Sinnoh League Headquarters
Under a cloudless midday sky, three of Sinnoh's four Elite Four members—the younger generation—were enjoying a rare break.
"Truly, spring is meant for picnics!"
Sitting before a hastily assembled portable grill, Flint gestured for his Infernape to breathe a controlled flame onto the charcoal below. "League paperwork can wait until Cynthia gets back. Right now—it's time to enjoy life!"
"..."
Beside him, Lucian frowned—instinctively wanting to retort, but swallowing the words.
As Elite Four members, how could we harbor such childish thoughts?
It's not like Cynthia pushed all her work onto us just because Teacher Azure came to Sinnoh and she took a half-month vacation——
Plus she's been deeply involved in Spear Pillar research lately, leaving little time for League affairs anyway. That's why we've barely seen her around——
After a moment's reflection, Lucian sighed.
She's the Champion—her actions must have deeper purpose. She'd never simply dump troublesome tasks on us.
Perhaps… she's personally ensuring Teacher Azure stays in Sinnoh?
If so—that's crucial for Sinnoh's future. We Elite Four must support her by shouldering the workload.
No region in the world could refuse someone like Teacher Azure.
Lucian shot Flint another glance—his eyes carrying faint exasperation.
We're both new Elite Four members… why can't he grasp the same sense of duty as Aaron and I?
Still—considering Flint had actually been working diligently these past few days without challenging him to battles… Lucian decided to let it slide today.
His gaze shifted toward Aaron.
The meticulous working Aaron—who'd been threading ingredients onto skewers—now stared blankly upward, bamboo sticks slipping from his trembling hands to scatter across the grass.
"What Pokémon is that?"
"And——Lucian, I think I'm hallucinating. I just saw Teacher Azure flying through the sky."
Aaron blinked rapidly—rubbing her eyes repeatedly as his expression registered system overload.
?
Lucian instinctively looked up, following her gaze.
Against the flawless azure sky, a shadowy black silhouette glided at moderate speed—not fast, yet unmistakably airborne. And perched atop it… a distinct human figure.
Lucian's eyesight wasn't as sharp as Aaron's so he couldn't confirm if the rider was truly Aiden.
But he had his own method of long-range observation.
Azure light flared in his eyes—his vision instantly zooming in as if through an 8x scope, locking onto the moving figure.
Psychic—activate!
Soon, his expression transformed into pure disbelief.
That——
No mistake. A sleek white-and-gold body, radiating an aura of spectral dread that sent chills down the spine. Merely glimpsing it induced primal terror.
The deity often omitted from Sinnoh mythology—yet no less crucial than the Time and Space deities.
Giratina—the Renegade Pokémon!
But theoretically… banished by the Creator Deity to the Distortion World, it shouldn't exist in reality at all.
Yet what shocked Lucian more——
Giratina was indeed carrying a rider. And Aaron's observation held true.
Teacher Azure… riding Giratina… freely soaring through Sinnoh's skies!
For a moment, Lucian wondered if they'd both hallucinated.
But the picnic hasn't even started—we haven't eaten any mushrooms——
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Lucian decided to call Cynthia directly.
Aiden had been staying in Celestic Town these past days—if anything extraordinary had occurred, she'd know first.
He promptly dialed her number.
As expected, Cynthia's reaction to their discovery was far from shocked. Her tone remained perfectly calm.
"I see. Thank you for the update—it puts my mind at ease."
"Yes, I was aware of this. I knew he'd ventured alone into the Distortion World to retrieve the Azure Flute from Giratina."
"So no need to worry—everything is proceeding according to Aiden's plan."
On the other end, Cynthia's lingering concern gradually melted away—replaced by a faint, blossoming smile.
My worries were unnecessary after all.
He's Aiden—he'd never undertake unprepared risks.
Though… even the notoriously short-tempered Giratina——
He truly must possess some special affinity—like Sinnoh's long-lost "Aura"—the ability to commune with Legendary Pokémon.
"Since he hasn't mentioned it himself… I'll pretend I know nothing."
Cynthia murmured softly, smiling.
After all—he's Aiden.
If I can't trust him… who in this world is trustworthy?
"..."
Though Lucian received a plausible explanation, after hanging up he still felt an uncanny sense of unreality.
Wasn't Teacher Azure supposed to be assisting Professor Carolina's archaeological team?
Wait——technically, interacting with deities could count as archaeology?
No—nothing is more ancient than them.
Lucian's thoughts tangled briefly.
Truly worthy of Teacher Azure—so quintessentially him.
"What are you two staring at?"
Flint—belatedly noticing their distraction while blowing on the charcoal to intensify the flames—finally looked up.
