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This is a commission for FatesLover (FurAffinity).

Arsene, Arcana, Mars, Yvall and Reyna belong to FatesLover.

Warning: This story contains obscene levels of macro sizes.

Disclaimer: Pokémon and its regional components belong to Nintendo.

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Unlocking the Heart, by DragonMasterX.

Most living creatures are aware that the universe collects a near-infinite number of celestial bodies which orbit stars. These stars mark the center of myriads of solar systems, the group of which at the same time conforms a galaxy. When one draws an imaginary line to bind every galaxy into their own neighborhood, one is thinking of the universe. To many, this is where observation ends. Nothing else exists beyond the invisible boundary.

But there is something beyond. A multitude of universes existing parallel to each other, born of the same seed yet splitting out in different directions like branches on a tree. This never-ending cosmos of life and creation is again replicated using different seeds for completely different results, and once again branching out infinitely. Multiverse to universe, to galaxy, to solar system, to planet, to its sentient population of mortals and Gods.

And above it all exists the space between these trees of creation. Outside of the laws governing all those realities, the eternal blue plays the part of the host for every and all multiverses. And the Azure Realm was not just a macroscopic dimension; it was a fully conscious divinity named Reyna.

Divine Reyna had been tirelessly and dutifully observing all instances of creation, her incomprehensible size allowing her a vast level of control over matter and anti-matter, enabling her to reshape and prune these trees as she saw fit. However, the compassion born from her initial existence as a mortal had made her impose a vow upon herself to only interfere with the great cosmos when absolutely necessary. Reyna would do all in her power to ensure peace and prosperity for all, but as she had learned by experience even the smallest action could have everlasting consequences. Her goal was directly tied to her maxim: Coexistence.

Coexistence between the powerful and the powerless had always been the trickiest subject to observe and even harder to interfere with. Surgical precision was impossible to execute in extreme cases where the powerful devoured the weak to the point of singularity. If left alone, those extreme cases would invariably lead to the extinction of all life in one universe and possibly reach out to others. To prevent the spoiling of a tree because of one rotten fruit, Reyna was usually forced to take the role of reaper, cutting off the sick branches before their poison could spread.

Although successful in her self-appointed task of observation and preservation, Reyna had become endlessly fascinated with the way of life. In some unique cases, the divide between competition and cooperation was so nuanced it might as well be the same concept. In others, compassion drove exceptional beings to ascend beyond what was possible for their kind.

It was in one particular tree that Reyna had found two fruits not too far from each other, yet brimming with exceptional radiance. Her interest in the beings of those two parallel universes had inspired an idea on her. Even someone of her station, in her plane of existence, could spend eternities thinking and simulating and she would be no closer to finding the answer of how to achieve the joy and prosperity for everyone, mortal and Godlike, that Reyna longed for.

Even the goddess of the Azure Realm needed help. Assistance that would only arrive by conversing and exchanging ideas with fellow Gods with similar and different point of views. That’s why Reyna broke her vow in order to extract those potentials, plucking these exceptionally ascended beings from their universes. All done in order to bring them to audience with her that they may be given the choice to join her in her mission.

These beings had come from two realities nested in a multiverse where fantastical creatures known as Pokémon existed and had been given deific stations via prayer and worship.

These beings were Arcana and Arsene, the Pokémon God Arceus; one female and one male, each reigning over their respective universes. Arsene’s best friend and lover, Yvall the Mega Absol who had also taken the mantle of God of Worship. Arcana’s soulmate Mars, the Mew, one of the oldest deities in her universe. And last but not least Arsene’s children, the lord of time Dialga, the mistress of space Palkia and the majesty of the void Giratina. Each imbued with their own personality and worldview, yet united in their idea of enjoying their lives to the fullest while being considerate of others considerably less powerful than themselves.

Reyna could only contain her excitement when they had all accepted her proposal to join her in overseeing and pampering the entirety of creation with their blessings.

But it looked like there was still some fine-tuning to do before they could actually get started…

---

“Excuse me, everyone!” Reyna’s voice echoed throughout the Azure Realm. “May you gather before me?”

To anyone unfamiliar with the layout of the realm it would have sounded like an oddly worded request. But Reyna was simply so big that the Azure Realm and herself were practically one and the same. Certain spots were easier for her to address her guests from.

It had been some time since Reyna had last gathered everybody together after she had invited them to explore the vast infinity of creation. She was eager to see them all gathered before her again, so she brought both of her open hands up to be level with her chest before forming two platforms for the others to stand on.

A long necked anthropomorphic reptilian, Reyna’s size had reached such a level that multiverses looked like concentric rings of tiny white tablets orbiting above her head like a halo. The other gods who now made their home in her realm might as well have been half the size of a pinky finger, each!

Arcana, Arsene and Yvall manifested from columns of divine white light on Reyna’s left palm. On the space on the right, space began to warp and distort, soon showing Palkia walking in with her brother Dialga stomping after her. Finally, a black hole appearing behind the first group revealed Giratina emerging from it to show the others.

“Odd,” said Arsene upon realizing they were one member short. A certain Mew was nowhere to be seen. “Was Mars not accompanying you to see the Multiversal Tablets, Palkia?”

The muscular lilac and silver dragoness’ arms were folded as she huffed. “That old man ditched us four parallel universes in. You’d think a preachy cat like that would know a thing or two about patience.”

“I believe it was your rude and callous remarks that exasperated Lord Mars, sister,” Dialga criticized while standing behind his equally tall sibling. To contrast his Amazonian yet feminine sister, the cobalt and silver dragon was considerably bulky, just like his father.

“Could swear it was the way you keep droning on about your boring history lessons no one ever asks for while we’re out exploring, brother,” Palkia dropped her claws to her hips, addressing Dialga with a growl yet without even turning around to address him directly.

“Honestly, you’re supposed to be more dignified than that if you’re to project yourself to mortals,” Dialga followed, “We could all benefit if you could take a cue from our older sister. So elegant and gracious…!”

As the eldest daughter, Giratina was slightly taller than her brother and sister. While the younger ones were solidly built like rocks, the phantasmagoric dragoness was a slender, feminine, walking hourglass. People who beheld her beauty estimated she was at least 60% leg, but there was no denying she was thick of hips and bust. Gray scales striped with darker shades and a vibrant red contrast gave Giratina her signature gothic look while golden gildings on her knees, elbows, shoulders and face mask added to her divinity. With long, radiant locks of dark hair, there was no wonder Giratina had been known, much to her chagrin, as “Goth Mommy” back in their home planet. She looked at her siblings with a worried expression as they got into one of their usual spats. “Oh my…” she frowned, but Palkia had already been set off before she got a chance to intervene.

With a vein bulging atop her forehead, Palkia cast a red glare back at her brother, “I can gracefully slam your dumb face in, if you want, brother.”

“You two…” Arsene sighed as he saw the tension between his children becoming hard to ignore.

Arcana couldn’t help but chuckle, bringing the back of her hand up to cover her mouth. “Your kids don’t appear to get along, Arsene. Maybe they need a time out?”

Although the fellow Arceus was joking, her words had a point. But Arsene wasn’t about to jump in. Rivalry was what always had defined Dialga and Palkia’s relationship; to him, this was just a natural if embarrassing outcome of siblings butting heads. Just another one of their childish arguments.

The bulky kirin turned towards his curvaceous counterpart, his stern eyes the only identifiable part of his otherwise grey, masked face. “It isn’t wise to interfere,” Arsene addressed Arcana, “I will leave them alone to settle…” but before he could finish his sentence, he felt a tug on his bicep. It was the slightly shorter yet no less muscular Mega Absol clinging to his arm.

The winged feline shook his head at Arsene with a disappointed frown. “Lord Arsene, if I may… Perhaps your children could use your company? We’ve all been busy getting used to our new duties observing and visiting the multiverses. If lord Dialga and lady Palkia are stressed out, being left alone might not be the right angle?”

“Mmm…” Arsene looked into Yvall’s pleading eyes. The Alpha Pokémon was considering the words his lover was speaking, but there was something else taking his attention. A forlorn cloud hung over Yvall’s gaze.

“Forgive me for speaking out of turn,” Yvall pulled his hand away with a nervous smile and shook them as if to dismiss himself. “It’s just that you just re-entered their lives after so long…”

“Yvall…” Arsene trailed off, his green and red eyes failing to track his gaze. But before he could get another word in, a new voice expressed disdain from above at the arguing siblings.

“See, this is why I absconded in the first place,” Mars’ deceptively deep voice rang out above the other Gods, bringing their attention to the Mew; his remark getting even Dialga and Palkia to quit bickering to eye him as well. Of all the Gods, he was the only one choosing to appear in his natural, feral form. Stubby arms behind his head, the pink cat was lazily floating on his back.

Folding her arms under her prominent bust, Arcana greeted her partner in crime first: “Why didn’t you just intervene if their argument bothered you, Mars? You could’ve mediated things, couldn’t you?”

“I’m a deity, not a babysitter, Arcana,” Mars scoffed at the idea.

“I’m not a baby,” Palkia was red in the face. She thumbed back at Dialga with a growl and a glare. “And it’s not my fault he pisses me off. He’s irritating.”

“Me?!” Dialga said indignantly. “Sister, I must ask you to cease these personal slights. You’re only making a fool out of yourself…”

Palkia growled. “See what I mean?”

After a pause, Mars spun around in place to address Arcana and Arsene down. “See what I had to deal with? How can one focus on our task when these two bicker constantly?”

