Final.

[azumods]

CREATION. It's the middle of the morning, when the summon finally comes. It comes in the form of the Commanders seeming more formal than usual - there's something in their demeanor that's off, decidedly more stiff than usual, though not in a way that implies they're being controlled; it's just a matter of something happening, and they aren't altogether certain what to do with it, but they're here to bring you the general message that Master Cyrus is waiting for you. They won't wish you luck, for obvious reasons; they will, however, come with you. If this is going to happen today, then they want to be present for it, and they'll accompany you to the top of that massive stairwell in the center of that area you first walked in on. There's a large set of double doors at the top; they've been locked until now, but at the moment they'll open easily at your touch. There's really only one place to go from here. The doors will lead you to a place that appears, for all intents and purposes, to be outside, though it's difficult to say exactly where; there's a chill in the air - this is, of course, a rather cold region, though it isn't as bad as it could be out here - and you seem to be incredibly high up, but the floor still seems solid beneath your feet as opposed to translucent, and there's a railing ringing the outside of the area you've been let out into. Like a balcony of sorts, though it's a massive one, more than enough to accommodate all of you. It's incredibly simple, given that this is apparently where you're going to meet with someone who claimed the title of "god" for himself and hasn't looked back since. Speaking of which, you aren't alone here; Cyrus is present, hands settled on that railing as he looks out over the region for a moment longer. He'll turn to greet you properly after a moment, however; there's a brief gesture to his Commanders - clearly instructing them to stay back near the door, out of the way but more than capable of overseeing what's going to ensue here - before he turns his attention to the group, folding his hands behind his back. "You've come a long way since we first met... And longer still since your journey started. I'm sure you're aware that this isn't as it was in Sunyshore City - should we be required to turn this place into a battlefield, we will do so without hesitation, and despite your actions stemming from deep imperfection, we intend to act without mercy, if it comes to that. "However, I'm sure you have many things you want to say at the moment... Were I opposed to hearing them, there would be little point in allowing you to come here in the first place. Speak your piece; do as you see fit. There's no sense in pretending that we don't all know why you're here."

Comments

[discutio]

I should say not. Our reasoning is fairly obvious by now, surely.

[Guess we’re just doing this.]

Hardly any reason to skip mere politeness first, however. Have you been well since last we spoke?

[azumods]

As always, yes.

[And he does sound...well, he doesn't sound like he's doing worse than usual, so it does seem to be a genuine enough response. Not exactly cordial, but it's even. He's doing well enough.]

Things have been interesting in the region over the past several months... Though I imagine that goes without saying.

[gekkaju]

[Here they were again. Atsushi looks as tense as he normally is when they're faced with this sort of pressure, but he's doing his best to stand tall and not appear as stressed out as he feels.]

Cyrus-san, you say you will fight if necessary, but I want to make sure...you're not going to fight us unless we start it, right?

[He's kindof hoping it doesn't come to a fight no matter how much stronger they've gotten, it's just that the last time they came up against Cyrus and he decided he was tired of their faces he just decided to destroy everything. Basically how much of a chance do we have to just talk our way through this, here...]

[azumods]

[He's quiet for a moment at that.]

...That would be the intention, yes.

[Don't make him hit you and he'll try to refrain from hitting you.]

[anythingforyou]

[...Gods, being in this place is enough to make her stomach lurch. She's not necessarily been fond of Cyrus since Sunyshore, though she can admit she wasn't faultless in that regard, but it's...

It's still a little much.]

...We don't intend to provoke hostilities; not so brazenly to force such this place into a battlefield.

[It's. A calm start, but not even she can hide her unease at this. Still, cold cordiality is something she knows decently well, and she's not going to let herself fall into a trap.]

[azumods]

In that case, we should be on even terms.

[For what it's worth, he doesn't seem agitated by her presence, and there's no indication of the apparent disdain he'd shown her in the last meeting. Cordiality it is, apparently.]

[eudaimonikos]

Boy, at least somewhere's got railings.

[we came into this world shitposting and by god we are going out of it that way]

[semistableman]

People 'round here really need to do more about safety hazards.

[#shitposting solidarity]

[divinedescendant]

[this is a very serious occasion that we should be treating with the proper amount of significance, however

big mood]

[discutio]

[goddammit ignis don’t laugh]

You think I should thank him for that much?

[takestheblame]

There are reasons to think it doesn't matter what we say now.

