Chapter Text
"We have done good work today," Squishy said. "Thank you, Greninja."
Greninja nodded, stoically.
"I wonder," the Dragon-type added, and cleared his throat. "Lord Arceus. Your humble servant begs a moment of your time."
Golden light flashed overhead, and Arceus stepped through an aurora.
"Speak, and I will hear you," the Original One invited.
"Lord, I wish to credit you on the choice of the Chosen One," explained Zygarde. "He has a strong heart, he is a great battler, there is nobody who could have been a better choice."
Arceus coughed.
"So, by the way," Greninja said, pointing in the direction of Arceus. "Can Legendaries just… do this?"
"If they are deemed important enough and I am not busy," Arceus replied. "But, I will tell the two of you a secret."
His hooves touched down with a gentle shimmer.
"Ash Ketchum is not the Chosen One because he is especially talented," Arceus stated. "He has become skilled, but that was not how he was at the beginning."
"Really?" Greninja asked. "He seemed good enough to me."
"You only got to see his seventh region," Arceus replied. "It is not because he has a big heart, though that undoubtedly helps. It is not for any particular talent or trait he has, except one."
"Then what is it, Lord?" Squishy inquired.
"There are many prophecies and legends around the Chosen One," Arceus told them. "Fixed but flexible points in time. Places where the Chosen One must be. But those prophecies are usually not specific."
He took a step. "You see, they merely state that the Chosen One must be there. There is no requirement for the Chosen One to solve the problems. There is no requirement for the Chosen One to make things better. But they must be there. That is the only requirement."
"I don't get it," Greninja admitted.
"Ash Ketchum was not our first choice," Arceus said. "When the world was being woven, there were many others. Other choices, other Chosen Ones. But it did not work out."
He regarded the vine-fighting duo. "Then Dialga put the timeline on shuffle, and finally it stabilized around Ash Ketchum. Because that complete himbo utterly refuses to stay dead."
The Original One nodded. "It is very convenient, actually."