"This is a companion too—just not yet born.
"For now, I can't forge her body."
Without the "mystic science" knowledge, there was nothing Hikaru could do to the Soul-Heart yet. Mystic science and future tech were diametrically opposed paths; if he forced a modification, he might end up with a "Paradox Magearna."
But Magearna's body is already living steel—would a Paradox form turn to flesh? That'd be… a hard pass.
"If I made an artificial girl even more human than Iron Valiant, we'd fast-forward into some robot-girl romance timeline. Kinda off-track, huh?"
Hikaru handed the Soul-Heart to Genesect. "In the Cave of Being, even a tattered ancient soul can be soothed and begin to change. That power comes from the one who shaped the world. You might not follow the theory—just hold her."
Genesect cradled the Soul-Heart. In that instant—even as another creation of steel—it felt a vigorous, almost tangible vitality.
Its long-cold metal husk seemed to grow warm again. Not the heat of Fire-type moves, but a change rising from the deepest core of its heart.
What was this, so captivating?
"Big bug, hello. You're a Bug-type monster, aren't you?"
"There's a wondrous power here… ah~ I've woken up. I'd actually woken before, but couldn't make a sound."
"I'm so lonely."
"Thank you! Human—are you a king come to use me again? Will you talk to me?"
The voice felt awake—speaking to Genesect—yet like an auditory mirage. Genesect looked left, right, even toward Hikaru, unsure.
Hikaru nodded. "You heard right—she spoke."
He addressed Magearna as well:
"The era has changed, Magearna. First—congrats on waking—but this state might not last. Your soul is still fractured. We'll need the right method to mend it."
He let his psychic power brush the Soul-Heart—and from within, Magearna cried out in wonder:
"So warm… your power…"
"I can hear so many voices! I can feel the world around me—kya, it startled me! This is my first time feeling like this!"
Clack, clack… A silver-white paladin—Iron Valiant—stepped to Hikaru and Genesect's side.
As a likewise "modified" tech Pokémon, Iron Valiant was intensely curious about the new companion with "no personality." And after sensing the Cave of Being's aura, she came out on her own.
Unlike her, though, the soul inside the Heart seemed born already with emotions. Curious, Iron Valiant reached out, and a faint mind-link formed.
"Eh? Who are you?"
"You're the same as me—a purely artificial being?"
"Amazing… you're unlike any life I've sensed! Onee-san, who are you?"
[I am T-1006-01, Iron Valiant.]
[Onee-san… unknown term?]
"Onee-san means big sister. Because we're the same, aren't we?"
[Broadly, we are kin. Narrowly, we differ.]
"Then we're the same! Wonderful! What does having a body feel like? Were you also presented to a king as tribute?"
"Then… that human onii-san over there is the king; you're the First Princess, I'm the second daughter, right? If I had a body, I could fulfill the old promise and play with you."
[Objection. I fight for my Master. I do not need to 'play'… probably. I was not tribute. Cannot parse.]
"Eh? But my settings say I'm supposed to play with princesses. I never truly came to life, but my soul exists… Do you not like me?"
"As a little sister… do you—do you hate me? I mean, I don't have a body…"
Long unawakened, Magearna chattered on and on. Iron Valiant just listened—never annoyed—logging every line to her databank.
[No. I love you.]
"Eh?!"
The blunt, undefined fastball of a confession made the soul in the Heart go shy. Even Hikaru chuckled. "Say that and even a Pokémon gets embarrassed."
[Because I care for her, I love her.] Iron Valiant blinked her pixel eyes.
Hikaru corrected gently. "This is where you praise her cuteness, then comfort her.
"Young girls like to hear that—Marnie-san, Roxie-san, for example.
"But hey—your straight pitch still worked. Also—you're cute too."
[Understood 'cute.' You're cute; I'm cute; samples recorded.]
[But—my care for her is different from you or other kin.]
"Then that's affection. Or cherishing."
With Hikaru's guidance, a future girl who didn't yet understand love, a present-day modified war-beast with no friends, and an ancient, lonely mechanical soul—began to talk.
It wasn't just Iron Valiant who popped out, either.
Riolu padded forward, blue ears keen. It stared at the sigil-shaped pools, then looked up with intent.
It felt something uncanny here—if it meditated, its Mind's Eye might grow.
"Your aura picked up on this, huh?" Hikaru raised a hand—ripples of Time drifted out. Riolu jolted.
What's that?
When did you get Aura?
No… this isn't ordinary Aura!
Riolu folded its paws, astonished.
"Right," Hikaru nodded. "Not Aura—a ripple of power.
"As for true Time Aura—how to gain it… I've got a hunch. Maybe soon. And hearing you now… perhaps it's right here in the Cave of Being."
"Even then, I probably won't sling Aura Spheres like a classic Aura Guardian."
In truth, Aura comes in many forms; all things have an aura, even inanimate objects.
In the Adventures manga, Koya explained it well—even Team Galactic's surveillance gear carries a distinct aura; trace it and you can find its maker and pinpoint malice.
