The greatest fear of a son

In the arms of a father
Marks of a history
Old tales on the water
Cold affinity

In the arms of a father
Scars of a past concealed
In the cracks of the armor
Brands of regret beneath the steel
A father's arms, Miracle of Sound

Celebi began talking excitedly, its tiny arms waving around. Dialga reared back as he understood what its child was saying.

"No. Just… No. I am sorry, child, but I cannot agree with your idea."

"Bibi BI!" Celebi retorted. "Ce… bibi cebi lele celebi, bi?"

Dialga sighed.

"Yes, I miss her too. But doing what you suggest would go against too many rules! Have you even thought about the consequences?"

"Celebi."

Dialga rolled his eyes.

"Children…"

Ash looked at the group, then at the Legendaries.

"Excuse me, but may I ask what you are talking about?"

The lord of Space turned to the Chosen.

"My child wants to send you in the past to save his mother, the Ancient Queen Dana. I am arguing against it."

Celebi crossed his arms. Then the air chimed. Dialga jumped.

"Celebi, I said no!"

Too late.

The chime echoed in the air as light swallowed everyone and made them vanish. Then light shone and Jessie, James, Meowth and Natla appeared. They were quickly followed by Ash, Silver, Misty, Brock and Gary's Pokémon, with the exception of Pikachu, Lya, Starmie, Onix and Umbreon. They looked at one another.

"…What now?"

"Now…" Natla sighed. "We wait until their mission is complete and Dana is saved. My only question is: when will Dialga return them?"

"It could either right now or after as many days as they spent in the past." James surmised. "Also, will they reappear here or in the Viridian Forest?"

"If that's so, we can ask the Boss to have men wait for them while we wait there." Jessie suggested.

Meowth purred.

"Dialga sent us back to the present to reduce the risk of Butterfly Effect. I wonder what saving Ancient Queen Dana will change in the timeline."

Jessie called Giovanni, though she didn't give him the full story. In the meantime, James and Natla set camp, waiting for the group to return. They did the next day, right as the sun rose.

The air rippled as the rest of the group returned to the present with Dialga. At first, the Rockets and the Ancient were happy… until they saw the scene.

Clad in clothes that didn't belong to this time, Ash was cradling an unconscious Silver as Dialga looked mournfully. Gary and his grandfather looked bitter while Misty and Brock seemed deeply saddened, though not nearly as much as their friend. Natla could swear she could hear Ash sob.

Meowth winced.

"…I'm not gonna ask."

James turned to Dialga, his face pale.

"Is he…"

"Silver isn't dead. He is comatose. To prevent Dana's death, he had me bring him back to his prime and froze her at the last moment, only to use his own Aura to seal the Rift. But the feat took too much out of him…"

Jessie noted how everyone avoided touching Ash and Silver, even Lya and Pikachu. The Ninetales shook her head.

"That idiot."

Ash gave her a scathing glare. Lya's fur reflexively bristled. Brock walked to the Rockets and spoke in a low voice.

"Ash realized too late what Silver intended to do. Gary and Professor Oak had to restrain him. He… When Silver fell after closing the Rift, he outright broke."

Natla shook her head.

"It was a long time ago, but I still remember. Back in our world, Aura was called magic, and it permeated Ea as a whole. Everyone but a single human race could use it, to the point we had a system parallel to the nerves and blood vessels, and even a specific sense to perceive it. Being drained of Aura in this world isn't particularly lethal. For an Ean native? It may well be."

Jessie looked at them.

"Is there anything we can do?"

"Silver's Aura is almost exhausted. The only way for him to get better is to recover it." Dialga said ruefully. "Much like Nathea in the Cradle of Life. There is nothing to do but wait."

Misty softly came to Ash's side.

"We'll bring Silver to the same hospital Simon is in. This way, it will be easier for the visits."

Ash gulped.

"Thanks…"

His voice was broken.

As they spoke, the alterations took place.

