Chapter 40

10,000 Years, A Message Intercepted In The Present

Ponyta stirred in her sleep. A pair of fuschia-colored eyes cracked open as a drawn-out yawn escaped her. She stretched the weary muscles in her limbs and threw off the pink blanket she was cocooned within. Traces of fatigue were blinked away as she propped herself up against the bed's headboard. A cursory glance around the dark room flooded with moonlight from the open windows proved her fears.

"Gosh darn it! Whole sleep schedule is now messier than two Grimer play fighting."

Despite her annoyance, a smile played upon her lips after reciting her father's old saying.

Ponyta rolled herself out of bed, her hooves hitting the wooden floor. As her vision adjusted to the darkness, she threw a look at a small, white mattress in the corner of her room. Her head cocked in confusion as she noticed a bunched-up blanket, yet no sign of a sleeping Riolu beneath.

"Mister Liam?" She paused for a moment. "Mister Liam, are ya there?" she called out.

There was no response.

Naturally, worry for her strange and quite reckless guest manifested within her. She quickly trotted into the halls and stepped down the spiral staircase.

"Mister Liam! Big bro! Where are y'all at?"

Her shouts were met with more silence as she searched every room of her ranch house, yielding no sight of either Pokemon. After a while, she gave up, letting out a huff and blowing off strands of her unkempt mane from her eyes.

'Big bro - that birdbrain', she grumbled in her mind. 'He said he was gonna watch that darn Riolu like a Noctowl! Bunch of hogwash... But that Riolu, where did he run off to?'

Realizing there was no alternative, she glanced over at the door behind her that led into the ranch grounds, noticing it was slightly ajar. Her heart then skipped a beat.

'Oh, he better not have…'

Wasting no time, Ponyta sprinted through the back door and emerged into the hilly grasslands of her ranch. She galloped around for a bit, snapping her gaze all around the lengthy field.

'He's injured and couldn't have gotten that far from the ranch. But could he? He sure is stubborn enough to try.'

She was almost ready to give up her search when she saw the stationary form of a familiar Pokemon near the fence perimeter. It was sitting atop a hill dotted with Bluecrest Camellias - motionless and staring up at the glittering stars. There was no doubt in her mind.

'There he is! Now to give him a piece of my mind…'

Pontya ran over to Liam, who did not seem to react as she kidded to a halt beside him. "There ya are! I've been worried sick lookin' all over, thinkin' you ran off somewhere!"

"... Sorry," Liam eventually muttered. "I didn't wanna wake you when I left."

"A bit too late for that, mister. Now what are ya doin' out here? Not only should ya be restin' after that fight, but there are guards all over the area that can see ya here plain as day- er night! Heck, you're even lucky them Miltank and Gogoats are too busy nappin' to spot ya!" she berated, jabbing him softly in the shoulder with a hoof. "What do ya gotta say for yourself, mister?"

"I left some time ago when I woke up. I guess I… I guess I needed some fresh air."

Ponyta sighed. "Well, ya should've told me. Them doofus Miltank just love to wander off, and I get worried sick when it happens. Same goes for all my guests - like you, mister."

There was silence before a small chuckle came from Liam.

"What's so darn funny 'bout that?"

His quiet laughter ceased. "Sorry, you just remind me of someone. You remind me of Gloria."

"Gloria… That partner of yours, if I recall?"

"Yeah. This is the longest we've ever been separated. I wonder what she's doing now…"

"Well, if ya wanna see her again, ya better get your butt off this hill and take it inside before them guards find-"

"What if I don't want to go back?" Liam turned his head to stare at Ponyta. "What if I want to be caught?"

His words caught her off guard and she did a double take. She returned his emotionless stare with a perturbed expression. A quick scrutiny of his inner character showed this was not the angry and restless Riolu from the other day. It was like she was peering into the empty husk of a Pokémon.

"I had a dream when I was unconscious," he said. "I was myself again. I was sitting on the deck of my family house on a rocking chair. Dad was out in the driveway working on his truck. I think- no, my sister was there, right beside me. I don't remember what she was talking about - maybe a movie I knew nothing about - but I was happy to just listen to her being happy. My mom came out the front door and handed us some glasses of freshly squeezed lemonade. It tasted better than any lemonade I ever had before. Everything was perfect." The smallest of smiles that was forming across his face vanished in a second. "And then I woke up."

Ponyta blinked. 'What? What is he blatherin' on about?'

She could only wonder if he had hit his head too hard in his battle with the Council guards. But she could still infer there was an underlying message in his dejected tone.

"What do ya mean by all this, mister?"

Liam returned his gaze to the night sky. "I think I give up."

"G-give up?! Now wait a darn second! You were jumpin' across rooftops and pullin' off them dazzlin' moves to survive against them guards not long ago! What's with the sudden change of attitude?"

A camellia was plucked from the ground by a paw as Liam held it within his grasp. He twirled the stem in place. "When I ran away from the guild, I wanted nothing more than to kill Jackson. To get revenge - for me, and for everyone I knew. But even as I ran, I knew that deep down I wouldn't get the chance. What chance do I even have at stopping him? Stopping Yveltal? None…" He groaned, his numerous injuries flaring to life as he pointed at his bandaged-up right eye. "And this stupid eye - I can't even see out of it anymore. Against all these odds, there's not a single way I could ever win."

Ponyta silently took up a spot beside him and curled up in the grassy meadow. She knew he needed a talk from a friend, and even if she was not one, she would still be there.

