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All the lava flows had crusted over. Only a handful of fleeting embers drifted up toward a clear blue sky. No smog. No volcanic ash. Just the occasional fluffy white cloud.
Man, if only the Aeon citizens could have more time to enjoy the gift Leo gave them. But at least they are given one last day to enjoy it. So thank you Leo
Laughing nervously, Noctum shuffled to the right. He glanced at the castle, wondering if it was large enough for him to safely enter. Were there any dragons that came close to his height as a palkia?
Even if the road ahead got tough, Noctum had to reach the peace and quiet on the other side. Because there would be people he cared about waiting for him, with Valkyrie chief among them.
"Oh. That." Justine wrinkled her nose. "She told me she was Adelaide. And hopped bodies because she had to bide her time until the day would come where she'd save everyone in the kingdom from the dragons once and for all."
Justine exhaled sharply. "She promised me that, if I followed her, I would be worshipped. As if I was a god."
... seriously!?
Well congrats Justine, that puts you rather high up on the PMD: Parents that Suck™️ leaderboard! I think the only ones that outrank you are Enamorus and Zero!
WHO'S FAULT IS THAT!
You raised Shimmer to be that way. At least Shimmer was able to become a better Pokemon, while all you are doing is doubling down on your mistakes
Mortified, Scarlett sucked in a sharp breath, returning Starlene into the neck bauble. "I'm sorry!" the dragonair said. "I tried to stop her. She's just so slippery sometimes. Mentally or whatever."
Can Starlene only see what Scarlett sees? If that's the case, then Scarlett would have to be looking at Igneous's rear to know how big it is
Another great chapter this time around. I'm really glad the gang gets a moment to decompress and finally relax after everything is said and done. Absolutely loved everyone's interactions with each other, and damn, those art pieces are absolutely spectacular
Before I end this with my probably now-standard ending, a hearty one-fingered salute to Justine (/lighthearted). Man, Shimmer was certainly right in Enamorus and her deserving one another.
As always, I'm looking forward to seeing what the penultimate chapter and the finale have in store, and kudos! 💙
Yuna floated out of a hallway and into Aeon Castle's main hall. For the first time, orange light spilled in through an open main door, adding to the orange and blue glows of the various torches and luminous orbs lining the columns at the walls. Assorted crates sat in stacks. Many empty, some with handfuls of seeds and berries in them. Supplies that the fights against the Eterna Empire and Zodiark's Whispers had no doubt exhausted.
It had never been this quiet before. There were no servants moving about. No Aeon soldiers, either, save for silhouettes of a dragonite and a baxcalibur on the other side of the castle's main door.
But there was another dragapult to Yuna's left. Yiazmat gazed at a painting of Bahamut's original form that hung on the wall opposite the main door.
"Hey Mom," Yuna said. Though she kept her voice down, it still carried. Aside from the boxes and occasional pedestals with sparkly treasures, this was an empty room.
Yiazmat turned to her left. "Yuna." She offered a tired smile. "I wasn't sure whether you'd drop by. I imagine you must have a lot to do right now."
"Not really." Yuna floated past the stone pillars to join Yiazmat underneath the painting. She looked over the empty hall. The purple carpet under them bore haphazard, smudged footprints from Aeons of all shapes and sizes.
"Where'd everybody go?" she asked, though part of her knew the answer already.
"I ended up explaining the situation to the soldiers and servants," Yiazmat replied. The dragapult tapped her claws together. "Told them all to spend this time with friends and loved ones."
Yuna winced. "How'd they take it?"
"Could've been worse." Yiazmat chuckled. "Most of them were happy to see the sun in the sky." She waved her right arm around. "So, the notion that they shall move to a new home that isn't choked by smog and ash excites them."
"That's... good? I think?" Tension that Yuna didn't even know she had melted from her ectoplasm.
Yiazmat nodded. "About as good as it can get, given the circumstances."
"Right." Yuna's tail crinkled up a bit. "And those circumstances must be strange for you, huh?"
"Compared to the rest of you, I have not recalled as much of my old life," Yiazmat admitted, scratching her chin. "It only came in brief spurts when around you or Noctum."
"Yeah." Yuna tapped her griseous core. "It's strange, too. Since, well, you were the one instrumental in stopping Zodiark the first time."
"Well, I was your trainer." Yiazmat chuckled. "In some sense, I ended up in the same role again. Raising you up to what you are now." She gestured to Yuna.
"I suppose that's... one way of looking at it." The dragapult laughed nervously. "Then again, you'd also given Giratina your blessing to go after Zodiark on their own. So, maybe that's the real reason why."
Yiazmat smirked. "Yes, but as your mother, my version's funnier."
Yuna couldn't argue with that one, even if she wanted to.
"Still, I recognize what you're getting at," Yiazmat continued, returning her gaze. "Your father and I talked it over already. We're going to stay together." She closed her eyes. "Make sure all your younger siblings have their whole family."
"So, you're going to move to a different world, then?" Yuna asked.
"Indeed." Yiazmat's tail slowly undulated back and forth. "I believe the world you— err, part of you is from is one for only pokémon, correct?"
"It is." Yuna nodded. "So, I guess it makes sense as a home."
From what Yuna was gathering, that world was the one they were all gravitating toward. And now that Yuna thought about it, that concerned her a bit. From her vague recollections as Tessa, that world had a couple of neat pieces of technology, but overall skewed closer to Aeon.
Sure, for her family it wouldn't change too much. They were used to a low-tech lifestyle. But it would be a different story for her friends on Radiance.
Yiazmat began to speak again. "Though I must admit, I can't help but wonder... how are these worlds going to incorporate our souls on top of all the slumbering ones that are supposed to be there?"
Yuna's tail crinkled up. That was another point she hadn't considered.
"The Overseers will help with that, right?" she figured.
"Who's to say?" Yiazmat crossed her arms, frowning. "They cannot stay there forever. Would these worlds be large enough to accommodate us? Or will resources be limited?" She bowed her head. "Will we need to explain what happened to the slumbering souls? Might that create tension?"
Her tail undulated faster. "When I think about it all, it makes me wonder if we're better off finding an empty world to settle on. But who knows how long that would possibly take?"
Yuna swallowed hard. Her mother raised good points. All this time, Yuna had only thought about her family and friends in the resistance. But there were a lot more people involved in this! There were fifty-one different worlds here, all with new lives on them. How were the Overseers possibly supposed to work with that? It could take ages to sort everything out.
And, for some like Diamond and Noctum, that would mean spending ages separated from the people they cared about.
"Apologies." Yiazmat leaned forward. The dragapult put her right hand against the stone wall. "I did not mean to drop such a heavy subject upon you. Especially after everything you've done to get to this point." She sighed. "I suppose it's the queen in me that cannot help but think like this."
She wished the Overseers were still around to discuss the matter with. They sure sounded confident they'd work things out. But Yuna still had doubts.
Thoughts of her last conversation with Shane rattled around in her head. She pictured the crystal he'd given her sitting on her bed, underneath her pillow where she'd left it.
"What if there was an alternative?" the dragapult blurted out.
Yiazmat turned around. "An alternative?"
Yuna tensed, unsure how to respond. She wasn't even sure what Shane had meant with his suggestion of making her own future.
"Yeah." Yuna rubbed her right shoulder. "Like, I dunno, a way for us to all end up together without all these hypothetical issues."
"Hmm." Yiazmat ran a claw along the brim of her triangular head. "Well, I suppose that would be ideal. Though I've rarely seen ideal solutions play out in this life." She raised a brow. "What are you proposing?"
"Nothing specific." Yuna tapped her index claws together nervously. "Only a hypothetical."
"If you're asking for an extra diplomatic voice to plead with the Overseers, then I can certainly lend a hand." Yiazmat extended her left arm toward Yuna. "It's only natural."
"Thanks." Yuna laughed nervously. "But I don't think the hypothetical involves talking."
Before Yiazmat could press the matter further, heavy, thudding footsteps drew both dragapults' attention to the back left corner of the entry hall. A duraludon emerged, with four dreepy on his head and shoulders and another four floating beside him.
"Yuna!" "Yuna!" "Big sis!" "You're back!"
Her eight siblings darted toward her. The smaller dreepy settled in Yuna's horns while the larger ones flew around her.
"We heard you beat a big bad guy!" one of her sisters chirped.
"Yeah, you kicked his butt!" her twin added.
"Baraz says you can shoot giant Dragon Pulses!" One of Yuna's younger brothers brought his hands up by his mouth and spread them apart. "Fwoosh! Bam!"
Yuna spotted the dracozolt behind Calcifer, awkwardly waving to her.
"Now, now, little ones, settle down." Yiazmat floated over to them. "Your sister's very tired after working so hard." She floated up and took Yuna's youngest siblings out of her horns. "How about we give her a bit of space for now, okay?"
As Yiazmat placed the dreepy into her own horns, the larger dreepy all turned to her.
"Sure." "Okay." "Bye, Yuna!" "See ya, sis!"
Nodding to Yuna, Yiazmat took her siblings and hovered toward the same hall everyone had come out of a few minutes ago. That left Yuna with Baraz and Calcifer.
"Hey, Dad." Yuna greeted. "I, uh, take it someone's brought you up to speed on everything?"
"Indeed," the duraludon replied. "I don't entirely understand all of it, but I shall do my best to help your mother in whatever trials await us."
"Right." Yuna glanced at Baraz.
"These old bones haven't given out quite yet," the dracozolt said, stretching his tiny neck. "I'm sure I'll be around."
"If that's what you want," Yuna said.
Calcifer took a few steps forward. He reached his stubby right arm out, aiming for Yuna's shoulder. She caught this and bent over so he could rest his arm there.
"While a lot of this has gone over my head, I do know you and your friends have fought so very hard to get to this point," he said. "You've surprised me in ways I couldn't have imagined back when you were sick, when your mother and I worried ourselves silly."
Yuna's tail crinkled in embarrassment. "Dad..."
"Okay, I won't belabor the point." Calcifer chuckled. "Which is that I'm proud of you. Truly, if anyone's seized the day by the horns, it's you."
"Heh." Yuna couldn't help but smile. "It's funny. The last time I thought about that old creed... it was my first night at Horizon. Crazy how much things changed in, what, four months? Five months?"
"Indeed." Calcifer stepped back. "Why, if things hadn't turned out like this, I dare say you'd have been finishing up your school semester and rejoining us for a break right about now."
"In which case, she still would've been tired," Baraz added, chuckling. "Just because of exams and whatnot."
The irony was almost enough to make Yuna laugh. She'd gone to Horizon with the goal of surviving a school year. Who would've thought the survival part would get taken to such an extreme?
"I, uh, think I'm gonna head back to the outpost to see my friends." Yuna rubbed her right shoulder. "But thanks for checking in." She looked at Baraz. "Both of you."
Baraz nodded. "My pleasure."
"Have a good night," Calcifer said.
"You too, Dad."
Yuna turned and floated across the entry hall. She hovered out the door, nodding to the two guards again. The dragapult flew across the drawbridge, now suspended over rocks with a slight orange tinge to them.
She didn't even make it across the bridge before she spotted a large figure sitting on the edge of the path. Yuna flew faster to close the gap with the palkia up ahead of her. She caught sight of Valkyrie lying on her side, resting her head against Noctum's leg.
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Yuna asked.
"Princess?" Noctum looked over his shoulder. "Oh, hi." He waved, but otherwise didn't move. Valkyrie didn't acknowledge Yuna.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Wanted to see Mom and Dad," Yuna replied. Her ectoplasm rippled. "I... was gonna find you, too. Just didn't think you'd be here."
"Well, the outpost doesn't entirely accommodate me like this." Noctum laughed nervously. "Besides, it's nice to see the sun in Aeon for the first time."
"And the only time," Valkyrie muttered, not budging from her position. "Y'know, considering what's gonna happen."
Yuna's shoulders sagged. "Yeah."
Her previous conversation with Yiazmat ran circles around her head. Along with what Shane had said to her.
"Are you okay?" Noctum asked. "Your tail scrunched up into your waist again."
Yuna looked down. Sighing, she kneaded her hips to coax her tail back out.
"I was... thinking," the dragapult said. "About some points Mom raised over this whole 'world resetting' business."
Valkyrie snorted. "Join the club. We were talking about it earlier."
"Yeah." A pensive frown spread over Noctum's face. "I'm going to try and push through whatever struggles come with fixing my old world. So, um, the Tessa that's deep inside you needs to work hard, too, okay?"
"I'll certainly try." Yuna managed to coax her entire tail back out. "Although..."
That got Valkyrie to sit up. "What?"
"What would you do if you were told there might be another path forward?" Yuna asked.
Though she directed the question to Noctum, Valkyrie responded first. "Meaning?"
Crud. It wasn't like Yuna had gotten specifics since bringing this up to Yiazmat.
"I dunno... a way to restore the worlds without so much uncertainty?" The dragapult looked at Noctum. "Or sacrifice?"
Valkyrie squinted. "You don't sound so sure about this idea."
Noctum gently nudged the garchomp's head. "I think it's a hypothetical."
"Yeah, but where's it coming from?" Valkyrie wondered.
Yuna's chest ectoplasm tightened. There was no sense hiding it.
"From Shane," she said. "Sorta. He made it sound like there might be a way to break the rules, so to speak."
Valkyrie's expression hardened. "Didn't all of this start because he broke some sort of rule about divine power?"
Noctum laughed nervously. "Well, he's an Overseer now, so surely he knows better." His shoulder gems weakly pulsed with pink light. "As for your question, Princess, it would be nice if there was a way. I think I'd probably take it."
Valkyrie snorted. "It sounds too risky if you ask me." When Noctum then frowned at her, her expression softened slightly. "But I suppose we didn't get to this point by playing things safe."
She lay her head back against Noctum's leg. "With a reward that good, maybe it is worth the risk. I dunno what Shane's scheming, but if you really believe there's another way forward, I guess I'll trust you."
Noctum's large tail nearly started wagging. Valkyrie felt the movement because she lifted her head up to squint at both Noctum and Yuna.
"Screw it up, though, and I'll kill you."
Awkward silence followed as she lay her head down again. Noctum tapped his claws together.
"I, um, don't think she means that."
"I absolutely mean it."
"Aha ha." Yuna's tail crinkled slightly. "Right." She drifted back a bit from the two dragons. "I'll, uh, keep that in mind."
The dragapult looked over her shoulder. "I should be getting back to the outpost anyway."
Noctum nodded. "All right. Be well, Princess."
"You too."
Yuna conjured a rift with a wave of her right arm and floated through it. It placed her in the outpost hangar, which had completely emptied out save for one person. And as luck would have it, the cosmic silvally was exactly the person Yuna was looking for.
Widget slowly turned around from what was left of monitor bank. It was strange to see it all disassembled after months of the monitors' blue light bathing the hangar.
"Hey." His cheek bolts turned once in their socket. "Didn't think it'd be this quiet here."
"A lot of folks are hanging out at the restaurant and the arena," Yuna said. "You okay? You look a bit tense."
"I'm as good as I can be, all things considered." Widget's starry ruff dimmed. "Watched a bunch of folks leave with the Overseers, including Bahamut and Gene."
Yuna's tail nearly shot into her waist. "Wait, they left?"
Widget nodded.
The initial surprise quickly wore off when Yuna thought it over for another second. "I mean, I think that was always their plan, right?"
"Yeah." Widget traced circles in the floor with a gold talon. "Guess they decided there wasn't any reason to stay here until tomorrow. It makes sense, I suppose. It just... happened so quickly. I wasn't ready to say goodbye."
Sighing, he hung his head. "I'm still not ready for tomorrow."
Yuna winced. Right. Widget's situation was even tougher than hers. And Yuna doubted that any sort of "alternate path forward" could save him from that fate. These worlds needed their Voices of Life.
"I don't blame you," she said. The dragapult rubbed Widget's shoulder. "It isn't fair for you." She paused. "For any of us, really."
"You can say that again," Widget muttered. His neck ruff deflated. "I wish I could be happy we won. And accept what's coming gracefully. It's just... so hard to think about." His fur bristled. "The idea that one moment I'll be here... and the next I'll be a bunch of different people who maybe vaguely remember what happened here."
"I get it." Yuna rubbed her right shoulder. "Had similar thoughts about the possibility of Giratina swallowing me up." She chomped the air.
"Yeah, but that was a possibility." Widget's crest tightened. "You got control over Giratina in the end. What's about to happen to me is a certainty."
"Sorry," Yuna reflexively muttered. It seemed Widget wasn't in the mood for sympathy. Yuna didn't know if she could improve his mood. So, she'd have to cut right to the chase.
The dragapult opened a tiny rift and stuck her hand through it. She produced the crystal Shane gave her. Its rainbow light sparkled despite the hangar's dim glow.
That got Widget's attention. "What's that?" He tilted his head. "It kinda feels like... Shane's energy?"
"Because he gave it to me," Yuna said, holding the crystal up. "When he suggested that there might be another way to restore the worlds. Y'know, beyond going with the Overseers."
Widget raised a brow. "And did he tell you how to do that?"
"Nooooot exactly."
Yuna laughed nervously when Widget squinted at her. "I was actually going to go to Valhalla and see if I could contact him about specifics."
"Why Valhalla?" Widget tilted his head.
"Privacy, for one." Yuna's tail quickly undulated. "And, well, it is the center of this universe." She tossed the crystal to herself. "If we can make anything happen, it'll be there."