But by then, Giratina's silhouette had already vanished from the sky.
—
Riding atop Giratina, Aiden smiled.
Back in the Distortion World—perhaps because his proposal hit Giratina's sweet spot—the majestic Legendary's impression of him had improved significantly.
Not only did it willingly forge a bond with him, but upon departure it even offered to ferry Aiden to Alamos Town.
Had it understood human customs better, it might've dragged me into a sworn brotherhood ritual.
Clearly, Giratina's desire to "educate" its two "younger brothers" couldn't wait another moment.
Feeling riding Giratina wasn't unpleasant—and swept up in the moment—Aiden had readily agreed.
After recalling his Pokémon, he mounted Giratina in its Origin Forme—plunging through a Distortion World bubble back into reality.
But this created a new issue.
"Are you certain it's safe to leave the Distortion World, Giratina?"
Perched on the Renegade Pokémon's broad back, Aiden belatedly realized his oversight and asked curiously.
[No matter. Merely a brief excursion—no consequences shall follow.]
"Got it."
With Giratina's assurance, Aiden relaxed.
Glancing downward—he deduced they'd emerged above Sendoff Spring, near the League HQ in eastern Sinnoh.
Alamos Town lay nestled between Jubilife City and Canalave City—still quite a distance away.
Though riding Giratina was undeniably novel… something felt missing.
Only when his hand brushed against the Rotom Phone in his pocket did realization dawn:
I nearly forgot to record footage!
Sinnoh's three deities resided in separate dimensions—rarely appearing in reality. Giratina of the Distortion World was especially elusive—never documented in Sinnoh's entire history.
This "in-your-face" filming opportunity was incredibly precious.
After a moment's thought, Aiden pulled out his Rotom Phone—patting Giratina's back.
"You know, Giratina…"
"Because you've never appeared before humans, modern Sinnoh residents have nearly forgotten you."
"Meanwhile—Dialga and Palkia, thanks to legends of the 'Space-Time Tower,' enjoy immense popularity here."
[?]
Giratina emitted a meaningless roar—but Aiden sensed its irritation.
Truly—Legendary Pokémon's emotions are even easier to read than humans'.
He continued:
"So——"
"How about I film a special episode introducing you—the 'Forgotten Legend'?"
"No—better yet, let's go live! Stream recordings can double as video material anyway."
In mere sentences, Aiden's excitement became palpable.
It had been a while since he'd gone live during regular hours—perfect chance to deliver something explosive to his viewers.
Beyond revealing Giratina's existence, the events unfolding in Alamos Town would surely deliver a delightful "Teacher Azure shock" to his beloved students.
Folks—ever wanted front-row seats to a deity-level battle?
Shocking! Creator Deity's three children suspected of family breakdown—brawling over inheritance?!
[As you wish.]
Giratina's voice now carried unmistakable pleasure.
It genuinely found Aiden remarkably agreeable. If facilitating the "education" of those two brats qualified as fair exchange for the Azure Flute… this proposal was pure generosity.
Worthy of the Creator's chosen one—this affinity for swiftly bonding with Legendaries truly set him apart.
Soon, Aiden activated the Rotom Phone's live-stream mode.
Sensing Rotom couldn't keep pace with Giratina midair, he held the device himself—adjusting the angle to a direct face-cam.
Within seconds, thousands of viewers flooded the newly opened stream.
[??? Teacher Azure's livestreaming?! After so many no-shows, did the pity system finally trigger?]
[Whoa—the G-force is insane! And the wind noise! Is Teacher Azure flying?!]
[Didn't he go to Sinnoh? Is he already wrapping up work and racing back to Paldea overnight?]
[Don't make our glorious Champion Cynthia laugh—once in Sinnoh, does he really think he can leave?]
[???]
"Afternoon, everyone~ Long time no see!"
Ignoring the lively chat, Aiden waved cheerfully before cutting straight to the point.
"As you guessed—I'm currently riding the star of next week's Legend Series episode toward Alamos Town."
"But I suspect even Sinnoh natives might not recognize it."
As he spoke, he flipped the phone downward—projecting Giratina's upper body onto the screen.
Viewer reactions unfolded exactly as he anticipated.
[What Pokémon is this? Never seen it before——]
[Since he said it's the Legend Series' next star—it must be a Legendary?]
[But I still don't recognize it—does Sinnoh even HAVE this deity?]
For those unfamiliar with Sinnoh's deep history—knowing Giratina's name was possible, but recognizing its true form was near-impossible.
After all—Giratina's likeness existed only on ancient stone tablets. No living human had ever witnessed it.
But then—a "heavyweight" viewer suddenly appeared in the stream.
