"I'm pleased you've accepted."
Uxie's voice returned—now tinged with faint anticipation.
Its initial impression of Aiden had been somewhat poor. But after several minutes of efficient conversation, that view had shifted considerably.
Especially considering his apparent hidden connection to that Lord—cultivating goodwill was essential.
After a moment's thought, the wise Uxie continued:
"If you can pacify that guardian's fury and bring the Azure Flute back to the mortal realm… I will grant you one request."
Its reasoning was simple: if Aiden truly was the key to reuniting with that Lord, offering assistance—and being "compelled" by his request to reveal the Spear Key's location—wouldn't be unreasonable.
Yet the moment Uxie made this promise, its mind-reading abilities triggered an unexpected chill.
"Really?!"
Aiden's eyes sparkled with delight—he blurted out without hesitation:
"My wish is—"
"After retrieving the Azure Flute… may I be allowed to pet your body?"
With earnest expression and sincere gaze, Aiden voiced this audacious request—leaving even Cynthia, silently listening behind him, momentarily stunned.
???
Even Uxie flinched—its twin tails instantly curling protectively around its body as it cracked open one eye to stare at him.
As Legendary Pokémon dwelling long in the realm of pure consciousness, the Lake Guardians possessed extreme sensitivity to emotions.
Thus—it could clearly sense—
Aiden's earlier apology had been genuine!
He truly intended to compare textures… and with considerable fixation—
Texture upon touch?
Why would a human acknowledged by that Lord care so deeply about something utterly meaningless?
For a moment, Uxie found itself at a loss for how to evaluate him.
"If you succeed."
Leaving this cryptic remark behind, Uxie—nearly overwhelmed by Aiden's overflowing emotions—vanished instantly.
The classic Psychic-type escape technique: Teleport.
"Why'd it run off?"
Aiden scratched his head, sensing he might have startled it.
He'd guessed Uxie's original intention: confirming his qualification to open the Hall of Origin by having him calm Giratina's rage.
Perhaps this was even that Lord's arrangement before departure?
And if Aiden truly retrieved the Azure Flute, Uxie would conveniently "reveal" the missing Spear Key's location—guiding him to the Hall of Origin.
But unfortunately—
I, Aiden!
Love saying "no" to people most of all!
To be fair—he absolutely wasn't a furry enthusiast. He'd simply deduced from Uxie's attitude that the Spear Key was likely hidden somewhere in Sinnoh… so he'd impulsively decided to tease Uxie.
But judging by its reaction—it hadn't actually refused—
Aiden's expression turned subtly amused.
This familiar tsundere vibe… I know it well!
Both Sylveon and Mewtwo at home were like this—clearly enjoying his pets yet maintaining stern faces with "I can't believe I'm allowing this" expressions.
Especially Sylveon—under his practiced hands, it could only flush crimson, desperately suppressing contented purrs.
Who could resist petting such adorable little tsunderes?!
In a sense, his current instinct to reach for cute Pokémon might have been cultivated by their "temptations."
Gazing toward Lake Acuity's depths—feeling that familiar gaze still lingering—Aiden mused:
Not saying "no" is basically agreeing to his petting!
So unforthcoming.
A smile curved Aiden's lips.
Next time Mew visited Mewtwo… he'd share today's story.
Mew would probably find it amusing too~
"I never imagined the Lake Guardians would actually appear."
Only after Uxie's departure did Cynthia fully process what had happened.
And—frightened away by Aiden's slightly… impolite final request.
Though she kept that thought to herself.
Her gaze settled on Aiden—confusion flickering in her eyes.
His manner during their exchange had felt… oddly familiar.
These were Legendary Pokémon—even the relatively human-friendly Lake Guardians were encounters of once-in-a-lifetime luck.
As a mythologist herself, Cynthia had instinctively grown reserved upon seeing Uxie—carefully avoiding disruption to their conversation lest she leave a poor impression.
Yet Aiden had treated it like an ordinary Pokémon—even requesting to pet it.
Could this uniquely human attitude—so different from others—be why Legendaries consistently favored him?
Cynthia blinked—keeping this thought unvoiced.
But this special person is Aiden.
If it's him… I need only believe.
Just as she'd unconditionally believed in him since childhood—that he could accomplish anything.
"This trip to Lake Acuity yielded tremendous information—"
On the return drive, Aiden—seated passenger-side—adjusted his glasses while jotting notes in a journal.
"The Spear Pillar ruins… truly are connected to the Creator Deity Arceus."
"We'd suspected as much. After all—in Hisui 150 years ago… someone apparently did meet that Lord through this method."
Cynthia replied—playfully adopting Uxie's reverent address.
Even without transmigration knowledge, that Lord's true identity wasn't difficult for Sinnoh natives to deduce.
Here, Cynthia suddenly recalled archaeological records about Hisui—her expression turning peculiar.
"Though… no one can confirm historical truth with certainty."
"Those fragmentary records about the Hisui Hero… are frankly too absurd."
A human—armed only with primitive Apricorn Poké Balls and some throwing tools—supposedly defeated multiple deities… even teaming with companions to overcome Arceus (a manifested avatar)?
Even fiction writers wouldn't dare craft such a plot!
Aiden raised an eyebrow—choosing not to pursue this topic.
Hisui's history had largely vanished—most records unverifiable.
But he had personally experienced it—and knew what truly happened.
Companions? Unreliable, every single one of them.
With enough throwing tools… even Arceus would get a headache!
Though… no one would believe him if he said so.
Thus Aiden swiftly changed subjects.
