Orrans Forest?
Johan had naturally seen the movie "Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction," but... had this forest been mentioned in the plot?
It had been too long, and he really didn't have a deep impression of such non-crucial information points.
However...
When AZ originally built the "Ultimate Weapon" and used it as a weapon to try destroying those creatures that had hurt Floette, he had utilized both Xerneas and Yveltal.
Going to see Xerneas, wasn't he afraid of being held accountable?
Seeing Johan's confusion, AZ pulled at his face, showing what might or might not have been a self-mocking smile.
"I've been living in this forest for who knows how long, but..."
He hadn't been able to see Xerneas.
Orrans Forest was vast. Looking for Xerneas in this forest was like finding a needle in a haystack. If Xerneas wanted to meet, that would be fine, but if it didn't want to meet, there were plenty of ways to hide.
Johan understood.
That made sense.
AZ probably wanted to find Xerneas to express his apology or to seek forgiveness, and Xerneas, as the "Life God," had a relatively gentle temperament.
It wouldn't easily forgive AZ, but it also wouldn't take AZ's life because of this.
In that case, it was better not to meet.
Fair enough.
Johan gently patted Diancie, indicating it should stay calm.
Since Xerneas was in this forest, and Diancie had found its way here, it would definitely be willing to meet this princess of the Diamond Kingdom.
They just needed to temporarily separate from AZ.
And AZ obviously understood this point as well. He looked at Diancie and said hoarsely:
"You go to the forest depths tomorrow, and I'll go in the opposite direction."
Diancie's pink pupils flickered slightly.
AZ had caused too much destruction three thousand years ago to revive Floette. While his heart in saving Floette wasn't wrong, his methods were obviously problematic.
Although AZ had been repenting and hoping for redemption for these three thousand years, no one had the right to forgive him on behalf of those Pokémon who had lost their lives. Diancie couldn't, Johan couldn't, and even Xerneas didn't have that right.
Actually, AZ himself knew that what he hoped for now... was just to see his Floette once more, and then he would have no regrets.
"Where are you planning to go?" Johan asked.
AZ sighed, looking up at the night sky, with countless stars reflected in his eyes.
"Nowhere, just want to let this little one meet who it wants to meet."
Three thousand years had already passed.
Time, for AZ, no longer had much meaning.
Consider it a way to clear his mind?
AZ stood up.
"Today... thank you for the hospitality. This was probably the happiest day I've had in three thousand years."
Saying this, he walked to a large tree nearby, pulled off his worn hat and covered his face with it, apparently preparing to sleep.
Johan looked deeply at AZ and couldn't help sighing softly.
"Diancie, tomorrow we'll enter the forest and see if we can encounter Xerneas." Johan said.
"Yes!" Diancie nodded vigorously.
Under the night sky.
Two tents sat quietly on the grassland. Johan lay on his back in the tent, hands pillowed behind his head, unusually unable to fall asleep quickly.
He was actually asking himself a question in his heart.
If...
One of his little ones also ended up like AZ's Floette, would he do the same thing as AZ?
He didn't think about this answer, but he couldn't deceive himself.
"Probably would." Johan murmured.
Don't judge others' goodness when you haven't experienced their suffering.
Having never experienced AZ's ordeal, how could he truly understand AZ's thoughts at the time?
"In the end, I'm also a selfish person." Johan smiled self-mockingly.
"Oowoo~~"
Ninetales, curled up beside him, seemed to sense Johan's thoughts. Its head gently nuzzled his cheek, then stuck out its tongue to carefully lick him.
Johan reached out with one hand to rub its head. The soft fur felt as good as always.
"It's fine." Johan said, scanning around the tent.
Tinkaton lying in a "big" character shape at the tent's edge, its hammer fallen to the sides, mallet planted in the ground.
Dragonite leaning against Urshifu's back, breathing steadily while gently scratching its round belly.
Urshifu with a snot bubble, clearly sleeping yet seeming to be meditating, though it didn't dare make too much noise, apparently afraid of disturbing the soundly sleeping Dragonite.
Ceruledge sitting cross-legged at Johan's feet, now able to perfectly control its temperature, bringing warmth to the nighttime tent with each breath.