Frozen at the place where the Rift was closed, Dana could only watch the events unfold. Partially closing the Rift had deprived her of her divinity, but she still remained a powerful Aura Guardian and an immortal. As soon as she was unfrozen, she called Wise Bark, her Venusaur partner, at her side and set to wander the world.

Dialga, her beloved Lord of Time once made bitter by her passing, informed her of the original timeline so she could avoid too great changes, which she heeded. He would be by her side in human form whenever he could. Being a member of the Legendary Council took a lot of his time.

The place where the Rift was sealed – which, in another time, had become the Bulbasaur Garden – became her own little sanctuary. Vibrant Sapling, Ash's Bulbasaur, still met her here and showed his will. She gave him the gift of power, as she had done in the original timeline. She also met Ash, back then a young Trainer undergoing his first journey, and Silver as well, who wondered how she was still alive. Her answer was succinct.

"Someone else paid the price for me."

She didn't say more. She couldn't yet.

Patient, she waited for the time where the two timelines became one again and the journey that had saved her occurred. Then, and only then, would she become more proactive in the matters of the world.

The time came. She went looking for the group and found them in a hospital in Azalea Town. Unsurprisingly, Dialga was with them, albeit in human form. His long, dark blue hair fell to the middle of his back as he watched from a room's entrance, wrapped in his white longcoat. This wasn't his natural human form, merely a disguise he'd taken to move incognito. Then he turned to her and his red eyes warmed at her sight.

"You came."

"Their journey is over. I am safe. I came to see how they were doing."

Dialga winced.

"First his brother, then his father. Ash is heartbroken, and his friends are barely better. Unfortunately, they can do nothing but wait. Aura depletion isn't easily cured, especially when it affects someone like Silver."

In the hospital room, Ash was watching his foster father with empty eyes. The room on the other side had Simon, unconscious as well. But while Silver had nothing hooked on him, Simon had IV bags and machines monitoring his condition. Given what had happened to him, this wasn't surprising. Once in awhile, Ash held his hand and passed some of his Aura to his father.

For all it was worth, he might as well have tried to fill the ocean with a drip.

His friends watched from afar, powerless. There was nothing they could do and they knew it. Eventually, Misty turned to Gary and Professor Oak.

"What do we do now?"

"Ash is obviously not in a state to continue his journey." Professor Oak sighed. "And, as much as I am a reference when it comes to Pokémon, when it comes to psychology, I'm afraid I'm useless."

"Yet someone to talk to is precisely what Ash needs right now." Brock frowned. "Problem is, it was always Silver or Delia, and the only time I've seen Ash in this state is after the events with the dreamborn Entei. I wish I could help, but…"

"At this point, he needs a professional."

"Exactly. Know someone?"

Dialga shook his head.

"Right now, only Silver recovering will make Ash feel better."

He almost jumped when Ash turned to him.

"How do you do that?"

"By replenishing his Aura but, given how powerful Silver is, this is going to take time."

Ash sighed and went back to watching his foster father. Dana suddenly froze. Someone was coming to them, a person bearing an Aura she was deeply familiar with. The others sensed it too.

"Sister, it's been awhile."

Dana turned and smiled from ear to ear.

"Nathea. Good to see you again, Little Sister."

The human goddess walked to the group. Ash turned to her, his eyes empty. As she came to him, he turned away and looked down.

"…I'm sorry."

"What for?" Nathea asked softly.

"I couldn't stop him."

Tears welled up and ran silently. The goddess put a hand on the boy's shoulder. Ash shuddered. Nathea spoke.

"I was told he sealed the Rift by taking Dana's place. Would you like to fill me in on the details?"

Ash bit his lips. He began to shiver. When he spoke, his voice was toneless.

"Dana was using her Aura to seal the Rift. Silver had asked Dialga to rewind him back to his prime. Right as Dana lost her divine spark, he froze her and took her place. I didn't… I didn't realize right away what he meant to do, but…"

He turned to Gary and Professor Oak and glared weakly.

"You tried to stop him and they held you." Nathea understood.

"…Yes."

"And now, you're blaming yourself for his state."

"Yes… and… I don't want to lose him. Not now. It's too soon."

