Arms of Arceus

Apart from the peaceful cloud cover, the skies and fields of Sweet Apple Acres were clear. That changed once the ponies crossed the wooden fence that led to the plains beneath Canterlot. The sky shimmered and shook before them, with flashes of great structures struggling to materialize. After a minute of this struggle the city finally appeared. Tall buildings touched the sky, their ruined metal husks covered in creatures of all shapes and sizes that seemed to be making repairs. Many rock creatures worked in teams throughout the scorched, crater covered streets.

The city they were rebuilding was enormous, taking up several hundred uninhabited acres of land from the edge of Sweet Apple Acres to the mountain upon which Canterlot sat. From their hilltop perch, the ponies could make out the geography of the city. On the outskirts of the city sat four large, domed structures that appeared to house different ecosystems. A smoking mountain with lava pools at its summit seemed to be churning out ore from a central factory. On the northern side of the city, opposite the volcano, stood a tall, snowy peak dotted with shapes that seemed to be cutting down the trees of a dense forest. There were lakes and hillsides, grassy plains and desolate sands; and at the city’s center sat a tall, crystalline, battle worn palace.

The group stood in shock, their mouths open and eyes wide. Pinkie Pie pulled a water bottle from her mane and drenched her head to escape her stupor. Then she shook the water from her coat, drenching the others and bringing them back to reality as well.

“Perhaps we had better continue down the hillside,” Princess Celestia said. “I have a feeling they’re expecting us.”

“Indeed,” Princess Luna said. “Everyone, stay on your guard.”

“No need,” said a rough female voice from below their feet. The ponies looked to see a hole that hadn’t been there before. Then the leader of the mole-like creatures from the barn emerged and looked the group over with a stern, determined stare.

“What do you mean?” Celestia said as she came to stand before the small creature. Her stance was cautious, but her voice was confident and commanding. The little creature raised an eyebrow in surprise and smiled.

“I mean that the Pokémon who attacked you earlier did so without the permission of their leaders. We only sent scouts into your lands, not assault forces.”

“I see. So you will speak with us as equals? I do not wish for a fight.”

“We will speak with you as equals. We need your help, specifically the help of the seven standing behind you and your sister.”

“What do you mean, you need our help?” Cadance said as she walked forward to stand beside Celestia. The other ponies looked to each other in confusion, though the little creature only fixed the group with an approving stare.

“All will be explained once you meet with the rest of the High Council. Or at least we will explain as much of it as we know. But where are my manners? I am Torri, an Excadrill. I am leader of the ground-types within the city of God’s Breath and one of eighteen who make up the High Council currently ruling over this city.”

“I have a feeling that your scouts already informed you of us somewhat, but I am…”

“We know enough,” Torri interrupted. “Come quickly. You can make your formal introductions before my peers in the city.”

Without another word, Torri began running as fast as she could. It wasn’t difficult for the ponies to keep pace with her, but she came off as a bit rude in her haste. Still, they had no choice but to follow her through the streets, and past the eyes of thousands of curious creatures. They crossed through the plane where the land of fire and ice met, all the way to the front steps of the palace. There stood many different creatures of all shapes and sizes in the front courtyard, all of them watching two figures standing before the doors. A tall, white creature with ball tipped fingers and a long, pink tail stood menacingly in front of a smaller white creature in what appeared to be a long, elegant ball gown. Their body language said they were arguing, but they made no sounds.

“What’s going on Torri?” Twilight asked.

“Can’t you see? Our resident Mewtwo is the large one. He’s arguing with Joan, leader of the fairy-types within the High Council. They’re using…”

“Telepathy,” Pinkie Pie said. “Boy are they loud, too.”

“You can hear them?”

“It’s either them, or my imagination is coming back with an angry old couple. It’s supposed to bring cake, but…”

“Stay here,” Torri said. “The rest of the council is busy overseeing repairs to the city, while Joan has been rebuilding the palace, and dealing with troublemakers from the looks of it. I’ll go give her some support.”

The tiny mole-creature shuffled up to Mewtwo and swiped at him with her claws. Mewtwo leapt backward as if he had expected the sudden attack. Then he brought his hands together and launched a large, blue sphere of energy at Torri. She raised one of her claws and blocked it as the energy dissipated across her body.