Larvitar hugging its large bowl filled with diamonds, drool unstoppably dripping from the corner of its mouth. Victini lay sprawled on top of those diamonds - this was the "little brother's" duty to guard the "big brother's" treasure.
Gengar...
Johan's thoughts stirred as he looked toward the tent ceiling, where Gengar appeared to be sleeping wrapped in Spirit World cloth.
However, while the Spirit World cloth was barely adequate as a blanket, wrapping around its head... its bottom and feet were still exposed outside, its short tail gently swaying, seemingly in a good mood.
"Gengar." Johan called out.
"Ka-kaah zzZ"
"Stop pretending."
"Ka-kaah..."
Gengar carefully lifted a corner of the Spirit World cloth, revealing its mischievous eyes, as if saying... you saw through me again.
Johan chuckled.
"What secret are you hiding this time, you little rascal?"
Earlier during dinner, he'd felt that AZ seemed quite trusting of Gengar.
Gengar scratched its bottom and tilted its head.
"Ka-kaah?"
What what secret? I don't know anything.
Johan naturally didn't believe this.
However, everyone had their little secrets. He didn't probe too deeply, anyway... Gengar couldn't possibly do anything bad to him.
"Stop fooling around, go to sleep early. Tomorrow we might see Xerneas, and who knows what the situation will be."
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar immediately nodded, opened its mouth, and stuffed a key-shaped object into its mouth.
A key?
Little one, you're showing your hand after all, aren't you?
Torchic crowed at dawn.
Purple appeared at the horizon's edge.
Johan got up early.
Not because he was eager to see Xerneas, but because...
"Teacher!"
Steven, wearing his signature outfit, stood outside the tent with some impatient excitement in his eyes.
He had received Johan's message earlier about a special Pokémon for him to see, so he hurriedly delivered the stones needed for Devon's cooperation with Geosenge Town back to Hoenn, then immediately rushed back.
What kind of Pokémon could make Teacher Johan call him to see personally?
Steven was very curious.
He'd traveled all over the world digging for stones - what Pokémon hadn't he seen?
Moreover, since meeting Teacher Johan, he'd experienced various big and small events, even seeing legendary and mythical Pokémon. What Pokémon could...
"Good morning, Johan."
Diancie walked out of Korrina's tent, obediently greeting Johan.
Johan looked toward Steven.
Steven also looked toward the Pokémon that had greeted them, momentarily losing his usually steady composure as a rare show of surprise, pupils contracting sharply as he opened his mouth: "Di-Diancie?"
Haha—
Seeing this, Johan showed a satisfied smile.
His thoughts were clear, his mood pleasant.
If Steven had a health bar, seeing Diancie at this moment should have dealt critical damage and quickly depleted it, right?
Besides Diancie, Johan guessed probably only Magearna could have a similar effect.
However.
It probably still wouldn't compare to Diancie.
After all, Steven's love for stones surpassed his love for metal.
"Who are you?" Diancie looked at Steven with confusion.
Steven quickly composed himself, placing his right hand on his chest and performing a nobleman's bow, saying:
"Princess Diancie, I am Steven Stone, Teacher Johan's student."
Seeing Steven's gesture, Diancie also instinctively lifted her skirt slightly and curtsied.
"So you're Teacher Johan's student. Then... I'll allow you to become my friend."
Steven grinned.
Bliss.
Johan suspected that even if Steven met a girl he was attracted to, he might not be as polite and friendly as he was to Diancie. That upward curve of his mouth was a bit exaggerated.
"Perfect timing. We're going to look for Xerneas later. Steven, come with us." Johan said.
Steven's strength was unquestionable.
The current him might not have reached the level where he could battle the twin gods for 22 days, but he was already more formidable than ordinary Elite Four members.
Just like Siebold at the Battle Chateau earlier.
If nothing unexpected happened, Steven facing Siebold in an all-out battle should have a ninety percent chance of winning.
If they encountered some kind of Xerneas rampage, having Steven hold out for 22 days might be difficult, but a discounted version of holding out for a while should be possible.
"Xerneas?"
Steven's eyes widened slightly.
As someone who frequently traveled between the Kalos and Hoenn regions, how could he not have heard legends about Xerneas?