"I couldn't stop him from destroying my family," he continued. "And now I can't stop him from destroying this world. I'm just- just-" Liam crushed the flower's stem in frustration. "I'm so weak, so useless. Just like I was a kid - nothing's changed. You made me see that - what you said before."

"... But I didn't mean that, mister. If ya return to your friends at that guild, ya have a better chance at beatin' that Lucario."

Liam shook his head. "They aren't my friends." He seemed to realize what he said and corrected himself. "I mean, they are, but they don't know the real person that I am. They know a different Riolu, and I'm not that same one anymore." He glanced over. "They won't like the real me. One that's so weak and pitiful."

She frowned, getting increasingly annoyed at his melancholy attitude. Yet, she stuck to the wise words of advice her mother gifted her when dealing with Pokemon like him. "You're hurtin', mister - I can see that. But don't speak all that hogwash about yourself and your friends not likin' this 'real you'. When it comes down to friendship and savin' the world, there's nothin' more important than that. Isn't that what that guild was all about - saving the world? Dontcha wanna do that, mister?"

Large, aqua-colored petals were ripped out of the Bluecrest Camellia one by one as Liam scowled. "When you've seen so many evils, gone through so much pain, why would you want to save a world like this? I don't belong here; I never did. But it feels like I've been brought here to suffer more, and why would I want to keep that going? The world I knew - the world that I wanted- no, needed, was already taken from me."

Ponyta's ears drooped. She was struggling to find anything to say that could lift his spirits, but she kept listening as he continued. Another camellia found its way into the Riolu's paws and was torn to shreds, deepening her frown.

"But one thing I don't know why… There was an opportunity that I could've taken. I could've ended it. I could've left this nightmare peacefully, but I didn't. I chose to keep going. Why? Was I too much of a coward to do it again?" A tear followed and trailed down his cheeks.

The equine immediately caught on to what he was alluding to and suppressed a gasp. She then affixed him with a flinty glare, placing a hoof on his shoulder and forcing him to look at her. "Listen to me, mister. I've known ya not even a full day, but I've seen enough to trust ya. You remember what I said about a Ponyta's special ability; that I can gaze into a 'mon's heart?"

Liam nodded but formed a dubious expression.

"… Never believed that I really could, did ya?" She sighed as he nodded again. "But it's true, mister! I remember gazing into the contents of your heart, and past all that anger and sadness clouding up your emotions, I could see the tiniest bit of hope. There's good in this world, and there's good in you, mister." She waited for a response that never came before continuing. "I think what stopped you from doin' what you were gonna do, and defeatin' all them guards, is that you still believe deep down that there's hope."

Liam brushed a paw over his damp cheeks, jerking away from her touch. "No. You're wrong. That sense of yours is wrong. Any hope I had for a better world was gone long ago." He slumped his shoulders. "Please, don't incriminate yourself any further with me. Just let them capture me, and I won't disturb you any longer."

"Mister. If ya thought you were stubborn, I'm a whole different kind of stubborn. I put my trust in ya, and I ain't gonna let 'em take you away for somethin' ya didn't do. That's not the right thing to do."

"And what I should do is fight more Council guards and makes things worse, huh? And what's stopping me from turning myself in right now?" he shot back.

She narrowed her eyes. "Mister, I swear to great Arceus above I will hogtie ya if I have to. Ya gotta-"

"Oi! Oi, sister! Look up!"

Ponyta brought her gaze to the stars as Corviknight circled above the duo. A smile graced her muzzle as her daunting task of motivating the Riolu would have an extra hoof. Liam looked up as well, not having any reaction as the armored crow landed before him.

"There you two are!" Corviknight squawked out as he landed.

Ponyta stood up and huffed. "Shucks, I could say the same for you! You were supposed to be watchin' Mister Liam while I slept! Some big and responsible guard you are!" she fumed.

Corviknight hid his embarrassed blush behind a black wing. "But I was, sis! Er, until Squad Leader Bouffalant and his men were found. Every guard in the area got called into a big emergency meetin' in the village square."

"So? What did they say?"

"Well, Bouffalant awoke not long after they found him and the others out cold. After havin' one of the biggest tantrums I've ever seen him go through, he finally told all the other squad leaders everythin' that happened."

Ponyta gulped. "Ya mean… even about my involvement?"

Corviknight nodded. "But the good part is, I was able to convince 'em you had no idea the Riolu was in your wagon. You're not in any trouble, luv, but expect some of my mates stoppin' by now and then for a quick chat and check of the place."

The equine let out a sigh of relief. "Well, at least my ranch is safe. But what about Mister Liam here? They know he's in the area for sure now!"

Corviknight turned his attention to the despondent Riolu, hopping over to him and folding his wings behind his back. His beak curved into a sly smirk. "Hey, you were out cold for an entire day after that big ole tussle of yours with my squad, eh? I bet you think I'm here to arrest you for your 'crimes', huh?"

Liam stared at him blankly.

The Steel-type smirk lingered momentarily before he laughed. "Nah, nah, sis here told me everythin' while you were conked out for an entire day. But there's some more good and bad news. That guild you were a part of? Not long after the attacks on Empyrean, the Council swooped in and arrested much of 'em."

"You're kiddin'!" Ponyta exclaimed. "But why? First Mister Liam here and now all them Pokemon?" She glanced over at Liam to gauge his shocked reaction. Not even he seemed to expect such an outcome. "Somethin' seems kinda fishy 'bout all of this..."

