The white tree's roots shimmered faintly, revealing to the visitor from afar what kind of changes were unfolding in this world.
The initial changes were small—subtle, like ripples on the ocean. But over time, just like waves gathering momentum, these changes would become surging tides.
[Our world has a Tree of Connection.]
[Another world, the black-and-white mirrored world, also has a Tree of Connection.]
[When two Trees of Connection link together, they unleash enormous power.]
[But the Trees have been damaged. The one in the mirrored world is also broken.]
[To repair them, the Champion discovered a method.]
With that, the voice within the white tree hollow faded. A brilliant light and an unusual silhouette appeared before Hikaru.
In this mysterious space, a Pokémon emerged.
A tiny fairy-like creature with two gray tails, each tipped with a red gem, and a sharp blue spike atop its head.
The Pokémon greeted Hikaru.
"Azelf!"
Hikaru stared in disbelief.
"Az…?"
"Azelf!!"
One of the legendary Lake Guardians—Azelf, the bringer of willpower!
"Azelf~"
Azelf floated in midair, gazing at Hikaru with a curious expression.
Azelf had long slumbered at the bottom of Lake Valor in Sinnoh, maintaining the balance of the world. It was known as the Being of Willpower, a Pokémon both revered and feared.
Legend said it could manipulate the will of its enemies, turning them into puppets.
When Azelf flew across the land, it granted people the strength to make firm decisions—the courage to face any challenge.
Sinnoh's dimensions were connected to Unova. The Lake Trio could travel to Unova via the Heart Space!
But this Azelf—?
In the TCG, there's a card featuring Azelf appearing in White Forest. While in the games, Azelf is found on Route 23, symbolizing the will to move toward Victory Road. Clearly, though, battle towers like Black Tower and White Treehollow also symbolize human willpower and determination.
So that's what this was!
This mysterious aura—it matched what Hikaru had sensed back in the Nacrene Museum. It was Azelf's power!
White Forest's voice echoed again:
[The Tree's power is a form of space-time force. The human-developed C Device uses special aura waves to access the Connected World.]
[Azelf gave the Champion a trial.]
Azelf floated around Hikaru, eyeing the three pendants hanging from his chest.
Hikaru could hear Azelf's voice in his heart:
{Hi there! Chosen one of Arceus!}
{I heard you challenged the Creator on behalf of the people of Shinra and earned its recognition! Congratulations!}
{You've done a lot in Unova! You even responded to Uxie's call through that cosmic meteor—because you possessed "Knowledge," you were able to connect to Uxie, right?}
Azelf tilted its head, large watery eyes blinking as it giggled and transmitted its thoughts.
{The C Device is an incredible invention! It links dreams, the Connected World, other people's worlds, and our world together. Different dimensions can now interact. That's the knowledge you're after, right?}
{Long ago, to link worlds, we needed the Red Chain.}
{Now, the space-time of Unova is distorted. Even if the C Device is completed, it can't work normally. While it can access the Connected World, linking to other people's worlds is still difficult.}
"Distortion?" Hikaru was puzzled.
That wasn't something shown in the games.
All it should take is syncing the machines to cross into another's world and empower them.
"The Tree told me Alder may be lost in the Reverse World."
"In that world, you can even forget your true identity."
"So Alder saw you too, didn't he? His ancestors were likely also of Shinra."
{Exactly!}
Azelf twirled midair, stretching its limbs.
Perhaps this was just a dream projection—like Uxie's image seen by Deoxys.
Azelf waved its little hands and looked troubled, eyes reflecting a hint of concern.
{So! There are still more steps needed!}
{It took a bit of time, but we've finally located the three distortion points and uncovered their true nature.}
{But for special reasons, Alder can't repair them. He's currently trapped in the Reverse World.}
{Don't worry—he's safe. He's helping the people within their dreams as best he can, exploring the other world. That Champion is very curious about it.}
{And then, there's Opelucid City.}
Azelf's expression grew subtle.
