A Return to Form (ft @mxstball)
Hera was in her room in Sky Pillar as she continued to reflect on the past five years. She remembered the day that she regained her memories, only to bitterly understand the realization of the loss of her home....
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"…F–Freya…. Mother…. Wh–where— wh–why…?"
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Hera took a sip of her coffee as she remembered the attack against her trainer, and the final words of the dragon that murdered her granddaughter in an attempt to right what it thought was wrong....
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“What had occurred to this… ‘Violet’… What was supposed to happen to the Lorekeeper… What shall occur to me… such shall be but a mercy compared to what all of you shall endure. The World Cleanser will become active once more, and she will destroy this world, whether you attempt to fight back or not. I… pity you all.”
--
Hera turned on her computer as she continued to look though schematics and documents of her recent inventions -- the Move Gun, the Portal Gun... so much has been done in the name of research and in the name of protecting this world from harm...
...she remembered Helen's warning to her as their research came to an apex.
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"There is something that you must know, Hera. Completing this... 'RKS Forme' as you call it, will tie you to the Infinity Energy of this world. In plain speak, while you are a Latias today, this world will treat you as my suceessor. Thus, while I do not plan to die any time soon, you will become like an Arceus should the unexpected occur with the same responsibilities as well. You must abandon your existing life, divorce your husband and then live as I do today."
"However, should you still accept this risk and should we succeed at protecting this world, then I promise that I will do everything in my power to find a way to work around this risk. You are my daughter, as much as one as Rayquaza, Giratina or Zygarde. As such, I will do anything in my power to mitigate any harm done to you, physical or otherwise."
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The unexpected never came. Helen never met an unfortunate end. Instead, with the risk undersood, Hera and Helen worked together to create a new form -- Hera's RKS Forme.
Hera logged off of her computer and looked at her phone camera. She went back and played some of the footage of her training as the new successor to the world.
She started to remember the final battle between her and Freya.
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RKS FORME - UNLOCKED
"Freya. I have finally made my final choice. I will continue to be the light of this world. The people and Pokémon here are my friends and family. Even if I may not have been born here, they have shown me love and kindness to me and all of my siblings that have survived from the day that you destroyed our home. Even if I did not remember who I was, I was welcome here with open arms, treated as a native Legendary Pokémon with respect and dignity. I will return their favor... I will return their kindness... by defending this place with my very life. If that means defeating you, then so be it."
"Then let this be a battle to remember, Hera."
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Freya would lose that day. The battle was tough, rougher than she ever had faced against any other creature before her, but with some of the last of her strength, she was able to best her All-Mother, the very creature that threatened to destroy the world.
Hera remembered Freya's last words....
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"...You... urg... have fought well, Hera. May your... determination never falter...."
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Hera mourned her All-Mother's death for months. She buried Freya in her Hall of Origin, leaving her and Freya's blade as a sign of respect for the Arceus. The world was recovering from the threat. The Legendary Pokémon returned to tending to their own devices as the threat of destruction no longer loomed on everyone.
And yet, Hera had a feeling that not everything was over.... that there was something else going on.
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"You can call me Hera, and I can call you Lacey, sure! Hehe. Oh? Well... think of me sort of like... a life checkpoint if you will! I'm so proud that you were able to protect your family, though also saddened that it had to come at the cost of Freya's life. Anyway, I'll occasionally be checking up on you from now on. I won't get involved in anything, but if you want someone to talk to that's not your family and want someone that understands your perspective a little deeper than usual, then feel free to call me. We may be alternate selves but think of us as... sisters!"
"..."
"Huh? You want to know if there are others like us out there? Well... let's just say to keep your phone open later, okay sis'?"
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She wondered what Hera's whole deal was. Who exactly was this Arceus, and why is it that she was insistent on keeping her phone open? Hera wanted to figure it out now, but all she could do was wait.
....
!!!
RIIIIING!
Hera's Rotom Phone rang! Rotom flew over and answered it for her. Hera checked the phone as she changed forms. It was from a... Heidi?
"Sky Pillar, this is Hera speaking."
"Hello? Hi, this is Heidi. I'm... you from another world. Is it okay if we can talk?"
...? Was this the reason why that Arceus told her to keep her phone open? "And how do I know that this is, in fact, another me? How did you get my number?"
"...Yukin gave it to me. He told me to tell you that I'm from Izanami's world."
"...." Oh, of course it's Yukin. Well, may as well entertain this just in ca--
Wait. Did she say Izanami? Wasn't that the Arceus that Helen mentioned that she was friends with? "Yukin sent you, huh?"
"Yeah. Is it... okay if I can stop by? I can meet you anywhere in your world that you'd feel comfortable."
"Hmmm... Well..." Hera wasn't sure how to address this, but if this truly was another version of her, she may as well get Rayquaza in on this. "Alright, but my husband's going to be involved in this, if that's alright with you."
There was a silence on the phone for a moment before, "That's fine. We can talk with him around. Can uh... Zinnia join the conversation, too? Your Zinnia, not mine."
"She'd eavesdrop in anyway, so sure. Do you need me to ping you my location for your portal gun?"
"That would be nice, yeah. Else I'd have to trace the signal to this call."
"Alright." Heidi sent a location request. "Well, come over any time after 10 minutes from now. I have to let Rayquaza and Zinnia know that we're expecting some... interesting company."
"Fine with me. I'll use that time to tell Mel and Nergal that I'll be back. See you then."
The phone hung up and Hera returned to form.
"Never a dull moment in this world, huh?"