"We?" Widget's cheek bolts turned. "You want to rope me into this?"
Yuna nodded. "I figured maybe your Voice powers could help. And, well, we've gotten this far by sticking it to the powers that be, haven't we?"
She extended her free arm toward the cosmic silvally. "Wouldn't it be nice to go out doing that one last time? And in a way that'll make things better for all our friends?"
Widget stared silently at Yuna's arm. Then he stretched his right foreleg out and pressed his talons against Yuna's hand.
"All right." He exhaled deeply. "When you put it like that, I suppose I can give it a shot."
Smiling, Yuna threw her free arm back. A rift opened behind her that she floated backward through. Widget walked after her.
"Okay." Yuna tossed the crystal to herself again. "Here goes nothing."
The dragapult focused on her griseous core and funneled a bit of energy toward the crystal. Its prismatic light glowed brighter.
"Um, hello?" she said. "Shane, are you there? It's Yuna. I'd like to try finding another path forward."
Silence followed. Widget sniffed the air.
"Is the crystal gonna do anything?" he asked.
"No idea," Yuna replied.
The crystal flashed. It vibrated in Yuna's hand. Squeaking in surprise, she nearly dropped it.
"Put a bit more energy into it."
Shane's voice sounded distant. And like it came through an old-timey speaker.
Yuna and Widget exchanged a curious look. Then the dragapult set the crystal down. Two Giratina tendrils emerged from her griseous core and zapped the crystal with bits of red and black chaos energy.
It vibrated in place more intensely. Then a stream of rainbow light spilled out of it, taking the shape of a ninetales silhouette on the ground between Yuna and Widget. The light faded to reveal Shane standing there. A bit of multicolored light glistened under his chest fur.
"Heya." Shane waved a few tails at them. He acknowledged Widget with a nod, then looked around. "Huh. This is kinda familiar. Where are we, exactly?"
"The center of this universe," Widget said, tapping a gold talon impatiently on the ground. "It's where Nova fought with Matriarch. Y'know, after learning about the worlds colliding business and Professor Cynthia's program to restore them."
"Right, right. That was in the explanation." Shane bobbed his head.
Widget's starry ruff puffed up a bit. "Yuna says you apparently made her some sort of offer about a different way to fix the worlds?"
Shane's ears swiveled back. "Well, I didn't exaaaaactly phrase it like that. I did suggest she might be able to carve out a path forward for everyone in the Overseers' stead."
As far as Yuna was concerned, those were semantics! She crossed her arms. "Can you help us or not?"
The icetales turned to look at the broken Eternatus Core. He studied it silently, bushy tails lazily swished back and forth.
"Hellooooooo?" Widget stepped into Shane's line of sight and fanned his crest out. "We don't exactly have forever to mull this over."
"Oh, I know." Shane turned back to Yuna. "And I think I have an idea in mind."
He closed his eyes. Whatever gemstone sat under his chest fur pulsed with warm white light. Shane nodded slowly to himself.
"Yeah. It can work." Shane sat down, curling his tails up. "First thing you two gotta do is get that thing on again." He jerked his head in the core's direction.
Yuna and Widget exchanged flabbergasted looks.
"What are you talking about?" Widget squawked. "It's broken beyond repair!"
"Because its main power source is gone, right?" Shane looked between the two of them. "You can gather that power."
Yuna wasn't convinced. "Explain it concretely."
"When Leo sealed Zodiark away, he did so using that original divine energy that never belonged to these worlds." Shane gestured with a foreleg. "Dreamweaver was destroyed in the process and joined the departed souls making up Eternatus.
"But what about all that divine energy?" Shane pointed at the ground with a tail. "It's still here. Spread throughout the universe. If you have enough discipline and willpower, you can draw from it.
"And, well, with no Creator, you two might as well be the next rungs on the legendary ladder," Shane quipped, the tips of his tails thumping against the ground. "If you focus enough, you can gather that energy here and use it to jump start the core."
His explanation was still a bit too esoteric for Yuna's liking. Then again, everything about this was esoteric as hell. And considering Giratina played a pretty big role in this universe's creation to begin with, maybe Shane had a point.
"Hold on a minute." Widget's cheek bolts spun quickly in their sockets. "If we turn on the core, what's stopping Matriarch from trying to run Cynthia's program? Y'know, the thing we don't want to happen?"
Yuna stiffened. That was a very good point.
So, why did Shane seem so unbothered by Widget's interjection? What was he thinking?
Wait. Carving out our own future...
Yuna blinked once. Twice. The dragapult opened her mouth, only to close it. Then she did it again. And a third time.
Try as she might, the words kept getting jumbled in her head.
Shane smiled warmly. "Looks to me like you've got an idea."
That bit of prompting straightened out Yuna's thoughts. She took a deep breath.
"Are you suggesting... we rewrite the program?"
"What?" Widget's neck ruff puffed out so much it obscured his beak. "How would that even work?"
"Think about it." Yuna tapped her griseous core with a claw. "Matriarch's ultimately bound by her programming. Now, with Zodiark out of the picture, she has no reason to be as guarded over it."
"Programming that had her doing everything possible to keep Giratina's energy from getting near her," Widget pointed out, preening his neck ruff under control. "She'd never let you rewrite her code."
"But she wouldn't have the same problems with you," Yuna countered. "Heck, you were originally built to interface with Eternatus. What better way to give one last proverbial 'screw you' to Paradox than to use those abilities for your own purpose?"
Widget opened his beak to respond, only to shut it and look down. His cheek bolts turned slowly as he mulled over Yuna's point.
"I imagine we would need even more energy to make this happen, right?" he asked, looking at Shane.
"Yep. Enough energy to rattle anyone, legend or not." Shane's expression grew serious. "I can't act as that conduit... or else we risk repeating some of the same mistakes that got us all here to begin with."
His gaze fell on Yuna. "But with all those Giratina layers you've got, you might be able to make it happen."
Widget looked ready to cut in when Shane held up his leftmost tails. "After rewriting the code to not be hostile to Giratina."
The cosmic silvally nodded silently.
"But the restored worlds would need their giratina, wouldn't they?" Yuna tapped her claws together nervously.
"They'd still get them." Shane sounded confident. "You can't destroy a soul. Even if that energy burns through your body and 'kills' every layer of you right down to Tessa, the souls will persist."
His expression grew contemplative. "Though that would affect what happens to you in your new world. Since, effectively, you'd need to be born anew."
There it was. The catch. A small part of Yuna knew this all sounded too good to be true. Now she had a choice to make. She could do nothing, and accept the risks the Overseers' process posed to everyone, including friends and family... or she could take on all that risk herself to give everyone a clearer path forward.
Sure, Yuna had given up a lot. But so had the others. And it was Giratina's fault they'd all gone through this.
When Yuna thought about it that way, it was really a no brainer. Only one thing gave her pause.
Nikki...
How would the toxtricity take this? Would she be mad at Yuna? See it as the dragapult giving up on her? Or would this be the kind of thing Nikki would encourage her to do?
Yuna's tail scrunched up. She gazed up at the broken core.
"What are you thinking?" Widget whispered.
"If Nikki was here in my place, what would she do?" Yuna poked at her ectoplasm.
Widget hummed in thought. "Well, she's never been one to take things lying down." Gold talons clicked against stone. "And she wears her heart on her sleeve. If it were her... I think she'd go down swinging, so to speak."
"Meaning she'd give this a try." Yuna straightened her tail out. "Then I guess that settles it." She looked at Widget. "And you're willing to work with me?"
"Yeah." The cosmic silvally turned toward the core. "I think, somehow, this is what Leo would've wanted, too. For us to make our own miracle."
Smiling, Shane stepped back, clearing a path to the altar's stairs. "All you've gotta do is concentrate on what's around you. Feel for that divine energy and tug."
It still sounded silly to Yuna. Nevertheless, the dragapult flew up toward the altar. Widget trotted after her.
Taking deep breaths, Yuna shut her eyes. She focused on her breathing. On the warm sunlight and the cool breeze coming in through the hole in the dome.
It wasn't long before she felt something other than the well of power in her griseous core. It was all around her. As if a deep lake surrounded her.
Yuna imagined reaching her arm out and dipping her hand into the water. Warmth welled up in her gut.
She figuratively stuck her arms in deeper, cupping the water under the surface. Then Yuna lifted her arms out.
The warmth spread throughout her body. Then it extended in front of her.
[Power cells at sufficient capacity,] a female voice announced. [Matriarch system online.]
"Matriarch," Yuna whispered. She looked toward the base of the altar, but didn't see any signs of the old android body. It must've gotten destroyed during the battle with Xeromus and Dreamweaver.
[Multiple errors detected,] Matriarch continued. [I must run diagnostics to ascertain the problems before resuming standard operations.]
Widget took that as his cue. He stepped toward the flickering purple light.
"That won't be necessary," the cosmic silvally said. Tendrils of purple energy extended toward the core.
For a brief moment, Yuna thought she saw tiny pink silhouettes that resembled mew drifting around the core. Maybe it was a trick of the eyes. Or something to do with Widget's Voice powers.
[I see.] The broken core pulsed with pink light. [Zodiark has been eliminated, with Giratina contributing to his defeat. All the worlds have been gathered within Eternatus. However, Dreamweaver is gone. You are proposing to rewrite the Dimensional Restoration Program, while Giratina supplies the energy to power it?]
"We are." Widget looked at Yuna. "You'll find that Giratina is... not the enemy you thought she was."
Yuna wasn't sure what to do, so she waved nervously. "All we want is what's best for everyone here. Whether they're alive or slumbering. Our friends have fought too hard to leave their futures up to chance." She bowed her head. "So please let us do this."
At first there was no response. Yuna swore she saw a loading icon or two in the cracked glass behind the triangular core. She hoped that meant Matriarch was thinking.
[The professor created a number of safeguards in my coding to prevent tampering,] Matriarch said. The core's light dimmed, then brightened. [However, diagnostics reveal you are telling the truth. There is no sign of Zodiark anywhere. Therefore, I will grant you administrator privileges to my systems.]
Text flickered on the broken screens. Widget's energy tendrils turned bright blue. His crest fanned out.
"Ah, I can see it!" Blue light filled Widget's eyes. "I've got it all right here!"
"Really? That's great!" Yuna's tail undulated in excitement. "So, uh, what do we do with this new version of the code?"
"If I may make a suggestion?" Shane called from the bottom of the altar. "You can do two versions for each world. One for the slumbering souls to return to. And one for the people who are currently alive."
"But what about Paradox's capital?" Yuna tapped her chin. "And Aeonius?"
"I guess we can preserve those as is," Widget said. Pink and blue lines flitted across his glowing eyes. Yuna wondered how fast he could possibly work.
"Another question." Yuna turned to Shane. "How are we supposed to put these worlds back in their proper spots in Ginnungagap?"
"You're not." Shane shook his head. "Keep them all here, but as a connected multiverse. If you build the new dimension with Ultra Space, that fabric will keep the worlds separated from one another."
"Ultra Space?" Widget tilted his head. "Wait, I think I do have memories of that concept."
Yuna wanted to press for more details, but Widget didn't seem bothered. The blue and pink lines moved even faster.
It was really happening then. Widget was rewriting the code. Which meant next would come Yuna's part.
The part that Shane called overwhelming.
"You good here for now, Widget?" Yuna asked.
"Yeah." His fur then prickled. "Wait, you're not leaving, are you?"
"Just gotta take care of one thing back at the outpost," Yuna said, already drifting away from the altar. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Promise."
The dragapult opened a rift in front of her.
"Wait, Yuna, what's so important it can't wait until I'm done here?" Widget called. But Yuna had already flown through the rift.
She didn't know how much time she'd spent in Valhalla. Only that she didn't have a moment to lose.
It had never been this quiet before. There were no servants moving about. No Aeon soldiers, either, save for silhouettes of a dragonite and a baxcalibur on the other side of the castle's main door.
"Still, I recognize what you're getting at," Yiazmat continued, returning her gaze. "Your father and I talked it over already. We're going to stay together." She closed her eyes. "Make sure all your younger siblings have their whole family."
"Heh." Yuna couldn't help but smile. "It's funny. The last time I thought about that old creed... it was my first night at Horizon. Crazy how much things changed in, what, four months? Five months?"
"Privacy, for one." Yuna's tail quickly undulated. "And, well, it is the center of this universe." She tossed the crystal to herself. "If we can make anything happen, it'll be there."
(Give or take fifty feet)
Also, this means that Hubble's Law can't be a thing in this universe, so the universe isn't expanding. How else could there be an exact center of the universe? (Sorry, just my inner astronomy nerd)
She extended her free arm toward the cosmic silvally. "Wouldn't it be nice to go out doing that one last time? And in a way that'll make things better for all our friends?"
"But she wouldn't have the same problems with you," Yuna countered. "Heck, you were originally built to interface with Eternatus. What better way to give one last proverbial 'screw you' to Paradox than to use those abilities for your own purpose?"
There it was. The catch. A small part of Yuna knew this all sounded too good to be true. Now she had a choice to make. She could do nothing, and accept the risks the Overseers' process posed to everyone, including friends and family... or she could take on all that risk herself to give everyone a clearer path forward.
Oh come on! (/lh)
Yuna deserves to be happy!
So if souls can't be destroyed, what are memories. Are those imprinted on the soul too? If that's the case, then could Yuna still have a chance at remaining who she is, just with a layer of Tessa's memories as well? Or perhaps Giratina could choose to allow Yuna to exist in their place, as one final gift, one final act of making up for everything that happened?
Man, I can't wait to see what the next chapter will bring
"You're not." Shane shook his head. "Keep them all here, but as a connected multiverse. If you build the new dimension with Ultra Space, that fabric will keep the worlds separated from one another."
Another fantastic chapter Amby! I absolutely loved getting to see how overwhelmed Yuna was feeling, and see her interacting with those she loves and cares about. But since she's said goodbye to her mother, father, and Noctum (older brother imo), all that's left is for her to say goodbye to her love...
I can't wait to see how things all play out next week. It's been such an amazing and fantastic journey these past few years, so all I can say for now is that I'm looking forward to seeing where things go next, and kudos! 💙
And here we are… finally caught up. I will try to be a bit more in depth this time around since I’m not rushing to catch up, but first and foremost… Almost feels like a lifetime ago that you described the hallways of Aeon castle and Yuna’s family. It’s kinda nostalgic and melancholic seeing the state in which things are, but at the same time, there’s hope for a brighter future. That’s one of the core themes of this story, and it’s become prevalent: looking toward the future even if current events are very dreary.
And considering current events in our lives, I think it’s a message we all have to hold close to our hearts.
It’s very much like Yiazmat to worry about the state that their world will be in, whatever ends up happening, but… just gotta hope it works out. She brings up valid points about resources, but I’m sure that considering the Overseers said this happened before, they wouldn’t just leave people out to dry or keep people dead and waiting in the wings for centuries for their turn to live, and completely separate loved ones and families. That insecurity is still a killer though…
These kinds of conversations are such a treat, because I can actually see where the relationship between Yuna and her mother is. It’s certainly come a long way from where they ended up back when Yiazmat first joined the resistance, and even if the true nature of their relationship is a bit muddy, thanks to the fact that she’s Akari deep down… hell, she still did a wonderful job rearing her and giving her the best childhood she could despite the strenuous and odd circumstances. A far better mother than practically anyone else in Radiance. Would’ve loved to see some commentary on Leo however, how she regrets not talking with her grandson more, or comforting Yuna in what happened to him. Even if she’s come to terms with it, just that tiny gesture might’ve done wonders, and made the scene all the sweeter.
Also, Yuna’s siblings saying bye from Yiazmat’s horns is adorable.
Hey Yuna how about you don’t make your dad pass out this time around, eh? You practically killed the guy last time! Wonder if him learning she’s dating Nikki would do him in again… naah, those kinds of relationships are much more accepted in this world, which is a breath of fresh air. Kinda crazy to think just how much happened in less than half a year, and needless to say, she’s survived a school… week? At most? And then the end of the world and who knows how many more life or death situations, so yes, she’s hella impressive, and the pride that radiates from Calcifer is palpable. If there’s a reason Yuna came out like this, it’s because of their support and love, as well as her indomitable spirit.
I don’t know if Shane really has learned his lesson or if he knows better Yuna, but I think it’s worth giving it a shot, even if it’s… well, dicey, to say the least. The risk is great, but the rewards are greater. Just… gonna have to talk with him and figure something out, aren’t you? At the very least she has Noctum and Valkyrie’s blessing. Should she go around asking Diamond, Cyril… basically, everyone else as well? Because if it involves all of them, well… chances are she should at least mention it to at least Widget.
Oh, speak of the devil. The two biggest losers here… and someone who is absolutely going to go through with whatever crazy plan Shane is going to propose. Though if they’re going to Valhalla… Wait, I think I know where this might be going, if they can somehow restart the core… wait wouldn’t that just fuck them all over and send everyone out to Gunningagap?
Oh wait, so if they rewrite the code, then they can try to make a big multiverse where everyone can coexist and go visit without a need for all the de-stabilized stuff! Ok that’s actually a great idea, since at the end of the day, that was the whole reason for Eternatus and Matriarch! To create a stable multiverse! That’s actually a brilliant idea on their part, and with Shane’s supervision then… surely it can work!