The 'too soon' caught the goddess.

"What do you mean by that?"

Ash turned to the room where Simon was in. Nathea cringed.

"I see. The incident with the Unown is still recent."

"First Simon and now Silver. Big Brother… Dad…" He looked at the goddess. "Who's next? Mom? Misty? Brock? …Pikachu?"

He held a sob. Nathea shook her head. Of course, it was obvious that such events would leave a scar. It didn't help that he was just a preteen. The goddess internally wondered why Trainers had to be so young. Sixteen would have been more appropriate, maturity-wise. But, the issue aside, Ash would require help. The incidents had left him with a trauma, and she knew as a fact that traumatisms took time to heal, may they be mental or physical.

Naturally, Silver being his foster father, he was best suited for the task. Unfortunately, he was comatose… except she had a solution. A smile crossed her face.

"By the way…" She told the boy. "I have good news for you."

Ash looked at her, puzzled. Nathea grinned.

"The temple dedicated to Lugia and the Legendary Birds is complete. Do you remember? It's the one located in Shamouti."

"Oh, this one."

He didn't seem to understand. The goddess shrugged the issue and decided to speak straight.

"Shamouti is located near a location called the Cradle of Life, a place where the energies of fire, ice and lightning combine to create a powerful current that influences the weather over Kanto, Johto and the Orange Islands. A side effect is that the place is filled with life energy."

"And?"

"And." The goddess crossed her arms. "If we take Silver there, his Aura will be replenished in no time. I helped the Shamoutians build the temple so it could harness this property of the Cradle. Silver will recover, I promise."

Ash blinked several times. Somehow, his eyes seemed a little less empty.

"…Then what are we waiting for?"

Giovanni was more than willing to pull the strings necessary to take Silver to Shamouti, even offering to carry them along. He still had a debt toward the man, and he intended to repay it. When Ash and his friends finally landed on Shamouti, they were greeted by Melody and Slowking, who had been informed of the issue. Nathea carried Silver to the temple. When they saw it, the group stopped.

Connected to the shrine by a long flight of white stairs, the temple had the shape of a step pyramid, its walls made completely in pristine marble. A crystal dome served as ceiling while gutters on each side of the stairs let water flow from the temple. The gate was made of silver and gold, framed by bas-reliefs of the Bird Trio.

The group climbed the stairs and entered the building. The inside was even prettier than the outside. The ground was made of veined marble of pink, black and gold color. The windows were made of stained glass that represented Lugia and the Bird Trio in various situations, the light painting pretty colors on the ground. In the middle of the pyramid, right below the dome, was a pool on which the light fell. Dialga could feel the Aura coming from it, a cradle at the bottom of which a mosaic depicted Lugia. On the wall opposite of the entrance was the altar proper, with a statue of Lugia that stood from ground to ceiling, its eyes made of black onyx while the stone had been painted in the likeness of the Legendary. Statues of the Bird Trio supported the altar, Articuno being made of silver, Zapdos being made of gold and Moltres being made of bronze. The altar itself was a circular crystal plate covered by a purple cloth.

The temple was huge, bright, and gave a sense of wonder in its oldest meaning.

"It's amazing." Misty breathed. "I can feel the sanctity of this place almost physically."

"The people of our old world built many temples in our honor." Nathea explained. "The architecture is based off them to an extent. My own temple had the same kind of dome and gigantic statue at the end, but it wasn't a pyramid."

They laid Silver in the pool. The Ancient's body immediately began to absorb the ambient Aura while an amplifier built below the floor increased the healing powers of the current, giving the pool its regenerative powers.

"It will take at least several days." Nathea frowned. "I suggest you stay there while he recovers. It will give you time to breathe. I can tell your adventure in the past left everyone of you shaken."

"It was instructive, that's for sure." Professor Oak frowned. "But the price was too high. Ash still needs Silver... He still needs his father."

Because Silver was Ash's father, in all but the blood. The boy still relied on him emotionally. He was a key part of the group.