“Oh my,” Giratina joined her hands in a compromising gesture. Sauntering legs carried her closer to her siblings, “Please don’t fight anymore, you two. We’re here to play nice, aren’t we?” the tall Ghost Dragon said before aiming her ruby eyes at the grumpy Mew above. “I’m sorry you were inconvenienced, lord Mars. My dear brother and sister may have a complicated relationship, but I assure you we, the Creation Trio, love each other very much.”

“Hmph…” Mars’s long, thin tail swished about as his eyes locked on to the accidental cleavage formed by Giratina’s elbows squeezing her huge breasts together. His lingering stare betrayed his otherwise dignified expression. “At least one of you has proper manners.”

“Perverted old man,” Arcana teased, knowing full well where the Mew’s attention was. “If you didn’t spend so long amusing yourself with your shenanigans and bothering with ‘proper manners’, we’d get this show on the road a lot faster.”

“Impatient as always.” Mars shrugged, getting a glare from Arcana which became exacerbated when he decided to float down and take a seat on Giratina’s left shoulder. “So eager to take matters into your own hands.”

“Yes,” Arcana finally smiled, if at least to deny Mars of the satisfaction to see her get angry. “Because we’re making our host wait after she summoned us. Or are you enjoying the drama, Reyna?”

After having remained silent throughout, everyone’s gaze turning to Reyna and Arcana addressing her directly spurred her to speak. “Forgive the silence, everyone. I was simply taken with your dissonance, but also your openness to speak your minds to each other. It is actually why I have summoned you to me, so it saves me some time…”

“You summoned us to watch us argue?” Arcana tilted her head, looking lost yet curious.

“Oh! Yes, that is quite right,” Reyna sheepishly grinned, nodding her head in response.

“Huh?”

“Seriously?”

Dialga and Palkia both stood at attention, blushing in embarrassment. Their concomitant reaction had their gazes meet but they immediately averted their eyes.

“I believe…” Reyna started, but immediately took pause. Her gigantic eyes closed for a moment and the space above her open palms started to warp. As the distortion began to clear, there was a blinding flash of white light. When the rest of the Gods could see again, they saw another, much smaller Reyna standing atop those massive hands like they were. This Reyna was no taller than Arcana, and was equipped with a gold adorned suit of armor with white angel wings coming out the back. Her curves were significantly less prominent than the gargantuan blue lizard holding them up in the infinite realm. “…there, this avatar should be a better way to do this.”

“To do what, lady Reyna?” Yvall asked, just as confused as the rest by the appearance of Reyna’s avatar. It was the first time since they had arrived that they had seen Reyna appear this way before them.

“Group therapy!” Reyna’s avatar clapped her gauntlet-covered claws together, a sunny smile stretching her snout out in a surprisingly cute and chipper manner.

“Say what?” Mars summed up everyone else’s reaction.

“It is not secret you all seem to have issues stemming from your previous lives in your respective universes,” Reyna spoke with a clarity and understanding. Hands still joined, she politely bowed to everybody as a number of comfortable-looking cushions and chairs began to emerge along her giant self’s palms, arranged in a circle. The avatar was the first one to sit down on them. “Truer than ever for long-lived beings such as we, we all accumulate emotional stress. And even though I agreed about what you said about arguing, Arcana, I believe talking will work wonders for everybody.”

“Everybody?” Mars protested, “Isn’t this about them?” he pointed at Dialga and Palkia to single them out.

“I have nothing I want to talk about,” Palkia folded her arms defensively, huffing and turning her snout up.

“In this occasion, I must say I concur, dear sister,” Dialga was practically mirroring Palkia’s pose without thinking.

Looking over the cushions and chairs, Giratina approached her siblings and put a hand on each of their shoulders. “Now now,” she said softly. Even with her mask on it was easy to tell she was smiling down at her younger siblings, “I think Reyna’s idea is wonderful. You two can’t see eye to eye most of the time. That’s not how you want to spend the rest of your immortal lives, right? Maybe this is the chance for you two finally work things out…?”

“I agree. You two waste a lot of time bickering,” Arcana said while sauntering closer, “Though with how concerned you sound, I’m more surprised you chose to stay behind instead of heading out to explore with them, Giratina.”

“I…” Giratina turned to address Arcana but didn’t seem to want to make eye contact with the female counterpart of her father. “I had things to mull over, by myself, is all. But you’re right,” she said turning back to look down at her siblings, “I should be available as well. I will support you both if you go through this!”

There was a long pause without Dialga, Palkia or Giratina saying anything. Reyna was the one to speak first.

“I feel so touched by your concern. But I’d like to repeat that this session should involve everybody, Giratina. Your brother and sister, your father, and you. And of course, I’d like Arcana, Mars, Yvall to be part of this as well!”

Arsene and Arcana were about to protest at once. They nodded at each other and Arsene was the one to speak: “I must protest. This is not only sudden, but also unnecessary for most of us…”

“Spontaneity helps with inspiration!” Reyna giggled cheerfully, crossing a leg and getting comfortable on her cushion. Seeing the reluctance in most of her guests, the armored reptile explained: “As I said before all of us have things we have to deal with. And sometimes we get so caught up in our own duties and existences that we forget to tend to other important aspects of our lives.”

“Even you, lady Reyna…?” Yvall asked curiously and politely as always.

“No doubt about that,” Reyna nodded. “Every so often, I visit my own beloveds via astral projection to join them in therapy sessions, myself. It is where we speak frankly and without fear. We share our insecurities with each other, and work through our individual and interpersonal issues.” The lizard brought a hand up and suddenly a cloud of iridescent energy coalesced above her.

Inside of the multi-colored cloud, an image of Reyna and a blurred silhouette were shown together. In the image, Reyna was shown holding a sphere of light and looking at it with a wry smile before putting it inside of her chest and hugging the silhouette afterwards.

“What was all that about?” Palkia demanded after the cloud dispersed.

“A memory of a time where I was being consoled by one of my lovers,” Reyna said and gently put a hand to her chest. “You see, my heart is artificial. It is the reason for the divine energy suffusing my being. As unbelievable as it may sound now that you have been able to appreciate the vastness of my real body up there, it used to make me feel lesser than everybody else. I not only came to question my own divinity, but also the worthiness to my partners.”

“We all carry doubt at one point or another in our long lives,” Dialga said, “You got over it, however, did you not?”

“I did,” Reyna said before confessing: “But not on my own. And before I decided to reach out, those lingering doubts had festered very dark thoughts in me. Thoughts that could have guided my actions and affected more than myself. I could have severed my connection with those I loved and loved me in turn, had I not simply… talked.”

“I have to object,” Arcana said, “I mean no offense to your personal experience of course, Reyna. I’m happy you managed to work things out between you and your lovers, I am. But do we really have the leisure of sitting around telling… personal things to each other? Whole multiverses deserve our attention right now.”

“It’s not like you to sound so awfully defensive, Arcana,” Mars couldn’t help but smirk. “Is there something embarrassing you’re afraid to talk about with us?” he teased.

Huffing at the Mew, Arcana didn’t deign that with a response.

Reyna nodded to Arcana’s assessment. “While I don’t disagree, I think our mental and emotional states are as important as our divine potential. All I ask for is one group session. And even though I already imparted a deeply personal memory, perhaps Mars also has a point. I will let you know something else about me that I often talk through with my loved ones about, that I consider embarrassing…”

Suddenly, the other Gods seemed intrigued and collectively perked up in her direction. Reyna took a small pause and blushed, momentarily averting her gaze which clearly showed a bit of reluctance. “Well, you see…” the ruler of the Azure Realm sat up straighter than usual with her fingers fidgeting for a moment, “…this is something I’ve carried with me since my time as a mortal. I’ve always… been deathly afraid of bugs. The thought of them crawling around with their numerous limbs…” Reyna seemed paralyzed for a moment, visibly wincing from her own description.

Absolute silence gripped the atmosphere in the endless realm. Dialga broke the silence: “As common an affliction as entomophobia is, it is shocking to learn one as powerful as you suffers from it, milady.”

“…that is embarrassing,” Arcana finally admitted with softened gaze and a smile of solidarity.

“But embarrassment isn’t something you should reject,” Reyna giggled, a red tint on her cheeks. “Sure, one of my weaknesses has followed me through divine ascension, and it did making combing through your multiverse especially challenging at times since bugs are way bigger than in others...” she shivered and cleared her throat to continue, “But it is a part of me that I welcome instead of rejecting. And I couldn’t have found that resolution without therapy.”

“Therapy sounds good…” Yvall trailed off before noticing the side-glance Arsene was giving him. The Mega Absol quickly composed himself and asked with a nervous smile: “There’s nothing for us to lose by heeding Lady Reyna’s advice, don’t you think, lord Arsene?”

While still hesitant, one glance at his children and back to Yvall seemed to convince Arsene. The rest seemed to share into the sentiment, even Dialga and Palkia did. If an almighty goddess ruling the space between trees of creation still had issues she needed to work through, could any of them say they were above her at this point?

It was then decided each of them would take a cushion or chair and join the circle with Reyna for their first of many group therapies.

---

With everybody sat and comfortable, Reyna began the session with a disclaimer: “None of you have to reveal anything embarrassing about yourselves unless you feel it’s something you need to share. I want everyone to feel welcome and relaxed in this safe space.”

“It’s hard to feel relaxed when everyone’s eyes are on me,” Palkia said, arms folded under her chest. She was half-right: The pairs of eyes not on him were on her brother seated across from her in the circle.