"I'll get to that in a bit. And, uh, this next part might be good or bad news dependin' on how you look at it, Liam." Corviknight pecked open the satchel slung across his wing joints, taking out a bundle of newspaper labeled 'Celestic Cognizance' and tossing it on the grass. "Take a look at that."

Pontya bent her knees and squinted her eyes to read one of the passages near the top of the newspaper. "Four out of five Cosmic Quilt Guild members arrested following Empyrean attack escape from the Elysium City Courthouse through a secret tunnel; Team Drarosteel also arrested after admitting knowledge of the prison break and expected to also stand trial." She gasped. "T-team Drarosteel? Like that famous one with the scary Garchomp lady?"

"The very same one, sis," Corviknight said solemnly. He glanced over at Liam, who appeared to still be processing this barrage of information. "Crazy times, innit? Some of your friends from the guild are still out there. They're runnin' from the Council like outlaws."

"But I bet they stuck together," a wide-eyed Liam lamented under his breath. "Gloria, Roark, everyone…"

"I bet you're right, Liam. You guild 'mons are bloody resilient - that's for sure. But to bust out of a jail cell just like that? You gotta have a good reason for that..."

Ponyta's eyes widened as she planted herself in front of Corviknight. "Big bro! You could take Mister Liam to 'em! He could reunite with his friends!" She leaned in uncomfortably close. "With their help, the guild still might have a chance of savin' the dang world!"

Corviknight flinched as he hopped back a couple of steps. "S-save the world, sis?! Now wait a second. First of all, savin' the world is one thing. Second of all, findin' them is a whole other thing. And third of all, who says I'm gonna do all of that after this whole mess you got yourself involved in!"

"But you have to! Mister Liam here, he needs to-"

"I'm not going anywhere," Liam interrupted, lifting his gaze from the meadow he had desecrated. "There's no stopping Jackson. He's already won. I can't do anything, and neither can anyone at the guild. It's all gone."

Corviknight cocked his head before looking at Ponyta, who frowned. "Sis, I thought he was trackin' down this Shiny Lucario across all of Celestic? You're tellin' me he's given up already?"

Ponyta snorted and stomped the ground with a hoof. "I tried speakin' some sense into him, but he's spewin' out a whole bunch of-"

"Hogwash?"

"Hogwash," she confirmed.

Corviknight sighed. "Liam, is this all true?"

"Even if there was the slimmest of chances of stopping Jackson, I don't care anymore," Liam said. "I'm so… tired. I've lost everything I ever cared about; I just want this all to end." He threw his arms up before they fell limp by his sides. "So, turn me in already. You're better off protecting yourselves than helping me."

Corviknight and Ponyta exchanged glances before the small equine deeply inhaled. She slowly trotted in front of Liam and regarded him with a sorrow-laden expression.

"Do ya mind if we show ya a place? It ain't far from the village," she said.

Liam said nothing.

Ebony-colored feathers flew out from a pair of outstretched wings as Corviknight lowered his body. Ponyta quickly hopped onto the avian's back and patted the space behind her.

"C'mon, Mister Liam. There's some Pokemon I want you to meet."

[https://i.imgur.com/VHmif5e.png]

A sea of tall, verdant trees whizzed past as Corviknight flew above. While Ponyta ducked and shielded herself from the fierce winds, Liam let the gale course through his fur. He eyed the expansive forest below with not an ounce of intrigue.

What was tantalizing before was so numb to him now.

Eventually, the trees thinned until the tops of numerous headstones could be seen spread out across a large clearing. The tightness in Liam's chest only grew worse as he observed. Corviknight circled the cemetery before gently descending and landing on a cobblestone-paved pathway.

"We're here," Corviknight said, angling his head back. "Sis, will you be all right?"

Ponyta tensed up for a moment but nodded. "Mhm. We won't be here very long. C'mon, Mister Liam."

The Psychic-type leaped off Corviknight's back as Liam reluctantly followed. She trotted a few feet down the path before scrutinizing her surroundings.

"I remember where they're at. It's just down this path," she said.

Their silent yet serene trek through the cemetery lasted a few minutes. Past the sights of various lost souls and offerings left by their tombs, Liam could smell the Bluecrest Camellias that bloomed among the edges of the pathway - like fresh rain in the morning. He found it strange that he enjoyed this bittersweet array of emotions.

Ponyta pointed a hoof forward. "They're over here. Let's go see 'em."

Breaking away from the path, the trio ascended a hill before stopping at a pair of two headstones. They were small and cheap-looking but adorned with beautiful bouquets and written notes. Whoever these two were, Liam knew they were loved immensely.

"I originally came from the Grit Region, if ya couldn't already tell," Ponyta began. "Times were gettin' tough for my Ma and Pa out there, and they wanted to move out of the region and start a ranch. I saw 'em work themselves to the bone to afford the Poke for it. They managed to do it one day, and I was so happy we'd be able to move out of the boneyard." She paused as Corviknight laid a comforting wing across her side. "Ma and Pa got real sick one day as the ranch was bein' built. Couldn't move a muscle - nope. My big bro here was just a mailmon we'd see now and then, but when he found they were sick, he helped me try to nurse them back to normal. But… but-"

"They didn't make it," Liam realized.

Ponyta shook her head. "Just a day before the ranch was completed, they went. I had no other relatives; no other adults in my life besides Corviknight here." She smiled weakly. "I guess even in the worst of times, there's a bright spot of hope always there."

