Mt. Coronet, Spear Pillar.
The air trembled as three dark, swirling portals ripped open.
Each one pulsed with energy from a different dimension.
Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina rose in their respective kingdoms.
A final shimmer, and they vanished, returning to their domains.
Sam watched until the last trace of distortion faded.
He lifted an arm toward the dragon still coiled in the air.
"Thanks, Rayquaza."
Rayquaza had fully completed its transformation, the once emerald scales now a deep, glossy black that shimmered like obsidian in the sunlight.
The Sky High Pokémon let out a warm, resonant roar, the kind that made the ground hum beneath Sam's boots.
With a single sweeping motion of its long body, Rayquaza twisted upward and shot back into the heavens.
Sam exhaled slowly, watching the empty sky.
After witnessing three legendary gods depart and Rayquaza fade into the blue, a familiar memory surfaced in his mind, a scene from the Hoopa movie.
A battlefield full of exhausted mythical beasts returning home… except Groudon, who trudged away on foot because it simply couldn't fly.
"Poor guy," Sam muttered.
"Must be frustrating."
Maybe that was why, without even noticing, he'd gravitated toward flying Pokémon.
Something about seeing them soar always hit a nerve.
A voice broke through his thoughts.
"Sam." Cynthia stepped closer, her tone tinged with concern.
"If Arceus awakens… will it really bring disaster?"
Her golden eyes held a rare tension.
As someone who grew up studying ancient lore, she more than anyone understood what Arceus represented.
The one who shaped the world. The one who could just as easily unmake it.
Sam gave her a gentle smile and reached out to steady her hand.
"It could," he admitted, "but that doesn't mean doom is guaranteed."
Before she could respond, he added lightly,
"If the sky ever does fall, we'll be there holding it up. So don't worry."
Cynthia let out a breath, the corners of her mouth easing despite the heavy topic.
Sam's own thoughts turned serious for a moment.
Arceus wasn't cruel by nature, just wounded.
In ancient times, it entrusted humans with the Life Jewel.
But when the time came to return it, humans betrayed that trust.
A wound like that didn't fade easily.
"If we can help Arceus let go of that old grudge," Sam said softly,
"I believe things will calm down."
Cynthia nodded firmly. His confidence was infectious, grounding her the way only he could.
"It's over, then," she murmured.
"Let's go home."
She slipped her arm around his without hesitation, warm and familiar.
--------
A Week Later, Celestic Town
Life settled back into a peaceful rhythm.
Without the weight of the end of the world looming overhead, days passed quietly, full of simple comfort and a kind of domestic warmth Sam found himself appreciating more than he expected.
One early morning, Cynthia was already up before the sun.
Sam heard soft footsteps, the faucet running, and the smell of toast.
By the time he reached the dining room, she had breakfast set out, milk, toast with jam, and something steaming in the pot.
Cynthia drank a bottle of milk in a single smooth motion and let out a satisfied breath.
Her hair was still slightly mussed from waking up, but her eyes were bright.
Sam poked half-heartedly at his food.
"Baby, are you full?" she asked, wiping a milk drop from her lip.
"If you're done, I'll clean the table."
"I'm not full," he muttered.
"Then hurry and eat," she said.
"You have Pokémon training later."
She reached across the table and placed a warm red bean bun in his bowl.
The gesture was small, but familiar, one of those everyday moments that made his chest tighten for reasons he preferred not to say out loud.
Sam leaned back slightly, giving her a slow look.
"That's not what I meant," he said.
Cynthia blinked. "Hm?"
"I'm hungry," Sam said, eyes narrowing just a little.
"Not for food."
Cynthia immediately understood Sam's look.
His eyes burned with a heat far different from the morning sunlight.
She met his gaze, already knowing where this was heading.
"Sam…" She sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in her voice.
"You know how important the upcoming Championship Ranking Match is."
She leaned closer, her expression serious but still gentle.
"It's my first ranking match since becoming Champion. I'm representing the entire Sinnoh. I can't afford to embarrass us."
Her fingers brushed his cheek, smoothing the tiny frown forming there.
"And you want me to climb higher, don't you?"
Sam caught her hand before she could pull away, his voice deep with conviction.
"Of course I do. But no matter how important a match is, you can't ignore your husband. Maintaining harmony in a marriage is important too!"
These past few days, Cynthia has been strict about her training routine.
Focused. Determined.
And… extremely difficult for Sam to negotiate with.
Every day was training from dawn till late at night.
Every night, Sam was left sighing into his pillow.
The frustration had even manifested physically, tiny pimples appearing on his otherwise annoyingly handsome face.
Cynthia saw them. She definitely saw them.
"Nope!" she said quickly, pulling her hand back like she'd touched fire.
"I know exactly how you are."
She huffed and folded her arms.
"You're like a Tauros charging nonstop! If I give in, where would I find the energy to train my Pokémon?"
"That's slander," Sam shot back immediately.
"And you can't blame me! You're my future wife. Isn't it normal to want affection from you?"
He leaned closer, refusing to back down.
"I can't be ignored forever, you know."
Cynthia softened at his tone. She lifted a hand and coaxed gently,
"My husband is good. When the championship ranking match is over, I'll spoil you properly."
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
"I'll make sure you're… completely satisfied."
"That's the problem," Sam groaned.
"The match is more than a month away! How am I supposed to survive until then?"
Before Cynthia could respond, the doorbell chimed from outside.
Ding dong.
The sudden noise cut through their heated conversation like a knife.
Cynthia sprang up faster than a startled Buneary.
"Ah, looks like Ash and the others are here!" she said far too quickly, grabbing dishes as if they were precious escape tools.
"Go open the door for them. I'm heading out for training!"
She practically fled the room, her long hair trailing behind her like a golden banner of retreat.
Sam slumped back and let out a long, dramatic sigh.
"…Ash, what terrible timing."
Still grumbling, he pushed himself to his feet and walked to the door.
He pulled it open, already preparing to greet Ash, Brock, and Dawn.
But instead of the familiar trio, a single figure stood outside.
Sam blinked.
The young man looked strikingly similar to Ash, with the same messy dark hair, the same spark in his eyes, but taller, older, and sharper around the edges.
Like someone had taken Ash and adjusted the settings to "full adult."
Sam stared.
"An upgraded Ash?" he muttered under his breath.
The stranger smiled calmly, as if he expected the reaction.
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