“It’s obvious you two are the ones with the most glaring issues,” Mars said matter-of-factly, “But I can’t exactly blame you. In our universe, your counterparts tear reality apart whenever they meet. You two at least keep it strictly verbal for the most part, I suppose.”

Palkia and Dialga rolled their eyes away from the Mew and averted their gazes from each other when they met.

Reyna smiled. “I’m happy you’re taking an active role in this session, Mars. However, be aware that we’re not here to judge, whether it’s the Palkia and Dialga before us or their alternate selves. Now…”

Arsene interrupted. “Isn’t it about time you two give it a rest? I might not completely agree with this therapy but being unwilling to face one another only reinforces there being an underlying issue between you. You are family. It’s unnatural for you two to be this opposed.”

“I can’t stand the way she mocks me with every opportunity she gets,” Dialga finally spoke, looking over his sister before sighing and looking away in a dejected manner.

Palkia sat up straighter, her red eyes bulging a little. She was about to call her brother out but when she saw him slumped on his chair, she got a good look at his tired expression. “Hmph,” she sank back against her cushion with a pout. “He has no problems singling me out, either.”

Heavy silence fell on the realm. The troubled siblings were finally speaking to each other but now things had become more awkward. Arsene made a couple of noises as if he had been about to speak, but he seemed to be holding himself back now. Not even Mars dared offer his input.

And yet Reyna smiled. “You’re talking to us, and that is great,” she said, “But notice how you are not talking to each other. Forget you’re siblings; family, for a moment. You’re two people who are experiencing disagreement together. There is nothing unnatural about that. What is unnatural is not talking to each other about them. Why don’t you look at each other and say what you’re thinking…?”

“But I can’t face her.”

“But I can’t face him.”

The exact same phrase spoken in unison made Dialga and Palkia sank further into their respective seats. They were both blushing in embarrassment like children who had been called out after a fight.

Tilting her head sideways, the confused Reyna took a moment to analyze the deities of space and time and their expressions. They were clearly suffering from their admission, but there was something else in the way Palkia’s right foot was tapping and floor and the way Dialga’s finger claws fidgeted. They were both anxious, as if silently yearning for the other to deliver the answer they wanted to hear.

“I understand you two as well as Giratina are exceptional writers,” Reyna suddenly said, causing Palkia and Dialga to snap to attention and lock their eyes on the armored lizard. “Or at least, you were before Yvall went to ‘fetch’ you for your dad,” she corrected herself with a giggle.

Yvall smiled bashfully, but one could tell he was proud of having accomplished his goal of reuniting his lover with his three children. “I can vouch for that! The mortals in their world regard all three of them. Lord Dialga’s time pieces, Lady Palkia’s fantastic adventures and Lady Giratina’s poetry… delights, all of them!”

“Yuh-you’re sounding like one of my fans, dork,” Palkia huffed at Yvall.

“Are you a fan of your own work, Palkia?” Reyna asked, making Palkia cock an eyebrow up.

“I think I’m good. Guess you can always get better, though.”

“That’s true!” Reyna agreed with a nod, and turned to Dialga, “How about you, Dialga?”

“I strive to be as accurate and detailed as one can be with my prose and details but…” the cobalt dragon smiled wryly, “…I suppose I could stand to improve certain aspects.”

“I see! And have you read each other’s works before?” Reyna questioned. Dialga and Palkia grew silent again. “Hmm, perhaps not?”

“I might’ve taken a peek…”

“…just a scant few chapters.”

Upon hearing each other’s unexpected mumbling, Dialga and Palkia finally crossed eyes with each other. The disbelief in their stares was accompanied by a concomitant dramatic gasp. When Reyna asked them what they thought of each other’s books, they finally started talking to each other. It was unexpectedly cordial at first, but soon enough, the tone changed.

“What do you mean ‘too whimsical?” Palkia’s eye twitched, “It’s set in a fantasy land. You want your readers hooked from the get-go by appealing to their imagination!”

“Honestly, what was I expecting?” Dialga huffed impatiently, “Someone who finds history a ‘snooze fest’ would fail to appreciate period pieces. Context and well-researched information allow the reader to transport themselves into the scene.”

Everyone else sighed. Reyna however seemed to be hopeful with this direct confrontation. “I’m relieved. Only people who care about each other would criticize with this kind of fervor. You two are, in your own way, attempting to help each other, yes?”

“Humph…!” the siblings pouted and gazed away from each other again, causing Reyna to laugh. The ruler of the Azure Realm proceeded.

“Earlier you said you couldn’t face each other. It’s clear to me now that it’s not because of hate. Could it be you two are unsure of something that affects both? You seem like you want to ask each other a question!”

The frustrated dragons of time and space sank further into their seats. Reyna continued asking questions for them. Since she already had started with their most recent experiences, she decided to push back a little. Reyna asked them about the time they finally met with Arsene and how happy they all had been to become reunited with their estranged father. Then she went back further and inquired about their life before Yvall found them, and how they had been living with Giratina in a mansion, in a world with all kinds of new Gods.

Every time she went back a little further, Reyna noticed the same behavior repeating itself. Dialga or Palkia would reminisce about something of their daily life, talk and eventually one would derail and they’d clam up again. There seemed to be no end to their quarrels! No starting point, either. And that’s when something occurred to Reyna.

“Could it be neither of you know why it is that you’re so angry at each other?” the lizard asked, causing the upset siblings to sigh and anxiously fidget again. “If we keep going back… Oh. If I recall correctly, Arsene, you remade your universe, did you not?”

Arsene nodded. “I decided the old Gods, myself included, were no longer necessary for the world, and that a new generation should take our place. Yvall is one of the new Gods,” he explained. “Wishing for humans and Pokémon to have an easier time together, I decided to mold all our bodies to become anthropomorphic, and the universe was given new life.”

“You did not do that, Arcana,” Mars remarked, “You are one of the few Gods who have chosen to share their forms with that of humans. Personally, I don’t see the appeal. Our forms are unique and special already.”

“Oh, so you’re saying Giratina and I don’t appeal to you, now?” Arcana leaned forwards on her chair, arms squeezing her breasts together as she pouted towards Mars. The floating Mew flipped upside down and sank his head into the cushion he had been seating on.

“Disgraceful!” his muffled voice yelled. Arcana snickered.

Turning her attention back to Dialga and Palkia, Reyna continued: “What was it like in the previous universe? I’ve seen the other you in Mars and Arcana’s universe before. I can’t imagine writing books could have been easy with hooves.”

“We weren’t writers, Reyna,” Dialga said, “We were two forces of incredible power constantly clashing for the sake of our worshippers.”

“That much I saw in the other universe,” Reyna nodded to herself, “So was it your respective believers who had you fighting each other, then?”

Dialga and Palkia looked at each other, but this time they weren’t judging each other. They were looking at each other and seeing themselves as they had looked before they had attained these new forms. Memories of a time and place unimaginably far away from the Azure Realm came flooding to them.

“It was in the ancient past, before humans came up with the idea of using Pokéballs…” Dialga started.

“It was in a land in its infancy, before Pokémon could bring themselves to fully trust humans…” Palkia continued.

Arsene joined in after deducing what his son and daughter were referencing. “You’re speaking of Hisui.”

Something seemed to have come over Palkia and Dialga. Like something clicking in their heads, their eyes seemed to light up.

“Well!” Mars said, still upside down yet peeking from the upside of his cushion, “Don’t keep up in suspense! What happened in Hisui?”

“Humans worshipped father in that land, fervently so,” Dialga explained, “They referred to him as the almighty Sinnoh.”

“One of many names I’ve been given through the ages,” Arsene nodded to himself in confirmation.

“But they didn’t know who he really was, or what he looked like back there,” Palkia took over. “One day, I was fixing a spatial anomaly when a human girl saw me. She called me Almighty Sinnoh and began worshipping me as the creator of their region.”

After a pause, Dialga added: “Similarly, a temporal fluctuation which could have unraveled in Hisui was in my charge. And then a human boy exploring the area managed to see me. He then baptized me as the Almighty Sinnoh and began worshipping me as the creator of their region.”

“Humans are known to be highly impressionable creatures,” Mars added, now sitting down in mid-air above his cushion. His stubby Mew arms folded, he said: “Their power of observation is limited yet astonishingly unbridled when it comes to making assumptions. It’s why I keep myself hidden from them in the first place.”

“So, by coincidence, you each were mistaken for your father,” Reyna summarized. “How did that make you feel?”

Dialga and Palkia both seemed reluctant to answer. They did so with red-colored cheeks. They admitted being bewildered at first for having been found out by humans, but that they were happy when so much earnest worship was directed to them. However, it wasn’t long before the humans found a contradiction in their individual beliefs over what the Almighty Sinnoh truly looked like. And this clash of ideas led to conflicts which neither Dialga nor Palkia, so new to being venerated, knew how to tackle.

“Eventually, a human seeking ultimate power managed to summon us,” Palkia said. “It wouldn’t be the first time, either.”

“And then… our power was so great it inevitably started bleeding out into the world,” Dialga described, “Space and time warped wherever we appeared. Our territories clashed constantly. Whenever we were together, it felt like my sister was attempting to take over my divinity.”

“Whenever we were facing off, I felt like my brother was attempting to take over my turf…” Palkia said, uneasily rubbing her arm; like a kid who had begun to realize their mistake.

“And all over one misunderstanding…” Dialga sighed, his burly arms dangling as he no longer felt like he had to keep his guard up.