"Before her parents passed, they trusted me to take care of her," Corviknight said. "To do the right thing is something I've always wanted. Bein' a mail deliverer? Sure, it was nice, but joinin' the guard regiment and helpin' Pokemon all across Celestic? That sounds more my style."

Ponyta was now fully smiling. "Things were rough in the beginning, but we managed to pull through and make the Moomoo Hoof ranch a big success. Ma and Pa… they would've been proud." She giggled as Corviknight ruffled her fluffy mane with a wing.

Liam glanced at the headstones and then back at Ponyta. "… Why are you showing me this?"

The equine's happy expression turned serious. "Because, mister... life goes on. I used to come visit Ma and Pa here every week. But as time went on, I visited less. It ain't 'cause I forgot about 'em, but I realized they were still with me in spirit. I didn't need to cry all the time, even if I wanted to."

"I- I don't-"

"Whatever happened to that family of yours, I'm sure they wouldn't want to see ya sufferin' like this. Things have been real tough, but like my Pa used to say, ya gotta go through some of the bad to get to the good."

Corviknight withdrew his wing from Ponyta. "Is that all you wanted to say, luv?"

She backed away from the headstones before stopping in front of Liam. She appeared to compose herself with a steady breath before speaking. "Please, mister, do the right thing and don't give up. Move on and let go of that grief that's swallowin' ya whole. I'll, um, be waitin' by the entrance when ya make your decision."

With her parting words, Ponyta trotted down the hill back to the path.

Corviknight watched her leave. "Y'know, my sis has never shown another 'mon this place before. Whatever you told her must've changed her mind. She's got gold in her heart, that one."

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"..."

"But then again, it doesn't matter. We've already met before, Liam. I've seen a lost Riolu play his heart out there in that forest with that banjo. It looked like you found yourself then, so why don't you find yourself again?"

"That Riolu you met before isn't the same one now."

"I know. I see it in the way you carry yourself. But this whole shite that you, that Lucario, and the Council are involved in? I may be a Council guard, and orders are orders, but I know when to do the right thing. And the right thing is not arresting you when you've done nothin' wrong, far as I'm concerned."

"And how do you know I haven't?"

Corviknight smiled. "All in the eyes. Ponyta showed me that trick; well, not in the same way her powers let her, but still-" He shook his head, scattering feathers. "The point is, sis trusts ya, and I think you're a good bloke - just confused, is all. And if that means I can take you back to your friends or wherever you need to be, consider it done. That's a promise."

"You would betray the Council just to help me?"

Corviknight nodded sternly. "Life? Well, it's a whole heck of a lot more than just rules, than titles, than money and power. If helpin' Ponyta back then was doin' the right thing, then I'd sure do it again."

Liam remained silent, staring straight through the avian and his words of wisdom.

"I'm gonna leave you alone for a bit if that's okay. It looks like you need some time to think about what to do next." Corviknight opened his wings before suddenly closing them. "Oh, right! I forgot to give you this."

The Steel-type popped open his satchel and snatched the strand of something within with his talons. What he pulled out was an eyepatch; the patch was cream in color, with the image of white flower petals engraved near the patch's bottom. The eyepatch was extended over to meet Liam's gaze.

"Ponyta said that bandaged eye of yours was pretty much a goner. So, I asked around my unit and there was this 'mon who was once buddies with a pirate from the Shore Region that wore this. I bet there's some interestin' story there, but I was able to snag it off him for cheap after he was plastered one night. Here, take it - it's yours."

Liam hesitantly grabbed the eyepatch from Corviknight's talons. He ran a paw over the smooth cotton and sighed. "... Thanks."

"Sis and I will be near the entrance of the cemetery. Once you've figured out what you're goin' to do, come see us."

With a stretch of his wings, Corviknight took off into the skies.

Now by his lonesome, Liam was surrounded by the cemetery's haunting aura. It smothered his emotions in despair. He felt sick; sick by Ponyta's and Corviknight's hopeful yet useless encouragement. The more he looked at the headstones that seemed to stretch forever across the clearing, the more boxed in and nauseous he felt. His thoughts drifted to the graves he had visited so many times in his past life.

'Move on… Could I even do that?' his mind wondered. 'I couldn't do it as a human, but as a Pokemon?'

It felt wrong - like a forbidden sin and a betrayal of everything he held dear. And yet, he desired relief from his inner torment. His legs trembled as his fatigued muscles gave out. His knees hit the grass as fresh tears welled in his single eye.

'Liam.'

The Riolu perked up at the faintest whisper in his ear. He looked around for the Pokemon behind the disembodied female voice, yet was met with stillness. He flinched as the voice once again wormed into his brain.

'Liam…'

"Am I… hallucinating? Or is somebody there?" he asked aloud.

"Oh, Liam, this is no mere fantasy."

In the blink of an eye, the environment around Liam blurred and warped. Headstones and tombs slipped beneath gaps in the expanding earth and vanished from his shocked gaze. The camellias wilted and were uprooted by blooming white wallflowers. He raised a paw to block the unyielding beams of sunlight that drowned out the darkness of the night and shined down upon his face. He could hear the soft notes of a piano being played, intermixed by soft, whispering voices that sang in his ears like angels.

"Moving on… What a terrible thing to consider," the voice said, reverberating throughout his mind - silky and distinctly familiar.

Liam removed the paw from his face as his head snapped in multiple directions. Unlike the forested cemetery, he was in just a few moments, he was transported to a fertile grassland. The boundless field extended for miles; distant mountain ranges were obscured in rolling clouds of fog. A cool breeze coursed through this new land, carrying the fresh scent of petrichor. The Riolu stumbled forward as he explored his immediate surroundings. He knew this had to be a trick of the mind, and yet the sensations he was experiencing felt so real.

