“So you’re saying the whole reason why I was chosen to come here to the Pokemon Universe was because I was a zookeeper that just happened to have played Pokemon before death?”
Lee’s mind swam with the implications. I’m here…on basically random chance. I escaped fire and death by sheer coincidence?
Beloved, we should be grateful that the lot was cast in your favor. Lee looked down at Ninetales’ crimson eyes peering up at him. While her voice seemed to be full of confidence, he could feel her world shake under the surface.
I…just can’t get over this. The question that has been plaguing us since the beginning of our journey – Why me? – and the answer is “eh, you just happened to be in the right place”?!
The somehow effervescent pink creature floating before him was nonchalantly flitting to and fro. It’s slender body arcing as it danced in midair, the very image of playful carelessness. Behind it loomed a massive white and gold body. It’s otherwise blank features blazed with inner light.
Arceus.
Pokemon God.
Creator of this entire Universe.
Had ripped Lee away from Earth at the moment of death due to sheer chance.
“Wh-what do you want from me?” Lee’s voice quivered, hot roiling anger building within him. He could feel his constant vulpine companion mirror his feelings as he continued. “Of all the people on earth you chose a zookeeper. Why the everloving fuck didn’t you save more?! What about my family?! My friends back home?! WHY?!”
A voice of thunder echoed across the endless black landscape. Soft, tinkling bells could be heard amidst the roar.
“Because you were the most qualified. Because you needed to be here. Because my daughter requested it.”
“Your daughter?”
Mew, beloved. Mew says that she is concerned for her father’s health. Reverence was swiftly replacing anger in Ninetales mind.
“While I am above all, my daughter is concerned with…changes that she has seen in my creation. New diseases. New creatures too small for your human eyes. She saw you in the other realm. Love for your charges. Wisdom gleaned from your mentors. Need for change. Need for something more. The wars in your old realm would have destroyed your entire species. I acted with haste lest your mind be consumed and lost to the ether.”
The dazzling white and black head bowed like a crested helm.
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“I understand your incredulity, but your old realm was not of my creation. Wresting you and a few worthy others was the limit of my reach. Forgive my transgression. In return, I provided you with the same Vulpix that you had carried in your communication device. Pulling her from data and bequeathing it form and soul were possible in my domain.”
Ninetales was silent.
“Let us discuss what is needed to resolve yourselves, then you must begin your task.”
________________________
Lee began the checkup by examining Arceus' physical appearance.
“Quadrupedal. Coat and skin dry and without lesions. Eyes clear.” Lee involuntarily shuddered as the red and green eyes stared though him. “Ah, ears appear normal with no discharge. No nose, mouth, or throat that I can see…”
“I do not possess these features as I do not require sustenance nor the need to breathe.”
“I see. Well, your musculoskeletal system seems to be in order, but I hardly have a frame of reference to compare you to.”
Amusement drifted across his link as Ninetales chuffed. You recall the phrase “made in his image”? Well, I suppose I could stand in as comparison. He made me after all.
Lee shook his head in wonder at it all. From taking down Magma to this?
“Honestly, your highness…your lordship…your grace?”
“Addressing me by name is appropriate.”
“Right then, Arceus. Your entire body is comprised of some unknown mythical material, and you have literal glowing golden rings around your waist. You created the Oran and Sitrus berries that can literally regrow and repair damage at the cellular level. You can use heal pulse as well as any other healing moves, and likely can manipulate normal TE at such a level that you would instantaneously recover from any wounds.”
“Are you inferring that I am in good health?”
“That is an understatement. Although if I were to actually compare you to Nine here…you seem to have a bit of fat around your midsection as your rings are quite snug against your body.”
“My vigil does not require movement. I will adjust.”
A chime-like cry took Lee’s attention away from the literal Pokemon God. Mew was gesturing back and forth quite animatedly as she continued to voice what were obviously questions that Lee could not understand.
Nine, beloved…mind translating?
Of course. Mew was asking if you thought that…her father would be potentially affected by any new mutations in bacterial or viral form.
Lee frowned at the thought. Could heal pulse even work on an infection? He voiced his question aloud although he had a suspicion it was unnecessary.
“Can Type Energy or your berries even affect viruses?”
“Yes. But Mew tells me of new strains appearing across my planet that seem to resist such efforts.”
Lee winced. How could such an advanced medicine still manage to create resistant strains? Wouldn’t it just wipe out the entire infection?
“Tell us of how your world handled such an event.”
Oh sure, ask the zookeeper how modern medicine counteracts MRSA.
“I see. Your knowledge is limited. Begin with what you know. Even what you are unsure of.”
Well, that confirmed the theory that Arceus could read his mind.
“I suppose I could tell you about how MRSA came about…”