They settled in Shamouti, intent on staying there until Silver was awake. They didn't train, instead using the time to relax and take long breaths after the harrowing journey through the past. Ash remained downcast all along. The others stayed with him to bring him some comfort, but the real comfort would come from his father's recovery – and nowhere else. One night, he took the Golden Flute and played.

Every Pokémon in Shamouti and around heard the song. It was grief, despair and powerlessness all rolled into one, a pull at the heartstrings that was too strong to ignore. A child wasting of sickness. A parent gone without a trace. An elder passing alone. Friends fallen too far apart. Loss in a shape that couldn't be stopped. Dialga heard it. He shook his head. The song brought memories he had tried long and hard to suppress.

His beloved giving her life to mend reality as he watched, helpless.

She was alive, now, but only because Silver had paid the price in her stead.

"…That's enough."

He flew to the Council. As he thought, the others had gathered and were in what seemed to be a fierce argument. Only Nathea was missing. Palkia turned to him.

"Brother? I was wondering when you'd come."

"I am here, Palkia. What is going on?"

Palkia grimaced.

"Another of the Ancient Rulers has returned. We are debating what to do."

"Dana is no longer divine, merely powerful and immortal. The Council has less to fear of her than it has of Nathea."

"That's what you say…" Groudon snorted.

"No." Reshiram cut. "Dialga is sincere. Dana is less of a threat than Nathea. Besides, the two are a couple who even fathered Celebi. Divine or not, I strongly believe Dana is on our side."

"She is an Ancient." Arceus coldly said.

Everyone turned to him. Darkrai crossed his arms.

"And how does it factor?"

Lugia shook his head.

"The Ancients have always helped the people of our world, even though they were foreigners. They brought great things with them. Knowledge and the power of Aura are but two of them… and, in turn, we bound the strongest of them to us by threatening his people with genocide. This isn't right… It has never been right. They gave us everything they had. Their rulers gave their life to mend reality and we rewarded them by holding a sword over their head!"

"This world is ours, not theirs." Arceus retorted. "They installed themselves without asking and altered it without our consent. We owe them nothing. What they gave, we didn't ask. Instead, they forced it upon us and changed this world. You're right, Lugia. We haven't rewarded them. We have punished them – for their interference."

Mewtwo bristled.

"What else did you want them to do? Their world was gone. They had traveled far across the ocean between worlds and the journey had tired them. They had nowhere else to go!"

"They could have accepted their fate and died instead of encroaching upon my world."

"Your world!?" Zekrom snarled. "This world is ours, it belongs to everyone at this table! You merely rule it because you created us all."

"Yes, and as such, I am the one who has the final say in every decision we make. Right now, my word is that the Ancients are unwelcome, and are starting to overstay it."

Dialga shuddered. Suddenly, he was very afraid for Dana. He looked at Arceus.

"Father, I beg you to reconsider…"

Arceus shut him with a scathing glare. Ho-Oh put a hand on his shoulder.

"He won't listen. Come. Nothing we say will change his mind."

They left. Slowly, the Council Chamber emptied itself. Arceus sat on the throne, dark thoughts mulling in his head.

Dialga headed to the Bulbasaur Garden and sent a telepathic call that was swiftly answered. Mewtwo, Zekrom, Reshiram, Ho-Oh, Lugia, Mew, Celebi, The Bird and Beast trio, Cresselia, Darkrai, Xerneas and Yveltal, Rayquaza, Regigiga, Victini and Shaymin gathered in the clearing. Even Palkia joined, though he stood away from the others. Yveltal was the first to speak.

"Dialga, why did you call us?"

"I want to talk about Father."

Darkrai frowned.

"I can smell your fear from there, Dialga. You are terrified, and it isn't hard to guess why."

Dialga sighed.

"I am that transparent, am I? You're right, I'm scared Father will move against the Ancients and I'll lose Dana in the process. This is why I called you there, to discuss a way to prevent it. What I mean is: we all know how much Father loathes the Ancients. It was bound to happen sooner or later…"

"I recall you were none too fond of the Ancients once upon a time." Ho-Oh noted. "Why the change of heart?"