“I may be half steel-type, but a weak aura sphere like that won’t do much to someone of my level,” she said, though her voice had an edge to it that said she had still felt the blow.

“Weak?” Mewtwo yelled, his telepathic voice echoing through the air as if he spoke through a megaphone. “I am a direct descendant of the Mew! I achieved mega evolution long before any of you! Before King Siebold gave you this power you struggled to even keep me entertained in battle. It should be me who rules God’s Breath, not you!”

“Last time we fought neither of us could mega evolved,” Joan said, her own psychic voice audible and filled with frustration. “It was a stalemate, Mewtwo. You were unable to overcome me. Only through mega evolution did your power exceed the members of the council, for a time. Even then, you were never skilled enough to beat any of us. Now we are equals in power, once more. Though I wonder, have you’re skills improved any?”

“You are a lowly Gardevoir. I am descended from those who defeated Dark Arceus in the first place. It should be me who continues the work of King Siebold! Not these strange newcomers! And not you!”

“I am a member of the King’s High Council,” Joan said, her anger flaring up as she exerted her power. “I don’t care if we were once friends. I will not be spoken to this way by some rude, troublemaking fool!”

Rubble and debris began floating in the air around her and the sky above began to darken. Lightning flashed as black clouds rolled in and a violent storm began to build.

“You don’t scare me!” Mewtwo said, pushing his psychic fury hard against Joan’s.

He mega evolved into his X form and the storm built higher and higher, reaching past Ponyville and Canterlot in all directions until none could see the end of it. Violent wind gusts began tearing trees from the ground as Canterlot threatened to shake loose from its mountainside. The rubble in the courtyard broke apart as flashes of energy coursed between the two Pokémon and large cracks began to form in the ground beneath their feet. They raised their arms to attack, and time seemed to stand still.

“Enough!” Celestia and Luna shouted in unison, their voices rising above the din of thunder and the crackle of energy.

They reared back on their hind legs and let loose two streams of magic that crashed into Joan and Mewtwo. The Pokémon’s cries of pain and surprise echoed through the courtyard as the spells struck home. Two more beams of magical light shot forth, illuminating the atmosphere. Together, Celestia and Luna cleared the angry, dreadful sky and dissipated the storm. The gentle rays of the sun filled the countryside as the land returned to normal. Joan and Mewtwo had fallen to their knees where they now faced the princess, their eyes full of caution. Joan looked around at the ponies, having just noticed them, and she bowed her head in shame as she recognized their cutie marks. Mewtwo recognized them as well, but his eyes burned with anger as he tried to stare them down.

“That storm you were building would have torn Equestria apart,” Celestia said, her voice stern and calm. “It is rare that Luna and I take such violent action, for that is not our way. But allowing you to rain havoc down upon our people is unthinkable. Consider this your first warning.”
“The next time you attempt something so foolish, we will drag you to the moon and leave you there!” Luna said. The group in the courtyard fixed her with curious stares and she blushed slightly.

“What? It’s a good punishment,” she added as the other ponies came to stand beside her.

“I see you’ve brought the ones that the king prophesied,” Joan said as she rose to her feet and turned her attention to Torri. “But who are these other two? Their markings were not seen by our master.”

“The tall one is Princess Celestia, and the short one is Princess Luna,” Torri said with a grin. “They rule this land. Honestly, if the rest of you slowed down a bit to figure things out you’d be better off. I’m the only one who took the time to question the prisoners. The rest of you just hurried off to do your own things and left me alone with them.”

“The guards told me you asked two questions, got bored and ran off past the barrier without telling them anything,” Joan said with a smile. “The rest of us were busy rebuilding the city, you know.”

“I asked more than two questions! I had to leave in a hurry, because Mewtwo sent a Bisharp and her gang of Pawniard out to capture these creatures. And besides, the only one who would tell me anything useful only spoke about rocks half the time!”

“You sent Maud?” Pinkie Pie said, looking to Twilight in surprise. “But she’s just a volunteer strength trainer for the first class of guardponies! She may be strong, but she’s not a warrior.”