Reyna tilted her chin up. “Are you saying, maybe, that your conflict has been dragged out from this one point?”

They both nodded, looking equally ashamed.

“Neither of you knew the other’s circumstances. You were too busy fighting your own fear to give the other a chance… perhaps, to give yourselves a chance to explain to the other,” Reyna nodded in understanding. “But now it’s all come out in the open. Your conflict has no basis. Not anymore. Am I wrong?”

For a long, silent while, Dialga and Palkia looked into each other’s eyes. In the end, the dragons began to smile a little.

“I… I still think your prose could use some more attention to detail, sister. But it is amazing,” Dialga admitted.

“And even though I’m not a fan of history, you’re so informed and I would love to be able to use colorful vocabulary like yours in my stories, brother,” Palkia confessed.

“Maybe we can help each other out?”

There was a collective breath of relief.

---

Seated across one another in the circle and a seat away from Reyna each, the next pair were giving each other silent stares. To Reyna’s right was Arcana, Mars on the left. The counseling azure host had asked a question that had given them both pause.

“How did you two end up together?” was a simple question in theory.

“You already have seen it, haven’t you?” Arcana chuckled to herself finally, gently crossing her arms and legs and lying back against her chair. “It just feels pointless to do a recap.”

“It would mean a lot to me to hear the story from your own mouth, Arcana,” Reyna said, and gestured with her arms in an open way. “And the rest know you belong to a parallel universe, but they haven’t heard of you and Mars’ origin.”

Giving Dialga and Palkia a side-glance and considering their exposure, Arcana figured this was going to be the fastest way to proceed in this therapy. “Very well… You don’t mind taking over the narration, do you, kitty cat? Good!” she said before Mars could even interject. She summarized their adventure as best and succinctly as she could:

Arcana had visited Mars in Kanto after the female Arceus had resolved to unite every region’s pantheon under her guidance and supervision. Mars, the patron deity of his own region, had initially manifested his objection. After arguing and competing over who could receive more mortal worship and adoration, they had ended up nearly outgrowing their universe together.

“You… had a growth-off?” Arsene asked incredulously at his female counterpart.

“It was the only way to get him to cooperate,” Arcana shrugged, “He’s a stubborn old man and he wouldn’t listen. Plus, you’ve seen him, he isn’t exactly a team player!”

“Hmph,” Mars turned his feline snout up. “I had no choice but defend my honor from an aggressively invading and extremely rude deity.”

“I wasn’t rude,” Arcana argued, “I went to your place to parlay with you, just like I did with everyone else in our world. The difference between you and the others was that you didn’t want to play nice.”

“Play nice?” Mars repeated with a dismissive scoff, “A goddess suddenly tells you to give up sovereignty of the region you’ve spent countless cycles nurturing and blessing. How would you feel being told you’re not good enough at your job anymore?”

Arcana leaned up on her chair, tense and with her brow furrowed. She was about to yell her response, but upon replaying the words she had just heard her voice cracked into a dragged out “I…” and she stammered.

“It’s no surprise the others gave up their territories up to you, they had no backbone!” the Mew said aloud, “Team player, humph.”

“Oh my…” Giratina had an uneasy frown which molded her golden mask to expose it. She, like many of the others, were exchanging glances between Arcana and Mars but not saying anything. They all seemed to want to have the one word capable of making this better, but none of them appeared willing to join in.

“I see!” Reyna chirpily exclaimed, breaking through the sudden silence. “Progression usually comes with its challenges, one which is a sudden change in circumstances for all parties involved. It’s not always easy to go along with change, whether you’re mortal, demon or God.”

“I was… just trying to make our world a better place,” Arcana slowly said. “Everyone else seemed to be on board with it.”

“Irresponsible, lazy deities who no longer wished to do their job,” Mars added. But this time, Arcana didn’t keep her mouth shut.

“You weren’t doing anything for Kanto, Mars,” the female Arceus sat up straight, facing him with her bright red eyes shining down his way. “Spending centuries inside of your gloomy cave, griping about your worshippers forgetting you. Your followers…”

“Were traitorous birds who jumped ship the moment you sauntered into the picture!” Mars intercepted, starting to look hot and bothered by the implication he wasn’t being a good God. “I knew what I was doing. Mortals follow anyone who’ll answer to them. They need to truly be alone to need their God. Otherwise, you’re just a passing fad. But I suppose you have no patience for that, do you, Arcana? Always rushing everything.”

Arcana sighed, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before sitting upright again. “I didn’t get the chance to say anything back then, but your followers were worried about you. They told me they didn’t know how to get through to you anymore. Zapdos in particular was concerned you might be depressed, but you wouldn’t listen to anything they said.”

“I wasn’t…” Mars was quick to start talking, but he lost momentum halfway and his eyes dropped to his cushion, “…ignoring them…?”

This was Arcana’s chance and she didn’t waste it. “This is just like you. You’re too proud to admit when you need help, and you want everyone to fall in line just for you. That’s why I had to be aggressive in the first place!”

Mars’ blue eyes rolled back up and he met Arcana’s unwavering stare with his own. “It was my right to rule as I saw fit.”

“Then it was my right to rule as I saw fit, too, wasn’t it?” Arcana rebuked, “And I saw the flaws in each region,” she put a hand to her chest in heartfelt expression, “I saw the flaws in mine and I could fix them, but I could only help the others by becoming their ruling deity. I wanted us all together under my guidance. I couldn’t afford to… to…”

“…wait?” Reyna added. With lips quivering, Arcana let out an insecure sigh. Mars shared in the sighing, but his seemed to show a certain degree of exhaustion. Taking a moment to drink in the look of both Gods, Reyna smiled and nodded. “My. You two truly complement each other!”

“Huh?”

“Whu-?”

The blue lizard giggled. “Don’t be so surprised. You’re right. I saw everything while I was scouting,” Reyna said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “There’s no doubt in my mind now. You two truly were made for each other.”

“That’s an odd thing to say right now,” Arcana was the one looking tired now. Mars’ pink cheeks were looking rosier than usual, and he was trying really hard to keep his serious frown on.

Reyna edged away from her seat, resting her elbows on her lap and her chin under the knuckles of her hands. She was grinning. “Hmhmhm! You two have opposing views on how a ruler should behave, but neither is inherently wrong. I am especially convinced of this after having seen how you treated your planet even after having outgrown it during your fun and games. Despite how competitive your friction was, you two were never inattentive to those around you.”

“You’re talking about the mortals and now lesser Gods back home,” Mars surmised, closing an eye with a puzzled look on his face. “Of course we’d be paying attention to the world around and below us, Reyna.”

“And I’m sure your followers appreciate it,” Reyna nodded with a meaningful smile on her face. “Just as you two appreciate the way you push each other.”

“What?!” both Arcana and Mars blurted together.

“Mars, you had isolated yourself from all others due to your personal disillusionment with your region as a whole. And Arcana, while you weren’t in the exact same position, you had started a pretty big movement that burdened you with practically unlimited responsibility, and it alienated you from the other Gods. Tell me if I’m wrong so far!”

Mars didn’t correct Arcana. Arcana took a pause before giving the go-ahead to Reyna with a patient nod.

“And yet all of that changed when you two met, didn’t it?” Reyna said, “You clashed in a strong way. Showed off, strutted your stuff, even competed and had fun! And even found companionship in each other. In my experience, most divine clashing ends up with one or both Gods’ existence voided. That eternal vying for control … But you two formed a positive relationship out of it!”

One of the last words Reyna said seemed to resonate with Arcana and Mars as they dug through their memories back when they were alone, their meeting and eventually their union. They hit upon a realization at nearly the same time.

“I was always so desperate to prove myself back then,” Arcana said first.

“I was too stubborn to acknowledge others were hurting because of my selfish wishes,” Mars admitted with a grumpy sigh. Standing on his cushion with his stubby arms at his back, he looked like a bashful toddler all of a sudden. “You’re right, Arcana. I have been too proud.”

“No, I mean, yes,” Arcana was babbling. She let out a girlish giggle and cleared her throat, stepping off her chair and making her way to the center of the circle. “But in my impatience, I was hasty and forgot to consider others’ point of views. Just because I’m an Arceus and have all this power doesn’t mean I’ll always be right. And having someone like you, Mars, to challenge me is… grounding. And that feels right.”

Mars finally smiled and began levitating off his cushion, floating in Arcana’s direction until he joined her at the center of the circle. “Letting go of my authority has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, Arcana. You might be impatient, but you’re also earnest and you are more thoughtful than you give yourself credit for.”

As the pink feline extended his little arms down, Arcana took each one atop one of her palms and they exchanged gazes. “You’re a smooth talker when you want to be, kitty.”

The blushing Mars smiled. “We’re Gods. But we too are flawed. I’m sure I can work on this with you by my side.”

“I wouldn’t have anyone else beside me, heehee!” the feminine Arceus giggled, suddenly yanking Mars down who mewled as he was hugged so hard he sank between the plump kirin breasts on Arcana’s chest.

Reyna was satisfied with their resolution. The mood had considerably lightened up with everyone else appreciating the affection between Arcana and the struggling Mew trapped in her cleavage. She gave them a moment to share in their tender moment before asking them back to their seats.

There was someone else who seemed to have something to say.

---

The third couple sitting opposite of each other in the circle was Arsene and Yvall. Of the two, the latter seemed to be the quietest. It was quite a contrasting sight. Both males were large and bulky, almost equal in size and proportions with Arsene trumping Yvall’s only slightly. Arsene’s burly arms were folded over his large chest, and in spite of his no less impressive physique the Mega Absol’s shoulders sagged with his hands bashfully rested at his own lap.

