♦ Dedicated to Grenineon for being a wonderful, fabulous friend who was always, ALWAYS there for me no matter what. You can be drunk on sugar, spamming my comment section and yet super philosophical at the same time. You were also one of my first senpais because of your flawless writing and covers :3 Thank you so much, and I hope we can remain friends! ♦

Welcome to Chapter 4 of Each Past!

I know the last chapter had like, what? Only 6 votes? But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop writing it xD Hopefully by next Friday, I'll achieve 15 votes per chapter? (That's a bit too much to ask, though)

:I do not own Pokemon or the images used in the cover, but the plot, personalities and the edited cover belongs to me. You may not copy, translate, or reproduce it in any form unless given permission by me, @NyxAbsol.:

༺ ༻

❝ Of all the Pokemon I saved,

I want him to be the one I save last.

I want this saving to mean the most to me. ❞

༺ ༻

Cresselia

There was nothing but absolute silence for a long, pregnant pause after that.

Fine, Jirachi replied coolly. Her tone seemed even, but I could see that desperate control slipping out of her hands as she agreed a little too easily. But only if you're absolutely sure about this. This could cause both of you to die, Cresselia. Think of the consequences.

I paused, but prayed that Jirachi hadn't seen that slip-up. I have. I know it seems extremely selfish, especially coming from a Legendary... At that moment, I hoped that she had saw that pained look in my eyes. But I'm absolutely sure of this. Besides... there's someone else beside me that will benefit. He's the last Pokemon I save.

Alright, then. I accept. Just... A ghost of a smile played on her face. I'm sorry that I never got to know you well, Cresselia.

I sighed, trying to ready myself for the experience. I had no idea what it was going to feel like- going against Arceus' predestined fate- but I had to do this. So am I.

Well? Are you ready? Jirachi stepped into the back of the cave, where it was slightly more spacious and comfortable. Gleaming sparks of light brushed across her fingertips as she prepared herself. I'd like you to repeat your wish one more time— firmly, please. She spoke formally, like a teacher issuing an important command to her student.

I wish that me and Darkrai would be able to have a past, I murmured out, my eyes sliding close. Still, I could feel the beacons of light that sliced through.

Light that Darkrai had never been able to see—

But I'm going to save him. I will save him!

I cracked open one eye— just the tiniest fraction— and was immediately blinded by a screen of pure, glaring white. I shut it once more, relieved to have the darkness surrounding me. Energy coursed through my body, and I could feel it practically bathe me. It didn't feel like the fresh breaths of magic I was used to, instead, it was like sharp jabs to my body, plaguing and twisting its way through, threatening to overwhelm and consume my body.

Suddenly, the darkness in front of me started to fill with a vortex of swirling colour, hues of pinks and yellows and blues that twinkled at me from afar. I felt my body lighten, and I questioned myself silently if Darkrai was feeling the same thing.

I couldn't feel myself anymore. My mind was blocked, and I was unable to think clearly. Was this how death feels like? Or was it simply a side-effect of the wish?

What had I done now?

Then, white shot and consumed the colours that had swayed alluringly in front of me, and I dragged my head up. At least, I assumed I was able to carry out that action. 

Is it... over—?

My question was soon answered as the light died down around me to reveal nothing but my plain, familiar surroundings. I felt every usual cell in my body tingle in shock, and Jirachi's exhausted gaze met my disappointed eyes.

I'm sorry. Jirachi shook her head, unhappy with herself. There's not enough power.

It's OK. I rushed to comfort her. It was my fault for being so ambitious, anyway.

Though... you still have a chance. Jirachi said the last word so softly, I had almost missed it. I raised my head, interested, as she explained. I'm not able to complete this because I don't have enough energy to. But when I was performing the spell, something spoke to me. It's a prophecy of sorts.

She swept her hand in an arc, and glowing letters emerged on the floor in electric blue, the thin, spidery handwriting stretching across the entire cave.

I think that... this is something you need to help out with, Jirachi said. Not with your power— I'm not sure, but—

I cut her off, my reply firm.

What do we do?

༺ ༻

I stared at row after row of electric blue that flickered on the solid, crumbly earth, bits and flecks of black dirt marring the glaring colour. The complicated letters were drawn in thin, spidery strokes, making it all the more harder to read.

The language wasn't a language used by any one of the Pokemon inhabiting this planet— nor was it one of those more foreign dialects that humans used, such as English or Mandarin or even Japanese or French— but the figures were sketchy, old diagrams, each radiating off an overwhelming sense of old, each magic-compressed stroke seeming to wield a tale of its own.

I had recalled learning the ancient Pokemon syllabus before— I had. It was compulsory for all Legendaries to know it, but not many of us had retained that same level of understanding after so many years. Bits of knowledge had withered away under the current of time that ebbed away at our mind, and even I, staring at the passage, couldn't figure out the exact meaning of the crafty words.

I flinched upwards in mild surprise as I head a steady voice read out the words slowly— one by one, as if letting each expression slowly sink in.

As Jirachi recited the lengths of words, I became lost— each phrase arched into another world; another story, and the language itself was a beautiful, mesmerising craft— one far too easy to get enthralled in.

༺ ༻

"Crescent moons shine and fade at dawn,

Sunlight dancing on its ebony flames

Estranged togetherness for far too long,

And a line must be drawn between their names.

Red-hot blazes slowly destroy,

And the dulls of waves are unable to quell

Everyone strives for the heroes' allure,

But we may all fall to darkness's comforting lull.

An angel paths the way of hope and light,

But despair clouds the vision of those wishing true.

But there's still one more, this world burns bright

Standing strong in the face of desolate rue.

This is not something to cloud

With the darkening sky of grey-black hate

Sing this song of love, clear and loud

And rise and fall to face your chosen fate."