Good grief.
Teacher Johan was indeed Teacher Johan - arriving and immediately encountering a "major event"?
Johan patted his shoulder without saying more, just turning to look toward one side of the camp. AZ, who had slept there last night, was already gone.
"Pack up. I'll go tell the Officer Jennys, then we'll enter the forest."
Theoretically, with Diancie, finding Xerneas shouldn't be difficult, but nothing was absolute. If they wandered around for several days without finding it, that would be quite normal.
Dappled shadows interweaved in the forest, hazy mist gradually spreading, with the "splash splash" sound of flowing water appearing by their ears.
AZ pushed through the irregular forest leaves, seeing barren ground and withered tree trunks everywhere.
In such a vast forest, the central area was this kind of withered dead land - quite miraculous when you thought about it.
At the center of this barren land was a huge circular pit. Tributaries and streams from throughout the forest finally converged here, forming a ring-shaped waterfall that raised large clouds of mist.
Looking at this scene before him, AZ sighed.
"Forgive myself?"
His eyes showed reminiscence, as if Floette's figure appeared before him, every smile and frown so lifelike.
However, Floette came quickly and left quickly, waving at AZ as it slowly drifted away.
AZ reached out trying to call it back, but it was just an illusion.
This was his only regret.
But his expression soon became resolute.
"Sorry, even myself... I probably can't forgive myself."
AZ stepped into the barren land, walking toward the giant pit, leaving footprints with each step.
"To truly forgive myself... perhaps only this way..."
"Senior Steven."
Korrina followed closely beside Steven.
"What is it?" Steven maintained a friendly smile toward Korrina.
"How exactly can one join Teacher Johan's tutelage?"
As Teacher Johan's "chief disciple," asking Steven was definitely right!
"Eh?"
Steven was puzzled, looking up at Johan walking ahead. "Teacher's tutelage?"
Was it done through formal apprenticeship?
Besides, Teacher Johan was a school teacher, not some fighting dojo or gym leader. There was no such thing as taking disciples.
As long as you'd been taught by Teacher Johan, calling yourself a "student" should be fine, right?
"Eh?!"
Korrina's voice immediately rose several octaves.
She blinked twice.
So it could be done that way?
"Has the teacher given you guidance?" Steven asked back.
"Yes... I think so."
Korrina thought about yesterday, after learning AZ's story and during Teacher Johan's conversation with AZ, she had gained new understanding of so-called "trainers and Pokémon."
Steven shrugged.
Then that's settled, isn't it?
Korrina nodded in seeming understanding.
So she and Bea... were fellow disciples?
Oh ho!
Korrina immediately became excited.
"This is..."
Suddenly, Diancie, walking ahead with Johan, sensed something. It closed its eyes and extended both hands.
"What's wrong, Diancie?" Johan's eyes flashed as he asked.
"I sense ahead, right in that forest ahead, extremely rich Fairy-type aura!"
"Found it?" Korrina skated forward, and Steven followed.
Johan looked at Ninetales and Tinkaton beside him.
"Oowoo..." Ninetales seemed to sense something.
"Cha?" Tinkaton shouldered its hammer and scratched its head.
Fairy-type aura?
What was that?
Johan: "..."
"Then if nothing unexpected happens, Xerneas should be up ahead."
Diancie immediately became unable to contain its excitement, running quickly toward the front.
"Teacher?" Steven couldn't help speaking.
Johan shook his head. "Should be no problem."
Xerneas... was probably the most reasonable among all the legendary Pokémon he knew. As the "Life God," it wouldn't bring destruction without any reason.
However, for safety's sake...
"Let's go."
Everyone also quickened their pace.
Hm?
Johan suddenly paused slightly, taking the golden Wheel of Time from his inner pocket.
A green gem on it was rippling slightly.
Arceus?
Xerneas?
Fairy Plate?
The clouds in the sky parted slightly, soft sunlight shining down, penetrating layers of forest leaves and casting bright beams of light with faint rainbow colors flowing within.
The wild Pokémon in the forest seemed to sense something, appearing one after another.
