portal. Volo’s arm kept its grip on her and they fell deep into a twisting vortex. 

“Finally,” Dawn heard him say. “Everything is falling into place, and there’s nothing you can do to escape.”  

____

“ Dawn! ” Cynthia looked around frantically for her companion. She was surrounded by smoky fog, and could barely see five feet in front of her. 

She ran forward and saw a dark swirling shape. It shrunk slowly. That’s Volo’s portal. He took her, didn’t he? 

Cynthia knew what she needed to do. With all of her energy, she dove headfirst into the portal. 

Chapter Text

Dawn awoke harshly when a door slammed open. Her vision took a moment to unblur. She took in her surroundings, and could see none other than her quarters of Jubilife Village.

“Welcome back to Hisui,” a villainous voice said. “Not like you’ll be receiving any for that matter.” 

The teenager looked up. Volo stared down at her with his signature smug expression. Dawn attempted to stand up, but her shoulders were restrained by something resembling a rope. 

Volo watched her attempts with amusement. “Yeah, I’m not gonna make the same mistake twice. You’re mine, Dawn. You aren’t leaving my sight.” 

“You can’t just own a person,” Dawn retorted, trying to hide her fear. “That’s a crime against humanity.” 

“Well, it’s not as if anyone will try to stop me.” He stepped toward Dawn and put his hands on her shoulders. He tightened his grip harshly.

Dawn winced. “Ow! You’re hurting me!” She attempted to swat him off, but her arms were still halted by the rope.

“Wow,” Volo said as he lifted his arms off. “You’ve really got no physical resistance whatsoever, do you?” He turned toward the window, then looked back at Dawn. “You’re a fragile one. Both mentally and physically.” 

The teenager couldn’t think of anything to reply with. The two stood in silence for a moment, until Volo spoke again. 

“I figured you would’ve asked about my plan by now. Yet once again you’re being quite silent,” he claimed. 

Dawn exhaled loudly, and looked down at the floor. Her shoulders still ached from Volo’s grip, and her hands were cracked from the cold she felt back on Spear Pillar. 

“Have you finally given up?” The blonde man raised an eyebrow at Dawn. “Perhaps it’s for the better, you know. Although I hope it doesn’t stop you from having that amazing terrified expression on your face.” 

Dawn bared her teeth, but kept her eyes on the floor. “That’s really, really messed up,” she muttered, hoping he wouldn’t hear. 

“Oh, I’m aware. It’s worth the enjoyment, so it doesn’t bother me,” he said with a partial laugh. 

“What are you going to do to me?” Dawn finally asked, lifted her vision to meet his own. 

He smiled evilly. “Glad you asked.” The tall man approached her once again. He pulled another chair from nearby and sat down in front of Dawn. “Darkrai has sent us back to before you fell through the rift. Before you revealed me to everyone you know.”

Dawn shuddered. She no longer had the protection of the village, nor her Pokémon. That was a really clever move. 

“Therefore,” Volo continued, “no one here will know who you are, or what my motives are. So in turn, we can proceed to the next part of the plan.”

Dawn stood silent, but forced her eyes to stay level with his. 

“Upon some research from books that happened to be left on the library table, I discovered that Arceus is spiritually connected to one human.” He narrowed his eyes at Dawn. “It explains the deity’s eagerness to send you to the past. You’re spiritually connected to it. It’s chosen you to control it.” 

Dawn’s eyes widened. She knew where this was going. 

“But of course, you can’t control something if you’re in the possession of someone else. The control goes to them.” His smile increased its size. “You, Dawn, are the most powerful being in the universe. Unfortunately, you lack the physical strength to hold that title. Now that I’ve captured you, I’ve gained control over everything you have power on.” 

The dark-haired girl froze. He was right. She couldn’t resist him longer. 

Volo stood up and grabbed one of the ropes restraining Dawn. “And that all begins right now.” 

_______________

“I’m sorry, but we don’t allow outsiders in the village.”

Cynthia grunted at the guard dressed in red. She needed to find shelter, and more importantly, she needed to find Dawn. And kick Volo’s ass in the process. 

“Can’t I meet the one in charge or something?” 

The guard shrugged. “I’m sure Kamado’s mighty busy, but I guess I could ask Cyllene.” He turned around. “Don’t go anywhere!” 