Even if it can, uh… potentially kill Yuna. God damn it… can this girl have a happy ending, or am I going to bawl my eyes out when she has to give up her sense of self or her memories or her life up? Can’t she just… be happy? Because even Widget is looking like he might get what he wants and not have to get split apart into a million different pieces.
Well… I suppose she’s off to fetch Nikki and get a final goodbye? Guess we’ll know this Saturday!
Nikki's yelling, followed by her jostling of Igneous' bed, abruptly woke the grovlazzle up. Groaning, he tried to hike his covers up over his face. Though he didn't know what time it was, a heaviness clung to his eyelids.
That got Igneous to lift his head up. "What's your problem? I'm freaking exhausted over here!"
Nikki turned on the light to the room. Hissing, Igneous threw his arm over his face. Scarlett and Shimmer similarly growled their annoyances.
"What's so important that you had to barge in here and wake us up?" Shimmer asked. "It's gotta be the middle of the night."
"It's Princess!" Nikki responded.
Igneous finally managed to adjust to the light. He found Nikki standing between his and Scarlett's beds, shaking a piece of paper crumpled in her grip.
The grovlazzle rubbed his face again. "What's the problem?"
"This is the problem!" Nikki smacked her hand down on Igneous mattress, leaving the crumpled paper beside his left thigh. "She's about to go rogue!"
Sighing, Igneous slowly sat up and swung his legs off the bed. He reached out, grabbed the paper, and uncrumpled it.
Widget and I are in Valhalla with Shane right now. After the Overseers gave us their explanation about what was going to happen, I still had some lingering doubts. When we talked to Shane, he gave me a crystal and said to get in touch with him if I wanted to try a different option. And, after talking with Noctum and my parents, I realized there are just too many uncertainties surrounding the Overseers' plan.
That's why we're taking matters into our own hands. The same way we've done to get to this point. However, the process will require a lot of energy. Enough that Shane thinks it's going to kill the person who channels it. Which would be me.
I realize how bad that sounds! But we'll make sure I'm reborn in the new world we're making. I don't know what that will entail exactly. Maybe I won't remember what happened here. But it's worth it if it means giving everyone else a happy ending.
Igneous had to resist the urge to crumple the paper himself. He could scarcely believe what he was reading.
Heck, you're the reason I'm even doing this. I asked myself what you'd do if you were in my place and that's how I came to this answer. I wanted to talk with you in person, but you were fast asleep. Couldn't wake you up. So, this letter will have to do.
I'm so glad I was able to find you again. Sure, we spent a lot more time fighting in this life compared to our last. But that wasn't every minute. The rest of it was fun. I can't believe your attitude used to scare me. Now, it's just one of those things I can't get enough of.
Despite having less power than the rest of us, you never gave up. On the fight. On me. I'd say you've been even braver than me. And I think the reason I could stand up to all of this is because I had you by my side. You taught me to be headstrong... and not take things lying down.
So, I'm choosing to hold those feelings close. If the Overseers' plan is a crummy one, then I'll do things my own way. I know it's what you would do.
Thanks for everything, Nikki. I'll always love you.
~Yuna
Igneous relayed the letter's contents to Scarlett and Shimmer. He politely omitted the mushier stuff, figuring it was only meant for Nikki's eyes to begin with.
"It sounds to me like Yuna's found a different way to restore the worlds," Shimmer said. The ponytales tilted his head. "What's wrong with that? If she can repair things better than the Overseers, then I say we let her."
Nikki swiped the letter out of Igneous' grasp. "Did you miss the part where she said it might freaking kill her?" Sparks flitted off the toxtricity's mane. They scattered across the carpet.
Shimmer shook his head. "Are you saying you wouldn't do this if you were in Yuna's position?"
Nikki's mohawk shrank slightly. She jammed her hands into her jacket pockets.
"No, that's—" Nikki squeezed her eyes shut. "Look, if it were Twiggy doing this, wouldn't you be upset?"
Shimmer looked down. "I suppose so. But I'd understand it."
Scarlett's flapped her tiny wings once. "I get where you're coming from, Nikki. But what can we do about this? Yuna's made up her mind already."
"I know." Nikki's mohawk flashed orange. She looked around the room, before turning to the door.
"I gotta see her. We gotta get to the damn core."
Nikki stomped toward the door. "Where's Boss Kitty? He can warp us over there."
"No, he can't." Grunting, Igneous got to his feet. "He left with the Overseers, remember?"
The toxtricity flinched. "Okay, then we find Zardy. He's gotta be here, right?"
"Last I recall, he and Valkyrie went to the Aeon Kingdom," Igneous said, rubbing his right shoulder. "I don't know if he's actually back or not."
Nikki threw the door open. "Well, there's only one way to find out!"
She ran out of the room without a second thought. Igneous looked at Scarlett and Shimmer, who both still lay in bed.
"We should follow her, right?" the grovlazzle said.
"Yeah." Sighing, Scarlett uncoiled to slither out of the door.
Shaking out his messy mane, Shimmer rose off his mattress and trotted after the dragonair. Igneous brought up the rear.
Whatever was going on in Valhalla, he really hoped Yuna knew what she was doing.
XxX
Widget took a step back from the Eternatus Core. His pink and purple filaments receded into his starcloud fur. The cosmic silvally bowed his head.
"I think that's everything," he said.
The core's light shifted to a vibrant blue. Assorted green icons flickered in and out on the broken monitors.
[New parameters set,] Matriarch announced. [My simulations show no errors in the codes. With all the component planets gathered within Eternatus, the program's startup sequence is already complete. The next step is to input the required energy.]
Yuna's ectoplasm tightened. That was her cue. She stole a glance back toward the base of the altar. Shane stood there diligently. The icetales nodded at her.
"Right." Yuna hovered up to the core. "I guess it's... just like how we jump started the core? Except with a lot more energy?"
"Something like that," Shane called.
"How badly is it going to hurt?"
"Hard to say." Shane's tails curled up. "It was pretty rough for me when I pulled a similar stunt back in my world. But it only lasted a couple of seconds."
Yuna took a shaky breath. "Right."
She thought of Nikki. Of Noctum and her parents. Of better, happier lives that they would all soon get to live.
"Okay." Yuna reached her right arm out toward the center of the core. "Here goes nothing."
The dragapult looked at Widget. His filaments reappeared. This time they dug themselves into the marble ground. Bright light began to swarm the altar.
Yuna closed her eyes and concentrated. She again imagined that vast ocean of divine energy stretched out around her.
This time, however, when she plunged her arms into the water, it began to churn. Water sloshed back and forth. Some of it splattered against her chest. Sprayed her face.
"Transform!" Shane shouted. "You've gotta take the right form for this!"
As if to acknowledge Shane's suggestion, Yuna's griseous core burned in her chest. She seized on that warm energy. Felt her body grow and expand.
To her right, Widget squawked in surprise. Engine thrusters told Yuna that Widget had shifted to miraivally mode to give her the space needed to change into Giratina.
Yuna felt her tendrils at the ready. Her body still burned. Rough waters still sloshed around her mind's eye. She saw waves rolling around in the distance.
Leaning forward, Yuna wrapped her tendrils around the core. That heat began to flow along her tendrils. Slowly at first. Then steadily faster. And warmer.
The core itself whirred, growing steadily louder and louder. Yuna wasn't sure if Shane or Widget were trying to talk to her. So she remained focused on channeling the energy.
It was intense. Hot enough to make Yuna think her tendrils would burn up on the spot. In her mind's eye, the waves turned toward her. Scalding water crashed over her, sizzling her ectoplasm.
"Nnngggggggggh." Yuna's tendrils trembled. "Oww... owwwwwwww! It hurts! It HURTS!"
She could smell boiling ectoplasm. This wasn't just in the back of her mind anymore. She was actually burning up!
"What's going on?" Yuna couldn't hear anything besides her own voice, the core's loud whirring, and her sizzling ectoplasm. "Is it working? Someone say something!"
"... cess..."
Huh?
Yuna only caught a syllable over all the other noise. But the voice wasn't Shane or Widget's.
Then who?
"PRINCESS!"
The shock of hearing Nikki clearly almost made Yuna let go of the core. But she managed to keep her boiling tendrils around it.
Unfortunately, it was hard for Yuna to easily turn her bulky Giratina body around.
"Nikki?" Yuna called. She might've shouted it a bit too loudly given how close she was to the core's whirring. "Nikki, is that you?"
"Yes! And Scartlett, Twiggy, Twinkie, and Zardy, too!"
Another wave of energy crashed over Yuna. She sucked in a sharp breath. Her tendrils squeezed the core tightly.
"H-Hey, guys!" Yuna's voice trembled. Though she opened her eyes, she was in so much pain that she could only see blurry silhouettes at the base of the altar. "Got... my letter, huh?"
A purple blur stepped forward, only for a white blur to block its path forward.
"Yes!" Nikki shouted. "What the hell are you doing, you crazy bitch?"
"I'm, hrrrrrrrrk, taking hold... of our future!" Yuna responded. She now heard popping and snapping from her ectoplasm. That... couldn't be good.
At least the core was whirring louder. And getting brighter, too. That was a good thing, right?
"Why?" Nikki's silhouette tried moving forward, only for that white silhouette to block her again. Probably Shane.
Yuna sucked in another sharp breath. "I wanted... you guys... to be happy." She managed to get that out between painful grunts and gasps. Even with her vision blurry she could tell her ectoplasm was dissolving away. This divine energy really was tearing her apart!
Yellow flashed around Nikki's silhouette. "The hell makes you think I'd be happy with you sacrificing yourself?!"
"It's not... a total sacrifice." Yuna had lost feeling in two of her tendrils. She had no idea if they were still holding on. Or were even there. "Tessa will... be reborn... one way... or another."
"But it won't be the same!" Nikki countered.
Another two waves of energy crashed over Yuna. Hollering in pain, Yuna lost feeling in the rest of her tendrils. More of her torso faded away. She could see her dragapult body underneath, dissolving into gray and black shadowy streams.
"The spirit!" Yuna said, trying to smile through the pain. "The spirit... never forgets! We'll find... each other again."
The yellow around Nikki's silhouette settled down. Behind her, the other silhouettes completely blurred together.
"You promise?" Nikki shouted.
"I promise!" More of Yuna's Giratina body broke apart. Nikki and Shane's silhouettes melted into the swirl of colors behind them.
A loud ding sounded as the core's whirring reached a fever pitch.
[Energy charge sequence will reach completion in thirty seconds,] Matriarch announced.
Yuna sighed in relief. It would all be over soon.
Her relief proved fleeting, however, as the most intense waves of energy suddenly crashed over her. Yuna arched her head up, roaring in pain. It drowned out the core's noises... and the shouts of her friends.
The pain pulled her in every direction at once. All the colors around her blurred together. Swirling around chaotically. Her ectoplasm ripped apart at the seams. Everything got blurrier and blurrier. Despite that, she saw a purple and yellow blur extending an arm toward her.
"YUNA!"
Then the noise suddenly ceased. All the colors disappeared. A black void surrounded Yuna, who couldn't feel anything. Not her limbs or a torso or even a head.
Setting the Z-Crystal down, the necrozma dispelled his Ultra Burst, shrinking back into an icetales. He shook himself out. Golden light flecks faded into the air around him.
Sharp clangs drew his attention forward, where a cosmic lucario and mega mewtwo sparred in the Ultra Nexus' entry chamber. Golden light sword clashed against dark purple spoon. Light and shadows danced around Bahamut and Gene as their weapons continually stalemated.
On the other side of the room, a golden xerneas and grayscale necrozma looked in Shane's direction. Angel acknowledged him with a smile and a wag of her stubby little tail.
Tama's grayscale eyes swirled around. His crystal beak twisted into a frown. With a flash of gray light and an audible pop, Tama appeared beside Shane in his grayscale pyroar guise.
"What did you do?" Tama growled.
Shane tensed up. "Huh?"
"Here you are with several spirits in your possession... right before Nebulon is due to lead POV-2020's disassembly." Tama leered at the giant Z-Crystal. "What. Did. You. Do?"
A particularly loud clang caught Shane's attention. Bahamut's light sword tumbled out of his hands, fading away before it struck the crystalline ground. Gene held the end of his shadowed spoon in front of Bahamut's neck.
"Another win for me!" The mega mewtwo smirked. "That makes it eight to six, in favor of yours truly."
Bahamut swatted Gene's spoon aside with his right paw. "Where did you learn to count?" he growled. "We're dead even!"
Gene's shit-eating grin widened. "Maybe in your dreams, buddy."
Tama turned to glare at them. Angel clearly got the memo, as the golden xerneas sprang to her feet.
"All right, you two. How about we give them the room?"
She quickly shepherded Bahamut and Gene out of the entryway, leaving Shane and Tama by themselves. The gray pyroar's brow furrowed.
"I can feel a significant change in Ginnungagap without even setting foot in it," Tama claimed. "What did you do?"
Shane's ears pinned back. He fully expected Tama to catch on quickly. Guy had a knack for that. But in Shane's opinion, it was better for Tama not to know. That way, he wouldn't be at risk for getting in trouble.
However, before Shane could actually say that, heavy metallic footsteps caught his attention.
"Yes, Shane, what did you do to POV-2020?"
The deep male voice came from Shane's left. He turned his head and found a familiar solgaleo standing at the Ultra Nexus' entrance. There was a zygarde behind him.
Shane's tails puffed out. "Aha ha... hiiiii, Nebulon. How are you doing?"
"I'm just peachy." Nebulon's words dripped with sarcasm. "Did you know that POV-2020 is transforming into a multiverse? With an Ultra Space branch running between its separated worlds?"
"I, uh, might've heard about that." Shane's tails twisted around one another while he pawed nervously at the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tama glaring at him.
"Yes, it would appear that the people of POV-2020 decided to improvise their own repair process after originally agreeing to our terms." Nebulon's tail flicked in irritation. The solgaleo leaned forward. "I wonder who could've given them that idea?"
Nebulon nodded. "Top Overseer Xenon would like to hear more from you about just how this world came to the conclusion to improvise the way it did." A glowing third eye appeared in his starry forehead. "Y'know, in addition to all the other scheming you did after I explicitly instructed you not to involve yourself in this case."
"Sure, I'll chat with Xenny." Shane looked at Tama. "You and Angel okay holding down the fort?"
"They'll be speaking to Xenon, too," Nebulon said. Irritation flashed across Tama's face, though he directed it firmly at Shane.
"I'll, uh, be right behind you two," Shane said, waving Nebulon and Zygarde off with a couple of his tails. When they stepped through the Ultra Nexus' entrance, Shane held up a foreleg to preempt Tama.
"Don't need a lecture," he said. "I know you're mad. But they made the right choice. And everyone's going to be happier for it."
"Meanwhile we're going to end up on probation or worse," Tama growled. "I cannot believe I let you talk me into this nonsense." The gray pyroar shook his head. "I should've been on a beach somewhere."
Shane sighed. "Look, I'll do what I can to take as much of the blame as possible. Which is fine by me." He glanced at the tunnel that Angel had led Bahamut and Gene down. "Besides, I've been at this for way, way too long. Thing it's time I considered stepping back and letting a newer generation take up the Team Radiance mantle in my place."
Tama's brow furrowed. "What are you saying? You're going to leave the Overseers?"
"Nah." Shane waved a foreleg. "But I've got my next project lined up. And it starts with passing control of Team Radiance over to Gene."
"A Dark Matter?" Tama snorted. "You want him to inherit your team?"
"Why not?" Shane shrugged. "Your dad's a Dark Matter, isn't he? Led the team that saved your home and everything."
Tama had no counterargument. He stepped away, looking toward the tunnel.
"Do what you can to not incur Xenon's wrath," he mumbled. Tama returned to his grayscale necrozma form and flew off toward the same tunnel Angel went down.
Shane watched him go with a satisfied smile. He turned toward the Ultra Nexus entrance.
He believed in the choices he made... and in the choices Yuna and her friends made as well. Now he just needed to sell that to Xenon.
XxX
Shane arrived in what he assumed was some sort of office. It had transparent bookshelves lined with outlines of intangible books and folders. Instead of a carpet, a small aurora swirled around beneath his feet. Stars twinkled with light, bathing the room in a platinum glow.
On the opposite side of the room stood an old oaken desk. Empty elixir vials sat neatly on one side, with more translucent files on the other side, underneath a drinking bird toy styled to resemble a lugia. It rhythmically bobbed up and down, its beak kissing a glass filled with luminescent blue water.
It would have all been perfectly mundane were it not for the floor-to-ceiling window behind the desk, offering a dazzling view of golden and rainbow light getting pulled in different directions like cosmic taffy. Within the light, Shane spotted planet-shaped outlines: the various worlds of POV-2020 reforming and moving away from one another.
He cleared his throat. "You wanted to speak with me, Xenny?"
Overlooking the display was a mega charizard X clad in platinum scales, dirtied gray from the earlier battle. The Top Overseer. Everyone answered to him.
He kept his back turned to Shane, so the icetales only had Xenon's platinum tail flame to use for a hint to his emotions. Of course, it gave away nothing.
After a few moments of silence, Xenon said, "You're a selfish one."
Shane expected it. He had an answer in mind already. "Is it really so selfish to nudge them toward a happier ending?"
"POV-2020." The mega charizard's wings folded down. "A world thrown into chaos because of your old miracle so long ago, so of course you wanted to right that wrong in your conscience."