'That woman's voice; this place… I've seen it before! In a dream I had in Gloria's house, and then in the Sunshine Forest. It has to be the same!'

He could feel the calm wind and the warmth of the sun across his fur. Glancing down, he noticed the lack of cuts and bruises inflicting his body. And when he raised a paw to meet his right, it was undamaged, and he could see through it clear as day.

"I am beyond happy to finally see you again, Liam."

"You're… You're that same voice that spoke to me before," Liam mumbled. "Out in the Sunshine Forest that day. And at Celestial Mountain."

"Indeed. I have been watching your exploits for quite some time, and have made contact with you before."

Liam took a step back. "Who- who are you? Are you some sort of Legendary? Why are you giving me these strange visions?"

"Who I am doesn't matter at this point. Please, for only a fleeting moment, explore to your heart's content."

Liam opened his mouth to retort but closed it a second later. He decided to humor her and forced his legs to move forward. His aimless walk through the grassland was quiet yet peaceful as he felt more and more relaxed. An assortment of cooing noises above broke the reticence as he looked up and saw a flock of white doves soaring through the cloudless blue skies. As he looked around, slowly bubbling in his chest was a desire he had not felt in so long.

'It's not real. None of this is. But… it feels like I'm here.'

"I told you before, but this is your ideal paradise, Liam," she explained. "Everything has been crafted to suit your vision of an ideal world."

'It can't be her. She sounds so much like- no, it's a trick. A dirty trick by some Legendary Pokemon, no doubt. She's trying to get into my head.'

"And- and how do you know that?" he stuttered out.

"Keep going."

Ascending a grassy hill, he peered beyond and was caught off guard at what he saw. Right here, among the empty sea of grassland, was a house - his childhood home. He stared at it for a while, wondering if it would vanish if he looked away.

"This is where you grew up, Liam. I attempted to replicate it as much as I could. I hope you find it pleasing."

"It's- It's perfect. It's exactly like..."

Liam trailed off before he ran down the hill as fast as his paws could take him. He reached the house and peeked into the home's insides through a window. Inside was a sight that made his heart soar.

His mother was walking around in an apron, managing pots and pans on a stove. His father was setting up the nearby dining table with silverware. There was another person inside that made his heart sink - the younger sister he never had. June assisted his father by setting down plates in front of each pushed-in chair. There were four in total - one that was obviously meant for him.

A paw pressed up against the glass. Liam wanted nothing more than to step inside and join them. And yet he knew they were mere illusions, not even glancing his way. A sick feeling manifested within his stomach as a scowl stained his features the more he observed.

"They look very happy, don't they? It's as if it was always meant to be."

Liam stepped away from the window. "I don't get it… Why are you showing me all this?" His confusion turned into blind anger. "Are you doing this just for fun? Just to torture me?!"

"It is the opposite, Liam. I wish nothing more than to reignite the hope you have lost. Your role in this world requires that you do not give up."

Her words further confused him, but the gears in his mind turned.

"My… role? What do you- wait. Back then, when I took those painkillers, I thought I was hallucinating. But it was you. I heard you in this dark void, and you said my name." He put his back to the house and searched the empty grassland for a figure that was never there. "You brought me to this world. I died… and you brought me here."

There was silence.

"Tell me!" Liam suddenly blurted out.

"... Yes, you are correct. Your soul was nearly lost to the planes of oblivion before I intervened and saved it. I brought you to this world and gifted you the body of a Pokemon. Unfortunately, you were afflicted with amnesia upon your arrival."

"You- you 'saved' it? You 'gifted' me the body of a creature in a world that wasn't my own?" Liam questioned with rage present in his tone. He dropped to his knees and squeezed his eyes shut. "Why? Why didn't you just let me die there?"

"There is a reason. I wish for you to see it. Please, while there is still time left, let me take your hand and show you. What you see will no doubt return your hope."

"Nothing you show me will change my mind."

"I believe you will."

Before Liam could say anything else, a bright light consumed his vision. When it faded, he was atop the ridge of a tall, green mountain as the morning sun dawned. A blue haze smothered the forested valleys in the distance. To Liam, this landscape felt distinctly familiar.

"These- these are the Blue Ridge Mountains?"

"Indeed. A breathtaking place of natural beauty in the human world, yes?"

"Yeah…"

"And there are so many more sights to behold in a beautiful world," she continued.

The sun slowly set in the distance as the green mountain ranges also sank into the haze, fading as a flat, sandy landscape emerged. Cacti and spiky yuccas sprouted up, along with tall, reddish mesas. Liam recognized this place immediately.

'It's the Chihuahuan Desert!"

"Yes. But… the beauty of nature does not extend to just the human world."

The landscape morphed again, replaced by the sight of numerous waterfalls gushing from the openings in a ravine.

"The Soaring Falls!"

An impossibly tall mountain pierced the earth and rose high into the sky. Mist rolled across its many mysterious cliffs and valleys, invoking a sense of intrigue in Liam.

"And Celestial Mountain!"

"These are but a fraction of this beautiful world's spectacles that you know of. The human and Pokemon worlds - while distinct and separated between universes - are not so different in their inevitable destruction."