“She joined our guard to make sure the corps was strong enough to protect you, Pinkie,” Twilight said. “She volunteered for the mission before I could give it to anypony else, and she was quite insistent. She’s been a bit paranoid since I gained my title, and you girls became my personal advisors, though. She seems to think it makes us targets, now.”

“Who else did you send?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Well, Trixie didn’t want to be shown up by Maude. She insisted that she get to go, and Spitfire is serving temporarily until our guard is up to par so I sent her to lead them.”

“I don’t think the guardpony cadets are supposed to decide who goes on missions,” Cadence said, frowning.
“Yeah, I know I made a mistake. They were arguing and I didn’t want any trouble with my guards when I’m just really new to this, but they’re still alright aren’t they?”

“Your scouts are fine,” Torri said. “The one named Maud even managed to surprise Lord Krush. She gave him a tiny crack, just above the left leg. Something about her ‘special talent’ having to do with rocks.”

“Rocks are her life!” Pinkie Pie said happily.

“The blue one wasn’t too strong, but we almost never caught the one with wings,” Joan said. “They’re in our dungeons now, but they’re all comfortable and happy.”

“I’m going to go help with the rebuilding process,” Torri said suddenly. “Sorry, but this is boring and we really need to hurry and fix the city.”

Before any of the others could stop her, she leapt into the ground and disappeared, the sound of her digging fading as she made her way to the buildings beyond the castle gates.

“She’s always in a hurry,” Joan said with a gentle laugh.

“Why are you dropping your guard so easily?” Mewtwo said as he finally rose to his feet. He had been quite for several minutes, and the others had almost forgotten about him over the course of their conversation. Now they turned to look at him, the royal sisters exerting their presence once more.

“You are defeated, violent one,” Princess Luna said. “You have lost, and you will lose once more if you attempt to fight us. If you work with us, however…”

“I am rightful ruler of God’s Breath, and I will not lose to the likes of you! Nor will I lose to these human-locing cowards in the High Council!”

“Our next attack will vaporize you, turning you into nothing but a shadow. If you still fight us after that...”

“Forgive me, your majesties,” Joan interrupted apologetically, an amused smile on her face as she watched anger and indignation burn in Mewtwo’s eyes. “But we have more important things to discuss than Mewtwo’s foolishness. If you would follow me into the palace, I will show you why we need your help so desperately.”

All four of the princesses nodded their consent, as Mewtwo stood in the doorframe in impotent rage. As the legend sat down on the castle steps, the group of ponies followed Joan through the grand doors of the white crystal palace. The front lobby was enormous, but like so much of the city it showed signs of a serious battle. Banners and wall decorations had been strewn about the place. Pieces of wooden chairs and tables lay on the broken concrete floor next to pieces of the white crystal that had broken off of the walls. Several dark corridors branched off in different directions, but the light from the sun shone through the broken crystal and illuminated the lobby.

“We did not bring ourselves to your world,” Joan said. “We were brought here, by chance or by design we do not know. For you see, our king died yesterday.”

Joan’s psychic voice cracked slightly as she projected those words. The group looked at her in sympathy and Princess Cadence gently wrapped a wing around the Gardevoir’s shoulders.

“You have our deepest condolences,” she said. The rest of the ponies voiced their support and Joan smiled at the sentiment as she wiped tears from her eyes.

“Thank you. King Siebold died having lived a long, happy life filled with love and friendship. It was this love and friendship that he felt for all of his subjects that gave him the power to perform his sacred task. For you see, this city is called God’s Breath for a reason. In the King’s Throne Room is the evil that once resided in the God of our universe. It is a creature known as Dark Arceus; a living third of the first Pokémon, and the creator of all things that exist in the land we hail from.

King Siebold was tasked, as one of the last surviving Mew, to contain this evil. He would perform a ritual once a year to strengthen the seal on Dark Arceus’s prison, for the seal would weaken from time to time. And when that seal weakens, the dark god breathes evil upon its creation. But at the end of his life King Siebold chose not to fully seal the prison. Instead he chose to seal it half way so that he could pass the rest of his strength on to his council. If he had chosen only to seal Dark Arceus, our world would have ended a year from now for we do not posses the power that he did. But our king knew that through our struggle against the deity, we would find those who can seal the god once and for all; he knew that we would find you. After the king’s death, Dark Arceus awakened. With its power halved it was unable to defeat us before we could seal it. In the heat of battle it pulled us through time and space. We forced it into a resting state, and ended up here.”