In the Mystery Dungeon world, there are Heart Waves and V-Waves too—the former lets a team combine hearts to unleash a powerful united skill; the latter boosts all kinds of power and ties to Victini.
"If we visit Liberty Garden later, maybe we can feel V-Waves—but… do they even exist in this world?"
Cradling those questions, Hikaru prepped to forge the Red Chain—but then, ripples shimmered across the Cave of Being.
"Bii!"
A familiar voice crossed long time-streams and popped into the hollow—as if it had been calling forever.
Hikaru blinked, then turned toward the voice of time.
Time's surface dimpled. With a soft radiance, a long-unseen Celebi appeared!
"Hey, long time no see, Celebi. How's time-travel? Fun?"
One look at the aura, the feel—Hikaru knew.
Yes—the Celebi he'd met at the Sinjoh Ruins.
"Bii, bii!"
Celebi flitted in anxious circles, then mimed playing a flute.
Through the mind-link, Hikaru understood.
"You want me to make a Time Flute—now?"
"Mm—you'll need it…"
The Time Flute—an Orre-region artifact from Pokémon Colosseum.
Its description: a mysterious flute that summons Celebi.
In theory—outside of Orre—there's no use for it. And even if Orre exists here, Realgam Colosseum's incident should be long settled.
…Or is it?
Celebi shared a vision.
A forest monster laid waste; a burly man in a strange helm cackled; a young Sam (Professor Oak) and Ash skimmed by on Suicune; at the end, a Celebi's power was spent—near death.
"Ah. That."
"Celebi: The Voice of the Forest."
A classic time-paradox movie—Ash meets a young Professor Oak, their bond forged forever.
The main villain: one of Team Rocket's top cadres—the Iron-Masked Marauder—who seized Celebi to break from Rocket and conquer the world. Suicune was there, too.
"You want me to use the Time Flute to gather allies—call other Celebi to the forest? …All right. Give me a moment."
"I won't take much of your time."
Even if he did, it's fine—Celebi travels time.
Still, it hovered, fascinated, watching Hikaru work—and peeking curiously at the other Pokémon. Entei caught its eye.
Celebi zipped to Entei. It recognized this one was "fake"!
The Crystal Tower Entei, who'd only recently vanished on this timeline!
"Bii?"
How were you revived—and here?
Celebi was incredulous. Entei, for its part, studied the tiny guardian.
"Forest's warden. Time-traveling Mythical… Right," Entei rumbled to Hikaru. "Wasn't a Unovan human inviting you to a martial tourney? The prize—a herb Celebi fetched?"
"If you know Celebi, why not ask it for a favor?"
"Bii!" At the "cheating" suggestion, Celebi stiffened, then thrust its tiny chest out and crossed its arms in an X!
It got what the fake Entei was implying.
The sacred herb? That cannot be given lightly!
It must be earned by ten trials—a rule decreed by Sinnoh's High Deity (Arceus)!
Entei huffed. "No wiggle room? If I were a villain, I'd use a Time Flute to blackmail you."
"Bii…" Celebi found this fake Entei's personality odd.
So gentle with that little girl—yet away from her, a bit… wicked?
Celebi flitted on. Iron Valiant amazed it with future power; Genesect astonished it with modern power.
It peered at Larvesta—how curious: a dead egg revived.
It eyed Riolu—shouldn't this Riolu have returned to the wild?
Ahh, so many timeline shifts!
But that's the charm of multitime. Celebi itself can rewrite happenings.
Oh, right!
Celebi recalled the Sinjoh shrine. It had delivered plenty of fruit there for a while—but it seemed Hikaru hadn't received any after he left…
On the timescale, it had actually only been gone a short while!
Ah—gifts!
Celebi extended a hand. A time ripple opened. It rummaged for a bit, then—plop—pulled out a yellowed scroll.
Tadaa—tadaa—taa—ta-taa!
Magical Tool!
"Bii!"
This would be a perfect gift!
Just then, Hikaru finished as well.
Forging a Time Flute isn't hard—like the Azure Flute—what you need are suitable materials and power.
Gratitude Stone + Time Ripple + Release Orb, and the Time Flute was done.
[Mythic Craftwork: Time Flute]
[Description: A flute that can summon many Celebi and purify Shadow Pokémon.]
[Effect: Clears dark aura; at the holy forest shrine, summons Celebi and purifies a Shadow Pokémon regardless of Heart Gauge. In spacetime, give it to Celebi to quickly rally companions and perform Temporal Revival.]
"The Time Flute's ready… Hm? What's this?"
Hikaru approached. Celebi beamed a "praise me!" face as he accepted the yellowed scroll.
[Secret Tool: Special Ball Craft Notes]
[Description: The secret manual of Mr. Steel from another world—techniques to craft all kinds of Apricorn Balls, especially the last chapter: 'A Poké Ball Beyond Time — the GS Ball!']
[Effect: Learn the methods to craft top-tier Apricorn Balls—and additionally forge the mysterious GS Ball.]
(End of Chapter)
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[Thanks for Reading!]