Cynthia sighed as she watched him run into the village. She took the time to inspect the entrance and the attire of some of the villagers. This is Hisui. The place Dawn was sent to by Arceus. 

The guard came running back, and someone followed slowly behind him. Cynthia glanced at the new figure, then jumped. She looked nearly identical to Cyrus.

The blue haired woman spoke first. “State your name and business,” she said with monotone. 

“I’m Cynthia. I need to find my friend named Dawn. Do you perhaps know if she’s in the village?” The blonde woman pointed behind the shorter one. 

“I cannot recall anyone in the village named Dawn.” She began to turn around, but Cynthia stopped her.

“Wait! What about someone named Volo?” If I get to Volo, I get to Dawn. There’s no chance he’s letting her out of his sight. 

The shorter woman nodded, almost robotically. “The Ginkgo Guild merchant. He’s staying in the quarters directly east of the Galaxy Hall.” 

Before Cynthia could speak again, the Cyrus-lookalike walked away. The guard dressed in red sighed. “Sorry,” he said. “Cyllene’s a tough one.” 

Cynthia raised an eyebrow. “So…am I allowed to go in?” 

The guard looked behind him, then back at Cynthia. “I don’t see why not. Just…don’t do anything stupid.” 

She nodded and proceeded past him. Her curiosity sparked at the antique homes and clothing. The villagers looked at Cynthia in awe. 

She shook her head. Focus on the task at hand, Cynthia. Your friend’s life is in danger. 

The blonde woman approached the house Cyllene directed her to. She pondered her plan, but eventually landed on a simple knock on the door. 

There was only silence for a moment. Cynthia thought she could hear footsteps and shuffling around from the inside. Within a few more seconds the door gracefully swung open. 

“Morning, ma’am,” said the familiar blonde man who answered the door. “How can I assist you?” 

Cynthia peeked behind the man and swore she could see Dawn, tied to a chair via a rope. She looked back at the other human. Is there any chance he can’t see right through me? Does he know my plan to rescue Dawn?

“Um,” she replied skittishly. “Well, I’m here to…you know what, forget it.” With a swift motion, Cynthia threw her fist at the man’s face. Upon impact, he flinched and stumbled to the side. The woman ran past him towards Dawn. 

“I’m getting you out of here,” the blonde whispered. She began to search for the knot somewhere holding the ropes together. She spotted it, on the bottom of the chair. As she reached for it, something pulled her back. 

“That,” said Volo, “was something I wasn’t expecting.” He held Cynthia by her collar and lifted her upwards. “You’ve got guts, and I can’t help but guess who you got them from.” 

Cynthia didn’t have time for Volo’s stupid villainous monologue. She rapidly spun out and below his grasp, jumping backwards in front of Dawn. Thank god I took martial arts for ten years. 

“You,” she said between breaths, “need to stop whatever you're doing to Dawn. I don’t care if that means I’ll have to use force to get it.” 

Volo scoffed. “I see. You’re the physical resistance that Dawn lacks. However,” he said, promptly jumping behind Dawn and Cynthia and grabbing Dawn, “we play by the rules here. My rules. If you want Dawn back, you’ll have to prove your strength to me in a battle.” 

With almost blinding alacrity, Volo and Dawn were gone. Cynthia stood in the center of the building, alone. 

You haven’t seen what’s coming, Volo.

__________________

Temple of Sinnoh

The wind blew through Dawn’s hair as she stared out onto the vast land of Hisui. It felt like deja vu. Only a few days ago was Dawn at Spear Pillar, and before that, at its Hisui form of the Temple of Sinnoh. 

What made it all the more traumatic was the figure standing beside her. He looked upon the region with determination and excitement. He was clearly confident in his battle abilities.

Dawn knew that Cynthia was more powerful than Volo would expect. However, their teams were nearly identical. 

“Tell me your relation with that woman,” Volo said suddenly. He turned to face Dawn, towering over her. 

Dawn growled. “Why would I?” 

Before she could say anything else, a sharp pain shot through her shoulder. Volo was clenching it with his hand, his unnaturally pointy nails digging into Dawn’s skin. 

He smiled manically. “Because I can make you.” 