Outside, the planets had drifted further apart. Golden and rainbow light gave way to blue and purple auroras with checkerboard patterns. The fabric of Ultra Space stitching itself together between the worlds.
"We need people like you." He finally turned, revealing a tired, yet beaming smile. "Sometimes. As a treat."
Shane smiled back. "I knew you'd approve!" His tails wagged, though he managed to keep them from being too noticeable.
"Now, don't get me wrong: this can't become a habit," Xenon said with a hint of sternness. "But this time... you did what ought to have been done."
He gazed out the window briefly. Shane followed his gaze and noticed shadowy flecks drifting toward the individual planets.
"Giratina," Xenon stated, yet it seemed like a question.
"Bit of a different take on 'chaos energy' compared to Kilo, huh?" Shane quipped. "But appropriate to counter someone who desired eternal order."
Xenon nodded. He folded his arms behind his back. "To think it all started with a mortal. Zodiark, usurping the power of gods to become the sole hand of fate. And yet... it bothers you, doesn't it? That save for a few key details... Zodiark had a single good point."
Shane frowned. He tilted his head in thought. "About worlds being destined to meet their ends?"
The mega charizard shook his head. "A world in the hands of mortals, carving their own path, is ideal in the long term. Gods are meant to be servants, not kings. They foster worlds for mortals to thrive, but ought not to dictate all they do within. That only leads to conflict, and painful, avoidable revolutions. They must provide guidance... but mortals must make the final decision for themselves.
"Where Zodiark and I disagree is that where I believe mortals should wield their own path, he believed that one mortal should. Him." Xenon huffed in a rare display of disgust. "And look where it got him, lost in his own delusions. He was hardly a person by the end, consumed by his own machinations."
"Uhh, right." Shane watched the shadowy flecks vanish amidst the sprawling sea of recreation. "And that relates to me being here... how?"
"Oh, right! I got sidetracked." Xenon faced Shane again. Behind him, Ultra Space galaxies wrapped around the planets like giant celestial blankets. "I wanted to thank you for following that philosophy. We Overseers are very good at averting the worst outcomes... but the best outcomes are meant for those who live within their circumstances." He bobbed his head. "We are to guide, not dictate, how they ought to march. And you, Shane..." Xenon gestured to the window. "Gave them the means, some guidance, and a smile. They did the rest."
"I'd like to think that... all the time here has helped me get better at reading people," Shane said, gaze drawn to the drinking lugia again. He heard every doink of its plastic beak hitting the liquid. "I still remember being in their place. So, I figured I could offer a nudge... in a way that wouldn't lead to the same problems."
He sighed out some frost. "It's easy to look at all of this and think I wanted to right my wrongs. Or save this Nikki after what happened to mine. Tama certainly thinks that." Shane shook his head. "But I really did just want something to go right for them after everything they'd been through. That's all."
Xenon nodded. "We were in such a rush to prevent the worst that we nearly neglected the other half of our duty: granting the world its autonomy. Thank you for picking up the slack... in your own unique way."
As POV-2020 continued on its first stages of recovery, Xenon walked to the exit, gesturing for Shane to follow. They were done here. And it seemed he was off the hook, too!
"There are two things I'm not sure about, admittedly," Shane said. Xenon stopped and turned back to him, a brow raised.
"The first is what happens to everyone's memories." He looked over his shoulder. The planets were on the move again, tugging Ultra Space like cosmic taffy. "And the other is what became of the silvally who helped Arceus in the final moments. He was bound to the Legend Plate, so—"
"It seems Arceus thought of that," Xenon responded. "Owen's Perceive detected something getting jettisoned out and recovered it. It turned out to be a damaged soul. We've begun rehabilitating it. Though I suspect it may need to slumber in your Tree of Light for a while."
He stretched out his wings. "As for the people's memories... I cannot truly say. They are carving their own path forward, after all. Perhaps they will recall everything initially, but as their souls accept their new reality, those old memories shall gradually fade into the recesses of their souls."
"I see." Shane looked down. He supposed that made sense. "So, what comes next?"
"Well." Xenon exhaled a plume of white smoke from his nose. "I shall personally help with this one. After that other incident, I'd rather this be done cleanly, if only to make sure another incident doesn't abruptly fly off to another realm, yes?" He eyed Shane.
The icetales' tails puffed out. "Y-Yeah."
He continued, "To start, we will have to deal with the many Voices of Life daydreaming about their fragmented, blurry, shared escapades, and perhaps we can do something to relieve that 'part' of them. Widget was their name, right?"
"From what I gather, it seems Widget's creation was accidental." Shane laughed nervously. "But Arceus must have recognized a connection to his old voice... and managed to restore Widget's will."
Xenon nodded. "Now, ultimately, a full restoration is impossible. Not in an ideal way they'd wish for." Briefly, his flame dimmed. "... But I'm sure they will find an answer one day. Souls have a knack for finding their desires, in the end. And, once more... our duty is only to provide the means.
"But beyond that." Now, his expression hardened like the platinum of his muzzle. "These 'sealed evils in a can' like Zodiark can only mean they'll be released in the future to cause trouble. That is the nature of eternity. And I do not want Leo's sacrifice to be so undermined."
Shane's ears stuck up. "Oh." His tails twitched nervously. "Do you know what to do?"
"I..." Hesitation. Never a good sign. "Not without sending them someplace where their powers are irrelevant. Somewhere far away. No Thousand Arms or Worldcores to latch onto. Heck, no pokémon at all. That would also mean them not returning to this corner of the Overworld as they acclimate to that one."
Right. Shane had mentioned that to the group. They didn't seem enthused.
"Nobody wants that. They still have hope of reunion, and I shall not be the one to deny them." Xenon's tail curled and uncurled to the right. "But we only just started theorizing. Zodiark's threat shall be neutralized, given enough time... and Leo has given us more than enough of that to conjure the solution POV-2020 lacked the luxury to find. And perhaps, one day, all of Leo's friends will find that answer themselves, as mortals often do.
"Don't forget his name, Shane. Leo. We owe him a great deal, and we shall repay him in full... one day." Xenon again looked out the window. "No soul deserves to be trapped forevermore. No soul can. That is a fundamental rule of the Overworld, of eternity. But that only means we must ensure Zodiark shall not be a problem when that day comes. If we are lucky. If we are truly, truly lucky, when that day comes, 'Leo' will be allowed to smile at 'Yuna' while they still are who they are today."
Little motes, like stars, crackled from Xenon's flame as the platinum charizard breathed out. The pressure in the room undulated, gradually lifting.
"That was the miracle you wanted, wasn't it?" Xenon asked.
Shane didn't have a response. It was a lot to take in, after all. He'd been at this a while, but it seemed like there was still a lot more to learn. Still, Xenon had hit the nail on the head. This wasn't a perfect fix to things. There was no perfect answer to this situation. But this miracle... pushed things in a happier direction. He was sure of it. Even if it would take a while for the results to play out.
Xenon suddenly clapped his hands together once. "Now then! I'm grabbing a coffee. Let's speak another time." He eyed Shane. "You look as if you still have work remaining."
"Aha ha..." Shane straightened up. "Something like that. I think an old cold case may have resurfaced."
"I see. Well, I'm sure it's something you can balance with your new faculty position."
Shane's tails puffed out. "F-Faculty position? Huh? Did I miss a memo?"
"Not at all." Xenon closed his eyes and smiled. "It's a new project of ours. A school dedicated to teaching mortals how to deal with catastrophes. And I think our first class could benefit from your... unique style. Tama's, too."
Though Xenon's tone was jovial, Shane could tell this wasn't an offer. So, he hadn't fully gotten away with it after all.
"Understood. I'll, uh, figure something out."
"Wonderful." Xenon turned, unfolding his wings. "I'll leave you to it. Send my regards to this dimension... and congratulations, for their miracle."
As Xenon departed, Shane turned back to the window. The worlds had drifted far enough apart for Shane to clearly make out the structure of this new dimension and the Ultra Space tapestry in between its many worlds. Though he'd seen similar sights before, this one filled him with a sense of marvel.
But he couldn't stay too long. The office would fade soon. And his next adventure was already calling.
This void wasn't truly empty. Hell, it wasn't even a void! It was all the giratina!
Without a body, Yuna had no means of doing anything to them. All she could do was float there, wondering what might happen to her.
After a few seconds, the annoyance gave way to begrudging acceptance. And that faded into something that felt... like a modicum of respect?
The message was clear enough. Though upset with being subsumed, the giratina were ultimately pleased with the outcome.
Bits of white light poked through the shadows. Then the shadows began to peel away from Yuna. They streamed away from her in different directions, leaving her floating in a white void.
Within the void, motes of golden light drifted by, bringing with them vague notions of appreciation. For some reason, Yuna thought of Dreamweaver. Could the motes have been from them?
More silence followed, until a few balls of silver light appeared before her.
"Yuna? Yuna, are you okay?!"
It was a voice Yuna hadn't heard in several weeks. One she never thought she'd hear again.
"Reshiram?" Yuna was surprised she could speak without a body.
The leftmost silver ball bounced around.
"Oh, good, you recognize me!" Reshiram chirped.
If one of the silver balls was Reshiram, then were the others Sages, too?
"Is it over?" Yuna said. "Was I, um, broken apart?"
"It would seem so," Diancie replied. "We've been freed."
"A mellow vibe reached out to us," Shaymin added. He was on Diancie's right. "It already took hold of us, but it's giving us one more chance to speak to you."
Yuna had a bunch of questions. But from the sound of things, the Sages didn't have long. And she didn't think they'd have answers for her anyway.
"Thank you for remembering us," Cresselia said. Her silver ball drifted back slowly. "That long nap was nice, but I didn't want to be part of Giratina forever."
"Indeed!" Rayquaza laughed heartily. His silver ball rippled. "Thou hast become a most valiant and selfless warrior, Yuna. T'was a pleasure to fight alongside you."
The Sages' souls began to fade from the white void. Reshiram's spirit drifted toward the other ones.
"Whatever happens from here, we wish you nothing but the best," he said. "May the stars shine down on a new beginning for you."
"And to you as well," Yuna responded. "Thanks for your help."
All the silver spheres faded except for one. It drifted in front of Yuna.
"You have my heartfelt thanks," whispered a deeper female voice. "For doing what I could not." The silver glow dimmed slightly. "And for saving Bahamut from himself."
Yuna wasn't sure what to say. She had never gotten to speak with Chiron properly. Nor harness any of her power when she was still fighting.
She soon settled on something. "He plans to wait for you."
"I'm sure he does." Chiron's spirit began to fade like all the others. "I may... need a bit of time before I'm ready for that. But I don't intend to keep him waiting forever.
"Be well... little one. I'm proud of you."
Chiron's soul disappeared into the white void, leaving Yuna alone.
A few seconds of silence passed. Then a faint warmth draped over Yuna's soul, like some sort of spiritual blanket. It came with a heaviness. Like Yuna had eyes again that wanted to shut for the night.
She didn't try to fight it. With hope welling up for what awaited on the other side, Yuna accepted the warmth's embrace. And everything faded away.
XxX
"O! He gives to us his joy.
That our grief he may destroy
Till our grief is fled & gone
He doth sit by us and moan"
I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to my main beta reader, Namohysip. As I mentioned in an earlier chapter, he is the one who created the Overseers and the lore behind them and the Overworld and was gracious enough to allow me to work that material into Path of Valor. Likewise, he's responsible for Top Overseer Xenon and handled Xenon's dialogue and mannerisms for the scene with Shane. A scene which he had suggested to make sure all the loose ends were tied up. I cannot thank him enough. I also snuck Owen from his fic, PMD: Hands of Creation, into the finale in a few cameo spots. Those of you who've commented have already spotted him and said hi. If you haven't read Hands of Creation already, please do. It's a wonderful fic and is the single longest complete PMD fic on the internet. It truly deserves your love and attention.
In addition to that, Namo's actively run several different PMD RPG campaigns in the PMD fic community. One of them is what gave rise to Tama. Another, which will soon wrap up, takes place in a school setting and has Shane serving as a faculty NPC. So, no, I'm not sequel baiting. It was just a friendly wink to my online friends who chose to read and support the fic to this point. My apologies if it went over a lot of folks' heads.
If you read up to this point, thank you. And to those who've left comments, I am extremely grateful for your support. It's been a rough road, but I'm happy to have made it here.
Igneous finally managed to adjust to the light. He found Nikki standing between his and Scarlett's beds, shaking a piece of paper crumpled in her grip.
"Hard to say." Shane's tails curled up. "It was pretty rough for me when I pulled a similar stunt back in my world. But it only lasted a couple of seconds."
The pain pulled her in every direction at once. All the colors around her blurred together. Swirling around chaotically. Her ectoplasm ripped apart at the seams. Everything got blurrier and blurrier. Despite that, she saw a purple and yellow blur extending an arm toward her.
I swear I'm not joking, but the FFXVI song linked above ended at the exact end of this scene. This scene hit so damn hard for me. After everything, Yuna finally gets to rest, but man... I hope that she and Nikki find each other again...
"Yes, it would appear that the people of POV-2020 decided to improvise their own repair process after originally agreeing to our terms." Nebulon's tail flicked in irritation. The solgaleo leaned forward. "I wonder who could've given them that idea?"
Oh shove off! Shane was the only Overseer it seems to willingly stick up for the denizens of POV-2020! You just told Yuna and the others to sign on the dotted line, agree to everything, as soon as they had finished fighting! They had to negotiate for a single day of respite! If this multiverse idea was always an option, then no wonder they took it! Certainly sounds a lot better imo
(I'm not actually angry, more so just playing it up for comedic purposes)
"Meanwhile we're going to end up on probation or worse," Tama growled. "I cannot believe I let you talk me into this nonsense." The gray pyroar shook his head. "I should've been on a beach somewhere."
Shane sighed. "Look, I'll do what I can to take as much of the blame as possible. Which is fine by me." He glanced at the tunnel that Angel had led Bahamut and Gene down. "Besides, I've been at this for way, way too long. Thing it's time I considered stepping back and letting a newer generation take up the Team Radiance mantle in my place."
"POV-2020." The mega charizard's wings folded down. "A world thrown into chaos because of your old miracle so long ago, so of course you wanted to right that wrong in your conscience."
So I know Volo stumbled across the divine energy/Void that Shane jettisoned from POV-2017, but was it ever explained why POV-2070 was so similar to POV-2017? As in, why was there another Nicky, Tessa, Shane, etc, with events just rearranged a bit. Is that something that can just "happen" in the Omniverse, or was it another result of the end of Guiding Light?
"It seems Arceus thought of that," Xenon responded. "Owen's Perceive detected something getting jettisoned out and recovered it. It turned out to be a damaged soul. We've begun rehabilitating it. Though I suspect it may need to slumber in your Tree of Light for a while."
"Well." Xenon exhaled a plume of white smoke from his nose. "I shall personally help with this one. After that other incident, I'd rather this be done cleanly, if only to make sure another incident doesn't abruptly fly off to another realm, yes?" He eyed Shane.
"Don't forget his name, Shane. Leo. We owe him a great deal, and we shall repay him in full... one day." Xenon again looked out the window. "No soul deserves to be trapped forevermore. No soul can. That is a fundamental rule of the Overworld, of eternity. But that only means we must ensure Zodiark shall not be a problem when that day comes. If we are lucky. If we are truly, truly lucky, when that day comes, 'Leo' will be allowed to smile at 'Yuna' while they still are who they are today."
"Not at all." Xenon closed his eyes and smiled. "It's a new project of ours. A school dedicated to teaching mortals how to deal with catastrophes. And I think our first class could benefit from your... unique style. Tama's, too."
A few seconds of silence passed. Then a faint warmth draped over Yuna's soul, like some sort of spiritual blanket. It came with a heaviness. Like Yuna had eyes again that wanted to shut for the night.
She didn't try to fight it. With hope welling up for what awaited on the other side, Yuna accepted the warmth's embrace. And everything faded away.
This chapter is nothing short of amazing in my eyes. From the sheer drive of Yuna pushing through everything to finish things, to the interaction between Shane and Xenon (Love we get to see him return for a bit more of an extended scene), to the final goodbye at the end. I wasn't kidding that I got misty-eyed a few times. My heart is honestly somewhat heavy as I write this. I've followed this story since it started 6 years ago, and to see it come to an end... it's bittersweet (The epilogue announcement caught me off guard, as I thought this was the final chapter. Hence the heavy heart)
All I can say is that I hope everything turns out well for the characters. Yuna, Nikki, and everyone else deserve to be happy after everything they've gone through. But outside the story, I just want to give a massive congratulations to you, Amby. I had been planning on giving my overall thoughts and feelings on this story and the personal impact it's had on me in a follow up comment, but I think it's best I wait for the epilogue. So for now, thank you so much for this amazing story, and I can't wait to see where things go, one final time.
Well, here we are. What a long, crazy, if brief road that I have traveled with this fic. I'd bemoan not discovering it sooner, but I've done enough of that today. What matters is that I was here when it ended, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with these characters, and this story. A longer, much more in depth review will follow in the future, but for now, I want to do one more of these, one more time, and this time using the tools that this site provides to truly give it the attention it needs.
Heck, you're the reason I'm even doing this. I asked myself what you'd do if you were in my place and that's how I came to this answer. I wanted to talk with you in person, but you were fast asleep. Couldn't wake you up. So, this letter will have to do.