"My wife is back, that's why. Losing her broke my heart, but her return mended it. I refuse to lose her again, even to Father."

Rayquaza winced.

"Father is the strongest Pokémon that ever lived. We may be able to take him on if we all fight together, but there will be casualties."

"I know. Brute strength won't get us rid of him, even with Nathea's help. But I don't plan on using brute strength." A grin crossed his face. "Did you hear Ash's song?"

"We always hear when a Chosen sings." Mew sighed.

Cresselia looked away.

"This one was downright heart wrenching. People will have nightmares filled with sorrow."

Dialga's eyes narrowed. Xerneas froze.

"Wait, you aren't going… You are!"

Palkia frowned deeply.

"Not all of us are favorable to the Ancients. Before the decision is taken, we must all be in agreement – and I mean all of us."

"That can be arranged. Give me a moment."

Dialga crossed his eyes and sent a telepathic question across the world. Every Legendary but Arceus heard it.

The Ancient Rulers are coming back, and Father is ready to strike them down. Who will you fight for?

The answers came slowly. Mew and Mewtwo naturally stood with the Ancients, as did Ho-Oh and Lugia and the Bird and Beast trios. The Celebi, naturally, sided with their mother. All of them. Latios, Latias and Jirachi also chose the Ancients, followed by Rayquaza, but Groudon and Kyogre were considerably more reluctant. The Regi decided to follow their leader… After careful thinking, Regigigas sided with the Ancients.

"Arceus will tear the world apart to get rid of the Ancients. As the keeper of its integrity, I cannot accept it. Besides, though the Merging caused the Rifts, the Rulers gave their own life to mend them. They repaired the world and kept it safe. This is something I can respect. I will stand by their side."

Groudon and Kyogre grudgingly accepted the argument and sided with the Ancients as well. Heatran followed Groudon's decision while Darkrai and Cresselia, who had always been staunch allies of the Eans, retained their loyalty. Manaphy and Shaymin also stood with the Ancients while Azelf, Uxie and Mesprit decided to wait until everyone else had decided. Giratina's allegiance begged no question. Between who was responsible for his current fate and the fact he was watching over the leader of the Ean pantheon… Palkia didn't answer, but Victini, Reshiram and Kyurem answered favorably to the Ancients, and so did Meloetta. The Swords of Justice also sided with the Ancients. Finally, the collective answer of the Kalosian Legendaries was clear: they were not betraying the one whom they owed everything, and it meant Nathea. Palkia sighed.

"Your plan better be as solid as Regigigas, Brother. Because, if Father kills us all, this is all your fault."

Azelf, Uxie and Mesprit spoke.

"We will help you chain Arceus. Share your plan, Dialga."

Dialga explained his plan. The other Legendaries gave him a weird look.

"…This will work." Victini said. "Guaranteed."

"Then let's get Ash. He is the only one who can neutralize Arceus."

Ash was naturally surprised when Ho-Oh came to get him. He didn't argue. He was the Champion of the Council and did as he was told. Ho-Oh took him to the Hall of Origins.

"Ash." Ho-Oh said. "I want you to demonstrate your talents as a Chosen by singing your most sorrowful song. Make it so strong Arceus himself will weep himself dry."

The boy obeyed. His mind wasn't to thinking, this wasn't something he could do right now. At the moment, the pain had numbed him to the point he was running on autopilot. Summoning the Heart Flute, he played. In his back, Mesprit touched him to empower the song. Meanwhile, Dialga, Palkia and Giratina had gathered to create a pocket dimension that would contain Arceus. The other Legendaries had gathered around them mostly out of convenience. Azelf, as the Pokémon of Willpower, was using all his strength to protect them, giving them the mental fortitude to power through the song. It wasn't easy, far from it. Victini was feeding him energy and, even then, the Lake Guardian was having trouble. They still did it, though. Before the song was over, the Creation Trio had crafted a cozy little pocket dimension. Next step would happen as soon as the song ended.