Joan turned to look at the gathered ponies, her eyes full of hope. Then, through holes in the walls of the palace other creatures began stepping forward. Torri came through first, a proud smile on her face. A great, blue bird that radiated the cold of winter followed closely behind Torri. On the other side of the room came a small, falcon-like bird with ember-covered wings who looked at the blue bird with a competitive gleam in her eyes. An eight-foot green monster with many spikes and holes in its torso walked through the broken southern wall. It had a small crack in its body, just above the left knee. Next to it walked a bright red creature with enormous jaws and the body of a small Tyrannosaurus. A small, white and purple cat-like creature with two tails walked forward, followed closely by a crème colored creature with pink legs and tall, fluffy ears. Other creatures came through, all of them remarkably different. The ponies stood in wonder as they were surrounded, and when all of the creatures had stepped forward, they knelt before the champions of Equestria.

“These are my fellow council members,” Joan said as she and the others remained in their kneeling positions. “Our king foresaw this meeting. He gave us a vision of the symbols that mark you. On behalf of all the citizens of our city, I humbly ask you to aid us.”
“This farce will end now!” came the angry voice of Mewtwo from behind the assembly.

Psychic power erupted from within the group of startled ponies and a massive explosion rocked the palace. The peak of the blast tore a new hole in the ceiling and reached far above the tallest peak within God’s Breath. Smoke billowed from the crater that had formed where the group of ponies once stood. Cries of outrage, fear, and shock came from the council members as Mewtwo stood laughing victoriously before them. Many of the council broke into tears of sudden hopelessness. But as Mewtwo laughed and the council of Pokémon began to direct their anger at him, something moved at the bottom of the crater.

“Wow, Rarity, you and the princesses really outdid yourselves with this armor. There isn’t even any ringing in my ears!”

“Why thank you, Rainbow Dash. But of course, I only made them beautiful. This shield was crafted by the princesses, and was made to be even more powerful than the one Twilight used in her fight with Tirek. It would be a crime to let such glorious creations be damaged, after all.”

“Thank you princesses!” Pinkie Pie shouted, jumping for joy just high enough for her head to be visible above the cloud of smoke. The council looked on in wonder as the undamaged pony fell back out of sight. Mewtwo stood before the crater, his mouth gaping as he fought with his own disbelief. The voices of the other ponies joined their friend in giving thanks.

“You’re all very welcome,” Celestia said, gladness in her voice. “I’m just happy that it works so well. That would have been quite the painful blast to have taken without it.”

“Indeed,” Luna said. “This armor t’was a chore to make, but well worth it.”

“I learned a great deal from the creation process,” Cadance said happily as she and the others walked out of the crater completely unharmed.

“No!” Mewtwo yelled. “This is impossible!”

“Oh shut up,” said the large, green monster. He had managed to walk behind Mewtwo as the other Pokémon stood around the crater in shock. He pulled his arm back and landed a punch to the psychic’s jaw, sending him ground. Mewtwo’s mega form left him as he lost consciousness. The cat-like creature walked over to Mewtwo and put her hands on his head. A beam of light engulfed him for a moment and then disappeared.

“He’s disabled now,” the creature said. “I’ll have several of my Drowzee keep him disabled. Sasha, could you have your dark-types keep an eye on him in the dungeons?”

“Of course, Dorris,” said a white, creature with a single black horn and beautiful wing-shaped fur on her back. Two large shadow creatures flanked her, their long, wispy hair flickering like a candle flame. “I’ll have my Darkrai stay inside his cell. Some of my subordinates have gone into his ‘service’, but I’ll straighten them out later.”

“Why is Mewtwo so determined to control this city?” Twilight asked.