I'm so glad I was able to find you again. Sure, we spent a lot more time fighting in this life compared to our last. But that wasn't every minute. The rest of it was fun. I can't believe your attitude used to scare me. Now, it's just one of those things I can't get enough of.
Despite having less power than the rest of us, you never gave up. On the fight. On me. I'd say you've been even braver than me. And I think the reason I could stand up to all of this is because I had you by my side. You taught me to be headstrong... and not take things lying down.
So, I'm choosing to hold those feelings close. If the Overseers' plan is a crummy one, then I'll do things my own way. I know it's what you would do.
Thanks for everything, Nikki. I'll always love you.
This is... heartbreaking to read. I'm surprised that Nikki wasn't bawling her eyes out reading it. Perhaps it's the choice of music for the scene, but the way that Yuna just... lays it all bare here. In their previous life, it was Tessa that helped Nikki find a place to belong to, be comfortable with herself, and eventually learn to live life as she wanted it. In this life, it was Nikki who helped Yuna become the pokémon she is now, someone who, through thick and thin, managed to save their world and all their loved ones, and someone who is willing to put it all on the line for their sake and hers.
I hope then, that in their next life, whatever it might be, that they can finally be together, not with the fate of the world hanging over them, but as who they wish to be. As they should have been.
"Hard to say." Shane's tails curled up. "It was pretty rough for me when I pulled a similar stunt back in my world. But it only lasted a couple of seconds."
Pretty sure your case wasn't as severe as Yuna's, Shane. Your very existence wasn't hanging on the balance... but I suppose he's just trying his best to push her on towards an ending that he knows she'll be happy with.
Painful as it is... I'm pretty sure that if it were Nikki in this situation, she'd do the same. Perhaps as a way that her spirit might feel guilty over what happened to Tessa originally... perhaps something else, but Nikki strikes me as that kind of person. Still... it's painful. But it's not goodbye... just a see you later.
What do you mean in POV-2020's final moments? I guess they did rewrite and remake the world but... still, what the hell specifically happened? Whose souls are those?
Goobers, siblings. I really hope that eventually Nova and Chiron find their way back to them.... they could also use some rest, and deserve to grow into better, grander people after all they've suffered and how hard they fought.
"Meanwhile we're going to end up on probation or worse," Tama growled. "I cannot believe I let you talk me into this nonsense." The gray pyroar shook his head. "I should've been on a beach somewhere."
You're grumpy, Tama, but you know that Shane was right in doing what he did. This is the better ending for everyone involved. Whatever happens now... well, they've won this victory.
Huh. Is this leading to Shane's participation in CAD, or is he talking about a separate project? I'm interested in exactly what that could be, if it's not the former... a shorter side story, perhaps? I don't think you quite have the energy to work on another longfic straight away after all hahaha.
Admittedly, this whole thing got like this because you wanted to fix your mistake, Shane. It's selfish, even if it lead to a happier ending for everyone involved. But hey... it's good to be selfish sometimes.
The mega charizard shook his head. "A world in the hands of mortals, carving their own path, is ideal in the long term. Gods are meant to be servants, not kings. They foster worlds for mortals to thrive, but ought not to dictate all they do within. That only leads to conflict, and painful, avoidable revolutions. They must provide guidance... but mortals must make the final decision for themselves.
"Where Zodiark and I disagree is that where I believe mortals should wield their own path, he believed that one mortal should. Him." Xenon huffed in a rare display of disgust. "And look where it got him, lost in his own delusions. He was hardly a person by the end, consumed by his own machinations."
Wish that there were more people that thought like this. Gods. Politicians. Kings. They live to serve the people, to guide them with wisdom and heart both, to make sure that the world is a better place for all... of course, greed, paranoia, and fear eventually subsume that. In the case of Zodiark, he just... determined the wrong cause or origin for the pain of mortals. It wasn't born out of their ability to decide, because of their ability to feel emotions, or anything like that. People suffer pain because that's an immutable fact of reality, because sometimes things just won't go your way, and sometimes what you desire is mutually exclusive with someone else's dream. Ultimately, you just... need to learn to live with those things, and eventually turn them into a source of strength, and when it becomes too much, then you'll have people around you to help you stand up on your own two legs. And Zodiark had no one for a long, long while...
Xenon nodded. "Now, ultimately, a full restoration is impossible. Not in an ideal way they'd wish for." Briefly, his flame dimmed. "... But I'm sure they will find an answer one day. Souls have a knack for finding their desires, in the end. And, once more... our duty is only to provide the means.
Man... ultimately Widget was just screwed over from the start, but at least perhaps in some way, now there's... fifty plus widgets everywhere. Odd to think about, but it's a strange sort of comfort. Perhaps if there are others around, they can help that voice of life become that new version of him, kinda like what happened with Diamond and Cyril. The soul never forgets after all.
"Don't forget his name, Shane. Leo. We owe him a great deal, and we shall repay him in full... one day." Xenon again looked out the window. "No soul deserves to be trapped forevermore. No soul can. That is a fundamental rule of the Overworld, of eternity. But that only means we must ensure Zodiark shall not be a problem when that day comes. If we are lucky. If we are truly, truly lucky, when that day comes, 'Leo' will be allowed to smile at 'Yuna' while they still are who they are today."
"Not at all." Xenon closed his eyes and smiled. "It's a new project of ours. A school dedicated to teaching mortals how to deal with catastrophes. And I think our first class could benefit from your... unique style. Tama's, too."
Though Xenon's tone was jovial, Shane could tell this wasn't an offer. So, he hadn't fully gotten away with it after all.
Hah! So that's why he was faculty at CAD! Well, funny how that works out huh... I feel bad that I didn't interact with Shane much during the campaign... But he still played a major role for one of my characters. Perhaps, sometime, something should be arranged... he's quite the brilliant soul after all.
"You have my heartfelt thanks," whispered a deeper female voice. "For doing what I could not." The silver glow dimmed slightly. "And for saving Bahamut from himself."
Yuna wasn't sure what to say. She had never gotten to speak with Chiron properly. Nor harness any of her power when she was still fighting.
She soon settled on something. "He plans to wait for you."
"I'm sure he does." Chiron's spirit began to fade like all the others. "I may... need a bit of time before I'm ready for that. But I don't intend to keep him waiting forever.
Fuck. This actually got me teary eyed. God damn it. I hope to see where this goes sometime...
But in the meantime... goodbye Yuna. You've earned your rest. Here's to whatever is waiting for her beyond...
What a chapter. What an ending, man... After all is said and done, it's tragic that Yuna couldn't just... be with everyone and earn the rest that she had worked so hard towards, but if it's a better ending for everyone involved, then it's a worthy sacrifice. There's obvious parallelisms with the inspiration for her character but... I think she's a beautiful, strong, and memorable character, divorced from all of that. She's changed so much from the weak little Dreepy she started as... and I hope to see her reunite with her family and loved ones soon.
Hi Amby! Back again for another Path of Valor review - and this one'll be covering the final couple of chapters, including the final battle that'll end it all. So let's see this grand 150-plus chapter epic reach its conclusion - and hopefully see the back of Zodiark and all the pain he inflicted.
Chapter 150
Returning to the fight against Zodiark, where our heroes are not faring so hot. Of course the Big Bad's hardly gonna be a cakewalk, is he?
Zodiark teleported behind Yuna in a burst of multicolored light. Golden energy spread along his body. The small scuffs and marks their blows inflicted quickly disappeared.
Yuna's chest ectoplasm tightened. Had Zodiark healed himself?
"Do you still not realize how out of your depth you are, Yaldabaoth?" Zodiark said. "The blows you inflict? They will never truly exist. Not when I can alter fate as I see fit."
"Oh, step off it!" Gene shouted. "It's just a healing move!"
Grrrrr, bosses with heals up their sleeves are the worst!
With all those plates and the powers within them, Zodiark sure is throwing everything and the kitchen sink at our heroes, with Legendaries constantly reflected in the attacks he deals forth. It certainly makes for one hectic final battle, that's for sure.
But Zodiark quickly squared up his stance. He unleashed a pulse of purple ghostly energy that snuffed out Giratina's legs and blew Yuna back a couple of meters.
Zodiark then teleported several meters back. Shadow Balls and an Aura Sphere flew in from Yuna's left, hitting only empty air. Golden light threads weaved around Zodiark's body, removing the scuffs and divots from Yuna's strikes and restoring his pristine starry texture.
Ditto what I said above! If this guy were a video game final boss, I would be raging at this bullshit healing. Then again, the master of all worlds would have a power like instant healing of that nature, wouldn't he?
Still, the power to overcome has to come from somewhere for our heroes....
Meanwhile, over to Igneous and Shimmer, who are fighting Whispers. In the analogy of Zodiark being Z, would this be the part of the fight that shifts to all the Heroes being summoned? Either way, they're not faring so hot either.
In fact, it seems to be an all out battle with all the allies Yuna's gathered across the course of her journey. I like a climactic gathering of all those faces we've seen over the course of the fic, joining in with one last stand against theevil that threatens to devour them whole.
Better have a good long shower before Diamond sees you - or rather, smells you, Cyril.
Looks like Starlene'll be taking centre stage (get it?) to power up everyone in the vicinity. Let's just hope that'll be enough to overcome the adversaries before them.
"You remember that old song we drew up but never got the chance to play?" Nikki strummed a few air guitar chords.
Scarlett blinked, then raised a brow. "I... do. You really want to break it out now?"
"Can you think of a better time?" Nikki gestured to her right with both arms, where Zacian and Zamazenta combined to knock a large ursaluna Whisper back into some smaller azumarill and pyror Whispers.
Oh, hello? An old song between these two? Those bonds of old, coming full circle now? You love to see it.
And even a drummer to accompany them? Let's hope it won't be a Led Zeppelin+Phil Collins at Live Aid moment - that wouldn't make for a stellar show of force against Zodiark.
Very nice artwork from Raph there. Certainly showing the Eldritch power that Zodiark's become, powered by the plates.
Alas, a foothold against this guy's proving hard to find. Guess he wouldn't have all this power at his disposal were he not omnipotent in this manner.
It seemed for a moment like that speech from Yuna dug at Zodiark even just slightly. Could that be a sign that strategy might be a way to go (along with an actual second wind, of course)?
Welp, that's certainly not good. Good heavens, that's gonna smart with the full power of Arceus bearing down upon our heroes.
Chapter 151
The full power of creation certainly proves to be as devastating as threatened, with Yuna having to rapidly dodge past several attacks thrown at her.
But at least Zodiark's not invincible, proven by some divine arms crumbling against the force of Noctum's Spacial Rend.
I swear to God, this guy and his healing. There better be a way to disable that, stat - or just do an all-out rush that'll kill him. But the latter, they probably won't be able to achieve until Leo gets snapped out of it.
Meanwhile, over to Shane, who's duking it out with Dreamweaver, along with the help of Tama and his fellow Overseers.
Oh hey, we have Mega Zygarde show up. Makes me wonder if one of them is Hecto from HoC, and if so, being able to have his Mega Evolved form that he wouldn't have had during Hands of Creation due to Namo finishing it a bit before Z-A came out.
Something else tugged on Shane's mind. Coming from POV-2020 itself. It was faint, but Shane could sense it despite the strange psychic static around the world. And it was... energizing?
"Ugggh, if we survive this, I'm spending an entire day in the shower!" the ponytales said, kicking his hind hooves to get the goo off them. "No, scratch that! A week's worth of spa days!"
That's for after, Twinkie. Maybe use that thought of a week-long spa as motivation to fight this through to the end?
Nice tune to defeat Whispers to. I guess I'll find out the origin of this Deltarune song when I plays Parts 3 and 4 in the next bit. I do like how it kinda feels a bit raw and unrefined, almost like a little nod to the fact that it was an early song of Nikki and Scarlett's and thus it would be a little less developed. Still, though - whatever works towards taking down their foes.
Must certainly be a funny sensation for an Overseer to be powered up through music and not via a Meloetta. (Then again, Starlene was one at one point, come to think of it.)
And through one joint Overseer effort, that appears to be the end of Dreamweaver! Now one final foe remains....
Oh, so he's going to deliver the final blow? Looks like it'll be up to Yuna and co. to weaken him to that point, by the looks of it.
Speaking of which, back to them - although it seems that everyone's been worn down by Zodiark's constant barrage of attacks and regeneration. One tough cookie, no doubt.
Zodiark smirked. "Your words cannot reach him. Your 'son' is gone. There is only a tool for me to wield." He held up his right arm. "As I shall soon wield you."
"That's not true!" Yuna lifted her head a bit more. "Leo, I know you're still in there! C'mon! We said... we'd put a stop to this... together!"
"Your last words... screaming into the void." Zodiark teleported higher into the air. He raised his arms up. "A fitting end to your pathetic tale."
Once again I know Zodiark's partly influenced by Z, but the scene from Future Redeemed of Alpha trying to influence Matthew after the first phase of the finale comes to mind for this. The question is now, who will be the N in this instance...?#
... And suddenly the heat died out. Yuna lowered her Protect shield to find Zodiark's growing star evaporating away. In its place, water gushed out of an open rift.
"What?" Zodiark looked down. Surprise flashed across his face. "What's going on here?"
"Wowzers! This, uh, looks like a lot, huh?"
Yuna found enough strength to push her head up. That voice...
"And Seifer." Molayne looked around. His gaze fixed toward his right, where Diamond was staggering back to his feet. "I don't know if you're here, but I just want to say thanks. I've got an interview at a school next week. And I've got a good feeling about it."
This is...certainly a thing to bring up in front of the literal god that's about to destroy the world and remake it anew. Good for Molayne, I guess? Smash that interview and get that job - after the final battle, yeah?
"I have no idea!" The dragapult flew between the rifts, eyeing the different colored energy streams funneling out from them. They felt warm. Like the saunas made using heat from Aeon's volcanoes.
The boy standing in the new rift cheered for his pikachu as electricity funneled out into the water tornadoes. They flung lightning around, vaporizing more of Zodiark's divine arms.
"It's Ash!" Widget got back to his feet, crest fanning out. "What are you doing here?"
"An ice ninetales gave me a new Z-Crystal," Ash said. "He said I'd need to use it to help the people who saved me!"
And Ash of all characters is part of this big rescue? I can't even, holy fuck. This is amazing what I'm seeing here, that we somehow got not just Ash in a PMD fic, but Ash being among the deciding factors in the final battle between our main protagonist falling or not.
And Penny shows up too! Just in time for her power of friendship moment, just like in those animes she's fond of.
"It doesn't matter what desperate tricks you pull!" Zodiark raised higher into the air. "Because there is nothing you can do to hurt me! Do you understand? Nothing!"
Chapter 152
We pivot to Leo, who's all shackled by the Red Chain.
But at least those who Leo helped over the course of his journey, like Kieran and Molayne, come in to aid him in that last moment.
Nice to see that Shane's plan to have everyone he gave Z-Crystals to come in to aid our heroes in their hour of need. And with that, he's able to break free of his shackles!
And now for Leo to use Nova's power and help fell Zodiark once and for all. How fitting is it that the coup de grace in an Ambyfic would have a Silvally be instrumental to the final blow dealt.
"I didn't." Leo shrugged. "This is the Legend Plate. It has the power of every type." He stomped a foreleg down. "I got it... because, unlike you, I took the time to listen to a suffering soul. Who entrusted me with making sure you never get your way!"
The difference between our hero and villain here, in which we see Leo's efforts fully rewarded and a way out of his bind - and now the tables will be turned on Zodiark.
Oh hell yeah, with the Creation Trio all in their true forms alongside the new Creator. This is gonna make an epic finish.
And indeed it does. No matter what Zodiark tries, the powerful attacks of his summoned Plates don't pose as great of a threat before Leo's Legend Plate, as each Plate proceeds to be drawn in by Leo - in other words, returned to their rightful owner.
Noctum's tail twitched. "Haaaa... haaa. Part of me feels weird using a water attack. But I don't care!" Blue light flashed in his shoulder gems. "We can do this!"
I did always think that kinda funny, that Noctum's true form this whole time was of a water dragon. Then again Palkia's whole thing as a Water/Dragon always felt strange to me.
Slowly, the path towards victory reveals itself, with the upper hand being grasped by our heroes bit by bit with every plate reclaimed from Zodiark.
But now it's Bahamut's time to shine, according to Shane. There's a vital role for everyone to play in this final battle, and I love to see it.
Yuna whirled around, flaring out her tendrils threateningly. "Whatever happens to us... is the future that we make for ourselves!"
She jabbed the air with her tendrils several times. A crystal shield appeared around Zodiark to block the ethereal limbs that struck him. Nevertheless, Yuna kept jabbing.
"No more fate!" Yuna cried. "No more control! I'm— We're taking the future into our hands!"
Getting all XC1 on us, Yuna? Well, it is a common finishing line for most heroes, to be able to decide their own fates rather than be dictated by an omnipotent force like Zodiark.
Didn't expect the Van Zieks-esque part of Vegna to come out for Bahamut in this part, but alright, sure. I like it.
And in it all, it's nice to see Yuna deal the penultimate blow before Shane's. Signifying who this journey began and ended with.
Chapter 153
No question that a Light That Burns The Sky would be draining as hell, even for a powerful Overseer like Shane. Though why is Tama insisting that Xenon not be privy to the fact that Shane used such a move? Perhaps for its destabilising power?
