Cola was glaring at Icetales, but despite this, he wasn't yelling or attacking back from within the barrier anymore. Instead, he paced and then curled up, flicking his little, wispy tail. Soul's words did little, as far as the others could tell, but he at least listened.
"I don't know what any of you are talking about," Xerneas said. "Why am I corrupt? Last I checked, I'm not the ones literally tied to Dark Matter. His glare intensified, looking at cola, then at Pop, who was looking at him with a contemplative expression.
"We will cover this later," Maple said, frowning. "I think we should focus on the revival process for now... The roots here seem safe enough."
"They do," Diyem said, though he glanced at Bahamut, who still appeared to be entranced by what the roots were telling him. He wondered... was he talking to Eien, right now? With his psychic abilities, perhaps...
"...But Arceus, you plan to return first, do you not?" Xerneas asked.
Cola trembled within the shield. He looked utterly defeated. And Pop, perhaps weighing his options, looked down in thought.
"Y'know," Soda said, "as much as it seems pretty cool and all for Arceus to be all powered up... dude doesn't look like he's totally up for it anymore."
"I must," Pop replied, sighing. "But... I would like Diyem to revive Team Spectrum first."
A wave of quiet shock went through Destiny Village's natives. S'more's fire had flared up with alarm; Zinc--who had been brought there to quickly evaluate the restoration process's success or not--covered her mouth; Soda nearly dropped the badge he'd been scrolling through.
"You're literally gonna let Dark Matter take hold of the Tree before you heal yourself in case he's setting up for an ultimate betrayal?" Soda narrowed his eyes. "Zinc, he still broken in the head?"
"I was never broken in the head," Pop said. "But I do not want to waste any more time than necessary. And while Diyem works on that process... I would like to speak to Cola."
Cola yipped and looked for a way to seem even smaller.
"Go on," Pop said to Diyem. "I trust you."
Even Diyem looked surprised, followed to a wince of disgust as Shadows leaked from the corners of his mouth. "You're trying to kill me."
"Ah." Pop let out a small chuckle. "My apologies. You are a vile creature."
"It doesn't work if you don't mean it." Diyem grunted and turned away, but then looked expectantly at Xerneas. "Well?" he asked, stabilizing his voice to conserve his energy. "Your divine leader has given the all-clear for me to go first. Will you allow it?"
A tense silence. He looked at Puddle, then at Cola, then at Pop. And then, with a sigh, he stepped back. "Fine," he said. "I will open a root. Do not let that one out." He jabbed a hoof in Cola's direction. "Nobody else get close. I am going to watch Dark Matter closely. If I see anything strange..." Xerneas prodded a hoof at Diyem's tiny chest, pushing him back. Diyem flinched, looking oddly off-put by the gesture as he held his chest, then looked up at Xerneas, who remained steely.
"...Right." Diyem muttered. "Then... I will prepare."
---
"Hmph..." Xerneas watched Diyem a little too closely. Still, he did nothing else, even as the roots opened, a rainbow energy radiating out of it, pure and untainted. At least in this far perimeter, the Tree did not appear corrupt...
"I will be summoning everyone one at a time," Diyem said, stepping toward the roots. "Slowly... And I will stop once they have all returned. This may take time... Please be patient."
Diyem's tail blackened. He seemed to be muttering something to himself. Incantations? Focusing? Annoyed curses at how closely Xerneas was looming over him? they were too far to tell.
Team Spectrum's representatives watched with bated, hopeful breaths. Poppin' Arms watched for any strange activity. God Squad did the same, but with less caution. They seemed to trust Diyem more than the Guild did.
--
"I can smell your breath," Diyem grumbled to Xerneas.
"I can smell your evil," Xerneas growled back.
"Let me concentrate."
"I'm watching you."
"I can tell. Everyone can tell. There is nobody who cannot tell."
Xerneas tensed more. His hoof dug into the ground. "...I don't understand why you are moving so gently."
"Because the Tree is important to everyone. I know this. I do not intend to harm it."
"I did not think someone like you could be... tender."
Diyem briefly stopped his ritual to glance at Xerneas. "Excuse me?"
"It's impossible, isn't it?"
"...No. Because I'm doing it now. Let me concentrate."
"Hmph." Xerneas scoffed and pulled away. But despite his behavior... he gave Diyem more space. And then... "For those revived, I will grant them some of my energy. They will... be at a battle-ready condition that way.
--
And then, something rose from Diyem's shoulders like a fine mist. The black flame on his tail increased in size, adding even more of that haze above him. He grunted, looking strained, and the roots brightened further. "N-ngh... this... is difficult when I am... weak..." But he knew that using the power on himself would set off too many alarms. He'd have to strain through it.
First, a wad of darkness formed in the sky. A Void Shadow. He had quietly explained this to the others. And then, as it twisted and churned, gained features and solidified... Legs, wings, a tail, a long neck, and finally the horns...
Diyem collapsed to his hands and knees, panting, as a silhouette of a Charizard gained its colors.
---
Cal was not there--she'd stayed behind in Destiny Village to not overcrowd. So it wasn't a surprise when, even as the Charizard's colors slowly returned from black to orange, he seemed disappointed at her lack of presence. But then another idea occurred to him.
Cal?
Silence at first, but he could feel it. She was far, far north, far away in Destiny Village, but...
Dad? W-wait, how are you--I couldn't--
I'm back.
More silence. Owen couldn't really imagine how she must have been feeling. Only a guess, if anything. But he had a good enough idea when she finally replied.
Her thoughts were like sobs. For real?
Scales and all.
And then more silence as Owen nodded and greeted the others, walking a little weakly to a tree to sit down. His thoughts were elsewhere, but he said little thank-yous and small statements to those who checked on him.
Finally, Cal spoke again. Okay. That was all. But Owen could feel her relief. She was sobbing again, sobbing even though her kind weren't supposed to be capable of it. She must have learned it somewhere, internalized it.
I'll be home soon, Owen said. Let's watch a Colosseum match together.
Okay.
And she laughed, then. And that was all he wanted to hear.
Diyem started to work on the next revival...