Once more, the world around Liam changed. Thick puffs of polluting smoke drifted upward from the columns of tall smokestacks. The smog settled in the skyline and blanketed it in a ghastly black layer. The Riolu sneered at the multitude of large factories occupying what looked like a once thriving forest, now reduced to stumps. His nose wrinkled at the stench of pollution and carrion left in the wake of the forest's erasure.

"Mankind's greed and desire to forever expand and industrialize will suffocate their planet in time. Their disrespect of nature, I know you understand it well, Liam."

Liam clenched his paws tight as he seethed silently at the sight.

The vision shifted to a chaotic battlefield as artillery shells rained down upon bombed-out, muddy cliffs. Amid constant gunfire and deafening explosions, bodies fell one by one. Streams of blood contaminated the waters rushing up a beach.

"But what dwindles their greed in comparison is their thirst for control. There is no doubt that one of the numerous conflicts they have wrought will be their last."

There was another battlefield in the middle of a forest but now commenced by Pokemon clad in armor. Elemental attacks of all kinds ripped across land and Pokemon alike. Faction banners were raised against the backdrop of a raging forest fire caused by a stray gout of flame.

"Pokemon are no different than humanity. They thirst for power; to become more powerful than their opponent at any cost. They have not reached the apex of mankind's cruelty… yet, but they will soon approach a point of no return."

"It's terrible..."

He could see fields of uncontrolled fire. There were craters in the earth the size of an entire city. Entire swathes of once lush and lively continents reduced to barren, lifeless wastelands.

"Two worlds. Two different species. Two equally destroyed societies."

Liam could not erase the horrified look on his face as a white light drowned out what he saw. He was back in the endless grasslands, completely untouched by these terrible things the voice showed him.

"The Pokemon world is still capable of being saved. I have stood by for thousands of years, unable to act other than patiently wait as societies formed and commit the same mistakes humanity has. But now is the time to act. This is where your role in this world comes to fruition, Liam."

"You keep saying that - my 'role'. Please, tell me. What is my role here?" he pleaded.

"Liam." The voice paused. "Your role in this world is to save it."

Liam let her words sink in for a moment. Every moment he spent in his world, from his very first arrival in the Sunshine Forest, he wondered why he was here. It ate at him constantly, wanting to know his purpose.

And yet, now that he knew, it felt so hollow.

"It's a lie… That can't be true," he muttered, lowering his head. "I could never save the world by myself. I couldn't stop Jackson before, and I can't stop him now."

"Jackson is not your enemy; he is your ally."

Liam slowly raised his head in utter shock. "... What?"

"... Liam. After every exchange we have had, do you recognize my voice?" Her voice uncharacteristically quivered as her next words came out emotional and gentle. "Do you… recognize who I am?"

"Who you are? You're-" He stopped himself as his eyes widened in realization. "No. You can't be…"

It was so clear to him. He denied it at first, but now there was no avoiding it.

"Your voice was always so familiar, but… It can't be, can it? You can't be her."

"I am the very same, dear."

It was her.

Tears were rolling down his cheeks - tears of joy. A smile, one that he had not formed in so long, was firmly planted upon his face.

"Of course it's you… Who else could it have been? I thought- I thought I was all alone in this world."

"You're never alone, Liam. Please understand that. I… I have waited for so long to see you again."

Liam shook his head and wiped away his tears. "I-I'm so happy to finally see you again. But I don't understand. How- how are you even-"

"It doesn't matter as of now, Liam. Please, close your eyes for me."

The Riolu obeyed her request and shut his eyes.

"And now open them."

He opened his eyes to the sight of a magnificent forest. He was deep in a copse, surrounded by tall pine trees. So many stars were visible through the small gaps where the night sky was visible, bright, and twinkling. The chirping of unseen birds and insects alike could be heard all around.

Liam held his breath as he took a step forward. A distant pathway leading deeper into the forest then caught his attention. He trekked down the winding trail, entranced by nature in its rawest and purest form. As he walked further, a crackling noise made his ears swivel toward the source, and an orange glow steered his gaze over to it. He could even see trails of smoke wafting upwards in the sky.

He eventually emerged into another grove. A burning campfire resided in its heart, encircled by three felled wooden logs. Liam made his way over, taking in the warmth and security it provided. He glanced over at one of the log benches and saw a banjo resting up against it.

It was undoubtedly his old one from when he was a child.

"I spent years crafting this forest. The poem that your mother once shared with you. This place, it's-"

"The Forest Of Vanishing Sorrows," Liam finished in a hushed voice. "It's- It's exactly how I imagined it would look like."

Liam surveyed the treeline and saw multiple faces of the deceased staring at him. - his loved ones. They filled him with more joy. He once was excited at the prospect of the unknown, but that was a lie he could never admit to. It was a mere facade his younger self propped up against a cold, indifferent world.

He wanted familiarity. He wanted comfort in knowing. He knew he was selfish enough to yearn for these unattainable things.

Was that so wrong?

"Thank you for doing this."

"You're very welcome, Liam. I am most pleased you enjoy it. But there is something that I must request of you." She paused. "I need your help. I need your help in saving the Pokemon world from itself."

Liam's smile faded as he brought his gaze to the earth. "I… I can't. I'm sorry, but I just can't. Everything I've ever loved in the world has been taken from me. And me? I'm weak. I'm useless. I'm so… tired of all of this."

"It is true you were robbed of a future with your loved ones. But a future that I propose will correct such a fate."

"That was what we dreamed back then, but there's no chance of any world being fixed."