Reyna looked between them with her usual cheer and decided she’d give them a little push. But before she could open her mouth, Arsene’s masculine baritone rang out first.

“Curious,” was the thought Arsene voiced aloud as he looked straight at his lover, “You had been particularly insisting on this group therapy, old friend. This tells me you had been personally looking to take advantage of it. And yet you’ve now fallen as silent as the void itself. Isn’t that strange?”

An embarrassed smile crossed Yvall’s face which was half-covered by his snow-white bangs. A glint of longing could be seen in his one visible eye. “Right as always, my lord.”

Arsene sighed impatiently, “Yvall, I have told you before, you can dispense with the titles.”

“I couldn’t…” Yvall chuckled, “I just respect you so much. And…” he stuttered, fiddling with his fingers without looking up, “…truth be told, after witnessing the pain and resolves of impressive deities like lords Dialga and Mars, and ladies Palkia and Arcana, my… issue feels so minuscule and infinitesimal. Like pathetic pettiness.”

With Arsene about to press Yvall, Reyna decided to intervene. “Yvall, would you be a dear and answer a question of mine right now? Well, the one after this one that is!” she giggled. Yvall seemed puzzled, but he didn’t say no. “Do you know what is minuscule and infinitesimal right now?”

“Uh…” the Mega Absol sat up straight all of a sudden. He had flinched as if he had been asked a credit-scoring pop-quiz in school. But it wasn’t just he that was at a loss at Reyna’s inquiry, the rest appeared to be thinking about it as well. That’s all Reyna wanted to have: Their attention. And that’s why she gave them the answer herself.

“Mortals and Gods,” the azure reptile softly spoke, “All the beings you left behind in your multiverse. No matter how big and powerful they are in their respective universe, they are so small in comparison to you right now that they might as well not exist in your purview.” She took a pause before adding the next question: “Does that make them pathetic?”

“That’s not what I meant!” Yvall blurted out defensively, standing up from his chair with clenched fists and barely-hidden pain in his expression. Upon realizing how high he had raised his voice at their gracious host, the feline God of Worship quickly took his seat back, looking between all the others with a nervous, darting gaze. “I-I’m sorry for yelling.”

“That’s quite alright!” Reyna dismissed, “That last one was an unfair question with no right answer. To me, it’s marveling to see how passionate you are when others are disparaged in your presence. You clearly are kind to everyone else, Yvall.”

Yvall had no response. His face was stuck unable to decide if a proud smile or a confused frown was more appropriate. Reyna continued.

“However, aren’t you forgotten to also be kind to someone else as well?”

“O-oh uhh…” Yvall stuttered, immediately turning to face Arsene. “I suppose I have been far too critical as of late, milord…” he began, but Reyna interrupted his apology.

“Your compassion for others is stellar, Yvall,” the armored lizard leaned in with a grin, “It’s because of your thoughtfulness that Arsene was able to finally reunite with his family.”

“Nuh-no, I just…” Yvall shook his head as if to deflect the praise. “I was just doing what anyone else would’ve done in my position. That’s…”

“…all?” Reyna completed for him. “No, I don’t think so. It’s a fact that you’ve dedicated several mortal lifetimes to your beloved God. And yes, it’s true goodness and selflessness isn’t unique to you. But your uniqueness has managed to reach many in this space right now. You should be proud of it, Yvall. Modesty is only a virtue so long as it doesn’t obfuscate the truth.”

“I… I agree, lady Reyna,” Yvall nodded and offered a smile. “Thank you.” He looked down at his fists as he slowly opened them. “The truth is… I mean, what you’ve been trying to say is that… it’s me I haven’t been kind to, right?”

Reyna didn’t answer. Her immutable expression seemed to reflect both warmth and inviting silence.

Letting out a long-drawn-out huff, with his fingers curling into his thighs, Yvall finally looked back at Arsene. But this time, his gaze wasn’t soft and apologetic. Arsene was instantly able to detect that fogginess from much earlier returning to his lover’s eyes.

“Are you going to speak to me now about what’s bothering you, Yvall?” was what Arsene’s seemingly cold stare was transmitting. However, the Alpha Pokémon was emulating Reyna in not speaking a word and allowing the winged God talk his heart out.

“You really make me happy, master,” Yvall said. “You made me happy during our days together back in Earth, too. I was just one among countless other mortals who received the blessing to become a New God when our universe was remade. I was heedless in life before, and I suddenly was appointed a literally God-given purpose…”

“You weren’t born a divinity in the traditional sense, were you, Yvall?” Arcana rhetorically asked.

“I’ve never heard of a God of Worship Absol before in my life,” Mars added, looking pensive.

Yvall shook his head to dispel the confusion, and elaborated: “That title is one I earned after reawakening my master. Before that happened however, I was one of many Pokémon chosen to oversee the new Creation.”

And Arsene took over from there. “I had grown discontent with the state of the world. Human desires and Pokémon instinct had drifted too far apart from my initial design. Nature had become little more than a commodity for the first group, as they sought to dominate not only the second, but one another as well. With such little compassion remaining, powerful beings who should have been able to grow past their self-centered hunger never did. It was the beginning to the dark path of singularity we all share the fear of.”

At the solemn declaration, the Azure Realm was filled with a pregnant pause. None in that macroscopic space could claim to be bolder than any all-consuming threat.

“This is why I began anew,” Arsene lifted his left, open hand. Sparkles of light elevated from his palm, showing two different silhouettes which merged into one. The light dissipated soon after. “A design of form and function. The original marriage, never again to be severed.”

“But it didn’t work?” Arcana asked. Yvall replied in Arsene’s stead.

“But it did!” the feline God seemed extra proud of his claim, “Lord Arsene’s design led our world into utopia for many millennia. Old Gods were given new forms to live without the responsibility thrusted upon them in the ancient world…” he said, gesturing towards Palkia and Dialga before resting his free hand on his chest, “…while that responsibility was taken over by us, the New Gods. That was Lord Arsene’s plan.”

“It’s rare to hear of a happy ending for all involved,” Mars seemed skeptic, “If utopia was reached, a perfect balance of law and order, then as Creator…”

Arsene intercepted and matter-of-factly described: “I no longer had a place in the world.”

That’s not true!

Everyone turned to the source of that heartful scream. Yvall was on his feet again. His frustration evident by his hunched over position and his breathy panting. “It isn’t… You can’t just…” he said softly, soon breaking into a hiccupping sob, “…not again…”

Arsene grew silent for a moment as he stared at his lover. The male Arceus’ expression was hard to read with his masked face and gaze of steel. “Yvall,” he finally said, snapping the Mega Absol back to attention, “My plan involved leaving the new world in you and everyone else’s care. Back then, I saw myself as part of the ancient world. The previous iteration. I would have seen one of you ascend and take my place to manage the universe.”

“No one…” Yvall’s voice cracked, “… no one wanted that! I told you, I told you many times. I told you even as I hugged you and I worshipped your beautiful, divine self. We all wanted you, the Alpha, to continue ruling uncontested. But you… you just left. You left everyone! You left… you left me, Arsene!”

Another uncomfortable silence followed. It seemed the heaviest yet. So heavy, in fact, that the stoic Arsene looked like his armor had received a chink. It was only visible in a brief quiver of his red irises. For a moment, the bulky God closed his eyes and slowly nodded his head.

Reyna had a discreet smile across her snout. She was looking at the two lovers with a similar quivering of her eyes.

Yvall was shivering after his angry scream. His head bowed forwards made his unkempt bangs obscure his eyes. Rolling down like transparent, crystalline pebbles were his tears. “…I’m sorry,” he sobbed his apology. The feline clutched hard against himself, digging his claws into his arm for the sake of concentrating on a different kind of sensation than the one driving his emotions right now. However, the pressure was quickly alleviated and by force. Yvall’s hand was pulled away, and only one of his tears managed to drip off Yvall’s face. The rest were caught by Arsene’s finger. Before Yvall knew, his God was standing before him, looming his additional height over him.

“No,” boomed Arsene, making Yvall’s heart skip a beat. “Don’t hurt yourself. Don’t substitute the pain. No more.” The Arceus’ large hand gently brushed Yvall’s bangs away to uncover his eyes. “I see now, Yvall. I truly do. This pain is something I put you through and that I was too blind to see. Don’t push it down anymore. Late as it is, I wish to hear you let it all out.”

“Buh-but…” Yvall sobbed, weakly bringing a claw up to Arsene’s broad chest. His wings folded in. Despite how strong and muscular he looked, Yvall seemed small as a kitten right now. “It hurts.”

“Pain hurts,” Arsene let go of Yvall’s arm and instead embraced him, “But you don’t have to hurt by yourself. Not anymore.”

“Aahhh…” Yvall cried a little and threw his hands around his beloved. It took him a number of seconds to calm down, but when he did, his voice was a lot clearer. “Back when I was chosen, I felt like my life had been given meaning. That’s why I worked hard. Because I felt indebted to you for giving me my power, my mission. And as I met the other New Gods, as I forged new friendships and ascended through the ranks, I thought I was finally seeing the beauty of your design. Before I knew it, I couldn’t look at you beyond the authority you represented. You made me feel things I had never felt for anybody else. It didn’t matter to me if I wasn’t seen; all I wanted was to continue serving you, my master, as far as eternity would allow. That’s why…” he smiled. But his lips began to tremble soon, and his face sank into Arsene’s strong chest. The buff kirin hugged Yvall tighter.

