The mysterious disappearance of Groudon and Kyogre left Palkia puzzled. Could it be that they weren't on this planet anymore? A hint of doubt flickered in Palkia's eyes as it conducted a thorough search of every corner, only to find nothing.
Meanwhile, across the river of time, Dialga stood on the shore, observing the flow of moments. If someone were to witness this scene, they'd see the upstream blocked by some unknown force, while the downstream devoured everything like an abyss. Unaffected, Dialga focused intently on its target.
It traced back a hundred years, pinpointing the strongest Groudon and Kyogre, then swiftly pushed the timeline forward. Within mere seconds, it crossed a century, finally witnessing the moment they vanished into the secret realm of the Buried Tower.
What was more shocking was that these two legendary creatures left no trace in time. Even Dialga, the master of time, couldn't fathom such a complete escape from temporal constraints.
"This defies belief," Dialga murmured incredulously. Such a situation was beyond its understanding. Could the creator, Arceus, have intervened? But Arceus was supposed to be asleep during this era.
Despite feeling constrained, Dialga admitted that its connection to Arceus gave it insight. It was certain Arceus remained in slumber within the temple, ruling out its involvement.
If not Arceus, then what was going on? This absence was troubling.
Unwilling to give up, Dialga searched along the timeline, hoping to find traces of Groudon and Kyogre reemerging. But as it concentrated, a torrent from a distant time suddenly obscured its vision.
"This can't be happening!" Dialga was shocked. As the god of time, it was unthinkable to be thwarted by time itself. Who could possess such power?
Could this be the discovery Zygarde mentioned? It pondered deeply. Both dimensions fell into an eerie silence.
Beyond the rift, Zygarde watched the delayed return of the two deities with a grave expression. "Even Dialga and Palkia are at a loss? This is getting increasingly complicated."
Elsewhere, in Carl's villa, Lusamine finally finished recounting the past involving Lusamife. She concluded, "When you were three, your aunt and Grace were deeply involved in research when everything changed."
"At that time, I was entrusted with the role of director and had to continue the research while searching for them. But you were so young, I couldn't let you lose both parents."
"So, I decided to play the role of your mother. One lie led to another. Since I became your mother, naturally, you'd ask about your father as you grew up."
"And to continue the research on Cosmog and the Ultra Hole to find my sister, I needed your understanding and support. So, I told you that your father was Mohn, who also vanished during his research."
Lusamine wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. Carl observed this, feeling a swell of emotion. Regardless of the truth, Lusamine had indeed sacrificed so much.
At twenty-four, Lusamine should have been enjoying her youth but was burdened with the responsibilities of the Aether Foundation. Not only did she have to pretend to be the mother of a three-year-old Lillie, but she also played the role of a father, all while desperately researching to save her sister, Lusamife. The weight of it all was suffocating.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault," Lusamife said with remorse, embracing her sister tightly. She realized her own misfortune paled in comparison to what her sister endured.
Though she missed thirteen years of Lillie's growth, her memory loss spared her the pain. Lusamine, on the other hand, truly sacrificed her life.
"You'll always be my mom," Lillie said, hugging Lusamine tightly. She could feel the overflowing maternal love, the warmth she had yearned for since childhood.
"Just call me Aunt," Lusamife said, wiping her tears, "I'm not fit to be called mom."
"I'll try to accept you," Lillie hesitated. Accepting a stranger as her birth mother was difficult, but the sincere affection moved her.
Lusamine suddenly winked playfully, "You all better work hard, I want to date too." It was a clear attempt to lighten the mood.
Lillie was touched, but Lusamife chimed in with a surprising comment, "Are you saying you want to host a wife contest for Carl?"
The room erupted into chaos. Cynthia raised an eyebrow, Caitlin teased, and Serena looked intrigued.
"Sister!" Lusamine was mortified, rushing to cover her sister's mouth, "Don't say such things!"
Even with her mouth covered, Lusamife stubbornly mumbled, convinced she wasn't wrong. Lusamine was so embarrassed she wished she could disappear.
The playful banter between Lusamine and Carl about being his "little wife" was more of a jest between them. Given the age gap—she nearing forty and Carl much younger—it was never meant to be serious. Yet Lillie had played a part in stirring the pot. With Lusamife's return, things got more complicated. Various factors intermingled, making it difficult to address openly. Nonetheless, Lusamife's public revelation to Cynthia and the others caused quite the stir.
"Mom, we need to talk privately," Lillie exchanged a look with her mother, ushering Lusamife out for a private chat, "Some things are best kept within the family."
In a blink, three people were gone. Facing Cynthia and the others' inquisitive looks, Carl remained unfazed. "Why look at me? If Lusamine is willing, she can be my little wife. Now that it's out in the open, what's there to hide? It's not like I'm losing out."
"Impressive!" Cynthia and Caitlin gave him a thumbs up.
Carl ignored their teasing, turning to ruffle Serena's hair. "With Hoopa visiting, is our kitchen holding up?"
"Just the cook?" Serena asked, clenching her fist playfully.
Carl chuckled knowingly, "If you want to be the lady of the house, that works too."
The comment made Serena blush instantly. Though she was pleased inside, she wouldn't admit it. "In your dreams! It's not that easy!" She flipped her hair and turned, calling out, "Hoopa, what would you like? Dessert, savory, or both?"
"Hoopa loves tasty treats!" The little creature waved its arms excitedly.
"As long as it's delicious, you're happy?"
"Yes! Hoopa loves good food!"
"I'll make a signature dessert for you. Want to watch how it's done?"
"Yes, yes!" Hoopa bounced eagerly, then turned to Carl with a questioning gaze.
This man, capable of unraveling Arceus' seal, intrigued her immensely.
"Go on, make yourself at home," Carl nodded with a smile.
"Yay!" Hoopa cheered, happily following Serena to the kitchen.