"Never say anything is not possible. I, too, once believed there was no hope. But with the power I have acquired, things have changed. Jackson has seen this possibility as well, and he has been helping us reach it."

He sneered at her comment. "How could you- With a monster like that? He-"

"Jackson is not a good man. I have known his flaws since we first met. He grapples with these 'sins' he has committed in his past life and the ones he still believes he enacts in the present. And yet, past the evil and pain that shrouds his heart, there is goodness. I see that he strives to become better and fulfill something dearest to his heart. Liam… Past all the self-doubt and apathy inside you, there is passion and desire beneath it all."

His head shook. "You're just saying that to make me feel better, like before. I'm nothing. I'm just a kid. I can't do anything to help you."

"You are not nothing, Liam. The brief time that we once shared, I've treasured it greatly even after all this time. I thought no one shared my dreams of a better world, but there was a boy with a broken heart that entered my life. We are kindred spirits, you and I, and there's nothing more important."

The groaning of wood could be heard as a walkway burst forth from the ground. Liam said nothing as he trudged forward and stepped onto it. In an instant, the forest was gone, replaced by a sparkling lakefront suffocated by humidity and abundant cattail.

"But I'm not a good person," the Riolu admitted. "I feel so much hatred inside. I've hurt others. I want to hurt like I've been hurt. You said not to give up hope. But you're holding out for someone not worth any of it."

In the corner of his eye, he could see a glimpse of something - a vision overlaid upon the landscape. He could see another manifest as he turned. His mouth parted as he realized what was being shown to him in numerous amounts.

They were memories of his being played back.

The day he joined the boy scouts. Getting a banjo for his eleventh birthday. His first time fishing with his father. Meeting Gloria in the Sunshine Forest. Them defeating Magmortar. Joining the Cosmic Quilt Guild together. All of their fun adventures and time spent doing jobs. Climbing Celestial Mountain with Jackson. The guild's dive into the research left behind by the Legendaries in Regi Castle. His team's fight with Regigigas. His confrontation with Jackson near the expedition's end.

And the last heartfelt conversation he had with Gloria in the Eden Theater before everything changed for the worst.

All of these moments flashed across Liam's face. A certain feeling stirred within his chest the more he stared.

"Throughout this grand journey of yours… After all of the challenges and triumphs you have surpassed, are you ready to give up on your dream, Liam?"

There was a pregnant pause that followed.

"... No," Liam said in a strained voice. His body trembled with emotion as he ejected more tears. "N-no. No, I'm not ready to give up."

"All the evils of the world that seek to desecrate its beauty and extinguish its existence. The evil that stole your loved ones and a boy's innocence. What do you wish would happen to a corrupted world?"

Something snapped inside. His outpouring of sadness and grief blossomed into a burning rage.

"… I want to wipe it all away." He scowled viciously. "All the evil and the ugliness of the world, it has to be gone!"

He could sense a smile on her nonexistent face after hearing him. "And with the erasure of the world's evil - and the evil inside ourselves - and the constant strife and hatred that accelerates devastation; what would be left is a perfect world of our creation - a paradise. A place where our loved ones never met a demise, and there is only limitless joy. That is the world I seek to create."

Liam opened and closed his mouth several times. "… Our dream," he sounded out gently. "Could it really exist?"

"It was just a dream to us and many tortured souls before, but now it is a potential reality. And all that is required for paradise to be born, is for you to see it through."

There was more noise of creaking wood as a spiral staircase erupted from the ground in front of Liam. He wordlessly began ascending its many steps. His hind paws eventually met rough, rocky mountainous terrain as the staircase vanished behind him. He continued his hike upward, grabbing onto rocks that jutted out and pulling himself further up.

Cool grass met his touch as he rose to his full height at the peak of the mountain. He looked around in a shocked daze, stumbling forward. White wallflowers bloomed beneath him as he bore witness to the very sight he saw during his first expedition in the guild. A sharp, cold wind nipped at his fur, making him feel so alive.

He was here again.

'The peak of Celestial Mountain…'

He peered up at the sky and could see the shimmering, infinite lights of outer space up close as shooting stars hurtled past. A shaky paw was raised to reach the cosmos, and Liam felt a cloud of glittering stardust brush against it.

"Over ten thousand years I waited patiently for this very moment. A message has been sent from the future to the past - across time and space - and was intercepted in this present." She let her words linger. "It was a message for you, Liam. One that shows you are loved, and your pain can be healed."

Liam dropped his paws. "You would do all of this… for me?"

It did not feel real to him. None of this felt that way, but it was.

"Liam. Do you believe you could ever let go of your lost family? To never see their smiles, or to hear their voices again?"

His chest tightened and his breathing hitched.

"Never… I won't ever let go of them."

Even entertaining the thought was unbearable.

"Then please… Help me. Help me see an end to the suffering that has plagued all of existence. And when it is done, the gates of paradise shall be open to all."

Liam went silent. Just before his reunification with her, he had already given up and lost his hope. But the clarity that recent revelations brought tore at his insides. His sadness, his anger, his frustration, and contempt all fused to form something entirely different - a singular goal in mind. It was a goal he only dreamed of before, believing it was once impossible.

But now it was possible.

Paradise.

"... Tell me what you need to do."

A few seconds passed until she spoke to him again, noticeably happier. "Words do not describe my joy at hearing you say that, Liam."

The ground beneath Liam shook as bits of the mountains crumbled off in small chunks.

"My power to keep this vision intact is waning. I shall make my exit, but do not fret; I will return quickly."