[Mythologist Cynthia: Allow me to reveal the answer. Its name is Giratina—the 'Renegade Pokémon' banished by Creator Deity Arceus to guard the Distortion World.]
Cynthia's explanation triggered rare silence in the chat for several seconds.
Then—an explosive wave of comments flooded the screen.
[HOLY CRAP?? The third deity never proven to exist?! How did Teacher Azure befriend it?!]
[No way—a living human entering the Distortion World?! Am I crazy or is Teacher Azure?!]
[I get it now—this was Teacher Azure's real reason for coming to Sinnoh! So many Legendaries here—enough material for dozens of episodes!]
[Wait—the focus should be that Teacher Azure is RIDING it?! Legends say it was banished for being dangerously volatile—yet it looks so… chill?]
[So who should I envy—Teacher Azure or Giratina?]
[Makes sense—I'll just say it: Teacher Azure, forever my GOAT!]
Even Aiden blinked in surprise at Cynthia's appearance.
But he quickly recovered—smiling as if silently assuring her of his safety.
"This viewer knows their stuff. Correct—it's Giratina, Sinnoh's mythological guardian of the Distortion World."
Aiden nodded—pivoting the camera to better showcase Giratina's elegant physique.
Remarkably, Giratina cooperated—turning its head to follow the lens with surprising camera awareness.
"I know you're all curious how I befriended Giratina—but hold that thought."
After a brief showcase, Aiden grinned.
"Because the real spectacle comes next."
"We're heading to the battlefield of the Time and Space deities."
"The sporadic spatial anomalies across Sinnoh lately? All caused by their conflict."
[???]
[Wait—Giratina alone was shocking enough… is Teacher Azure planning to encounter ALL Sinnoh Legendaries in one go?!]
[No wonder Teacher Azure casually states what I'd never dare imagine——]
[Are Dialga and Palkia about to debut in Teacher Azure's stream?! Next stop—Arceus?!]
Clearly, Aiden's words left many Sinnoh viewers reeling.
What do you mean Teacher Azure's riding Giratina to fight the Time and Space deities?!
Is this even plausible?!
Yet Aiden had no reason to lie—Giratina carrying him through the skies was irrefutable proof.
Thus, a significant portion of viewers fell silent—awaiting the unfolding events with bated breath.
And Aiden's words instantly ignited the entire internet.
Rumors like "Shocking! Sinnoh Legendaries Keep Appearing in Teacher Azure's Stream" and "Teacher Azure 1v2 Soloing Space-Time Duo" spread like wildfire.
Mythical Pokémon were meant to be untouchable by humans—yet under Aiden's influence, more "deities" kept emerging into human sight—many even sharing intimate contact with him.
Teacher Azure truly is a walking mint leaf for Legendaries!
Many viewers suddenly recalled a bizarre rumor from weeks prior.
But now—it felt increasingly plausible…
Meanwhile in the stream, Cynthia sent another message:
[Mythologist Cynthia: Stay safe.]
She hadn't heard Aiden mention visiting Alamos Town—but compared to three Legendaries, she cared far more about his wellbeing.
Three simple words—encapsulating all her concern.
"Don't worry—this time, Dialga and Palkia are the ones in trouble."
Aiden replied with a smile.
[Hehehe——why does the vibe between these two feel kinda… spicy?]
[NO!!! Teacher Azure—you're Paldea's pride! Don't let Sinnoh's sly woman bewitch you!]
[By seniority—Teacher Azure belongs to us Sinnoh! Paldea was just a work trip, understand?]
[Sinnoh fans—I've tolerated you long enough!]
[Alright alright—stop fighting. Since you're so competitive… how about Teacher Azure develops in our Unova region instead~]
[??? I heard that glazing all the way in Johto!]
Amid the chat's chaotic banter—Aiden soon arrived near Alamos Town atop Giratina.
After landing in a nearby forest, he dismounted—and heard Giratina's voice.
[This is my limit. Any closer… those two will sense my presence. They likely won't manifest in reality for decades afterward.]
[The rest is yours to handle, Aiden.]
[I'll await your success in the Distortion World.]
This was the most Giratina had ever spoken to Aiden. Before he could respond—it vanished into a suddenly materialized bubble.
[Gone?]
[Where'd my giant Giratina go?! Now Teacher Azure's truly 1v2ing two Legendaries!]
[Probably returned to the ruined world. Looks like it can pop into reality from anywhere—so cool.]
[Scared me stiff—so those midnight feelings were actually——]
For Giratina, freely traversing between reality and the Distortion World posed no challenge.
But had it entered Alamos Town with Aiden—its aura might instantly jolt the slumbering deities awake.