[Cyrus sure won't change his mind, Kiryu thinks. Despite what Kiryu just said, it doesn't seem he's in any hurry to attack or anything. He doesn't even have his Pokemon out right now]

[azumods]

[He tips his head a little at that.]

Do you truly believe it to be meaningless, or do you simply acknowledge the possibility that it might be?

[greydients]

[Rey allows the others around her to speak first, preferring to stay at the back of the group for the first little while. There's a number of things she wants to say, all half-formed in her mind, but she can't seem to bring herself to speak. It's not fear, per say (although she'd be lying if she said she wasn't at least a little bit terrified), but it does take her a bit to think of a coherent sentence.

Once she does, it's fairly simple.]

What...exactly do you plan to do, once you're tired of us being here?

[azumods]

...You want to know if this will end in all of you dead at the end, regardless of what happens here. Is that it...?

[It doesn't sound accusatory at all; just kind of confirming.]

[hyruglyphics]

... Do you have a direction which is your favorite to view?

[ They're sort of centrally located here, so color Zelda curious about what he was seeing off from the horizon in the way he was looking. She's got her Pokemon behind her for this just because - well, feels better that way. Miphanus is right by her side, the tank-bug thing just sort of curious with her. ... Tbh it kinda wants to get closer to the edge of see the view. ]

[azumods]

[He has to think about it for a moment, really.]

...The eastern part of the region tends to have the better view, for the majority of the year. There's a good sense of diversity to it.

[It always comes back to the eastern part of the goddamn region.]

[niceoppai]

[Chelsea gulps and takes a deep breath.]

Say, Cyrus. Uh, this is weird to ask anyone even if they're not trying to sap the world's will, so don't judge me, but... Did you ever see our worlds, when you guys ganked us? I know you figured you'd take them over, too, that's the whole reason you nabbed us and all, but. Seeing as how we love this world 'cause of what it is, I kinda wanted to see what you thought.

[azumods]

..I didn't see them in great detail, no. I know a few things about where you came from, but ultimately not much.

[perfectselfie]

Can I ask you something?

[A beat, then - ]

You don't have to answer this, but...what made you decide to start Galactic in the first place?

[azumods]

...The primary intention was always to help people.

[So there's...that, really.]

All of you often speak of the region's beauty, but that doesn't mean that it isn't without its difficulties... I wanted to help people move past those difficulties.

[ventulus]

[ The situation feels filled with tension, undoubtedly because of where they are, the type of person they face, and ultimately what is at stake. Ventus expected himself to maybe nervous himself, but it isn't quite that - not yet, anyway. ]

...Did you think that we would really start a fight?

[ All that no mercy and all that when Cyrus is the one with the god in the palm of his hand. ]

[azumods]

It isn't my first assumption... But I wouldn't put it past you, either.

[It's not necessarily a bad thing, we solve things by way of battle all the time here. That's just...not going to help your case any, probably. Maybe? Possibly.]

[radiantflame]

[it really is a breathtaking view from up here. If only they could be here under better circumstances.]

Are you satisfied with this world?

[azumods]

As it stands...? Not particularly.

[But, I mean. Y'all have been meddling with it pretty hard, so there's that to account for.]

[divinedescendant]

[She leaves the crown behind but wears the rest of her regalia today, the capes and armored epaulettes from the outfit found when they first departed Veilstone and then left packed away all this time so she wouldn't stumble over sashes while they traveled or stain the green and gold and stark white of it all.

Her team stands with the group. Cradling the egg against her arm might ruin some of the elegance. Even now, she cannot find it in her to mind.]

Despite the troubles along the way, we have come this far without coming to blows. I would not expect things to be any different now.

[isn't that right, kids]

It is kind of you to take the time to meet with us, with the circumstances as they are.

[azumods]

Calling it kindness implies that it would otherwise be an inconvenience... That I would fail to find it worthwhile in some way.

[He doesn't sound particularly amused, nor is he doing...well, anything at all with his face, but that's still a lot more lightly-spoken than it could have been.]

I haven't asked you here through kindness. Rather, through personal interest. I would prefer it remain civil, but if it doesn't, then so be it.

[thunderwolf]

[Eustace hasn't really spoken to Cyrus yet, and he's thought a lot about what he wants to say to him here at the end. When he steps forward to speak, he's as calm as ever. A conclusion is going to be met in some form, no third chances. Despite the uncertainties of what the conclusion will be and the hopes of what they want it to be, the finality of it all helps keeps him steady in some way.

He actually opens with a question.]