Liam smiled widely. "I'm just so happy I could hear your voice again…"

"Likewise, dear… Farewell."

The mirage of Celestial Mountain deteriorated further and further until it collapsed entirely into darkness. Specks of orange dust littered Liam's perception as the vision ebbed. He was now back in the cemetery and staring blankly at the heavens. There was a twitch in his aura feelers as a new power surged through his veins.

He did not react as his body was encased in a white glow.

[https://i.imgur.com/VHmif5e.png]

Corviknight and Pontya waited just outside of the cemetery's metal gate entrance. The restless equine was pacing back and forth as Corviknight absently plucked loose feathers from the plumage around his armored chest.

"He's been in there for a whole hour!" Ponyta exclaimed. "Shucks. I hope he didn't just run off into the forest. Sure seems like somethin' that reckless rascal would do."

"Ease up a lil', sis," Corviknight said. "That bloke may be in the dumps, but I know deep down he knows the right thing to do."

She slowed her gait, sighing. "Ah, I sure hope so, big bro. I just hate seein' a 'mon so sad and mopey. I hated bein' all depressed back then." She frowned, glancing over at Corviknight. "Do ya think I did the thing? Showin' him Ma and Pa and sayin' all that somber stuff?"

"It was. Some 'mons need to confront that idea of lettin' go of their pain. Heck, I sure know a lot of 'mons in my unit can't let go of losin' a bloody game of cards to me," he joked.

Ponyta giggled. "Well, maybe. I just hope I had the right effect-"

The Psychic-type was interrupted by a metallic squeaking noise as the cemetery gate entrance swung open. The brother and sister pair turned and stared in shock at the Pokemon that was walking over to them.

Strands of blood-soaked bandages dropped onto the grass. A spiked forepaw gripped the straps of an eyepatch and brought it up to lay over a mangled right eye. A singular, crimson eye was brimming with confidence and reignited drive. The Pokemon came to a stop on a hill and stared at them.

[https://i.imgur.com/E9piLMg.png]

"M-mister Liam?" Ponyta asked in bewilderment, her jaw hanging loose. "You- you evolved!"

The Lucario made his way over. "I did. And I've made my decision."

"Which, um, is?"

"I'm not giving up any time soon."

Ponyta whistled loudly as she reared up on her hind hooves. "Well all right then! Sounds like ya found your senses back there, huh?"

"Sis wrangles up Miltank for a livin'. No doubt she could wrangle a lost soul," Corviknight added with a smirk.

Liam nodded. "If y'all could help me one last time, I need to find my friends from the guild and reunite with them. Corviknight, is there anything else you know about their whereabouts?"

"Well, durin' our meetin', a lot of guards were pulled off from huntin' you and sent off north of Elysium City to find those guild 'mons that escaped. My best bet? They'd be near those snowy mountains in the farthest reaches."

"Then I'll have to search north, then."

Ponyta ran over to Corviknight and placed her hooves on his talons. "Big bro! You could take Mister Liam and help find his friends! Them guards out there could tell ya if they've caught wind of 'em!"

"I could, couldn't I?" the avian remarked, sighing as his little sister looked up at him with pleading eyes. "I should, shouldn't?" A nod from her sealed his next words. "All right. I'll talk to my squad leader about gettin' moved to the other search party goin' after the guild. Then I'll take Liam wherever he needs to go. I did promise him, after all."

"That's so kind of ya, big bro!" Ponyta cheered before running over to Liam as well. "When ya find your friends, y'all are gonna finish your goals and save the world and junk, right?"

There was an unnoticed glint in Liam's determined smile as he tightened a paw. "We're gonna save the world from Jackson and Yveltal," he said triumphantly.

Ponyta was grinning ear-to-ear, her tail swishing behind her. "Then why are we wastin' time with all the gab? Let's get flyin' already!"

Corviknight chuckled as he spread out his wings. "Hold your Rapidash there, luv! You act like you're goin' with him. C'mon, let's take you back to the ranch."

"Ah… I know. I got responsibilities and all, but it's nice to imagine."

Ponyta pouted as Corviknight's gaze found Liam. "We'll talk more at the ranch. Are you ready to go back there now?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," the Lucario said as he marched over. He waited for Ponyta to hop onto Corviknight's back before he also leaped on. "Like Ponyta said, let's not waste time and get out of here. There's a lot that needs to be done first."

"Confirmed, Mister Evolved 'mon," Corviknight quipped as he grinned. "Here we go - one express flight back to Moomoo Hoof Ranch!"

The Steel-type launched himself off the ground and took to the starry skies in mere seconds. When the cemetery was far behind them, Ponyta turned her head to look back at Liam.

"I'm glad I could help ya out with your troubles, Mister Liam."

"You helped me more than you could ever realize, Ponyta," the Lucario replied. "Once the world is saved, I'll do anything to pay back the kindness you showed me.

"Aw, shucks. You're gonna make me blush! I don't need anythin' from ya; just the world still spinnin' around is good enough."

Liam zoned out completely from his surroundings as his mind wandered to more important things. He replayed the instructions of their plan over and over until it was drilled into him.

There would be no more failures.

There would be no more pain.

His thoughts drifted further. 'And when the world is saved from itself, there'll be no more evil, no more ugliness - like everything should be. And… I'll see them again.'

There would exist paradise.

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Ten thousand years… A message existing in both the past, present, and future. A woman and a boy; kindred spirits reunited at the crux of a new dawn.

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Next Time: The Road To Self-Annihilation