"Come to think of it—I never expected Arceus had already departed."
"And from Uxie's hints… because of Arceus's departure, the Time and Space deities erupted into prolonged conflict—eventually spilling into another world."
"Not just that world," Cynthia interjected solemnly. "Our world suffered significant disruption too."
"Grandma mentioned spatial anomalies appearing across Sinnoh. Some travelers passing through Alamos Town were instantly teleported to Sunyshore City on the opposite coast."
"Likely collateral damage from the deities' battle."
Aiden's brows lifted.
He'd never heard Cynthia mention this before.
But given the bizarre yet casualty-free nature… authorities probably dismissed it as Pokémon mischief.
And speaking of Alamos Town—
Definitely the setting of the Sinnoh movie "The Rise of Darkrai," right?
The Space-Time clash should have caused far greater catastrophe… yet Darkrai alone shouldered the burden of saving the world.
Why Darkrai specifically?
Probably because only it could make both deities instantly fall asleep? (smile)
If this crisis could be resolved… he'd love to have it teach Sylveon—
Or Indeedee!
Aiden mused sincerely—then shook his head.
No no—now's not the time for troll tactics!
Regarding why the Time and Space deities fought—he'd already formed a hypothesis.
According to later Arceus lore expansions, every Arceus across Pokémon multiverses was merely an avatar.
Uxie and its kin likely knew this too.
Yet despite stating Arceus had "departed this world," it still emphasized that unsealing Spear Pillar was necessary to "pay homage to the divine."
The title referred to Arceus—but the emotional weight differed entirely from "that Lord."
Combined with other known facts, the conclusion was unavoidable:
Could Arceus in this world have been the "true" original… until 150 years ago—after the Legends: Arceus events—when it finally resolved to leave?
This aligned perfectly with Hisui's storyline.
In Pokémon cosmology, every world was created by Arceus. Even Legendary Pokémon were merely creations granted fragments of its power.
It alone was eternal, singular, and irreplaceable.
And upon departing a world, it would leave an avatar behind to maintain cosmic order.
Only this explained why the Time and Space deities spiraled into chaos—and why Giratina's temperament had grown volatile.
From the Legendaries' perspective—
It was as if Arceus had grown disillusioned with this world… and abandoned them.
Hence Dialga and Palkia's mutual resentment—each blaming the other for driving away their Creator.
And other Sinnoh Legendaries likely shared this sentiment.
After all—in the Legends: Arceus timeline, every Legendary had to be defeated by the protagonist Akari (under Arceus's guidance) to gather the necessary items for an audience with Arceus.
Could it be—
Aiden's brow furrowed.
Akari… did you mess up your role this time?!
Though come to think of it—Akari's actions were mostly directed by the "Arceus phone."
Meaning she was merely Arceus's will incarnate.
What exactly was Arceus thinking?
Aiden fell into deep thought—then tentatively accessed his system mentally.
The only thing possibly connected to Arceus was this system that had accompanied his transmigration.
Could its function resemble Akari's phone?
"Hey… you there?"
"Arceus—I see you!"
"Don't be so aloof~ acknowledge me a little?"
Aiden immediately attempted communication with the "suspected Arceus" system.
But predictably—no response came.
Is it completely ignoring me… or is this merely a task-dispensing toy Arceus created on a whim?
As Aiden pondered, Cynthia's voice gently pulled him back to reality.
"By the way—regarding Uxie's request… what are your thoughts?"
Cynthia's tone seemed casual—but her eyes held unmistakable concern.
"If you must go… I hope to accompany you."
She'd overheard most of Aiden and Uxie's conversation.
Retrieving the Azure Flute required traveling to a ruined alternate world—and likely confronting a deity.
And based on Cynthia's knowledge of Sinnoh mythology—
This referred to Giratina—the "Renegade Pokémon" lurking behind Sinnoh's twin deities. Rarely documented… yet potentially more powerful.
Though she harbored zero doubt Aiden could fulfill Uxie's commission… knowing he might face danger made her wish to help.
As Champion—at minimum she could buy him time if things turned dire.
Sensing the care in her voice, Aiden's gaze softened.
"Don't worry—it won't come to blows."
He smiled gently.
"I've already devised a way to calm Giratina's fury."
"So rest easy—there won't be danger."
In fact—he had multiple solutions.
Initially he'd considered emulating the movie's approach: using Shaymin—the "Gratitude Pokémon"—to soothe its anger.
But upon reflection… what was Giratina's true grievance?
Wasn't it Dialga and Palkia—the two "brats" whose century-long battle nearly destroyed reality—currently trapped in Alamos Town by Darkrai?
Among Sinnoh's three theatrical crises, the other two threatened world annihilation—yet Giratina's rampage caused the least damage.
It seemingly entered the real world solely to punish those two destructive siblings—
Their behavior resembled 24/7 construction noise next door—anyone would lose patience.
And enduring their chaos for over a century without intervention proved Giratina's remarkable restraint.
If it were me… I'd have minced Dialga and Palkia into paste long ago.
Thus—if Aiden's deduction was correct—he might even recruit Giratina to help manage the Time and Space deities.
Plan successful~
As for danger in venturing alone to the Distortion World?
Probability low—but non-zero.
Instinctively, Aiden's hand slipped into his pocket—resting on a Poké Ball within.
If Uxie sensed Arceus's gaze upon him… Giratina likely would too.
And if conflict became unavoidable—
Beyond the Poké Balls in his pocket… he had other allies and summonable reinforcements.
These proud companions—were Aiden's unshakable foundation!
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