Dawn yelled out in pain. “Fine! She was the champion of Sinnoh before me. My mom is getting really old, so Cynthia is a mother figure to me.” 

Volo stared off for a moment. “I guessed correctly, then. You told me that name before.  That woman really is my descendant, is she not?” 

Dawn covered her mouth and jumped. Goddamnit! I forgot I told him that. 

“Then,” he said smugly, “that’ll make things much more interesting.” 

Almost on cue, a Togekiss bolted towards the temple. On its back sat Cynthia in all of her glory. She gracefully landed only a couple feet in front of Volo and Dawn, then returned her Pokémon. 

“You’re insane, I hope you know that.” Cynthia narrowed her eyes at the slightly taller figure. 

He smiled again. “Sure I do. What’s your point?” He reached behind him and pulled out a Pokeball. “I dare say you begin, don’t you?” 

The woman nodded fiercely. “We shall.” 

Dawn watched as the distant relatives threw their Pokémon forward. It can only get better from here, can’t it? 

_____________

Volo won. 

Cynthia breathed loudly, calling back her last Pokémon. Volo watched in amusement as she huffed with frustration. “How…”she gasped. 

“It’s the winds of fate, my dear descendant. Haven’t you heard the saying ‘respect your elders?’” Volo returned his own Pokémon. He stepped back and grabbed Dawn’s arm harshly. 

“You’ve failed. Both of you. There’s nothing left you can do at this point.” He squeezed tighter on Dawn’s arm to hear her whimpers of pain. “I’m this close. Nothing is going to stop me now.” 

“ Thou haveth been mistaken. ” 

A shimmering, golden light erupted from the sky and illuminated the three humans. Dawn looked up, hoping her wish for a miracle came true.

She watched as the Original One descended from the radiant hole in the clouds. It landed silently between the humans, yet its feet didn’t touch the ground. It turned its glance to Volo.

“ Thou haveth already proven a lack of innocence beyond repair. I cannot leteth you continue. ”

Volo stared back at the deity, his eyes filled with awe and fury. Before he could reply, Cynthia and Dawn were being lifted upwards.

“ Time and Space are unstable with beings from other periods. We must separate. ” 

Dawn struggled to hold a balance. A familiar looking portal appeared in front of her. 

“ Farewell, Spirited One. We shalleth meet again. ”

Before she knew it, Dawn was abruptly pushed into the portal, with Cynthia following closely behind. She shot through memories and histories, until…

__________

“DAWN!”

The teenager awoke and once again smacked her head on her bed. She was greeted by the impatient face of Barry. 

“W-wait. Where am I?” She looked around and attempted to set her head straight. 

Barry tilted his head. “Umm, your room? Are you brain damaged?” 

She groaned. “ No , I’m not brain damaged. Get out of the way.” She shoved the boy across the room and left her bed swiftly. 

Dawn bolted down the stairs. Before she could open it, there was a knock on the door. She grabbed the doorknob and pulled it open. There, with a legitimately friendly smile, stood Cynthia. 

The two embraced for a moment. “We did it, Dawn. You’re out of that asshole’s stupid hold,” Cynthia laughed. 

“Good riddance,” Dawn replied. 

The two walked inside and for the first time in a long time, Dawn felt safe. Actually safe.

_____________

“So now what, you’re just gonna stare at me?” 

Volo and Arceus stood face to face at the peak of Mount Coronet. The man was angered, to have his plan fail right in front of him another time. 

No, he thought. I will not give up. This is my final opportunity. 

With incredible speed, Volo summoned Darkrai. It appeared next to Arceus, waiting for a command. 

“Corrupt it, Darkrai! Put it under your control!” He screamed as loud as possible, before the god could react. Darkrai emitted powerful dark energy and shot toward Arceus' golden symbol. A pitch black color began to cover it. The usual white of the deity’s body shifted to a menacing dark gray. It’s eyes turned a deep red. 

Volo stood in silence. I didn’t know if that would work. A smile crept onto his face. 

“Arceus,” he said. “Come forward.” 

Upon his words, the giant Pokémon gracefully floated toward the man. 

His smile was the largest it had ever been. He unleashed a long, maniacal laugh, before speaking once more. 

“We are far from finished.”