And it seems like Shane's gonna have to do a timely intervention to prevent the senior Overseers from imposing their own will on those world's natives.
Back to Yuna, where it's the calm after the storm with Aeonius in ruins. Dazzels, at least. Suffice to say it's gonna need a fair bit of rebuilding and reformation, although a new world might well be on the horizon by the looks of it.
A shame that Zodiark can't be completely defeated - but like what was said before, sealing him off proper is the go-to, and it can be done properly this time - well, unless the Overseers can pull some magic.
"It's only goodbye for now," she whispered, embracing the seal. Yuna wasn't sure why she said that. It slipped out before she even realized it.
Still, something about it felt... right. With all the strange twists and turns things had taken, deep down Yuna believed she'd get to see Leo again. She didn't know when. Or how. But she'd hang onto that hope anyway.
Hmmm? Maybe something that'll come to fruition at the very end of all of this?
Now in comes the cavalcade of everyone else - all the allies that fought the battle on the ground and whose music provided a notable boon to the Overseers and Yuna's group in their battle against Zodiark and his Whispers.
A couple of folks laughed at the display. Yuna ignored it, her attention drawn to Nikki. The toxtricity stood there with hands in her jacket pockets, watching Igneous, Shimmer, and Scarlett talk to one another.
Before Yuna could go over to her, however, a familiar voice called out from far behind.
Instead, the charizard with dull gray scales — they might've been a brighter color, but Yuna couldn't tell with the sun's glare reflecting off the other Overseers — whispered something to the big cat, who then marched toward Shane.
At least the Overseers show their gratitude to the world's inhabitants. Proof that they're not entirely a stuffy bunch. And yet there has to be some hard truths in regards to a transition to the new world, alas. Namely some of which was alluded to before, in terms of some like Diamond and Noctum returning to their old worlds, while the soul spaghetti that Yuna and Widget are will require some untangling.
Solgaleo frowned. "Even if we did have such capabilities, that would mean preventing all those currently alive from having children. Not to mention the moral quandary of whether to inform the general populace of this.
"We have seen such a scenario play out before." He glanced over his shoulder. "The results were... quite disastrous. In fact, we hold it up for new Overseers as a prime example of what not to do."
Behind Solgaleo, the mega charizard with the rainbow belly looked away nervously.
Oh hey, now that's a Hands of Creation shout-out. I definitely spotted that from a mile away and remember that being one of the central crisis points. Nice to see that Owen's work convinced the Overseers that their previous stance was in fact a terrible idea.
Yuna does bring up good points, though, in regards to the world's ruined and fractured state. Better to start again and enjoy the last day before everyone says their goodbyes to the old world and hello to the new one.
Yuna turned around to see Miraidon whirling around, ready to jet off. But Vince grabbed his right thruster, restraining him enough for Solgaleo to teleport beside him. One of the zygarde flew toward them.
"I'm not your ex-friend," Nikki said. "I don't care if I'm another version of her."
Shane managed to squeak out a, "Him."
"Him." Nikki leered at the icetales. Then she let go of his snout and jammed her hands in her pockets. "So what if he was the villain? He's not here. I am. And I don't wanna be compared. I just want to live my life the way I want. And that means not having you watching me."
For Shane's world supposedly being the Good End of the Guiding Light world, at least Nikki seemed to have gotten the better ending in this one than Nicky got in Shane's time. Not to mention her music aiding both Shane and Yuna in the fight against Zodiark, thus having a vital role in the final fight.
"Don't drop cheesy ass wordplay on me, you dweeb" Nikki scoffed. "As far as I'm concerned, super Overseer powers or not, you're a freaking nerd... and you always will be!"
What's that old adage about foxes being a sly bunch? Seems it doesn't matter whether they were humans originally or not.
Either way, this behind the back suggestion would make the Overseers have his hide, I'd suspect. Let's hope our heroine can craft the best outcome for all her allies.
(Also nice Pride art of Nikki! )
Over to Gene and Bahamut, where in the background it seems Miraidon's still being accosted and being put back in his box.
Nice to see the powers that be give up on their powers and that which they had previously obsessed over having.
And we get in some heart-to-hearts with Widget too, where he'll be getting many new beginnings with the slumbering Voices of Life within him. It's something for him, I suppose. (Also cute arts with Widget at the end of this part! )
Across from him, Miraidon stretched his arms up. "Weeeeeeeeeell, it looks to me like you've got a lot on your plate. So, how's about you let me go on my merry way and tend to these fine folks instead?"
"Not happening," Solgaleo growled. His tail flicked dismissively. "You have much to answer for."
Somehow I get the feeling it's not the first reprimand our old friend's received from his Overseers overheads. And, y'know, he was one of the factors that led to the destabilisation of the worlds which resulted in the conflict we ended up getting.
That's one way of putting it, heh. Certainly quite a colourful cast, both in personality and in physical appearance.
And now Jaeger bids his farewells, where hopefully he won't end up like a certain other Lycanroc in an Ambyfic and instead he'll succeed with flying colours.
Next on the goodbye agenda is Jade, who'll get to reunite with her fluffy hubby in short order.
"I was made in a lab, too," Gene countered. He tapped his right temple. "The circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. It's what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are."
They must not have champagne in their world, by the looks of it.
Interesting to think Cid might contribute to the Overseers' work with his accounts.
Zamazenta and Zacian saying their goodbyes too - hopefully they can continue to be valiant heroes in whatever the new world comes to hold for them.
And now Artemis. By the looks of his accounts, there'll be both the Pokémon world and the PLA world to return to, and surely most of the Pokémon would wish to stay as they are with like-minded folks like themselves?
Now to a party scene, where frankly everyone deserves to clink drinks and hit the dance floor after the whirlwind of events the paast while has been.
And there's Cyril himself, the Cosmozork looking pretty as ever.
Putting a different meaning on that phrase, aren't we? Although I suppose with the world about to reform into a new one, it doesn't matter what state the dance floor ends up in.
That was a really sweet ending. Here's hoping that things work out for Diamond and Cyril. ❤️
Chapter 155
A Noctum POV now, and it turns out that even as a Palkia he's still very much the bumbling dragon we all know and love.
And now time for the derg lovers to have a final one-on-one in Aeon territory, where things are in fact a lot crisper when the lava's not flowing.
"That, at least for now, I have to go back to being Palkia." Noctum held up his right hand. He clicked his claws together, conjuring blue-purple sparks. "Fix our old home. Find a good replacement. Train the replacement."
He lowered his hand. "When I say it out loud, it actually reminds me a bit of Bahamut and the Sages." Noctum resumed twiddling his claws. "It makes me nervous."
"About?"
"That I'll end up bitter and jaded like him." Noctum lowered his head. "Or disgruntled like some of the Sages that Yuna rescued. At least, from what she told me."
Awwww, Noctum, surely you won't end up like him. You're too precious with your cooking and stamp collecting to end up a jaded husk of a 'mon like Bahamut was. You'll be a good teacher, I'm sure.
And with the two of them resting back against the Aeon sunlight, it's a nice way to cap off Noctum and Valkyrie's journey after all they've been through together.
Now pivoting over to Shimmer, where he looks to be settling the final matters with his other mother.
So Shimmer proceeded forward. He paused and looked through the first doorway on his left. Xander, still a tar statue, had fallen on his side. Shimmer thought he heard whimpers from the statue.
"We beat Paradox." He swished his hair over his right shoulder. "Thought you'd want to know that you sold us out for nothing."
A perfect end to a pathetic good-for-nothing like him. Good riddance.
Disappointing to see that Justine's as snooty and unforgivable as Enamorus was. What a pity there's no redemption to be had there with her. And if that's her attitude, it probably would've been the same with Tobias and Grayson had they met Diamond again.
Now for food with Shimmer's polycule mates. All of it looks yummy.
"If Enamorus or Justine didn't chastise me, Xander would say it'd be over between us if my ass got fat off ranch."
Scarlett paused mid-bite. She pulled her head away from the burger. "Then how would you even know you'd like ranch?"
"I tried it once." Shimmer dug his fork into the wedge, tearing off a good chunk to shove in his mouth. He finished chewing before continuing. "Dipped some carrots into it. I would've eaten the whole bowl on the spot if Enamorus hadn't pulled me away from it."
Well, hey, it's not like you have princely appearances to keep up anymore, Shimmer.
Igneous and Sakaki did seem to make as good amends as they could all the way back around the Chapter 70s or so, and thus understandable that Igneous wouldn't want to meet him again before the dawn of the new world.
Hey, I'm sure they could make it work! Don't be such a killjoy, Starlene.
Still the thought of Sceptile!Igneous and Rapidash!Shimmer would be an interesting thought, alright...Similarly with Dragonite!Scarlett brought up a few lines down. Imagining what characters look like evolved is always a fun thing to think about for me.
And hopefully this trio remains together in the new world, whatever they'll look like.
And now Nikki and Yuna show up! The original trio back as one, along with Shimmer and Scarlett off to the side.
And now that caps off the arc of the polycule. I love this trio of absolute fruits and hope as well that it can survive the split.
Finale: Part 1
What a great chapter cover, seeing the two heroes together in the one art piece.
Into the chapter itself, where we meet with Yiazmat again. Must be nice for the Aeon troops to see that blue sky that they were robbed of for so many years - a nice note to leave on prior to the transition of the new worlds. (Also this FF16 track really sells the reminiscence and end-of-journey vibes at the tail end of this fic.)
"Well, I was your trainer." Yiazmat chuckled. "In some sense, I ended up in the same role again. Raising you up to what you are now." She gestured to Yuna.
Sure, for her family it wouldn't change too much. They were used to a low-tech lifestyle. But it would be a different story for her friends on Radiance.
Oh, I'm sure they'll get used to it. Well, hopefully, at least. Would be a bit of whiplash, but nothing saying the worlds they end up in won't end up developing that technology in time, surely?
Before Yiazmat could press the matter further, heavy, thudding footsteps drew both dragapults' attention to the back left corner of the entry hall. A duraludon emerged, with four dreepy on his head and shoulders and another four floating beside him.
"Yuna!" "Yuna!" "Big sis!" "You're back!"
Her eight siblings darted toward her. The smaller dreepy settled in Yuna's horns while the larger ones flew around her.
"Indeed." Calcifer stepped back. "Why, if things hadn't turned out like this, I dare say you'd have been finishing up your school semester and rejoining us for a break right about now."
"In which case, she still would've been tired," Baraz added, chuckling. "Just because of exams and whatnot."
The irony was almost enough to make Yuna laugh. She'd gone to Horizon with the goal of surviving a school year. Who would've thought the survival part would get taken to such an extreme?
Well, that's certainly an interesting reality. And yet Radiance's ugly truths would never have been found if Yuna had simply done her exams and gone no further than that.
And out she goes to see Noctum and Valkyrie! Where the idea Shane planted to change the world in a new way is beginning to blossom within Yuna, and here she is spreading it with Yiazmat and Noctum.
Still the gruff Garchomp assassin to the end, eh? Nice to see that some characters are still themselves at the end of all of this.
Now off to the hangar, where we see the other soul spaghetti member of the group, Widget. Here's hoping that Shane's gift to Yuna does end up working, otherwise I suspect the Overseers will have him in for one hell of a hiding.
Leaning into the Xenoblade tropes even more, I see. Even to the point of a machine being the main conduit to rewrite the world and usher in a new one.
Interesting in that just like how Leo had to perform his own sacrifice to see to Zodiark being sealed away, his mother then has to make her own decision to sacrifice her own current self for the new world. Will things work out? Well, there's only one way to know...
Now it seems that Matriarch's willing to work with Widget and Yuna, thankfully. Wouldn't want a repeat of Special Episode 2 and the mess that went down there. 💦
I presume...to say her goodbyes to a certain Toxtricity? Gotta be quick if so - unless Yuna intends to bring her here.
Finale: Part 2
Should've figured Nikki wouldn't take the news of Yuna's plan well.
That letter's really touching, too, showing just how much love Yuna has for Nikki after all the adventures they've had together, and the gratitude for her company through all the ups and downs in finding out her identities. Coupled with that FF16 music, it makes it all the more touching to see.
Off Nikki goes for one last goodbye. But...will she make it in time?
Back to Yuna, who's hurting badly in her attempt to forge a new future. If only it could be seamless, rather than seeing her writhe in pain from the mantle of creating a new world...
We've seen it before with Seifer when he died and before he became Diamond. And it's a shred of hope to hold onto, that maybe...they can be together again one day. To trust the process and have faith in Yuna for her gallant sacrifice to create a new world. But...goddamn if it's not a tearjerker moment watching this.
Then the noise suddenly ceased. All the colors disappeared. A black void surrounded Yuna, who couldn't feel anything. Not her limbs or a torso or even a head.
And there it is. The end of it all...The end of the tangled mess of POV-2020's worlds, and the birth of a new one. All thanks to our heroine, who sacrificed herself for the happiness of everyone else. 🫡
Now over to Shane, whose bluff's been called almost immediately. A part of him had to have seen that coming, surely?
I suppose making an Ultra Space of POV-2020 would be a way to solve the world spaghetti that it is.
Literal "my vacation got interrupted" vibes. I never knew Tama beyond this fic and CAD but I've definitely enjoyed his curmudgeonly attitude whenever he shows up.
This a Dodra reference? Seems to be from what I can guess.
They're building it up like Xenon's going to throw the book at Shane. But seeing him in Hands of Creation's finale and in CAD, I get the feeling our old hero might well be able to convince him yet of the vision.
Ah yes, I remember this form of Xenon's from CAD. The Mega 'Zard X being the form he prefers, if memory serves.
Certainly wouldn't be the only time I've seen chaos energy be wielded by the protagonists against an antagonist who desires order. A few stories and games with that premise.
"Owen's Perceive detected something getting jettisoned out and recovered it. It turned out to be a damaged soul. We've begun rehabilitating it. Though I suspect it may need to slumber in your Tree of Light for a while."
"Now, ultimately, a full restoration is impossible. Not in an ideal way they'd wish for." Briefly, his flame dimmed. "... But I'm sure they will find an answer one day. Souls have a knack for finding their desires, in the end. And, once more... our duty is only to provide the means.
Well, something just short of a full restoration is the next best thing. Whatever needs to be done to ensure the folks of POV-2020 can live in peace and harmony.
"No soul deserves to be trapped forevermore. No soul can. That is a fundamental rule of the Overworld, of eternity. But that only means we must ensure Zodiark shall not be a problem when that day comes. If we are lucky. If we are truly, truly lucky, when that day comes, 'Leo' will be allowed to smile at 'Yuna' while they still are who they are today."
"I see. Well, I'm sure it's something you can balance with your new faculty position."
Shane's tails puffed out. "F-Faculty position? Huh? Did I miss a memo?"
"Not at all." Xenon closed his eyes and smiled. "It's a new project of ours. A school dedicated to teaching mortals how to deal with catastrophes. And I think our first class could benefit from your... unique style. Tama's, too."
And I was happy to have my honse and dino be a part of that academy. ^^ (So this means CAD took place post-PoV? Judging by everything I guess that makes sense.)
Now to Yuna's soul, drifting in the void among all the Giratina that made up her. And along with that, all the Sages too!
And even Chiron comes out to share her thanks! All these sacred Legends, thankful for all Yuna's done for them....She certainly has been a valiant hero, alright.
Godspeed, Yuna. It was great to experience this journey with you. ❤️
Conclusion
And that's the end of Path of Valor's tale. A long and winding road to have gotten here, but boy what a road it was to experience it.
The final battle was great to behold, with how all the stops were pulled out to bring down Zodiark, from Shane's prior assisting Z-Crystals to the humans Yuna's group helped out over the course of the adventure, from Kieran, Liza, Molayne, and not just literally Team Rocket, but Ash as well. (Still flabbergasted by that thought alone.) There was also seeing all of the allies Yuna and Gene gathered over the course of the fic, and finally, there was Nikki's motivating music proving to assist both Shane and Yuna against Zodiark, and all of these factors proved instrumental in taking him down.
There's the wrapping up of everyone's arcs too. Everyone bidding their farewells on the final day of the old world before the birth of the new one was very touching, and a great way to touch upon all of our heroes one last time. Noctum and Valkyrie resting under Aeon's new blue sky, Diamond and Cyril hitting the dance floor in the outpost, Igneous, Shimmer and Scarlet having their banter over food while Nikki and Yuna join in the fun, and even Yuna having one last meeting with her siblings and parents too. It was a final walk past all of the fic's old allies, and it was great to see them all one last time.
Then there's the very emotional moments in Leo and Yuna performing their respective heroic sacrifices to ensure a better world for everyone else. It's a necessity for them to perform their duties (well, Yuna's was more her own choice, but it was for everyone's sakes), but they're both tearjerker moments, watching them give themselves up to ensure others get the happiest world they can. It's a valiant sacrifice to make, and I'd love them even more for it. Especially Yuna, who's been with us for the whole adventure, who we've seen grow stronger over the course of the fic, and who we've seen have layer after layer to her. Seeing her go is tough...but knowing she's doing it in everyone else's name softens the blow a bit. And the fact that maybe, as Xenon said, that if the stars align, 'Yuna' and 'Leo' might again surface in some form in the new world.
