At the foot of the Michina ruins, Dylan's group stood facing Sheena.
At least, that's what Sheena thought. In truth, Dylan didn't see her as a threat at all.
Anyone who had seen the movie knew—though Sheena carried the resolve to dedicate herself to calming Arceus, she was far too naïve.
The history passed down by her ancestors was a lie, and Sheena had never questioned it. To be fair, she couldn't be blamed.
At the very least, she had not fled from the sins of her ancestors and instead bore them with determination. That was already commendable.
"Mr. Dylan, do you realize what you're saying?" Sheena's eyes were sharp with suspicion.
"Of course I do. In fact, I know even more than you." Dylan smiled warmly, not carrying the air of a villain in the slightest.
"The Jewel of Life was formed from five of Arceus's Plates. Damos betrayed Arceus because of his greed, refusing to return it."
Sheena's voice was low, weighed down with sorrow.
"He set a trap, grievously wounding Arceus. But in the end, he perished under Arceus's wrath."
"A thousand years have passed. Generation after generation, we've carried this burden, waiting for the day Arceus would return—so we could give the Jewel of Life back."
Dylan nodded. This was the "truth" Sheena knew. But in reality, it was all false.
Damos had never betrayed Arceus. He had fully intended to return the Jewel as promised.
It was his retainer, Marcus, who couldn't bear to lose it. Afraid Michina would revert to its barren state without the Jewel, Marcus hypnotized Damos and laid a trap to kill Arceus.
Of course, it failed. Trusting Damos, Arceus had dropped its guard, and was gravely wounded. But when it realized the truth, its rage destroyed the entire temple.
Both Damos and Marcus perished there, while Arceus retreated to its dimension to heal.
Now, after a thousand years, Arceus would soon awaken.
To Sheena, it would be nothing but a wrathful god, and the only way to soothe it was to return the Jewel of Life.
"That's your belief. But do you really think returning the Jewel of Life will solve everything?" Dylan chuckled softly at her innocence.
"I…" Sheena tried to argue.
"The Jewel belongs to Arceus. Returning it is only natural—it's simply giving it back what is already its own." Dylan cut her off.
Though Sheena was the guardian of Michina, at the end of the day, she was just a sheltered girl.
No wonder Marcus in the film had so easily deceived her, nearly causing history to repeat in tragedy.
Sheena froze at his words.
"You think this alone will erase Arceus's hatred? Miss Sheena, that's laughable."
His words were harsh, and Sheena's face went pale as death.
Truth often cut deeper than any blade.
Did she really think returning the Jewel of Life would erase betrayal and pain?
And besides… the so-called Jewel she guarded wasn't even the real one.
"No… this can't be… it can't…"
Sheena stumbled back two steps, shaking her head, whispering in denial. The world seemed to collapse into grayness before her eyes.
All her life, she had been told this story, told her duty was to give the Jewel back to Arceus when the time came, to beg for forgiveness.
Because the Jewel was their only "bargaining chip."
And now Dylan was telling her—even if she returned it, Arceus would never forgive?
"How pitiful…"
Seeing Sheena pale and trembling, tears brimming in her eyes, Lillie couldn't help but feel sympathy.
She thought of Ultra Megalopolis—where people lived in eternal darkness, burdened by their ancestors' greed in sealing Necrozma away. Their descendants could only wither slowly, awaiting death.
Sheena was no different.
"Indeed. She's innocent… but that's fate." Ilene murmured softly.
"She's paying for her ancestors' mistakes. Serves them right." Leaf snorted.
"So then, since it can't be undone, why not let me safeguard the Jewel of Life instead?" Dylan smiled faintly.
"Miss Sheena, what do you think?"
"Impossible!"
Even shaken as she was, Sheena shouted back instantly, eyes now red and burning with defiance.
"You're lying! You just want me to hand over the Jewel! Greedy wretch! I'll never let you succeed!"
Her hands tightened, trembling as she glared at him.
She couldn't accept it. She refused to. Otherwise—what was left for her?
He had to be lying!
"Transcend… the laws of time and space!"
She clasped her hands together, eyes closing as a mysterious power began to radiate.
"Ah… the power of Conduction." Dylan's eyes gleamed.
This was the gift passed down from Damos: Conduction, the ability to communicate with hearts at the deepest level.
