It wasn't just Dialga and Palkia.
The gods on Ash's side were also healed by Arceus's power.
The Flame Plate was extracted from Heatran's body and reclaimed.
Now—
All the gods hovered in the sky.
Their gazes locked firmly onto one person below.
Cyrus.
Cyrus: Oh.
Cyrus: I'm screwed.
If you had this kind of connection, you could've said so earlier!
Would I have gone this far if I knew you were buddies with the Creator?!
He tried to glance toward where the spatial rift had been.
If Giovanni from the other world pulled him into the "Pal" world, Arceus wouldn't be able to judge him there.
But—
The rift was gone.
Sealed.
Giovanni and Team Rocket had already fled without a trace.
A giant question mark practically appeared above Cyrus's head.
Weren't we building an ideal world together?!
Why'd you leave without me?!
I'm not even on the train yet!
Surrounded by:
The Sinnoh Creation Trio
The Sky High Pokémon Rayquaza
Mewtwo
Zacian, the Sword King
And above them all—Arceus
Even looking up at them would suffocate an ordinary person.
For the first time—
Cyrus felt regret.
Maybe summoning Arceus had been a mistake.
At least before, with Dialga and Palkia, he could still struggle.
Now?
There was nowhere to run.
"Is it… too late to surrender?" he swallowed.
He was mad.
But not suicidal.
If anyone hated him most—
It was Dialga and Palkia.
Controlled for so long.
Used as shields against Judgment.
Now, with Arceus's quiet command—
'You may deal with him.'
Cyrus suddenly laughed.
"You gods are hypocrites!"
"You interfere in the human world yet claim detachment!"
"When humanity needed you, where were you?!"
"This broken world is the result of your inaction!"
"I am humanity's savior! The Creator of the new world!"
Zacian turned slightly toward Mewtwo.
'What is he saying?'
'No idea. Possibly insanity.'
Moments later—
Divine wrath descended.
What followed…
The livestream kindly avoided details.
Let's just say—
With Dialga and Palkia present, death was not even an escape.
If his body was torn apart—
Time rewound it.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Elsewhere, in the present timeline—
The real Cyrus stared at his data screens.
He had already begun planning his escape to another world.
Knock knock.
"Open up. Water meter inspection."
"…We're eighteen floors underground."
"Retreat. All units."
After the Judgment
Back on the battlefield—
Arceus paid no more attention to Cyrus.
It descended slowly before Ash.
The Creator was enormous—
But it reduced its size to just over two meters to face him.
Even so—
The sacred aura was overwhelming.
'Ash. It has been a while.'
"Yeah. Long time no see."
Just like that.
A simple greeting.
Ash introduced Red.
Arceus studied him briefly—
Sensing the same pure heart.
A small nod.
Then Ash lifted the small figure beside him.
"Um… could you help turn Miss Cynthia back?"
He held up the now child-sized Cynthia.
She froze.
She had not expected—
To be lifted like that.
Her face turned bright red.
Arceus examined her.
Time-space turbulence had reverted her to childhood.
But more complicated—
Her bond transformation power had intertwined her fate with Garchomp's.
This wasn't ordinary time distortion.
It involved the mysterious livestream's granted power.
'I can remove the space-time disturbance,' Arceus said.
'But full restoration will require time. Their powers must rebalance.'
"That's fine! Thank you!"
Ash gently set Cynthia down—
Then impulsively hugged Arceus.
Red inhaled sharply.
That was the Creator.
And Ash just—
Hugged it.
The Little Cynthia Situation
A Plate shimmered.
The chaotic time energy within Cynthia—and the Garchomp Egg she held—was dispersed.
But—
She did not immediately grow back.
She only felt a brief tickle.
Nothing else changed.
'What I can do, I have done. The rest depends on her.'
Arceus looked at Ash—
With warmth.
All Arceus share one consciousness.
In any world it created—
Ash could reach it.
Yet Ash rarely used that privilege.
Only in dire need.
That restraint—
Was why Arceus favored him.
Little Cynthia's shoulders drooped.
Even Arceus couldn't instantly fix this.
How long would she stay like this?
What about the World Coronation Series Masters Eight?
Compete like this?
What if she ran into Diantha in Round One?
If she lost—
She would never hear the end of it.
Ash noticed her mood.
He reached out—
And vigorously ruffled her golden hair.
Soft.
Incredibly soft.
So this is why she always pats my head…
Suddenly, a thought appeared.
Maybe this isn't so bad.
He could just take little Cynthia home and raise her.
Mom always wanted a daughter.
Perfect timing!
(Somewhere, Delia sneezed violently.)
Arceus began to ascend.
Before leaving, it spoke once more:
'Ash. If ever you truly require me… call.'
"I will. Thanks."
Light enveloped the sky.
The Creator vanished.
The storm was over.
And on the mountain—
Ash stood between gods.
Red at his side.
A child-sized Sinnoh Champion clutching a Garchomp Egg.
Peace restored.
Mostly.
Except for one dangerous new idea forming in Ash's mind:
Adoption papers.
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