{In that city, we stumbled upon a shocking machine—one capable of connecting time and space! It's hard to believe humans created such a device!}
{Using that machine, and with the C Device, we can finally manifest the twisted truth before our eyes and interact with it.}
{But—we lack an Electric-type Pokémon from another world that knows a recharging move. Plus, both sides need to be activated simultaneously.}
That triggered something in Hikaru's mind.
This sounded so familiar!
Wait a minute!
"You mean the machine that links the past and the future?"
Azelf nodded emphatically.
{Yes! The 'universe' is defined as: the four directions are "space," and all time is "eternity." Together, they form the cosmos.}
{And you—you are the one chosen by time. Only someone like you can synchronize time between two worlds.}
Azelf pointed at the Miracle Diamond hanging from Hikaru's chest:
{The Miracle Diamond, the Mysterious Pearl, and the Strange Platinum—these are the Three Pendants carved by the people of Shinra. They can invoke the powers of Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, and even allow one to cross time and space.}
{But that requires a special power—someone who can see the ripples of time. These ripples allow one to use Time Aura, which is the key to drawing out the Miracle Diamond's full strength.}
{As the Chosen of Time, you should have that power too—but it seems you haven't awakened it yet!}
"I've been trying to," Hikaru said. "Looks like it was the Miracle Diamond that guided me—not the Tree."
He once thought that extra information came from the Tree, but now it seemed the source was the pendant.
By exhibiting artistic works, one could comprehend the Ripples of Time through special craft, and then—by a particular event—grasp the Time Aura.
{A specific event, huh!} Azelf rested its cheek on its palm. {Seems like you haven't figured it out yet!}
{But don't worry—you'll find it during your journey. Just follow the guidance of the pendants!}
{Now then! The identified distortion points are: Black Tower, Celestial Tower, and Opelucid City!}
That made Hikaru think of something funny.
Dialga, use Roar of Time!
Dialga: "Now broadcasting BJ Time—XX hours, XX minutes, XX seconds!"
{Did you know?}
Azelf looked toward the White Treehollow's key and spoke nostalgically.
{The Relics of Connection existed long before humans and Pokémon lived together. That kind of immense power was already present.}
{In the past, people arranged Unova's towns in spiral rings to harness the Release Power.}
{Release Power comes from the dreams and ideals of humans and Pokémon. Like whirlpools, they gather and flow to form energy.}
{The Release Orbs form naturally when people help one another and express gratitude.}
{Long ago, the Tree of Connection was massive, able to draw on all kinds of Release Power.}
{Now you, traveling through Unova and helping the Tree and the Pokémon, are doing what the Tree once did—connecting people. "Connection" is the key to Unova.}
{So! This is a trial!}
{Will you help Unova? It may be a tough path! Do you have the willpower for it? If you knew what distortions you'd face...}
Azelf asked, peering curiously at Hikaru.
It awaited the human's reply.
At that moment, Hikaru recalled Cynthia.
She'd once spoken of suddenly challenging Arceus without preparation.
But many things in life don't wait for you to be ready—surprises happen all the time.
After glancing at his Pokémon, Hikaru gave a firm answer.
"I'm traveling right now!"
"It's not just about training myself and my Pokémon to grow stronger, but also about preparing for whatever might come. After fighting Team Plasma, I realized how lacking my strength was."
"And I'm truly grateful to this world."
Just pure gratitude.
He'd received so much knowledge for free. The Tree had treated him well!
Showering him with loot—how could he not help in return?
Azelf raised its little hand, then projected its will into Hikaru's heart!
{I hope you're prepared!}
Using illusionary power, Azelf transmitted its will into the hearts of Hikaru and his Pokémon.
Then—in a cosmos of black and white—a blue steel dragon roared, shaking the universe, howling through time!
At the same time, the Miracle Diamond on Hikaru's chest emitted a brilliant light, seemingly resonating with the dragon's roar.
"That's… Dialga?! No, wait—the color's off!"