“…that’s why…” Yvall clenched his fangs hard, “…I couldn’t accept it. Your disappearance. Your reason! So what if your logical purpose had been fulfilled? You’re not a heartless, soulless machine! You… don’t deserve to share in the world you yourself worked so hard to achieve? What kind of crap is that? I reject that logic. I reject it with all my heart and soul, Arsene. I know it’s selfish, but I wanted… I want to be with you!”

“I know,” Arsene said. There was something that passed for a smile behind that mask that even the misty-eyed Yvall could see. “You were quite effusive about it back then. I was convinced. And I should have deeply apologized for the unrest my sudden disappearance had caused you…” he took a pause. “It wouldn’t be the first time I fail to see to my loved ones’ needs for the sake of the greater picture…” he admitted, turning to his children one by one before returning to Yvall and adding: “…but I no longer wish to separate one from the other. Yvall, my love, please look at me. Look me in the eye.”

Yvall did just that, his heart racing at the words manifesting Arsene’s affection.

“I have been a fool,” the Alpha Pokémon admitted with his unflinching stare. Yvall didn’t feel Arsene’s insecurity in his face, but in the buff Arceus’ digits curling against his back. The hug had turned equal parts protective and possessive; Arsene didn’t want to let go. “It is the word of this God that binds him: Never shall I again put you or anyone I hold dear through so much pain. And even should I falter, I shall never allow you to bear the pain alone again.”

“My God…” Yvall sobbed, this time with a smile. All he could do was nod. The words continued to choke up at his throat and even if they could be allowed passage, nothing he could string up would be able to convey the love he was feeling right now. Instead, he emulated his Arceus partner and threw his arms around him as tight as he could. Never wanting to let go.

“Please forgive me,” said Arsene, and finally his shame did coalesce into a singular, iridescent tear running down from his right eye and over his mask. Yvall didn’t have to say anything. Their loving embrace was more than sufficient.

With a snap of her fingers, Reyna materialized boxes of tissue paper by everybody else, for anybody that needed them, herself included.

---

Eight seats conformed the group therapy circle. The one situated directly across from Reyna had the azure goddess’ undivided attention now. Giratina had been sitting in a lady-like fashion with her long legs angled slightly to the right and both of her interwoven hands rested above her ample lap. A taciturn expression was easy to decipher even with her golden mask on; she could mirror her father Arsene in some ways.

“Are we done for today, then?” Reyna asked aloud while looking around at the rest of the participants. Dialga was still blowing his nose on tissue. But there was unanimous agreement from the emotionally exhausted group. They had all in one way or another become vulnerable for an exposing length of time, yet all of them could feel the relief of their various issues’ weights leaving them.

Giratina was the first one to get off her chair. When she turned around, her long and silky, black hair followed her with liquid-like flow. She was about to retreat into her shadow before Reyna’s voice stopped her.

Unless, that is, we’re forgetting to listen to someone else.

Giratina’s clawed hand faltered and her gaze fell down. Turning her head around, she gave everyone and especially Reyna a bright and gentle smile that could be seen pulling the commissures of her snout up even behind her mask. “It’s okay, Reyna. Everyone must be tired, perhaps another time…?”

“Daughter.” Arsene stood up from his chair, followed by Yvall, Dialga and Palkia. “I believe I can speak for all of us present right now, even the ones I’ve only briefly known until now,” he said, referring to Arcana and Mars, “We’ve had sufficient internalizing and solitary brooding.”

“If there is anything bothering you at all, no matter how minuscule, you should tell us, sister dearest,” Dialga encouraged, followed by Palkia.

“You’re always taking good care of us, big sis,” the muscular dragoness said, resting a claw at her hip while gesturing with her free one, “Even when we don’t want to listen, you’re still patient about it. It’s time we did the same for you, right?”

“Lady Giratina,” Yvall walked closer, frowning with concern. “We don’t want to push you into anything, but it’s clear to me you’ve been holding something in for a while now. Ever since we’ve arrived to the Azure Realm, you continue to retreat into your realm of shadows. I… I can’t bear to see you hurting.”

Giratina visibly shivered. Eventually there was a little crack in her mighty posture and she recuperated by hugging her arms around herself, her enormous chest inadvertently pushing out as a result. With a breathy sigh and a nervous giggle, she said: “Oh my. It seems like I’ve failed to keep you all from being exposed to my nonsense.”

Sensing the self-loathing in that remark, Arcana joined the others. “Don’t speak that way,” she boldly said. “No issue here carries more or less weight than another.”

“Nonsense or not, I’m willing to hear you out, dear,” Mars added as he landed on Arcana’s right shoulder. “You patiently sat through all of our issues. There is no need for you to remove yourself from the group.”

Reyna finished with: “How about it, Giratina? Our ears are yours, if you’ll have them!”

A little huff left Giratina. She was looking a little defeated, but eventually she acquiesced and everybody took their respective seats again. Without her opening up, a concerned Arsene was the first one to speak again: “Is there something bothering you, daughter?”

“I’m not sure how else to put it exactly, because we’ve already spoken about it,” Giratina struggled to say. She was looking down at the blue floor and not at anybody else. “Young Yvall is right. It’s what has been bothering me since we’ve arrived to the Azure Realm. No. Before that. Back in the space between universes, when we learned of alternate timelines for the first time.”

Pensive Dialga had realized something. “You’re thinking about that timeline you saw,” the cobalt dragon exclaimed, “The one in which you had consumed all matter.”

“But Lady Reyna said she pruned that universe once it started to spill out,” Yvall reminded the rest, and looked over to Reyna for confirmation.

“That I did,” Reyna nodded. “I personally don’t judge the end result of any given reality. However, as the overseer of the Azure Realm, I cannot permit one universe to destroy others. That could quickly escalate into Multiversal annihilation.”

“Could it be you resent her for destroying your other self?” Mars spoke his mind, although he was looking too puzzled to realize he had made Giratina sink into her chair from the comment.

“Oi, Mars…!” Arcana raised her voice, making the Mew flinch.

Mars cleared his throat, “…my apologies for the insensitivity. But I saw myself, rather, an alternate version of myself in similar straits. Yearning for eternal silence. I frankly can’t say I don’t relate at some far removed level, but infinite solitude carries with it insurmountable challenge. No one deserves having that pushed onto…”

“Excuse me, lord Mars,” Giratina interrupted. Her soft voice seemed to stroke over his pink fur, making the God settle down to listen. “It is unnecessary for you to justify lady Reyna’s actions. Her job is to protect all there is, and will be,” she spoke without much enthusiasm but also no animosity, “In fact, I’m happy with what she did. I had to be stopped.”

“But sis,” Palkia objected, “You’re not seriously conflating that version of you with yourself, are you? You and them- you’re not the same!”

“But I could be.” Giratina said with a notably darkened gaze. She turned over to Mars and then to Arcana, “You’ve said it before. Even your Giratina was locked away in the distortion, were they not?”

“We had no choice,” Arcana responded, “His power had grown so much he managed to dominate both of his siblings, turning them all against Creation.”

Giratina nodded. “During my infancy, my power over the void was far too great. I would go on rampages and damage the world. Innumerable people, even nature itself, were hurt because of me. Father had to seal me away as well.”

Arsene had grown silent. His eldest daughter smiled sadly.

“Of course, I don’t blame you for what you had to do, either, Father,” Giratina sighed. Just when she looked like she was about to sag and lean forwards though, she sat up straighter. “It’s because of the wild nature of the void, the opposite of life, that my power has been feared throughout our universes’ history. Numerous power-hungry individuals have attempted to control it over the ages, and I would’ve gladly given it to them if they had been able to tear it away from me; just for the chance to separate myself from it. But none of them could bear the weight of the void. At some point, I started thinking you had cursed me, Father…” she chuckled with her eyes closed.

“It was like a curse unto you, daughter,” Arsene finally spoke. She clutched her thighs hard, visibly quelling the rage she was feeling at the response. “That is how History saw the mission I assigned you.”

“My mission?” Giratina’s soft voice deepened and intensified in one go, “Was my mission to be feared and hated across all time and space? And to wield me as a weapon of destruction?”

“The void is simply the foil to all of existence. One is because the other is not,” Arsene explained, “Daughter of mine. The reason for your creation was one of balance. Your essence guides the shadows, keeping them in check. Creatures of light fear the shadows, which is why they fear you. But that is because they don’t know how you protect them. They curse you because they don’t know you. The real you.”

“But you made it so the light hurt me. That was why I got so irritated, why I lost control and went berserk all those times…!” Giratina glared at her progenitor, her thick tail thumping down loudly onto the floor.

Arsene shook his head. “Light is not your weakness, Giratina. Light is where the truth shines. For all. Including those that saw you as a mere beast in the past.”

“I couldn’t bear it…” Giratina collapsed onto her chair finally, holding her arm in pain. “All those fearful stares. I was worshipped out of terror, not benevolence. I felt as if trapped even though I was sharing the same freedom as everyone else. Being confined to the distortion was in comparison a grand relief…”

“…which is why I put you in there,” Arsene confessed, “Sharing into the light was hurting you so much you couldn’t help but lash out. It was in the world of shadows that you could be without having to face the cruelty you were so afflicted by.”

“You protected me, Father. Even if I failed at my one mission,” Giratina sighed.