Maybe we might get to see that in the epilogue, however that pans out. But knowing that one day, Yuna will get to lay eyes on her old teammates again does leave the fic on some degree of a happy note, even in spite of the bittersweet finale in our heroine changing the world for everyone else's betterment.
Fantastic stuff, Amby. These final chapters proved a great read and a great way to cap it all off. Godspeed, and thank you for providing us with this great fic. ❤️
The toxtricity didn't even get the chance to properly get out of bed before someone threw the door to her bedroom open. The lights flicked on. Hissing, Nikki threw her arm over her face.
"Goooooood mooooooooooorning!" Diamond's cheerful neigh filled the room. "Who's ready to go to Horizon University?"
Nikki lowered her arm and grabbed the obstagoon plushie beside her pillow. She was ready to chuck it at the keldeo's head when she noticed him neatly balancing a tray on his back. A plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns sat atop the tray, with a glass of orange juice beside it.
"Well, I was gonna say not unless I can sleep for five more hours." Snorting, Nikki swung her legs around to set them on the carpeted floor. "But if you're offering me bacon then I guuuueeeeesss I'll let it slide, Dad."
Diamond walked into the room. He slid the tray from his back to Nikki's desk, which sat on the opposite side of the room from her bed. Various music and guitar-themed office supplies were haphazardly strewn across the desk, while autographed posters of different bands lined the walls.
Nikki picked herself up and lumbered over to her desk. She began wolfing down her breakfast.
"Ish ahl muh shih togethuh?" she said.
"Slow down, Nikki." Diamond shook his head. "You can't possibly expect to win anyone over at school if you eat like that."
Nikki grabbed the orange juice and chugged half the glass. She rubbed her face with her arm.
"Re-hee-lax." The toxtricity waved Diamond off as she set the glass down. "Shims, Ig, and Scar will be there. It'll be fine."
Diamond rolled his eyes. "You may not end up in the same dorm. You did choose to go through the housing lottery system."
"No duh." Nikki snorted. "Don't want any dumbasses thinking I'm getting special treatment cuz one of my dads coaches the baccer team." She shot Diamond a knowing look.
"It's not as if I talk about you to the team or anything." Diamond shook his head, sighing. "People still don't think your father and I are together."
"Yeah, cuz what kind of college coach marries a grease mankey?" Nikki smirked at him. "Does Dad even go to your baccer games?"
"Only if we're playing Herbrides Tech." The keldeo laughed, tail swishing back and forth. "You know how hard it is to pull him away from the shop."
"Well, he better have pulled himself away enough to get all my shit together." Nikki finished eating the last of her breakfast, then threw back the rest of the orange juice. "I don't see any of my instruments in my closet, so he must've grabbed them."
"We shipped everything to Horizon Gardens yesterday, remember?" Diamond said.
Nikki blinked. Then she poked her forehead with her fist. "Oh yeeeeeeeah."
"But you shouldn't forget your backpack." Diamond jerked his head toward Nikki's desk chair. "Are you sure you don't want us getting you a new one?"
"Nah." Nikki scooped the worn and beaten backpack up and slung it over her right shoulder. Duct tape patches held the bag together. "Figure I'll get one from the school shop or whatevs." She flashed Diamond metal horns. "School spirit and shit."
Diamond chuckled. "I'm surprised you'd do something like that." He smirked at her. "Or do you just like the school's purple and gold colors cuz they match yours?"
Nikki walked over to her closet, shrugging. "A little of column A. A little of column B."
She set her backpack down and headed to her closet. She tossed on her usual crop top and torn hoodie, before hopping around her room, trying to slip on a pair of torn jeans.
"You could make that a lot easier if you sat down," Diamond pointed out.
"And show it weakness? Never!" Grunting, Nikki finished putting them on. She glanced at her reflection in her closet mirror.
The reflection that stared back at her wore a leather jacket and had its arms crossed. This wasn't the first time Nikki had imagined what felt like a distant past. Though it had been several months since the last time. Why today?
"Something wrong?" Diamond asked.
Nikki rubbed her eyes. Her reflection went back to mirroring her current outfit.
"Nah. Thought one of my spikes had dulled, but it didn't. All good."
The toxtricity grabbed her backpack and slung it over her shoulders. She pushed past Diamond, walked out of her bedroom door, and down the carpeted brown hallway.
Nikki sat on the stair railing and slid down it, swinging her legs around to land at the base of the stairs, opposite the front door. She looked around and, spotting no signs of her other dad, opened the door and stepped out onto a set of stone stairs.
In the middle of the house's modest front yard stood a single cherry blossom tree. Its pink leaves littered the grass. A dark-type zoroark leaned against the thin tree trunk. A set of goggles dangled from his neck and he wore a large brown apron alongside pink leggings with white hearts. He had a matching scarf around his neck.
"Well, look who's awake bright and early." Smirking, Cyril crossed his arms. "And Dime thought the bacon and eggs wouldn't work." Chuckling, he shook his head.
Nikki walked across the yard, rolling her eyes. "Har, har. Very funny, Dad." She stuck her hands into her jacket pockets. "Just admit you're excited that you and Dad get the house to yourselves for the semester."
"Well, for a bit." Cyril scratched his right ear. "Dime's got, what, a month until he's gotta be at Horizon for baccer walk-on tryouts?"
"Yeah, but the train can get him back and forth wicked fast." Nikki's mohawk undulated quickly.
Cyril smirked at her. "Which means we should expect you to visit us now and again, right?"
Shit. She walked right into that one.
"I make no promises." Nikki hiked up her backpack straps. "Depends on if Scar and I are booking any gigs."
"Fine." Cyril waved her off. "But don't party too hard. Gotta keep your grades up to stay there."
"Hey, Cs get degrees," Nikki countered.
When Cyril gave her the stink eye she lazily kicked her right foot against the soft grass. "All right, all right. No slacking. Just gotta make sure nobody thinks I'm a freaking nerd like you."
Cyril shrugged. "Good enough for me."
"You should get going if you want to make the next train," Diamond said, trotting up behind the toxtricity. "You sure you don't want us walking you to the station?"
"Dad, please." Nikki held up her right hand. "I've been there hundreds of times. Besides, I'm sure I'll see you around campus sooner or later."
Chuckling, Diamond shook his head. "Can't blame a keldeo for trying." He stepped to Nikki's side. "Have a safe trip."
After saluting Cyril, Nikki jogged across the rest of the front yard, then out onto the street. Their house was just a few blocks over from the main station on the outskirts of Herbrides.
Nikki passed by Cyril's workshop. The large brown building's sign was off, but the windows had plenty of papers and posters up listing off all the things the zoroark was happy to tinker with.
From computers to phones to appliances. Heck, I'll even head to the docks to give your boat a look!
Green grass gave way to more houses and some three and four-floor buildings up ahead. A set of train tracks ran across.
Nikki's thoughts drifted back to the mirror and the realization struck her like a kick to the groin: she was going to Horizon. No wonder she imagined the leather jacket in the mirror. A school called Horizon had been important last time. It marked the start of something big for her. The memories used to come rushing back — the same way they did when she called Cyril or Diamond her dads — but now thinking about it felt more like daydreaming.
She crossed the train tracks and hung a right at the intersection. Nikki peered into windows of small shops and restaurants littered around the train station. One pub had a TV on, with a news station showing footage of Prime Minister Yiazmat standing in front of Parliament, introducing Gardevoir Arianna as the Aeon Federation's new Minister of Health. Her virizion wife stood beside her. The subtitles mentioned some sort of diversity effort for Yiazmat's new administration.
The toxtricity jogged the rest of the way toward the station. Despite Diamond's worrying, she'd beat the high-speed rail by a good five minutes. And here Diamond was worried she'd miss it.
She pulled her phone out from her jacket pocket and turned it on. Nikki had a missed message from Scarlett.
Got to HU last night. See u there!
Smiling, Nikki texted back.
at station. train here soon. cya.
She put her phone back into her pocket and headed up the stairs to the train platform. Anticipation for where she'd be staying welled up inside her.
The toxtricity did slow up a bit as she passed by one streetside restaurant: The Luminous Bar and Grill. Despite the chillier weather, some folks were eating outside. A delibird couple didn't mind whatsoever, while a family of meganium and bayleef sat near a heat lamp.
She waved to the orange-scaled charizard standing by a sign with "Welcome, new Horizon students!" scrawled on it in chalk, alongside a chalk doodle of a smiling charizard head.
Like with the mirror, she briefly imagined the charizard with black scales instead, but that went away the moment he spotted Nikki. His tail flame expanded and he waved at her.
"Was wondering when I'd see you walking past." He looked up. "Figured it wouldn't be until the happy hour crew showed up."
Nikki blew a raspberry at him. "Oi, I can get up when I want to, Noctum." She scanned the street. "Though maybe I would've been better off waiting if I wanted to dodge crowds."
"Nah, this is nothing." Noctum tucked his hands under his apron. "Wait until a few days from now when all the upperclassmen come back to campus."
"Then business will really be booming, eh?" Nikki elbowed Noctum's side.
"Oh, I'm plenty busy." Chuckling, the charizard looked over his shoulder. "This one guy's been here eating non-stop for the last two hours."
She followed Noctum's gaze. A hydreigon sat by himself at a table, scarfing down a stack of pancakes that Nikki swore stood taller than Diamond did. Hydreigon paused and turned all three of his heads toward Nikki. They smiled in unison, then Hydriegon returned his attention to the stack of pancakes.
Nikki spotted a pendant around Hydreigon's main neck. It had a gold star with a surrounding blue and purple aurora.
The back of her neck prickled. She leaned over and whispered, "Hey, that guy didn't give you a name by any chance, did he?"
Noctum shook his head. "Why, do you know him?"
"I don't know." Nikki adjusted her backpack. "He feels familiar for some reason."
"That's funny." The charizard scratched his chin. "I thought the same thing to myself when he first showed up. Made me start daydreaming. Y'know, those weird daydreams where we're all sorta living together?"
Nikki nodded. "Have had a couple today already. Must be because I'm 'moving' here." Her mohawk oscillated faster. "Horizon meant something to us before. That's why you opened your restaurant here, isn't it?"
"Yep." Noctum smiled. "And why your dad works at the school, I imagine." His eyes then lit up. "Oh, speaking of which, I'm catering the first-year welcome dinner."
"Damn, really?" Nikki rubbed her hands. "Better have enough ribs ready for me, then." She looked around. "Valkyrie around to help you?"
Noctum shook his head. "Nope. She's off on an assignment. High-paying client."
"Don't tell me it's Twiggy's uncle again." Nikki rolled her eyes. "She may as well hang up the 'private eye' thing cuz the Aeon Beacon's got her on retainer from the sound of it."
"You know how it goes." Noctum shrugged. "She doesn't talk business."
"Riiiiiiight." Nikki hiked up her backpack straps. "Well, tell her I say hi."
"Will do." Noctum waved the toxtricity off. "Have fun with orientation."
"Ha!" She jabbed her thumbs into her chest. "Orientation better be ready for this."
After bidding Noctum farewell, Nikki continued down the street, passing by the remaining shops. She headed through the main gates and up the winding road leading to Horizon's hilltop campus.
The administrative building and campus bookstore sat opposite one another, greeting everyone who made their way up the hill. Behind them sat a sprawling castle with several interconnected towers. It stood in stark contrast to the more modern, glass-based buildings interspersed around the hills.
Nikki spotted a familiar milotic putting a Horizon University sweater onto a lucario-shaped mannequin with his ribbons. The mannequin stood between posters advertising copies of Orbeetle Cid's new book, Walking the Path of Valor: Book 3.
Her neck prickled again. Because, deep down, she knew Cid wasn't writing some sprawling fantasy epic. Everything was too similar to her daydreams for that to be the case.
She tapped the glass and waved to Artemis. He waved back with an eyebrow, then slithered toward the front door.
"Oh, you made it. Need anything from the store?"
"Nah, 'm good for now, Artie." Nikki waved him off. "Figured I'd say hi." She jerked her head toward the admin building. Several foldable tables were set up outside, manned by a handful of pokémon. "Gonna get my room assignment and check to make sure everything made it okay."
Artemis nodded. "Good luck. I think your friends all ended up together in Building Three. Sounds like Scarlett's rooming with a serperior."
"Pffffffft." Nikki barely managed to hold back her laughter. "Noodle Room."
The milotic frowned at her.
"C'mooooon." She playfully batted one of his ribbons. "You're thinking it, too."
Rolling his eyes, he turned his attention back to the mannequin. "I'll see you around campus, Nikki."
"Damn straight you will." Nikki turned and walked toward the tables in front of the admin building. They had signs for registration and housing info, sorted based on alphabetical order of species.
Nikki headed toward her table and waited for her turn behind a toxicroak and a tarountula. A skarmory manned the spot. She had several clipboards in front of her.
"Name?" she said.
"Toxtricity Nikki."
Skarmory scanned the clipboards. "Ah, there you are. Building Three." She poked through one of the baskets and produced a key. "This'll get you into your room." Skarmory pointed a wing to her left. "Head over there for your student ID."
"Thanks." Nikki scooped up the key. When she stepped away from the table, a victorious grin spread across her face.
She'd gotten into the same dorm as her friends! Lady Luck was totally on her side!
"Y'know, you guys didn't have to get my shit into my room." She adjusted her backpack. "I could've taken care of it."
"We know," Scarlett said, slithering behind her. "We just didn't have anything better to do."
"Besides, now you owe us." Shimmer said. Nikki looked over her shoulder to see the ponyta grinning broadly. "I'm thinking... maybe you treat us to our meals for a week or two?"
"Pssssssssht, in your dreams." Nikki waved dismissively. "You've got your butt buddy for that one."
She looked at the grovlazzle bringing up the rear. Embers crackled on Igneous' head leaf.
Nikki snorted. "Re-hee-lax, I'm just teasing. I'll cover your meals. But go overboard and I'll kick your asses. Even Scar's non-existent one."
She studied Igneous' black crop top and orange skirt. "So, that's the new fit, huh?"
Igneous nodded.
"And, uh, they and them now, right?"
Another nod. "That's right."
"Right on." Nikki studied Igneous for a second, then smirked. "The colors suit you."
"Would you believe their nidoking uncle bought it for them?" Shimmer said.
Shimmer held back a laugh. "It even came with a card reading 'I expect a full report of how successful you are at slay queen.'"
"Shim!" Igneous lunged and cupped their claws over the chortling ponyta's snout. "You agreed not to mention that!"
"Careful, Iggy." Scarlett pointed a wing tip at their head leaf. "Don't wanna set off the fire alarms."
Eyes wide, Igneous stood up and frantically pet their head leaf. When they were sure it wouldn't catch fire, their shoulders sagged.
"I dunno which I prefer: when he pretended like my moms didn't exist or this 'out of touch but trying to be supportive' thing he's got going on." Igneous massaged their brow. "He's so embarrassing. And I'm pretty sure Kyoko and Sayaka got my reaction to the gift on video. If I go viral before the semester starts, I'm gonna shrivel up and die."
Nikki snorted. "Hey, I'll bet one of your moms would stop 'em from putting that shit online."
Igneous sighed. "I hope so." Their leafy tails crinkled. "It doesn't help that visiting him before I came here led to all those weirdly vivid daydreams." They looked at the others. "Y'know, about how we all used to live together before?"
Shimmer and Scarlett nodded silently. Nikki rested her hands by her mohawk. "I get it. Been happening to me like crazy. It's totally cuz we're at Horizon."
A few seconds of silence passed, which Nikki took to mean everyone agreed with her. So, the group continued down the hall. They found Nikki's room at the end. Like all the other rooms, her name and her roommate's were taped to the door.
The toxtricity froze with her hand on the doorknob.
NIKKI & TESSA
She blinked once. Twice.
"Hey, careful with the sparks!" Shimmer protested. "You're gonna ruin my mane!"
"Right. Sorry." Nikki rapidly shook her head. "Static on the doorknob and shit. You know how it is." The toxtricity hastily stuck her key into the lock and twisted it open. She threw the door open to find all her instruments and bags piled up in the middle of the dorm suite's common area.
Scarlett smirked. "Well, we didn't unpack for you."
"You're not getting nearly as many meals as you think," Nikki deadpanned, walking into the room and tossing her bag onto the blue couch. She flopped down next to it.
"So, how bad has the daydreaming been for you guys?" she wondered.
"It's like I can't go thirty steps without something bringing on an episode." Shimmer jerked his head toward the door. "Like, I spotted names that I don't know, but it feels like I do?" He shuddered. "And I keep imagining that they're... not very good people. I've got to make sure I don't let this cloud my judgment."
"Agreed." Igneous crossed their arms and leaned against the wall. "Sometimes I wonder if we should've gone to another school." They shook his head. "But when I think that, my chest tightens. Like my gut's telling me this is what's right."
Nikki bobbed her head with Igneous explanation. "I never considered anything else."
Scarlett glanced at Nikki, then at the door. "Your mohawk sparking when we got to your room... did you recognize the other name? Like with Shim?"
Nikki nodded. "It's hard to explain. I'm just nervous. And excited." She pulled her crop top up slightly to stroke her gills. "Nervouscited."
"Oh, that reminds me!" Scarlett slithered past Igneous and Shimmer, toward Nikki's things. She stuck her tail onto a coffee table and grabbed an envelope.
"This was here on the table when we brought your stuff in," she said, handing it to Nikki. "We didn't have one in our rooms. The RA said she didn't do anything."