༺ ༻

It sounds like some kind of poem or prophecy, doesn't it?

Jirachi's voice soon broke me out of my earlier, trance-like state. My head snapped upwards abruptly, and slowly, I nodded. A poem would be too insignificant. A prophecy, however, seemed more likely.

I was unsure of how to go about this. A slight, foreign sensation of alarm coursed through me, and a wondrous thought stopped my racing train of thinking: What exactly has my wish done?

Whatever it is, it has something to do with what you said about enlisting my help. I tried to keep my voice calm. We have to do something about this prophecy. What is it talking about? The lines of the poem seem disjointed, as if they don't seem to have any relation to each other.

Jirachi nodded in agreement. Yes. Maybe they're separate? Take the first two lines for example. She pointed a finger at the start of the passage. At first glance, and to the average Pokemon, yes, they're related. But I just know that they're not supposed to be strung together.

I was about to interject that I didn't feel anything, but then again, Jirachi would have been the one to know since she was the one more involved in this type of strange magic.

Let's... let's try going by line by line. Maybe we'll find out more that way, I replied.

I guess you're right. Sucking in a small breath, Jirachi began once more, tracing her way back and finding that particular line.

Crescent moons shine and fade at dawn, Jirachi breathed. Sunlight dancing on its ebony flames.

That's all we had to work with— nothing more, nothing less. Any bit of extra or missing information would do nothing but hinder us.

Crescents and sunlight.

Sun and moon.

Two opposites of each other, just like how Arceus had designed several of the Legendary duos as. Several Pokemon rushed to my mind at those thoughts— both Psychic and Dark— and my brain went into overdrive, but only two crystal-clear names stood out to me.

Espeon. Espeon and... and Umbreon, I whispered. Epson is the Sun Pokemon. Umbreon is the Moonlight Pokemon. It makes the most sense. They're the opposite Eevee evolutions of each other as well— I think they're the best option we've got so far. I refused to name them "Eeveelutions", as most humans had called them. It was simply too informal, and it was a disrespect to the Eevee community.

Shaking my head free of that thoughts— I simply had no time to wander off in my mind— I refocused my attention on the current matter at hand.

Jirachi concentrated, her streamer-like extensions billowing out behind her like folds of rippling golden silk. Her turquoise eyes was serious, before she finally spoke up. The tags on her head shifted and rustled in place as she moved her head back. So... a special Espeon and an Umbreon? Her voice was thoughtful, and it was obvious that she did know something about this.

I guess so. It's the best choice, I replied hesitantly. Do you know any Pokemon of those species?

You can say so. It was quite recent. I paid a short trip to Johto a few years ago, and ran into a particularly interesting duo of an Espeon and Umbreon. They're stationed at a small temple in a village that's cut off from the world, sealed away in a small bit of Ho-Oh's power.

Ho-Oh... I took a while to register that name, before a mighty, terrifyingly majestic phoenix sprang to mind. You mean the Guardian of the Skies who exists to humans as a myth? I had never met the Legendary in person before, but I had heard he was one of the most powerful Legendaries in our Armada. Why so, though?

I'm not sure, Jirachi replied, as demure and soft-spoken as usual. I think it's because that village was so far on the outskirts of Earth, even Arceus wasn't able to reach it with his strength. That's why Ho-Oh helped out, pitching in with his powers and isolated that part from the world. It's unknown; even unreachable to most humans and Pokemon living outside the community.

So, maybe, that was why the Sun and Moonlight Pokemon were needed to aid the people of the village. Being unable to reach somewhere that was so far away, the sun and moon couldn't have been raised there. There would be no sense of both day and night— and even a small part of the world plunging into turmoil was unacceptable. It would lead to a complication in the fabric of space and time, getting Dialga and Palkia involved, and that would altogether lead to a disastrous, messy situation.

Does that mean that the Espeon and Umbreon are supposed to raise the sun and moon? Is that even possible? I asked doubtfully. Jirachi's silky voice replied at once.

Yes. Most of the Eeveelutions— her informality and the ease with which she used that word brought a frown to my mouth—- would not be able to achieve such a feat, but they are different. I was there at the ceremony then.

Before I could ask what she was talking about, Jirachi continued, nostalgia and fond memories clearly filling her turquoise eyes.

The ceremony held at the temple summons Arceus to visit that area. Ho-Oh helped as well, to allow Arceus to briefly make his appearance and gift them with the gift of raising the Sun and Moon, Jirachi explained. They weren't allowed to meet with anyone else after that. That's why I left. The happiness in her eyes faded to a look of reminiscence.

Do you miss them? I asked suddenly, and a bittersweet smile played on her lips.

I guess you could say I do, she replied with a lingering expression of yearning. Those few days must feel like mere seconds now, but if I put it that way... She closed her eyes. Then, those few "seconds" of my life were perhaps one of the most meaningful.

Either way, the Pokemon interrupted abruptly, changing the subject with a less than smooth transition. This Espeon and Umbreon are the most special ones of the species. At least, they're the most special I could ever think of.

Guardians of a temple, in a village that has been completely cut off from the world...

I nodded briskly, glad that we were at least one step closer to solving— no, completing this wish of mine. I opened my wings, soft, gauzy structures that curved into crescents, stained with a washed-out magenta, as fragile as glass, yet as durable as titanium. Those wings caught the sunlight, shining with a dim glow and glittering at certain places. When I had first been Created, I had never believed that I could actually fly with them.

So... I shifted in place, and saw Jirachi stare back at me with a serene look of understanding. Where can we find Ho-Oh?

Yup, I think I'm going to try something new with the line breaks :3 Thanks so much for 330 reads and 55 votes; I really appreciate it!

Read, vote and comment as always, critiques are extremely welcome and now *salutes* Nyx out! :)