“You’ve never failed me, Giratina,” Arsene assured. “I gave you a task too great for anyone else to see through, and yet you gave it your all down to the last moment. Dwelling in shadow, what others are most afraid of, for all that time… Nobody’s been braver. It was I who truly failed at finding an alternative that wasn’t so demanding. That was one of many reasons for me to start anew. I believed…” he stopped to look at his children and Yvall, “…the world, and all of its inhabitants, deserved another chance.”

“I was seriously happy when the universe was remade,” Giratina said. “I could see my brother and sister again. Our forms were different, but we recognized each other. More importantly, History had been reset. We could be together and I could begin anew. Literally make a new me,” she brought her arms out, ample curves jiggling and settling back down. “I did everything I could to make myself into something mortals could love.” She giggled, “I was still the same inside; before I knew it I was even writing dour poems which became surprisingly popular. But I could finally share into the light and be with everyone else. And yet…”

Reyna completed the paused thought for Giratina. “You worry you might go back to how things were?”

Giratina nodded. “In the end, what am I, if not the goddess of the void? One awry emotion and I am no different than a black hole, an unfeeling and uncaring monster with the power of a dead sun ready to raze it all to nothingness… And now that I’m this big, am I really fit to be with you all? At this height of power and…”

“I’m sorry,” Reyna interrupted, “Back up a bit. You define yourself by what you are. But is that all who you are?”

Caught off guard, Giratina couldn’t help but tilt her head in confusion. “Whu-what do you mean?”

“You’re absolutely right,” Reyna gestured with a side-waving hand, “Your power defines you, but that is not your only constituent part. How about your family? Are you not also a big sister and a daughter?”

Giratina didn’t have to think long about that one. “I love my family,” she said. “I love father, brother and sister. I know it’s a clichéd line, but even with all our flaws and difficulties, I wouldn’t have them replaced by anyone else. And that’s why… that’s why I’m afraid. I once pushed everyone and everything away because of my weakness. I saw it happening to another me. What if it happens to me…?”

“There is no way to know for sure,” Reyna compromised with a smile.

“How can you smile after saying that, lady Reyna…?” Giratina asked.

“Because of all of these guys,” Reyna gestured to each side with her open arms. Then she closed them, clapped her hands together and used them to point at Giratina, “And because of you.”

Again, Giratina appeared bewildered. “Huh? I’m afraid you’ve lost me.”

“You’ve tried. You try. And you keep trying,” Reyna acknowledged, “You plainly know what you do not want, Giratina. Your desires of having and rejecting also make up who you are. Rejecting yourself for what you might be, to me, isn’t as valuable as all the effort you’ve made into being who you are today.”

“There is an infinity out there, big sis,” Palkia instantly teleported to her sister’s side. The lilac ad silver dragoness knelt beside her and put a claw on Giratina’s shoulder, “Some versions of you might be worse. Some might even be better. But I don’t care. Whatever their backgrounds are, you’re the one before my eyes, and I see you and I want to see you be the way you want to be.”

Giratina choked up a little whimper as she stared up at her smiling Amazonian sibling. Dialga, Yvall and Arsene were soon gathered around them as well, looming her since she did not have the strength to stand up.

“I gave you the chance to start anew, daughter,” Arsene said, “But it’s you who has decided to take her destiny into her own hands this time. You’ve already lived through your worst, and you now know what you wish to move away from.”

“There is no doubt in my mind, sister dearest,” Dialga complemented, “You will work to attain your desire to the end of time. Not even eternity shall be able to erode your strong willpower.”

At the center of them, Yvall stood before Giratina with a smile. “I’m so happy to have shared some of my time with all of these Legends, lady Giratina. I have seen your resolve and like lord Dialga I feel… no, I just know it will become the strength that’ll keep you steady. And you can count on me, and your family, to help.”

“Don’t forget about us!” Arcana chipped from out of the family circle. Yvall and Dialga happily stood to the side to see the female Arceus and her Mew partner standing there to join in the cheerful messages. “I had my initial reservations about this group therapy thing, but after the relief it made me feel, I can’t see you being the only one not taking advantage of everyone’s support.”

“Mm. You are a delight to be with, Giratina, and make no mistake about that,” Mars nodded, leaving Arcana’s shoulder and flying down to Giratina’s shoulder. “How about it? We have your back.”

Cheeks flushing with color, eyes burning, arms and legs quivering, Giratina was a mess. “Hic…” she sobbed. And soon enough, like a dam breaking, her tears began to flow out. “Uwaaa… Waaaaaaah…! Thu-thank you, thank you aaaaaaall…!” she cried out, throwing one arm around Palkia while the other patted Mars down, squeezing them both against her with surprising strength.

“She’s so dignified and graceful all the time, yet she really can be a crybaby…” Arcana muttered to herself with an awkward yet amused smile. There was collective relief in the Azure Realm. After so much shared tension, it was simply good to be able to laugh and to cry as if nothing else mattered. And all of that had been due to the power of words; of working on their bonds and reinforcing that regardless of how many individual problems any of them had, not one of them would have to deal with them on their own anymore.

“It really is a relief…” Arsene said, standing side to side with Arcana while everyone gathered around his eldest daughter to help calm her down, but also share in the joy. “We spend so much of our immortal lives worrying about the perception of our worshippers that we forget to worry about ourselves and those we share our most impactful moments with.”

“Mmhm,” Arcana agreed, and turned to the eight seat, “Looks like you had the right…” she had words of congratulation for Reyna, but she wasn’t in her seat. In fact, none of the empty chairs and cushions that made the circle were there anymore. “Huh?” she tilted her head back to look at Reyna’s main upper body, then looked around to try and find her scaled-down avatar to no avail. “I guess since the session’s over…”

“Eeep!” a squeak of surprise made Arcana flinch and turn back around to look at the group. She didn’t have to ask what had happened because she could see it with her own eyes.

Flattening the remains of her own seat, Giratina now loomed over both Arcana and Arsene even while sitting down. Her curvaceous form had expanded three times its original size, and she clearly had taken everybody else by surprise. While a confused Palkia clung to her big sister’s left shoulder with her feet dangling in the air, one could see Dialga draped over the gothic dragoness’ lap and Yvall’s bottom half sticking out of the cleft between Giratina’s plump thighs. The only one Arcana couldn’t find was Mars, but she had a good idea of where he might be.

“What’s this?” Arsene questioned as he took a few steps closer to his enormified daughter, “Are you alright?”

Giratina looked flustered, “Oh my. I don’t know what happened. After I was done crying, I started feeling awash with this strange warmth feeling and then…” she trailed off with a moan as her body began to swell anew. This time Arsene and Arcana could see Giratina enlarge before their very eyes, overwhelming all the passengers on her body as he made them look smaller by the second.

“Arsene?” Arcana’s voice called him to attention. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from his gorgeous progeny’s immensity at first, but the audible rumbling coming from behind him made him turn to face his female counterpart only to be greeted with a soft wall of roundness to his face. “I think I feel it too…!” the kirin goddess said, struggling not to moan out in bliss. Arcana looked at her hands as they tingled from the tip of her fingers to her elbows. From her shoulders up to her neck and face. From her voluminous chest all the way down to her flawlessly round rump. From hips to toes. The all-too-familiar sensation was spreading fast, stimulating and simultaneously empowering her!

Arsene had to take a step away lest he get bowled over by Arcana’s expansion. She wasn’t even moving, but her rapidly growing form threatened to close the space between them fast. “Is this Reyna’s doing?” he asked aloud, harkening to the first time they met the Azure Realm’s ruler who had empowered them all into outgrowing their multiverse.

“I don’t think… aaahhh…” Arcana practically doubled over from the pleasure, panting. Holding her arms around her mid-section which was where she felt the warm tingling pulsing the hardest, she managed to scrounge up some willpower to talk: “It’s not power being poured inside of me, it’s… it’s power coming from within? Nnnnghh! So good…!”

Arsene’s eyes remained attentive as he heard Arcana rumbling all over again. Her body swelled and stretched out ever taller; she would soon catch up to Giratina! “Warmth? From within…?” he repeated incredulously, but he couldn’t help thinking about what Arcana might have unwittingly be referring to. Looking down, Arsene calmly put a hand over his chest where his heart was. His broad pectorals seemed to tighten all of a sudden, and sharp pleasure began to jolt him down to his core. “Ohh…! This?!” he grunted, pressure building up as his muscles began to push out against his skin. Soon, his entire body creaked like stretching rubber as he started to explode with growth!

But that wasn’t all. As Arsene’s body compensated by escalating its growing speed and gained on Arcana and Giratina, he was able to see the same phenomenon affecting the others. Dialga’s legs and arms were reaching the floor from his draped position as he swelled and took over Giratina’s lap. Yvall, once gradually sinking between the shadow dragoness’ womanly legs, was beginning to reemerge as he rapidly expanded.

“D-Damn,” Palkia gasped out, blushing with clear fluster over her face as she felt her feet land back on the floor. Stretching ever taller to the point she was looming over Giratina while she was sitting down, the lilac amazon was looking confused, “Whu-what’s going on…? My muscles feel like they’re on fire.”

“Oh my! It looks like everyone’s growing!” Giratina exclaimed, squeaking again as she felt her breasts wobble with a fluffy pink lump thrashing between them. “Ah! Lord Mars?”

“Bwah!” Mars gasped. Considerably enlarged beyond his usual smaller-scale form, he was now more than half of Giratina’s height and was rapidly catching up. He popped out of the dragoness’ deep cleavage with eyes spinning out of their orbit. “I thought I was going to burn up in there! Is everyone else growing, too?!”