Flocks of Vivillon painted a winding path through the forest, two Pancham poked their heads out from a tree hole while sucking their fingers, a Gogoat led several Skiddo jumping out from the bushes, Aromatisse scattered faint fragrance...
In a clearing in the forest, a rainbow halo was dazzling.
The colorful branches seemed to come alive, with vibrant life energy surging through the forest.
"This is..." Korrina's eyes widened.
Behold.
A Pokémon resembling a deer with blue-black coloring appeared in their view. It had branch-like antlers on its head, a gentle expression that unconsciously relaxed one's mood.
This was indeed the legendary Pokémon, Xerneas!
Appearing so openly before them.
"Oowoo?"
Ninetales' light blue eyes glowed as it gazed at Xerneas, with rainbow light sparkling in its pupils.
"Cha?"
Tinkaton also seemed to finally sense the so-called Fairy-type aura at this moment, showing a look of understanding.
Oh~~ So this was Fairy-type aura.
Diancie quickly approached, running to Xerneas's front, while Xerneas also stopped, seemingly deliberately waiting for it.
"Xerneas!" Diancie called out.
The blue branch-like antlers atop Xerneas's head glowed with rainbow light, with seven colors flowing and appearing like blooming trees.
"Ka-kaah?"
It bloomed?
Gengar was greatly shocked.
"It really is Xerneas." Steven's eyes also reflected the seven colors, his expression quite amazed.
Wait, saying they were looking for Xerneas and actually finding Xerneas?
Indeed, being with the teacher... encountering anything shouldn't be surprising.
Diancie approached, eyes full of hope, hands clasped to its chest, speaking with a somewhat pleading tone:
"Xerneas, I finally get to see you..."
A seven-colored glow emanated from Xerneas as its voice echoed in everyone's mind.
[It is you who has been searching for me.]
The voice was gentle and warm, not inspiring much tension, only feelings of closeness and peace.
"I..." Diancie opened its mouth, saying seriously: "Please, please help me, let me save my kingdom and my people!"
[I know why you have come.]
Xerneas's eyes, which contained hidden "X" symbols, were full of wisdom, as if it already understood everything.
[I shall grant it to you.]
Saying this, Xerneas lifted its head slightly. The seven-colored branches atop its head burst with even brighter rainbow light. Life energy spread from its body to cover the surroundings, and some trees and grass quickly sprouted branches and leaves, growing rapidly.
Under this gentle radiance, Diancie maintained a prayer posture with closed eyes, silently feeling the power from Xerneas.
Ninetales and Tinkaton beside Johan also closed their eyes, sensing this power from the Life God.
Even Johan, Steven, and Korrina felt their bodies becoming lighter under the radiance, with even the slight fatigue from not sleeping well last night disappearing instantly.
"Ka-kaah..."
Gengar looked down at its left hand, then at its right hand.
Did I get younger?
This was the legendary "Life God"?
Gengar's eyes sparkled with intense interest.
If it was the Life God, couldn't it directly grant Johan eternal life?
Under the Fairy Aura's influence, Ninetales and Tinkaton's aura was also slowly improving, with faint glows emanating from their bodies.
They leveled up?
This was better than any "Rare Candy"!
The Fairy aura gradually dissipated as Diancie, Ninetales, and Tinkaton slowly opened their eyes.
"Can... can I do it now?"
Diancie gently clenched its fists, somewhat anxious, worried, and expectant.
Regarding Diancie's results, Xerneas was no longer concerned, having done what it should do. The rest was up to Diancie itself.
Its gaze fell on Johan.
The moment its gaze landed, Johan felt the Wheel of Time in his hand emanating intense heat.
[Messenger of Arceus, you are also seeking me.]
Steven and Korrina already knew about this identity, so there was no surprise.
Johan looked directly at Xerneas and stated his question directly.
"Xerneas, may I ask... is Arceus's Fairy Plate with you?"
Xerneas seemed unsurprised by this question, just gently shaking its head.
[I'm sorry, it is not with me.]
Hm?
Johan frowned slightly.
The Fairy Plate wasn't with the strongest Fairy-type Pokémon?
Then why was the Wheel of Time getting so hot?
However, Xerneas quickly provided an explanation.
[But it was indeed in my possession once.]
"Once?"
Johan caught the key point.
