"It's like this—I heard that you can share eternal life, Xerneas. Is that true?"
Damian did not beat around the bush.
He asked Xerneas directly.
Whether Xerneas can actually share eternal life remains an unknown mystery to this day.
After all, in the Pokémon world, Pokédex entries are written by Professors and various researchers based on gathered information.
In reality, many of these entries are quite subjective.
The Pokédex description for Xerneas states: It is said it can share eternal life.
It slept for a thousand years in the form of a tree before its revival.
However, Pokédex information is not always perfectly accurate.
Many entries are exaggerated or described in vague ways.
For example, there are the classic cases: Gardevoir can supposedly create a black hole out of nowhere, and Gothitelle can supposedly affect a starry sky tens of thousands of light-years away.
If Gardevoir and Gothitelle actually had those powers, what would be left for other Pokémon to do?
Another example is the "Most Beautiful Pokémon in the World."
Before the sixth generation, Milotic held this title.
After the sixth generation, Diancie's Pokédex entry also claimed it was the most beautiful in the world.
So, which one is it?
Then there is the classic case of Mew.
Many people believe Mew has a high status because of its setting as the "Ancestor of all Pokémon," which has never actually been confirmed.
In fact, the original Pokédex text says: Because it can use all kinds of moves, many scientists believe it to be the ancestor of Pokémon.
Setting aside the phrase "many scientists believe," the origin of the Pokémon world has long since been made clear.
Arceus created the Pokémon universe, and primordial Pokémon like Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina existed long before Mew.
They have nothing to do with Mew.
If one must say, it is possible that Mew is the ancestor of ordinary Pokémon, but that is all.
Can Mew really use all moves?
It depends on how you look at it.
If Mew does not Transform, there are many moves it cannot use.
The scholars who wrote that Mew can use all moves were not exactly wrong, just imprecise.
Mew can learn every move taught by Technical Machines, which is true.
But there are many other moves, including those that cannot be recorded on TMs, that Mew cannot use.
Therefore, the Pokédex contains too much subjectivity, guesswork, and exaggeration.
You can believe it, but you should not believe all of it.
After all, in the Pokémon world, the Pokédex is filled out by humans.
Even Damian could get an entry written if he asked famous experts like Professor Oak, Professor Elm, or Professor Birch.
Since it was impossible to confirm whether Xerneas's Pokédex entry was true, Damian asked the Pokémon itself.
"Strictly speaking, I cannot," Xerneas replied to Damian.
"Can you explain in detail?"
Damian was not too surprised.
If Xerneas truly could grant eternal life, why would Lysandre have needed to use the Ultimate Weapon?
Activating the Ultimate Weapon required Xerneas's energy to obtain eternal life.
If Xerneas could do it naturally, wouldn't Lysandre's plan have been a waste of effort?
It was likely that Xerneas itself could not grant immortality, and in the games, Lysandre only realized this after capturing it.
That was why he used the weapon.
"The life energy I share can extend the life force required for a person to exist.
However, your human bodies will still continue to grow and age."
Hearing this, Damian understood.
To put it simply, the life energy Xerneas provides can grant a long life, but it cannot prevent aging because the human body has its limits.
"Damian, do you want a long life?"
Xerneas looked at Damian.
It had likely sensed his desire.
"That's right. I don't lack anything else now, Xerneas. You should be able to understand," Damian admitted straightforwardly.
"For me, everything is within reach. My life is almost perfect, but I am still missing one thing."
"Damian, for you humans, eternal life does not always mean happiness.
A long life can also be a curse," Xerneas said.
As a long-lived species, it understood the desire and pursuit of short-lived species for longevity.
"Furthermore, you will have a wife and children in the future.
Your family, your friends, and all your bonds—you will watch them gradually grow old and die as time passes, while you remain young forever.
Can you accept such a result?"
Xerneas could not make Damian immortal.
However, with its life energy, it could make his internal life force endure and slow his physical aging.
Even if it was not true eternal life, living for several hundred years was definitely possible.
But that kind of false longevity was not a good thing.
Hearing Xerneas's words, Caitlin's heart tightened.
It was true.
If Damian gained eternal life while her youth faded away, that was not something she wanted.
"As long as I let the people I love stay by my side forever as well, wouldn't that solve it?"
Damian had naturally thought about what Xerneas mentioned.
"It seems you have made your decision."
Xerneas did not say more.
Humans pursuing eternal life was a very normal thing.
Xerneas had given its warning and did not intend to lecture him further.
It simply stepped on the unconscious Yveltal again, who had just opened its eyes.
It forced Yveltal to stay asleep so it would not cause trouble.
"Yes, I already have a method, but I will need your help, Xerneas," Damian nodded and explained his plan.
"There is a man with exceptional talent who created a special device.
It can help me obtain a long life.
But if that device is to be activated, it needs your energy, Xerneas."
"I see."
A ripple of emotion appeared in Xerneas's eyes.
Humans were indeed a race capable of creating miracles.
"Since it is your request, Damian, I agree."
Xerneas gave its consent.
It did not believe Damian having a long life was a bad thing.
It could feel that Damian was not an evil person; that was enough.
Having such a long-lived human in the world would not be a bad thing.
Moreover, if Damian lived a long time, he would keep Yveltal by his side, preventing it from causing mass destruction.
That was also a plus.
"However, Damian, please promise me something.
If one day you become tired of this world, please do not destroy it, alright?"
Xerneas's gentle telepathy carried a request.
"When that time comes, please remember who you are now instead of walking down a path you cannot return from."