Dialga slipped off before he became too big. His bulky form was growing far too big for Giratina to support, but the moment he stepped on the floor, his height suddenly tripled and now he was looming over everybody. “Heavens! It’s out of my control…!” the beefy master of time groaned, stepping his towering form back to avoid crashing into the others.

Finally escaping his own squishy confines, Yvall looked up at everyone being so significantly larger than he was. But he could also feel himself growing larger. Looking back at Arsene and Arcana, he saw his beloved Alpha looming large and beautiful as always, shivering from the pleasant view. The warmth intensified all of a sudden and he mewled in surprise when he overtook even Dialga and pushed out with a massive growth spurt that toppled Giratina and the others over. Now it was the giant Giratina and the severely enlarged Mars who were taking refuge in his lap. “Ahhh! Forgive me, lady Giratina, Palkia!”

“Guh…!” Palkia groaned, having been hit by Yvall’s ascending shoulder and brought all the way up only for her to roll down and land on the Mega Absol’s well-defined pecs. “I-it’s really affecting everybody, isn’t it…?” she asked after quickly making a recovery. “It’s not stopping for me, either!” she said after realizing she was still tingling and rumbling all over, her body starting to catch up before all of a sudden surging and outgrowing Yvall. She grew so fast that Palkia’s legs shot over his shoulders and she ended straddling him down, making him disappear under her muscular thighs and shapely rump.

“My, my! Sister, you’re so big!” Giratina admired from Yvall’s lap. Palkia’s widely muscular back was like a wall of pink and silver standing at monolithic height, utterly dwarfing all of them. But it didn’t take very long for Giratina to begin expanding as well. With Mars still hanging out in front of her breasts, they were like wrecking balls of soft and squishy red scaled flesh coming at him, sandwiching the Mew between her advancing chest and Yvall’s abdominals. “Oh my. Apologies, lord Mars…!”

“Nuh-never mind, dear…!” Mars mumbled from the violent squishing, but he didn’t seem all to hurt or bothered.

“Figures…” the panting Arcana said with a flat-stare, looking on at the massive shenanigans going on before her as she herself experienced her own growth spurts one after another. She and Arsene were pretty close to each other, and they had the sense to keep their distance lest they crash into one another but that was quickly turning into an impossible task as they continued to grow at unprecedented speeds, bursting taller and taller by the second!

It was such an alien feeling for all of them. Not one of the Gods currently in the Azure Realm was a stranger to the pleasure of becoming physically larger. They were used to it when their power would gather as a result of prayer and worship, and force their bodies to expand to accommodate it. They had learned of a similar yet no less enjoyable infusion of power when Reyna had called them all into her plane of existence by making them all grow. But this third, new way, as put by Arcana, was not coming from outside. It came from within. And it wasn’t stopping!

They were all getting so large so fast that the ground below them was starting to run out of space to host them all. And it was then that Arsene remembered that the ground they had been stepping on was actually Reyna’s hands, from her main body, which had been holding her palms up all this time. Since the other Gods were growing and Reyna wasn’t, it wasn’t long before the whole host of giants were left floating in the Azure Realm. Reyna still loomed over them, but not for long.

“This isn’t your doing, is it?” Arsene, now up to a fifth of their host’s gargantuan size, asked aloud. He held back a moan of pleasure as his growth continued alongside everyone else’s. Even with all the available free space around them, their combined expansion was so rapid they inevitably began to crash into one another. Many apologies, grunts, sighs of bliss and pissed-off grumbling later, Reyna’s giggling cut through the air.

“Teehee! You sure are a rowdy bunch, everyone.” The looming lizard said, finally peering down from the ring of Multiversal tablets hovering above her head. “Correct, Arsene. I had nothing to do with this. This, as they say, is all you guys!” she smiled the way a proud mother looks at her children. “Now, try not to question it too much and just enjoy yourselves!”

The words carried a certain degree of satisfying sincerity. And besides, even if Arsene wished to ask further, this pleasant feeling of relief and heat was simply too good to ignore. Like the others who had succumbed to the deep bliss of unbridled growth, Arsene closed his eyes and diverted his focus to enjoy himself. Crashing into one another, their bodies competing for space, did not bother him. The moment he could get his burly arms around Yvall, Arsene opened his eyes and hugged him tight.

“Arsene, my lord…” Yvall squeaked with a blush.

Seeing his bashful lover expanding was something of beauty. But now that he could clearly see the shine having returned to the Mega Absol’s eyes, Arsene realized how much he truly cared for his companion. Who knows where he would have ended up had Yvall not found him at his hiding place all those ages ago? This joy was something Arsene wished to share in with his beloved. “I have told you before, Yvall,” the Alpha Pokémon softly rumbled, “No need for honorifics between the two of us.”

“Yes, my love…” Yvall’s tongue danced with delight at those last two words, and he sank his face between his God’s pecs. Larger and larger God. Bigger and bigger Goddesses. They wouldn’t stop expanding until they had inevitably caught up with the host of the Azure Realm.

Indeed, that wild surge of power did not stop swelling until each individual who was once minuscule to Reyna had closed the gap with her real body. By then, the growth spurts had died down and their enlargement had ebbed into the final few creaks and bodily rumbling. Exhausted and overwhelmed by the orgasmic experience, the group of divinities had inadvertently ended collapsing atop one another.

Floating in front of the simply gargantuan heap of happy moans and sighs, Reyna couldn’t help but join in. The lizard dove in, crashing into everyone as if they were bowling pins and she was the ball. “It’s been so long since anyone’s gotten as big as the real me is!” the blue ruler exuberantly declared, hugging whoever she could reach first, who was Arcana.

“Cuh-calm down, jeez…!” Arcana felt the tight embrace locking her own arms at her sides, but also the soft yet hefty clash of her immense breasts against Reyna’s own pair. Having always been used to Reyna being so much more immense than any one of them, and with the avatar having been dressed in that bulky armor, Arcana had never been able to properly grasp the fellow goddess’ curvaceous proportions and was now getting properly acquainted with them!

“Sorry, I couldn’t help it!” Reyna laughed it off before gently pushing herself away and looking at the rest of the gods finally regaining their bearings. “Ahem,” she cleared her throat and put a hand at her hips before announcing: “First off: Congratulations, everyone! You’ve taken the first step towards healing!”

“It really comes out of left field when you’re so bubbly about it,” Palkia let out a sigh, slumping forwards.

“Now now, dear sister,” Dialga floated from behind his sister, “It’s true this is an energetic side of lady Reyna we’re seeing, but it’s in great part to her credit we’ve begun moving past our petty grievances, yes?”

“I guess you’ve got a point, brother,” Palkia nodded, “To tell the truth, I haven’t felt this good in years. Maybe on the day we all got reunited with Father…”

“That’s normal, Palkia!” Reyna said, “We all feel the strongest when we’re around those we love, after all. And it’s just so wonderful to see you all gathered before me at this size. It means your powers have increased yet again!”

“We’ve grown stronger you say?” Mars floated in from the side. He was looking just as small as he always was in relation to everybody else, but his godly aura was shining just as intensely as everybody else’s. “Come to think of it, I do feel strangely lighter and at the same time inundated with this indescribable energy…”

“Psyche is an important part of divinity, Mars,” Reyna explained. “When you and everyone else acknowledged their flaws and accepted the other’s help, and finally moved on from what was holding your respective relationships back, you began to see yourselves in a different light. Without those mental blocks, now you see yourself reflected on each other, as well as your innermost selves without any fog in the way.”

“You mean the reason we all grew to this size is because of…” Yvall started.

“…the group therapy?” Arcana gasped, “This was your plan from the get go, wasn’t it, Reyna?”

The lizard giggled. “Give me a little more credit than that! I wasn’t lying about anything I said after all. I needed to work on myself to get this powerful, too,” Reyna blushed, “And I’m still deathly afraid of bugs…”

“Oh my. To think this level of power was locked away inside of me, too…” Giratina gently joined her hands, pressing them against her chest. “My heart felt so heavy until just moments ago. And now it freely flutters like it once did. It seems I had forgotten what true happiness really was…”

“Even I got this large,” Yvall mused, closing a hand in front of his heart, “I am humbled by your counsel, lady Reyna.”

“Everyone’s the same, Yvall,” Reyna said, holding a hand up and opening her palm as the spinning halo of Multiversal tablets began to float down above it. The countless trees of lives hung at the center of the eight deities of the Azure Realm as Reyna spoke: “Even though we don’t all come from the same branches or even the same tree, we all share the soil that made our lives possible. Mortal, Gods… we all have to work hard to keep our respective darkness at bay at times, but darkness isn’t meant to be feared,” she said while looking at Giratina and then at everyone else with a smile, “It’s just one side of us that needs to be tended to and nurtured. It’s just too much work for any one individual, no matter how big and powerful they are.”

“That’s why we have each other,” Arsene agreed.

“And that’s why we extend a helping hand when our friends and lovers need it,” Arcana added.

The Azure Realm was glowing. Its blue surface had become crystalline instead of opaque, and soon enough multi-colored shades started to shine and sparkle across the infinite space.

Reyna looked around at the place she had made her home for longer than she could remember. It wasn’t her home anymore. She now shared it with the others, her new friends. Elation filled her very soul. She placed one last gaze at the Multiversal halo before surmising: “And if omnipotent Gods can learn this lesson of coexistence and mutual-improvement, imagine what mortals could accomplish?”

I’m just so eager to see what the future holds for all of Creation.

_ _

The End.