Arceus, unprotected by the Lake Guardians, was easily enthralled by the song. He slumped in his throne, scepter slipping from his hand as tears ran freely and sorrow bore heavily on his shoulders. By the time the song was over, he was blind to the world, his mind dwelling on all the pains he'd suffered in ages past. This meant he didn't sense Uxie sneaking in his back and pruning away his memories. If the Knowledge Pokémon could bestow wisdom to the worthy, they could also do the opposite – and inducing amnesia was in fact their main means of defense. This is what they did there, filtering Arceus's memories until only those they wanted remained. A thought, and Mewtwo teleported the Council in the Chamber.

"It is done! Hurry now!"

Dialga, Palkia and Giratina held the pocket dimension. It was a sphere seemingly made of night sky that the Legendaries hung in the middle of the room. Cresselia went to work, weaving sweet dreams about a world without Ancients in the mind of their creator. Arceus noticed nothing, his spirit too broken to do so. He didn't notice either when the Creation Trio drained him of his divinity and transfered it to Dana, restoring the Ancient Queen back to godhood. The Lake Guardians levitated their father in the dimension, then sealed it with their power, crimson chains interlacing tightly around the sphere. The whole Council breathed. Arceus was now tightly sealed in a miniature dimension, trapped in the sweet dream of a world where the Eans never arrived and every living being was a human or a Pokémon. The dimension itself was in the full middle of the Hall of Origins, a place that could only be reached by humans if a Legendary took them there. Dialga sincerely hoped nothing would ever disturb their father's dreaming.

The Council collectively breathed.

"Crisis adverted."

"And Ancients safe and sound, including Silver, Dana and Nathea."

"…What happened here?"

The Legendaries turned to see Ash peeking into the room. Giratina sighed.

"To make a long story short, Arceus had finally decided to get rid of the Ancients, so we neutralized him and trapped him in a pocket dimension. Your foster father and his people are safe."

"Ah. That's good… Too bad about Arceus."

Like a time bomb, the boy would get a stronger reaction later but, right now, his mind was still in piecing itself.

"I will take you back to Shamouti." Lugia offered. "Rest, knowing nothing will ever hurt your father again."

"How would you know?"

Lugia shrugged.

"Silver is strong, and there is no threat of genocide hanging on his head anymore. His hands are completely free. Powerful as he is, the next time he gets hurt, it's because he chose to."

The words brought Ash small measures of comfort.

At last. At long last. It took me literal years to write this chapter, this is no hyperbole. The main issue came from the firt part, which was supposed to contain the journey through the past. Unfortunately, the time period equates to what is known as the Copper Age, a transitional era between the Stone and Bronze age and very little documentation can be found about it on Internet, may it be Wikipédia or elsewhere. As a result, I couldn't realistically describe the period, which brought the writing of the chapter to a halt. It took me some time to find a way around it and, even then, writing the next part wasn't easy. The part where the Council overthrows Arceus wasn't easy to come up with. But I did. Yay me. Now, you have a new chapter to read and I can go back to refering myself to the series for inspiration. Next chapter should hopefully come easier, even though I should soon start a series of internships that may slow down the posting - it's still gonna be faster than three years.

So, now this part is over, let's talk about the chapter itself. During the hiatus, I discovered this wonderful artist that is Miracle of Sound. Trust me, he's good. Really good. Expect to see more of his songs later, they have the advantage of fitting a lot of situations regardless of the game they are about. Meanwhile, Nathea muses over the questionable wisdom of sending ten-year-olds on journeys alone. As everyone can see, kid minds are rather fragile, and Ash's took a beating there. On the other hand, his sorrow song was enough to take down Arceus of all people. With help from Mesprit but still. The Divine Goat is gone and the Ancients are safe, including Silver. Much as Arceus has a point, I do admit I made him a bit of a jerk here… Actually based his personality on the Olympian pantheon, Zeus in particular. I thought it fit.

For the reviews... It happened so long ago I doubt it's worth answering them. You probably forgot. Bah, I'll just answer them next time.

See you soon ! ...Hopefully.