Nikki turned the envelope over and back in her hands. "Then what the hell's it doing here?"
Life is more than struggles. More than joy. How and what you choose to define yourself by is something only you can decide.
However, no matter what life throws at you — no matter what sort of world you're living in — one thing will always remain true: the spirit never forgets.
Everyone looked up upon hearing metal clinking on the other side of the door. Someone fumbling with a key.
"Oh, wait, it's open already?"
A soft female voice came from the other side. Nikki was on her feet in an instant.
"Come in!" The toxtricity's mohawk frazzled when she realized how loud she was.
Her friends moved aside as the door swung inward, revealing a dragapult floating there. A few bags sat on the floor by the doorway.
"Ah, didn't realize you already had friends here." Dragapult tapped her claws together nervously. "H-Hi!" She extended her right arm. "I'm Tessa! Guess I'm your new roommate!"
Silence followed. Nikki extended her arm to return the handshake. And the moment she grasped Tessa's hand, the back of her head pounded.
Leaning against a metal railing, staring out at a fake starry expanse.
Dipping fries into milkshakes.
An air hockey puck darting back and forth across the table, clicking and clacking off walls and paddles.
The giant serpent floating in the core, body burning away as she funneled her energy into a glowing machine. She forced a smile and shouted, "The spirit... never forgets! We'll find... each other again!"
Nikki blinked once. Twice. She turned her flabbergasted expression on her friends.
"Oh, we were just leaving," Scarlett said. "Weren't we, luvdisc?"
"Yeah." Igneous rubbed their belly. "I'm starved. Gonna grab lunch. You two are welcome to join after you, uhh, get acquainted."
Shimmer nodded. Then the three shuffled toward the door. Tessa drifted back from it, letting them slowly maneuver around her bags and out into the hall.
The dragapult grabbed her things and dragged them through the doorway, grunting from the effort.
"Haaaaah." Tessa straightened up. "Might've overstuffed these a bit." Laughing nervously, she rubbed her neck. "Anyway, they seemed nice." She looked past Nikki and toward her pile of bags. "Wow, you have a lot of stuff! So many instruments. Are you a musician?"
Nikki had barely registered how fast her heart was beating. When Tessa addressed her, her mohawk sparked.
"Ah, yeah." Nikki fought to stop her mohawk from turning pink. "It's nothing much. Play in a band and shit."
Tessa's eyes widened. "Oh!" She clapped her hands together. "That's why you seem so familiar! I've watched The Maximizers play plenty of times!"
She hovered up to Nikki. "Wow, it's so cool I get to room with the lead guitarist!"
Before either girl realized it, Tessa had her hands on Nikki's chest gills. She quickly pulled her arms back.
"Gah, sorry! I didn't— that wasn't—" Tessa waved her arms around. "I'm usually not bad about personal space. Honest!"
"Hey, no biggie." Mohawk bright pink, Nikki adjusted her crop top to cover her gills. "Always nice to meet a new friend, isn't it?"
"Y-You think I'm..." Tessa's tail crinkled.
Nikki chuckled to herself. "Tell ya what. Why don't we join my buds and grab something to eat? We can, y'know, learn a bit more about each other and shit. Sound like a plan?"
"Yes, totally! Definitely!" Tessa's tail undulated with excitement. "You, uh, do know where to go, right? Cuz I don't."
"Don't sweat it." Nikki thumped her chest with her fist. "I'll get you there in one piece."
Tessa smiled back at her. She hovered out the door.
Nikki held up the letter to glance at the one part she'd missed.
You made your own miracle. Now enjoy your future.
~The Guiding Light
A golden glimmer caught the corner of Nikki's eye. She looked toward her dorm suite's window, squinting.
It was faint, but Nikki swore she saw a golden star move across the sky. And in broad daylight to boot. Unless it was just her imagination?
"Hey, Nikki, you coming?"
Smile returning to her face, Nikki crumpled up the letter and stuffed it into her pocket.
"Coming!" She jogged toward the doorway. "Next stop... the cafeteria!"
Nikki slowed up when she reached Tessa. She walked alongside the dragapult. They reached the end of the hall then sped down the stairs together. Tessa opened the building door and held it for Nikki to exit.
As they walked across the campus, basking in the afternoon sunlight, Nikki looked up.
Yeah, she was definitely going to enjoy this future. Because she'd earned it.
They all had.
XxX
"He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy;
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sun rise."
Lee || 24 || he/it 🌱sfw but 18+🌱 🌻b: me !🌻 🌱i: pegasuskiss!🌱 🌻comms: closed!🌻 https://honeyllemon.carrd.co/
bsky.app
And so it ends.
It's uncommon for massive PMD epics to end up making it to their finales. And I believe it's even rarer for a PMD author to complete TWO sprawling epics. Yet here we are.
By all accounts, this fic should never have made it to the finish line. It changed so drastically from my original plans — and, at times, real world events made it so, so difficult to write a fic about the power of hope and believing in the future — that I was sorely tempted to either outright cancel the fic or go for an early nihilistic ending and move on with my life.
But I pushed on. Maybe it's my stubbornness or maybe it's because of the friends I've made online through posting PMD fics. Or it's some combination of the two. I recognize that, for many people, this is not a fic they wanted to read. The heavy sci-fi and/or multiverse elements proved to be a very big turnoff, especially for anyone who liked the initial premise laid out in the first dozen chapters or people hoping for a traditional sequel in the Guiding Light world. It is... tough not to compare this fic's performance with its predecessor's. But this was the fic I wanted to write, and it still managed to get some positive reception.
I had originally planned to post a "making of" piece alongside the epilogue, however due to IRL circumstances, that is being delayed indefinitely. If it ever happens, I will update this author's note. However, to avoid potential issues with the rules of sites like AO3 and FFN, I will only be posting this piece on the Thousand Roads version of this fic. So, be sure to join my fic Discord server or watch my BlueSky so you'll know when it shows up.
Aside from that, there will be no extra or bonus content like Guiding Light had after its epilogue. In lieu of that, I have contributed to the expansion of Pokémon Mystery Diner's crowd-sourced visual novel, Ties of Fate. You can find Shane and Vulpix!Nikki in the game and go on (mis)adventures with them. It's available here: https://bsky.app/profile/pennio.bsky.social/post/3mogtxghws22g
I'd like to thank my beta readers: Namohysip, who I've mentioned previously, and SparklingEspeon (author of Do Psychic Cats Dream of Electric Sheep?), who was kind enough to contribute for the final third of the fic. I would also like to thank all the wonderful artists who I commissioned for the various character designs and illustrations used in the fic. You were all wonderful to work with!
Finally, I'd like to thank those who left feedback and comments on the fic... and to the person (or people) adding to the fic's TVTropes page. Your support is appreciated more than you know.
What's next for me? I'm not sure. For the immediate future, I unfortunately need to focus my efforts on... academic writing. Maybe there will be a time where I can return to this scene, but I make no promises.
Keep pushing toward the future. And remember... smiles go for miles.
I was again misty-eyed as I was reading this chapter. There's so much I can say about this chapter and this story as a whole, but for now... I want to finish this as I always have, back to when I began commenting on FFN
I suppose you could say that the last chapter ended with Yuna accepting the cold dawn, allowing those she held close to walk towards new horizons (When I saw the chapter title, Sonic Frontier's I'm Here started playing in my head )
Oh shit, Nikki is still a Toxtricity! I was expecting her to be a Vulpix, but I guess since Yuna guided the creation of the new POV-2020 multiverse, it makes sense for her friends to remain similar to how she remembered them
Also, Nikki POV!? I never thought we'd actually get a scene from her perspective, though I suppose it makes sense, since this is the epilogue.
One last thing that came to me after my comment on the last chapter. Nikki was the "hero" of Path of Valor, right? And some of the main themes of the story were about believing in the power of others and keeping hope alive. Especially Nikki's belief that she and Yuna would reunite one day.
So... would that make Nikki the "girl with hope crossed on her heart?"
Nikki lowered her arm and grabbed the obstagoon plushie beside her pillow. She was ready to chuck it at the keldeo's head when she noticed him neatly balancing a tray on his back. A plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns sat atop the tray, with a glass of orange juice beside it.
"Well, I was gonna say not unless I can sleep for five more hours." Snorting, Nikki swung her legs around to set them on the carpeted floor. "But if you're offering me bacon then I guuuueeeeesss I'll let it slide, Dad."
"No duh." Nikki snorted. "Don't want any dumbasses thinking I'm getting special treatment cuz one of my dads coaches the baccer team." She shot Diamond a knowing look.
The reflection that stared back at her wore a leather jacket and had its arms crossed. This wasn't the first time Nikki had imagined what felt like a distant past. Though it had been several months since the last time. Why today?
In the middle of the house's modest front yard stood a single cherry blossom tree. Its pink leaves littered the grass. A dark-type zoroark leaned against the thin tree trunk. A set of goggles dangled from his neck and he wore a large brown apron alongside pink leggings with white hearts. He had a matching scarf around his neck.
Cyril is a normal Zoroark now too? I suppose he wouldn't be a Cosmog-Zoroark since Leo is no longer around, and iirc Cyril never liked being a Hisuian Zoroark. I hope this new form is more to his liking
Nikki's thoughts drifted back to the mirror and the realization struck her like a kick to the groin: she was going to Horizon. No wonder she imagined the leather jacket in the mirror. A school called Horizon had been important last time. It marked the start of something big for her. The memories used to come rushing back — the same way they did when she called Cyril or Diamond her dads — but now thinking about it felt more like daydreaming.
She crossed the train tracks and hung a right at the intersection. Nikki peered into windows of small shops and restaurants littered around the train station. One pub had a TV on, with a news station showing footage of Prime Minister Yiazmat standing in front of Parliament, introducing Gardevoir Arianna as the Aeon Federation's new Minister of Health. Her virizion wife stood beside her. The subtitles mentioned some sort of diversity effort for Yiazmat's new administration.
I knew Arianna and Justine hooked up two chapters ago! Also, Yiazmat is in charge of things now, nice. Plus, there's no mention of the Kingdom of Radiance or the Aeon Kingdom, so this must mean that the land is united under one government this time around
Like with the mirror, she briefly imagined the charizard with black scales instead, but that went away the moment he spotted Nikki. His tail flame expanded and he waved at her.
Nikki spotted a familiar milotic putting a Horizon University sweater onto a lucario-shaped mannequin with his ribbons. The mannequin stood between posters advertising copies of Orbeetle Cid's new book, Walking the Path of Valor: Book 3.
Maybe my idea of Yuna guiding her friends' new lives has some more weight to it than I thought. Since she knew Igneous as a grovlazzle for a lot longer than a normal grovyle
Life is more than struggles. More than joy. How and what you choose to define yourself by is something only you can decide.
However, no matter what life throws at you — no matter what sort of world you're living in — one thing will always remain true: the spirit never forgets.
An air hockey puck darting back and forth across the table, clicking and clacking off walls and paddles.
The giant serpent floating in the core, body burning away as she funneled her energy into a glowing machine. She forced a smile and shouted, "The spirit... never forgets! We'll find... each other again!"
Does Tessa remember her previous life as Yuna? I hope she does
I love that she got to reincarnate and gets to live another life with those she loves and cares about, as I've said in many of my prior comments. I just hope that Yuna still exists in some form or fashion inside Dragapult Tessa. Also, man, that last line... my heart still breaks thinking of Yuna burning up to create a brighter future.
I love this quote. Hopefully this doesn't come across all "high school AP Literature" of me, but it sumarizes the entire conflict of this story.
Zodiark lost because he wanted to preserve something forever. It destroyed him in the end, while Yuna and everyone else recognized that you could only have the good with the bad. So they chose to treasure those fleeting moments of happiness and love, and were the ones who succeeded in the end.
One more review should be coming shortly, summarizing my overall thoughts on this story and its impact on me as a person. But for now, all I can say is thank you.
Thank you, Ambyssin, for writing and posting such an amazing story for all to read and enjoy. It's been such a wild ride from start to finish, with twists and turns I could have never predicted. This story has grown to become one of my all time favorites, and though I can't end this by saying I'm looking foward to what happens next in the story, I can say this.
Good luck with all of your future endevours. Thank you, and kudos 💙
I've been wanting to write this for probably over a year at this point, ever since it was announced only a few arcs remained in the story. Many a draft was written in my head and discarded, as I tried to think out what to say.
First off, I want to give an enormous "Congratulations" on finishing not one, but two incredible stories. It cannot be understated just how tremendous an accomplishment like that is.
Second, I wanted to give my thoughts on Path of Valor, and the best way I can think of doing that is by explaining my experience with it (Putting it in a spoiler to avoid an absolute wall of text )
I remember when this story was first announced. I can still recall when Yuna, Shimmer, and Noctum took over the Tumblr Ask Blog for a day, and reading all the confused messages the characters replied to, though I never submitted an "Ask" myself. I still remember the announcement posted on Guiding Light's FFN version, teasing a new story about Gen 8 and two warring kingdoms discovering a new phenomena called "Dynaforce".
I couldn't wait for the new story to drop. As soon as it did, I pulled it up and started to read it. I was hooked. I wanted to know more about who this "Phantom" was, who Yuna was, the history of this world, and so much more. Part of me thought it was a sequel to Guiding Light, all the way back then. Necrozma's ability to infect the Legendary Bird trio seemed incredibly similar to the Prism Virus. Plus, Yuna mentioning Bahamut creating the world from an explosion of light was all too similar to the ending of Guiding Light. Now granted, I had just finished reading that fic, so it was on my mind.
I continued reading, learning more about Yuna, seeing her meet Nikki and Igneous for the first time. I wanted more. The world was so intriguing, and the characters so full of life and personality. The overarching mystery of the story was so well done in my opinion. This might sound strange, but Path of Valor was my Five Nights at Freddy's. Let me explain.
As I kept reading the story, I had so many questions. Questions about Yuna, Igneous, Bahamut, and so much more. So as I read, I wrote these questions down, and started gathering evidence for each one on a document. I've joked how I sometimes felt that that Charlie Day meme with the theory board, but that was literally me at times, trying to figure out where the story could be heading. Hopefully all of this doesn't sound weird, but I hope it goes to show how hooked I was on this story.
For example, when the story first began, one of my ideas was that Bahamut was Shane, just a future version of him. After the team ended up in the Slowking's world (I'm blanking on the name, forgive me), I discarded that idea. The two characters were just too different from one another. So imagine my surprise when it turned out to be right, just not in the way I had originally thought.
It's hard to believe I've commented on more than half of this story, either on FFN, AO3, or now here on TR. I started all the way back in Chapter 68, during the Lisa arc if I recall correctly. It's because of this story and my decision to start commenting on it that I started to come out of my shell, so to speak.
I joined Discord and your server because of this story. Originally I just wanted to get updates for new chapters, since FFN stopped notifying me. But after I started reviewing, I became more active on it. I started to read and review other stories, talk with others, etc. That then later led to me joining Writer's United, reading Hands of Creation, and all the other stories from the folks on that server.
It's because of Path of Valor, that I started to write my own stories. Without this story, Terra, Holly, Aqua, Ventus (my characters), and Restoring Balance as a whole would not exist. Because of this story, I started getting involved with the livedub on the server, and those folks are now my friends. We even play a PMD themed DnD campaign.
I'm reiterating something I said in my Guiding Light comment on AO3, but because of POV, I got into the Ratchet and Clank series, Final Fantasy, and hopefully soon Xenoblade and Persona, once I find the time. When I realized that Cyril's "We need to talk" speech in the Eterna City part of the fic (back when the seeds of Seifer/Cyril were being planted) was a Rift Apart reference, I was floored (I had read the chapter first, then played the game).
I know I've been doing a lot of talking about myself, but there's just so much I can say about Path of Valor. The characters are some of my favorite in fiction. Yuna's growth from a reactive character to a proactive one was so incredible to read. Seeing her and Nikki fall in love was adorable, and the same goes for Noctum and Valkyrie, Igneous and Shimmer, Seifer/Diamond and Cyril, etc.
My favorite characters have to be Yuna and Widget. Their arcs of self-discovery and empowerment are just so good in my opinion. Soon, I'll reread this story from start to finish (especially since I still need to see what was changed in the early chapters rewrite lol). Probably not until I finish Hands of Creation though.
But most important of all, I wanted to say this. It's because of this story that I met my girlfriend. Because of that, I cannot thank you enough Ambyssin.
It's been six years since I started reading this wonderful story. I'm no longer a sophomore in college. I'm now just an software engineer in the workforce, trying my best to be an adult and navigate everything that comes with it. In some ways, this story helped me remain connected with that part of my life. It sucks to see the story end, to let go of that thread connecting me to my past, but what a wonderful ending it was.
Once again, all I can say is thank you, and all I can offer in repayment are my comments and my thanks. Hopefully, these dumb comments and reviews were helpful in some way. Maybe my stupid jokes or references got a laugh sometimes, but I hope at the very least, the stuff I had to say at least made you smile (Hopefully that isn't weird to say, and apologizes if it is).
Congratulations on finishing two absolutely wonderful works of storytelling in Guiding Light and Path of Valor. I hope you get to take a break and rest easy at some point soon. If you ever decide to write again, whether it be a one-shot, short story, or anything else, I'll be there to see what's in store.
As I'm probably going to say for a bit more, congratulations, and thank you. One final "Kudos" for the road, and 💙