For the Space-Time siblings—waking to find Giratina standing before them would be far more terrifying than Darkrai's nightmare-inducing Dark Void.
Aiden offered no explanation—simply turning toward Alamos Town as Giratina disappeared.
Like many unnamed settlements, Alamos Town—absent from the games—held little prominence in Sinnoh.
Yet even through the Rotom Phone's camera, viewers sensed the area's profound abnormality.
Thick white mist—nearly solid in density—completely shrouded the town, blocking even midday sunlight.
The gust from Giratina's departure had done nothing to disperse it.
"As expected—the spacetime around Alamos Town has been isolated by a special force."
Aiden explained—curiously extending a hand into the mist.
Just like the movie—this was spacetime distortion caused by temporal and spatial collision at this location.
Entering now—without first resolving the slumbering deities atop the Space-Time Tower—would likely trap one here permanently.
But for Aiden, dimensional barriers were practically nonexistent.
In critical moments, he could always summon Giratina—transcending spacetime limits to return from the Distortion World.
Truly—nothing to fear.
With this thought, Aiden stepped forward—vanishing into the mist.
—
150 Years Ago
After their final audience with the Creator, Time Deity Dialga and Space Deity Palkia began an endless war.
Their dimensional clash triggered spacetime quakes rippling across all realms.
Alamos Town—home to the Space-Time Tower at the temporal-spatial convergence point—suffered earliest and most severely.
Though the deities had clashed before—each meeting inevitably erupting into battle affecting reality—
Their fury was usually calmed by the Space-Time Tower's melody: Oración.
But this time—Oración utterly failed to restore reason.
Even the town's landmark—the Space-Time Tower—collapsed amid their battle, reduced to rubble.
Without intervention, their reckless conflict would annihilate the entire physical dimension—erasing the beautiful world left by the Creator Deity.
As Alamos Town's residents despaired—a "legend" guarding the town since ancient times intervened.
Its name——
Darkrai!
After traversing the boundless white mist, Aiden emerged into a landscape of ruins.
The architecture clearly identified it as the Space-Time Tower.
[Dang—Teacher Azure's truly fearless. Is he really not worried about getting trapped inside?]
[Looked it up—that white mist is a "dimensional barrier." Every time the Space-Time deities awaken, Alamos Town gets temporarily isolated.]
[??? So there's still signal inside? Otherwise how are we watching the stream?]
[Congrats—you found the plot hole.]
Aiden hadn't considered this—only realizing upon chat's reminder.
Logically, Alamos Town should be in complete spacetime chaos right now—so how is the stream transmitting outward——
As he pondered—a metallic roar suddenly echoed from above.
Then——
A fan-shaped shockwave descended from the sky. Passing through foliage, lush green leaves instantly withered to gray ash—disintegrating into dust.
Simultaneously—several silvery-white blades sliced through the air—shearing tree trunks into perfectly even halves.
"——"
Aiden stepped back—easily dodging two familiar moves whose collateral effects had merely rebounded toward him.
His lips twitched.
No need to guess these moves.
The first—Dialga's signature Roar of Time.
The second—Palkia's Spacial Rend.
Their mere appearance confirmed Aiden's earlier claims.
[Never knew tiny Alamos Town had THREE sovereigns——]
[Besides Dialga and Palkia—who's the third?]
[Teacher Azure of course! In some ways he's scarier than both deities combined.]
[Teacher Azure: Mere Legendaries? Let's see what you've got.]
Just as Aiden prepared to speak—a chilling aura suddenly emanated from behind him. He instinctively turned.
Within the tree shadows—a pitch-black figure silently observed him.
Its body resembled tattered cloth—footless yet defying gravity as it floated midair.
White hair-like strands covered most of its face, while a red serrated collar framed its neck—revealing only a pair of luminous cyan eyes.
Undoubtedly—the Darkrai silently guarding Alamos Town.
"Humans… should not be here."
Noting the unfamiliar human had discovered it, Darkrai instinctively furrowed its brow.
The situation was already headache-inducing. Merely evacuating Alamos Town's residents to safety—preventing them from complicating matters—had exhausted it.
If more fools like him kept breaching the dimensional barrier——
Forget resolving those two inexplicably brawling deities—simply protecting these humans would be nearly impossible.
Thus, clear impatience surfaced on Darkrai's face—its gaze sharpening toward Aiden.
But Aiden maintained a gentle smile—meeting its eyes with warmth.
He knew this Darkrai was fundamentally benevolent—its apparent irritability merely born from anxiety over potential accidents.
He spoke immediately:
"No worries, Darkrai—I'm here to help."
"But before finalizing our plan… could you first brief me on Alamos Town's current situation?"
------------------------------------------------------
30+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)