You said you began simply wanting to help people... What other solutions did you try before you arrived at this one?

[This one...seems like one that someone eventually arrives at, surely.]

[azumods]

[You know what, he seems to find it a fair question, and he's not going to protest the notion that it's being asked.]

The notion that people can be taught to help themselves in some way hasn't escaped my attention... That's a large part of why Team Galactic exists in the first place. Both to do what we can for people as a whole, and also to give people somewhere to turn to if they require it.

[His gaze flicks toward the door, briefly, to the Commanders that are still there.]

It helped some more than others. And there will always be those who refuse to save themselves.

[azumods]

Enough.

[The word comes suddenly; while he isn't raising his voice at all, it's spoken with all the firmness and authority of someone who's used to being listened to. It's cold, though not in the blank, disconnected way that he was immediately before it ended the world; there's something else in his words now, something quiet and frigid and angry despite himself, and when his hand darts to the set of six Pokéballs at his belt, the one he brings out is...different-looking than the others.

Very different-looking, actually.]

I don't need your understanding, your platitudes, or your worthless attempts at sympathy - you've come here with no plan, no ability to defend yourself against what you deserve, and you expect to be victorious regardless? My Commanders remain imperfect, and I don't fault them for being swayed by your words... It's through no fault of theirs. But I have no such reason to stay my hand.

I've made it clear from the start that I refuse to allow you to shatter that which I've created. As the leader of Team Galactic, and the Creator of this world - and as one who will continue to serve as such, regardless of the difficulty of the path ahead - I will defend this world, imperfect though it continues to be, with all of my strength.

[With that, he tosses the ball upwards, releasing a bright burst of light that arcs up high into the air; the light shifts to take form, revealing a mass that grows larger and larger, practically pulsing with an unfathomably ancient energy - perhaps older than the universe itself.

The sense of pressure is immense, but not unfamiliar; it's the sort of heady, intense feeling that lets you know that whatever you're looking at is powerful beyond one's comprehension. Powerful enough to remake the world. Powerful enough to create the universe from nothing.

In the beginning there was nothing. From the nothingness, an egg was formed, and from the egg emerged Arceus.

It shines resplendent in white and gold and black, the wheel about its midsection glittering sharply in the light of the sun; its mane and tail flow thickly behind it, and when it roars the sound is all-consuming, reverberating through your body and seeming to shake you violently from the inside - but it isn't the tortured, pained sound drawn from Dialga and Palkia. This is aggressive, confrontational but not tormented.

After all, Cyrus didn't torture Arceus into submission.

He captured it.]

Now tell me - what do you plan to do about it...?

[discutio]

[...Shiva's fucking mercy. He'd expected another chain, expected...well, anything but the obvious. Ignis' hands curled into nervous fists at his side before he forced them to relax, taking a slow breath and staring straight at where Cyrus' voice had come from.]

Now you deem it worthless, when being shown sentiment has cast a light you shy away from through fear of the unknown? You're lying to all of us, and worse yet you lie to yourself.

You don't frighten me, Cyrus, and neither does your god. I will do exactly as I have been since this discussion began, and offer you another path. If extending my hand and refusing to fight should end in my death, then I've accepted that. I dare say all of us have.

[azumods]

...And for all of your talking, you've still proven nothing.

[He's getting agitated again; it's not quite a welcome change from the odd, blank responses he was giving the first time you met him, and it seems he's not feeling nearly as receptive as he was the second.]

You can speak to me of kindness and sympathy all you want... You can continue to convince yourself that they're enough, that you can delude yourself into thinking that anything about you is good enough - I can assure that in the end, nothing ever is. Not for this world, and not for the incomplete people within it.

But what I have is close. And it's getting closer all the time... To my perfect world. to cleansing those within it of their own vile emotions...

I won't allow you to destroy it.

[He shifts back a bit, gesturing broadly toward the Pokémon, the god that he has with him.

And he issues an order that none of you ever wanted to hear again.]

Arceus - Judgement!

[perfectselfie]

Is this really what you want to do?

[Aya isn't looking at Cyrus when she says it. She's looking at Arceus.]

This is a world you made. You made it with the best intentions, I'm sure of it. You didn't make a world that's completely emotionless. I don't think you really want to reset things again.

[She pauses to wipe her eyes, because she can't keep herself from crying.]

You don't have to do this, not if it isn't really and truly what you want. Think about that beautiful world, and all the people and Pokemon in it. What do you want for them? That's all that matters.