Xerneas nodded, showing no evasiveness.
[Long ago, with the power of the Fairy Plate, I calmed Yveltal's fury.]
The Death God, Yveltal!
The legendary Pokémon corresponding to Xerneas.
If Xerneas was the most reasonable legendary Pokémon, then Yveltal was probably the most difficult to communicate with.
As the embodiment of death, destruction, and ruin, Yveltal had only one goal after awakening: destruction.
Even among Hoenn's two fools, Groudon and Kyogre had their own objectives - building continents or having the ocean swallow everything. Even when they fought, their ultimate purposes were clear.
But Yveltal was pure destruction.
Regardless of what it was, anything with life was its target for destruction.
Everything shall be destroyed!
As corresponding legendary Pokémon, Xerneas and Yveltal's abilities were equal, their power was equal. Without external help like the Fairy Plate, it would be difficult for Xerneas and Yveltal to determine a victor.
Of course.
If the "Order God" Zygarde appeared, that would be a different story.
Xerneas continued explaining.
[After calming Yveltal's fury once, the Fairy Plate was borrowed.]
"Borrowed?" Johan was puzzled.
Wait.
Was the Fairy Plate Arceus's or Xerneas's?
[Yes.]
Xerneas continued:
[It was borrowed by four guardian deities from a distant region, under Zygarde's witness. They wanted to use the plate's power to resist invasion from beings beyond the distant universe.]
Wait!
Four guardian deities?
"Do you mean... the guardian deities of the four islands in the Alola region? The Tapu?"
Xerneas's eyes sparkled with wisdom as it looked deeply at Johan.
[It seems you know much.]
"Let me sort this out..."
Johan fell into thought.
Four guardian deities from the Alola region, the Tapu clan, borrowed the Fairy Plate's power to resist invasion from beings beyond the distant universe.
Then this being from beyond the distant universe referred to Ultra Beasts, right?
No.
The target should be more specific - the "Blinding One" Necrozma!
Necrozma's ultimate form was Psychic and Dragon-type, while the four Tapu guardians were Fairy-type. That made sense.
How did this get involved with such distant matters?
Moreover, there was Zygarde's involvement?
Xerneas said the borrowing was under Zygarde's witness...
As the Order God, Zygarde's purpose was maintaining balance in the Pokémon world. Ultra Beasts and Necrozma from beyond the universe would indeed affect balance.
Seeing Johan's expression gradually understanding, Xerneas knew he had figured out the key points.
[I don't have the Fairy Plate you seek, but...]
Buzz—
A fist-sized stone emanating weak light flew out from Xerneas's body.
"A Plate fragment?"
Johan was startled.
Others might not recognize it, but he was now very familiar with this thing.
Larvitar had an Earth Plate fragment, Urshifu had a Fist Plate fragment, and what Xerneas produced was...
A Fairy Plate fragment!
[This is a Plate fragment formed from excess energy when I carried the Fairy Plate. As Arceus's messenger, I'll give it to you.]
The Plate fragment flew toward Johan.
The temperature of the Wheel of Time in his hand gradually cooled down.
So the Wheel of Time's reaction was to this Fairy Plate fragment in Xerneas's possession.
Didn't this mean... the seemingly useless Wheel of Time that Arceus gave him was actually a "Plate fragment detector"?
Good grief!
Johan felt like he was about to strike it rich.
But then more questions followed.
Then why... when he first got the Wheel of Time and injected aura into it, did it give information about the Kalos region?
The Fairy Plate wasn't even here...
While thinking about this, Johan received the Plate fragment.
Mm, still warm.
Just one Plate fragment though.
Johan looked at Ninetales and Tinkaton beside him.
Two Pokémon, how to divide it?
"Xerneas." Johan held the Plate fragment.
[Yes?]
"Could you help me split this in half?"
Xerneas: "..."
[The power of Plates is difficult to divide.]
"Oowoo~"
Ninetales wrapped the Fairy Plate fragment in Johan's hand with its tail, bringing it to its eyes to examine carefully. It looked back and forth three or four times, scanned with psychic power three or four times, and froze it three or four times before nodding at Johan.
Really, no danger.
Xerneas moved its mouth but ultimately said nothing.