{Correct! But it's not the Dialga of our world. It's a visitor from a distant universe—one of Unova's distortion points!}
{Because it's from a faraway realm—a different dimension—our Dialga can't intervene. But Unova connects to countless worlds.}
{You know this, right? History can be overwritten.}
{That's why Black Tower exists. Originally, it was just a blueprint to test Trainers' strength—a will-forging structure. It wasn't meant to exist yet.}
{But due to temporal shifts, Black Tower appeared early. That's why no one remembers when it was built!}
Hikaru was stunned.
If the one atop Black Tower was an alternate-universe Shiny Dialga, then could the other two points be…?
Shiny Giratina and Shiny Palkia?!
In the games, two regions shift based on version differences.
One is Opelucid City—appearing as either future or past.
The other is Black City and White Forest, which share the same map slot.
"After battling Arceus, now I have to face Sinnoh's Trinity?!"
Fighting the Sinnoh gods in Unova?
What a twist!
Maybe because the Tao Trio joined his side, three new enemies auto-spawned!
{They didn't come from Sinnoh—they're from alternate universes. They aren't our world's gods. But beware! Pokémon from space often carry Celestial Power and the Force of the Cross Star!}
{Perhaps Arceus' avatar descending into the Relic Castle awakened the three gems that had fallen with the ancient meteor, drawing these alien gods into this world.}
In the movie Arceus and the Jewel of Life, it was shown that Arceus' awakening would provoke the Space-Time trio, stirring conflicts.
And if they hold the "Heavenly Power"…
Then this "Azure Emperor" might even surpass the true Dialga!
Whether it was this blue one from space, or the corrupted "Dark Emperor" from the labyrinth world—both were stronger than normal Dialga.
The Dark Emperor had even caused the world to fall and the stars to stop.
Truly… corrupted = 10x stronger, purified = 30% weaker?
{Descendant of Shinra, chosen by Arceus—the celestial battle awaits! Offer the gods of another world a glorious fight!}
{Even if the guidance is broken—you must still reach the peak of Unova!}
{White Forest will grant you power, and your companions will fight beside you!}
{Then—finish your journey! Not just in the Desert Resort!}
{Visit Twist Mountain, Giant Chasm, and the Abyssal Ruins to gather the mighty forces the ancients left behind. It's necessary to send the gods of other universes back!}
{And for Alder, this is also a divine trial!}
{Now—take this stone and head out! Go to the Connected Forest and reunite with your companions!}
Azelf shut its eyes. The White Forest key shimmered in unison.
Holy energy enveloped Hikaru and his Pokémon. They had received White Forest's powerful blessing!
An ancient Moon Stone materialized and was gifted to Hikaru by Azelf.
Then, the light faded.
Hikaru opened his eyes.
A familiar town lay before him. The starry sky glimmered, and the streets were silent.
In a few hours, dawn would break.
"This is Striaton City?"
"Teleportation?!"
Hikaru was stunned—and then realized he was standing in front of Professor Fennel's house.
Aegislash, Lilligant, Torterra, Riolu, Larvesta, and Rotom—his Pokémon looked equally surprised, glancing at one another in confusion.
What happened? What did that Pokémon just do?
Azelf couldn't learn Teleport—at least not normally.
But in Legends: Arceus, it had demonstrated both invisibility and teleportation. Even in the anime, it had done the same.
"There's nothing the Lake Trio can't do, I guess. They are the origin of the world, after all."
"Oh right, about the Shiny Dialga…"
Hikaru recalled something.
During the Black and White era, there had been a special distribution event.
A Shiny Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina—all sent from across time and space.
That blue Dialga had been one of them.
In all generations, only Black and White had such a Shiny distribution.
"So the Time Aura… was a distribution event?!"
"Time-traveling power… that's what it meant!"
Maybe Alder's trial would even earn him the "Arceus Outfit."
Then, Hikaru felt something new in his pocket.
Not just the Treehollow Key… but also a Moon Stone!
"So bringing me back here means…"
He looked up.
From the upper floor, he heard someone shouting—
"Hooray! The C Device is complete!"
(End of Chapter)
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