This was Xerneas's final plea.
If a human like Damian came to hate the world because of his long life, he would be far more terrifying than the current Yveltal.
"Don't worry, I won't," Damian said with a smile and a nod.
He knew what Xerneas meant, but he would not lose himself.
Damian knew clearly that even if this world ran out of fun things to do, there were still parallel worlds to explore.
Besides, he did not plan on living forever alone—he had a wife.
Xerneas nodded with a smile in its eyes, then looked down at Yveltal on the ground.
"Then, I will capture it now."
Damian took out an empty Ultra Ball and began the capture process for Yveltal.
Since it was Yveltal, Damian did not ask Shadow Mewtwo to "help."
However, the process of capturing Yveltal was indeed difficult.
Although it was unconscious, its resistance was still unbelievable.
It took over two hundred Ultra Balls to capture it.
If Damian had not carried enough with him, it really might not have been enough.
Notably, Yveltal woke up several times during the process, but Xerneas very kindly gave it a kick each time to help it go back to sleep.
The result was good in the end.
"Putting it in a ball isn't the same as truly winning it over, though.
I still need to have a good talk with it," Damian said, playing with the Ultra Ball in his hand.
He was wondering how to make Yveltal truly listen.
Perhaps a special "welcome party" was needed.
"True, but you can definitely do it, Damian," Xerneas said confidently.
"Damian, do you need my help right now?" Xerneas asked thoughtfully.
"Because I am about to share my life with this land.
Once I finish, I will fall into a long sleep."
"Can you wake up in the middle of it?"
Damian was a bit concerned.
He suddenly thought of something.
If he were hit by the eternal-life energy from the Ultimate Weapon right now, would his appearance be frozen as it was now?
He was only seventeen and had not fully finished growing yet.
"Under normal circumstances, probably not.
However, I can save a bit of life force.
That way, in an emergency, you can use Yveltal to wake me up," Xerneas thought for a moment and told Damian.
Its sleep was meant to slowly recover the life energy it had shared.
Strictly speaking, it should not be able to wake up.
But there are always special circumstances, aren't there?
"Okay, thank you, Xerneas."
"I should be the one thanking you, Damian.
Because you came along, I can finally escape that painful cycle."
Xerneas's eyes and voice were incredibly gentle.
Hearing this, even Damian felt a little moved.
Truly, this was the first time he had met such a gentle Pokémon.
Clearly, he was the one getting the better end of the deal, and Xerneas should have known that.
Yet, Xerneas was still so selfless, gentle, and full of gratitude.
This sincerity made Damian feel a bit conflicted.
"Then, I look forward to our next meeting, Damian."
Xerneas looked at the lifeless gray land.
It slowly stepped forward two paces, and a brilliant rainbow light glowed from its body.
The light, filled with life, instantly swept over everything in front of it.
The dead gray color was gradually replaced by color again.
Flowers, grass, trees, and Pokémon—all the creatures that had been drained of life by Yveltal's Oblivion Wing were filled with vitality once more.
And all of this came from the selfless Xerneas.
It shared its own life energy with these creatures, giving them life again.
This was the "cycle" of Xerneas and Yveltal: Yveltal woke up to take, and Xerneas woke up to give.
But was this actually fair?
No, it was not.
Xerneas shared the life energy it had worked hard to recover during its long sleep.
It was using its own life to replenish the lives of these beings.
Yet, the compassionate Xerneas never cared about that.
Every time it woke up, it gave selflessly.
As the light faded, a land full of life was revealed before Damian and Caitlin.
Beautiful flowers, green grass, and trees appeared.
The wild Pokémon looked confused but happy.
It was a moving sight.
"Xerneas... is so great..." Caitlin could not help but sigh from the bottom of her heart.
"Yeah, it really is great."
Damian looked at Xerneas, but the Rainbow Deer was no longer standing there.
In its place was a large tree without leaves.
It had already fallen into its long sleep.
"I also look forward to our next meeting, Xerneas," Damian said softly as he rested a hand on its tree form.
Then, without hesitation, Damian took out his phone.
Under Caitlin's confused gaze, he dialed a number.
"Yes, Baraz, it's Damian.
Right, I have something I need Hoopa's help with.
Can you call it for me?
Great, I'll wait."
Damian did not hang up.
After a short wait:
"Damian, Damian~ What's up?" Hoopa Confined's voice came through.
"It's like this, Hoopa.
I just met Xerneas, and we really hit it off.
But it's fallen asleep again.
I want to help it move house.
Give me a hand."
"Eh? Moving Xerneas?"
"Right.
First, pull it over to your place, then send it over to Regigigas.
No problem, right?"
Damian had no choice.
Since Hoopa was in its Confined Form, it could not pass through its own rings, so it had to be this complicated.
If Hoopa could just come here and move Xerneas's tree form directly, it would already be over, but now there was an extra step.
"Oh oh~ No problem, Damian! Leave it to me!"
As soon as those words were spoken, a golden spatial ring appeared silently above Xerneas's tree form and swallowed it completely.
When they looked again, it had vanished.
"Done, Damian! I sent Xerneas to Regigigas's side.
Hoopa is amazing, right?"
"Hoopa, you're my hero~ You're the best!"
Damian could not help but praise it.
He really admired it; Hoopa was just too useful.
Meanwhile.
Regigigas, who was sleeping underground, suddenly felt something itchy on top of its head.
What was that?
Regigigas thought for a moment, then reached up and grabbed the object.
Then...
Regigigas looked at the strange tree in its hand and fell silent.
Xerneas: "..."