Then Ninetales handed the fragment to Tinkaton, gently patting Tinkaton's head with another tail, its expression gentle.
Tinkaton was one it and Gengar had watched grow up together - a companion and little sister. It naturally wouldn't compete with Tinkaton.
Moreover, it was best at Ice-type moves, and in Fairy-type aspects, it was also slightly better than Tinkaton.
"Cha!"
But Tinkaton shook its head repeatedly, also indicating it didn't want it.
In Fairy-type aspects, it acknowledged its talent wasn't as good as Ninetales. Rather than giving it to itself, it was better to give it to Ninetales.
Besides, it still preferred its hammer. Its talents were more in Steel-type aspects.
"Yoji..."
Larvitar's head followed the Fairy Plate being pushed back and forth, turning as it spoke while biting its finger.
If neither of you want it, you can give it to me. I guarantee I'll eat it all without leaving a trace, no worries!
Johan: "..."
You really dare to say that.
Even if Tyranitar was 2x weak to Fairy...
[If you still want more...]
Xerneas spoke again.
[Yveltal should also have one, left behind when I was appeasing it.]
Yveltal?
Johan shook his head.
Forget it.
That guy wasn't as easy to talk to as Xerneas.
Johan finally took the Fairy Plate fragment back.
"Simple. One person gets it for one day."
Just when he was wondering how to further develop Ninetales and Tinkaton's Fairy-type abilities, Xerneas delivered this "treasure."
[In that case, I shall depart.]
Xerneas nodded slightly at Johan, then looked past him to give Gengar a deep look before turning and walking gracefully toward the forest depths.
The seven-colored light on its body gradually faded as it left, and the surrounding wild Pokémon followed upon seeing this.
Wherever it walked, flowers bloomed, and butterflies followed.
"Ka-kaah..."
Gengar stuck out its tongue and repeatedly patted its chest.
What did that last look mean? Did it see through my thoughts? Close call, close call...
Johan handed the Fairy Plate fragment to Ninetales. Since it and Tinkaton would take turns one day each, starting with Ninetales.
Having agreed on the distribution method, Ninetales stopped being polite and wrapped the Plate fragment with its tail.
"Didn't expect this trip to yield quite a harvest." Johan sighed.
Not only had Ninetales and Tinkaton leveled up and received brief Fairy-type development, but he'd also obtained a Fairy Plate fragment.
As for the one at Yveltal's place...
"It's okay, Diancie." Korrina gently patted Diancie's shoulder, softly comforting: "My grandfather always says I'm not good enough and still haven't met his requirements to perform Mega Evolution, but we're all growing, aren't we?"
Diancie lowered its head, looking at its hands. "My... my power still hasn't..."
While Johan was communicating with Xerneas, Diancie, influenced by Xerneas's Fairy Aura, had tried to begin condensing real diamonds.
However.
Its hopeful expectation, its trusted Xerneas... it still couldn't condense real diamonds.
This left Diancie very disappointed.
But more than that, it was confused.
If even Xerneas's Fairy Aura couldn't help it create diamonds and condense "Eternal Crystal," then what else could it do to save its kingdom and its people?
Diancie seemed to suddenly lose direction and motivation.
Seeing Diancie's dejected state, Johan gently shook his head.
Actually, he had known early on that even if Diancie met Xerneas, it would probably be unable to condense real "Eternal Crystal."
To be honest... Diancie and Mewtwo were quite similar in having polarized states.
Mewtwo couldn't find direction and meaning of existence, thus couldn't find itself.
While Diancie had responsibilities and meaning that were too heavy, so heavy that it even ignored its own existence.
"Diancie..."
Johan walked to Diancie's side, half-crouching and about to comfort it, when suddenly a leaf-shaped object darted out from the nearby forest and landed on his shoulder.
"Vii?" Victini revealed its form, looking puzzled as it reached out to poke the green, soft-looking thing.
But a low voice echoed in Johan's ear.
[I can sense it's about to awaken!]
Rumble rumble—!!
In an instant.
All the trees in Orrans Forest seemed to tremble, the ground made rumbling sounds, and a fierce, violent aura spread from the depths of Orrans Forest.
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Powerstones?
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