Pokémon: Out of the Woods | A Galar, Unova & Sinnoh Fanfiction

Chapter 59: Innocence

For better or worse, Pluto knew who Heather was. She could release all 12 of her Pokémon. They were relieved to stretch their legs and play with the beach ball that Pluto threw to them. He pulled a wooden box from underneath a thorny bush. It was covered in dirt. Their footprints were the only ones that visibly disturbed the dirt below.

'We don't use this camp very often...'

'Right...'

Pluto took a blanket from the box for them to sit on. The stench of rotten Apricorns drifted from the open lid.

'What do you keep in there?'

'The bad smell is from the materials we use to make Poké Balls... I'll show you how to make them, if you like... but...'

Heather wondered if he was trying to distract her from their troubling conversation, but his expression when he sat beside her told her that he wasn't. He was about to return to it.

'I want to be honest and open with you. Even if you decide, one day... or today... that I'm evil... I hope you'll remember that I'm not a liar...'

'...Why do you want to open an Ultra Wormhole?'

'Did you already read Giovanni's biography?'

'I forgot I even bought it, to be honest.'

'Through Ultra Space, Giovanni was able to retrieve the legendary Pokémon we know, but from alternate universes. As it happens, the legendary Pokémon I want to meet is now in Galar... but I fear, regardless, that it will be influenced by the humans it has spent so long with... and so I wish to meet the Zekrom of an alternate universe. I wish to know if it will recognise me as a hero. If it doesn't... you're right. I've been conned. If it does...'

'Right... but N was recognised by Zekrom. And he really was conned by Ghetsis.'

'And you may be right again. Perhaps you and another legendary Pokémon might be the ones to prove that to me.'

'...I'm flattered that you think Reshiram might recognise me as a hero. But it's unnecessary. I can tell you right now that even if Volo is misunderstood, Jahzeel sure ain't. He's conned you. How long have you known him?'

'All my life... but if anyone influences me... it isn't Jahzeel. I can identify with Volo's dreams.'

'The Arceus stuff...?'

'No, not the Arceus nonsense. Arceus is a Pokémon, no more or less than this Zorua...'

He paused. 'If it was a deity... if there was any "god," or at least one with a heart... Pokémon and children wouldn't have suffered so much at the hands of cruel adult humans. Even your friend, Ralph... he'd still be alive.'

He paused again, although it was a shorter pause this time, as if he was getting wound up.

'If people want to destroy themselves, that's their choice. But innocent people like your friend... just when will "God" intervene? Only when existence itself is at stake? What is existence without the pieces that complete it, no matter how small? I frankly think it's cruel to suggest any kind of Pokémon god would allow the death of a child... which leads me to one conclusion: Arceus is not a god. It is merely a Pokémon, powerless to intervene with the affairs of the subjects who falsely deify it...'

'OK. I agree with that. But Volo is out to meet – and conquer – Arceus. He thinks it's a god. And I'm pretty sure one of his fans killed Ralph. And Victor.'

'I don't claim to know what exactly is going on in my... in Volo's head. And I don't identify with the way he wishes to forge his new world. I don't even believe it will work. But I identify with his reasons for wanting it. If you can prove that a member of Team Plasma killed or abused anyone, human or Pokémon... I will gladly hand them over to the International Police.'