“It is said that the Mew of our world hold the genetic code for every Pokémon in existence,” Sasha said as she turned to face the princess. “The humans of our world found the bones of an ancient Mew. They used those bones to create Mewtwo through cloning technology. So in truth, Mewtwo is the closest living genetic relative of our late King Siebold. It is a shame he did not inherit the king’s wisdom. He would be an honored servent of the kingdom if he could only overcome his hatred of humans and the viciousness that was bred into him.”

“Cloning? You mean they made him in some kind of laboratory? But why?”

“So that he would become their ultimate weapon,” Sasha said, looking down at Mewtwo’s unconscious form in pity. “They made him out of greed.”

The ponies looked on sadly as the two Darkrai gathered Mewtwo and carried him into the darkness of the southern corridor.

“They will release your friends, as well,” Sasha said as she returned to her place in the circle. “I promise they were not harmed.”

“That was quite an impressive sight, surviving an explosion like that,” Krush said as he smiled down at the ponies. “It would have made any rock-type proud to have done the same. You don’t look all that tough, though. How did you pull it off?”

“Magic suits of armor,” Twilight said. “They’re my anniversary gifts. Aren’t they great?”

“They are indeed, your highness,” said a white, arm bladed creature that looked strangely like Joan. “It is good to know we’re dealing with powerful allies. I am Lord Gallah, a Gallade, and Joan’s older brother. I rule over the fighting-type Pokémon.”

“Sorry,” Pinkie Pie said. “But all of these types are kinda confusing. You don’t happen to have this stuff written down do you?”

“We have several Pokédexes that catalogue all Pokémon by type and species,” Lord Gallah said. He held out his hand and nine red devices teleported in front of him. “Take these, miladies. They will tell you all you need to know about our kind.”

“Awesome!”

“For now, we must continue our preparations,” the large blue bird said as she turned to leave. “Dark Arceus will awaken within a week. We must shore up our defensive positions for when that happens, or all is lost.”

She flew off without another word.

“I shall have our Royal Guard form a perimeter around your city on the ground and in the air,” Luna said. “They will let no evil pass.”

“Dark Arceus will fight to destroy God’s Breath before it turns its attention to your lands,” Gallah said. “It will remain half sealed, but it will summon its minions from the underworld. Support from your troops within the city would be greatly appreciated.”

“Then you shall have it, brave knight. Come, sister. Let us return to Canterlot at once.”

“Of course, Luna. We should take a representative from these creatures, as well.”

“I would like to accompany you,” Joan said. “I will gladly tell you everything you need to know.”

“I’ll go!” said a small, brown creature with cotton ball hair. “We should take Sasha and Potpourri too!”

“I’ve got my flying-types to oversee, Welshi,” said the small, falcon-like bird. “I don’t have time to explain our battle strategies to a bunch of newbies.”

“You’re flying-types are doing fine on their own. Besides, you spend most of your time trying to annoy Lorna from the shadows.”

“That stuck-up Articuno has it coming. She never loosens up, never stops her serious bit for one moment…”

“And you never stop being naughty.”

“I’m only naughty because she’s a stick-in-the-mud.”

“You’re also naughty because you have a small bird complex,” Sasha said as she rolled her eyes. ”Just because you haven’t gotten bigger since you were a Fletchling, you take it out on others. On the other paw, I actually have a job here. A dangerous criminal just came into my dungeons, and I should be here to see that he doesn’t escape.”

“Any one of the council is capable of standing up to that jerk in a fight,” Krush said. “As dangerous as he is, there are too many of us here for him to have a hope of claiming the city. I can stay in the dungeons in your absence, Sasha.”

“I don’t know…”

“But you can help us spot danger!” Welshi said as she jumped up and down. “We can tell when Dark Arceus is going to attack with you there. That’ll keep our new friends on the same time table as the forces in the city.”

“I’m not that good at sensing danger…”

“Come on, you sense stuff even before Joan or Gallah have visions of it. You’re the best!”

“We would greatly appreciate your aid,” Celestia said, smiling kindly at the shy Absol.

“Alright, if you insist,” Sasha said, blushing slightly as she pawed the ground.

“Good luck, new friends,” Krush said as he and the rest of the council bowed before the ponies.

“Good luck,” Celestia said with a smile. Then, with a bright flash of light she teleported all of her group, plus their new additions, to her castle in the magnificent city of Canterlot.