Psychic power balanced, Viridian's power natural, Aura connected all things—but Conduction pushed communication beyond any boundary.
Even across separate dimensions, it could reach out.
Like now…
The wind stilled. A heavy pressure filled the air.
"What's going on?"
Leaf's eyes widened, staring at Sheena, who stood praying. She could feel reality twisting.
And it wasn't just a feeling. Space itself was warping. A blue vortex of time spiraled open, and beside it, a pink vortex of space.
Deep, resonant dragon roars shook their hearts as two majestic forms emerged—eyes glowing, divine radiance cloaking their bodies.
Dialga. Palkia.
"The Dragon of Time… the Dragon of Space? She actually summoned them?!"
Leaf nearly popped her eyes out, staring in disbelief.
What kind of ridiculous ability was this girl hiding, that she could call those two here?
"Conduction. To transcend boundaries… it truly is a mysterious power." Dylan regarded her with interest.
No tricks, no fanfare—just pure heart-to-heart communion, so strong it even reached Dialga and Palkia.
"The Jewel of Life belongs to Arceus. I must protect it. No one will take it!" Sheena glared at Dylan, her will now firm.
But then she saw it—he wasn't afraid at all. His face carried only mild amusement, as though watching her "put on a show."
What was going on? Didn't he fear the Dragons of Time and Space?
"Is that all?" Dylan asked calmly, glancing at the two dragons.
"?" Sheena blinked in confusion.
"Where's Giratina? Summon it too."
Her silence was telling. She had tried before, but Giratina was vicious, uninterested in Arceus's matters. She hadn't dared press further, afraid to provoke it.
"Dialga, Palkia—please! Banish this man consumed by greed!"
She called out again.
But the dragons didn't respond.
Instead, they gazed at Dylan with strange recognition.
"It's been a while." Dylan raised a hand in greeting.
Both dragons nodded, casting odd looks at Sheena.
Palkia immediately turned away, stepping back into its vortex. Like a river flooding the wrong temple—it had no intention of interfering.
"Wait! Palkia—he's trying to steal the Jewel of Life!" Sheena cried out, panicked.
"You mean him?"
A deep voice echoed—Dialga's.
"Yes! He wants to take it!"
"Then give it to him."
"W-what?!"
"If he wants it, let him have it."
And with that, Dialga too vanished into its vortex, leaving Sheena standing in shock.
Both gone. Just like that.
Sheena stared blankly. Did she mishear?
The Jewel of Life—so precious, so vital—and they just said to give it away?
She couldn't understand.
"It seems they have no intention of helping you, Miss Sheena." Dylan chuckled lightly.
"…"
Her eyes trembled as she stared at him.
"Who… exactly are you?"
Even a fool could see he was special. Dialga and Palkia had treated him with more respect than she had ever received.
Her Conduction could only let her communicate—it was always up to the dragons whether to listen.
"Me? Just an ordinary Gym Leader." Dylan shrugged.
"…Come with me, then."
Sheena sighed. With her trump cards gone, what else could she do?
"A wise choice." Dylan smiled.
But just then, a strange pulse rippled through the world.
Dylan and the others felt nothing—but the Pokémon did.
"Dylan. Something's wrong."
The deep voice rang in his mind.
"What is it?"
"There's a distortion in time and space. They've collided." Another voice added grimly.
"What do you mean?" Dylan froze.
"From the Original One's dimension came a surge. It shook the balance. Two timelines collided in the rift." Palkia explained.
"And then…?"
Silence from both dragons.
If not for their presence in reality, they wouldn't have sensed it at all. And if two dimensions collided…
In the rift, darkness stretched endlessly.
Two pairs of glowing red eyes opened, coldly locking onto one another.
The Dragon of Time. The Dragon of Space.
Normally, their realms would never overlap. But now—they had.
A furious roar shattered the void as Palkia bellowed at Dialga.
Dialga roared back without hesitation.
To translate their words…
"You dared to trespass in my realm? Looking to die?!"
"Shut up, useless water lizard! You crashed into my domain!"
"Four-legged gecko! I've tolerated you long enough!"
"Up yours, pathetic water dragon! I'll beat the scales off you today!"
Ah yes. Brotherly love.
(End of Chapter)