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And so, the time shalt come when the Great One, Lord of the Sky, Day Bringer, Life Giver, Watcher of all, shall come again and pass Judgement on the hearts and deeds of all those over which the Sky reins. In passing, we shall be blessed with all that is good and beautiful. Should we fail; we shall suffer the agony of the Sacred Flame and be swept away by the Holy waters of its Brother the Sea. The Sun shall turn black and the blood Moon shall rise as the innocent tears stream from fated eyes for the Great One calls for the wake of our demise and the Judgement’s passed before the last note dies...For Judgement and Retribution are theirs.

-The Book of the Two Powers

Ixchel stood in disbelief as the world of her terrible vision raged all around her. Terrified of the Judgement, the rogue Guardians of the Two Powers had stolen the Tide Song and attempted to enslave the sleeping God to their will. They had failed and Lugia’s fury had brought the wrath of Ho-oh upon them. All around her people screamed, desperately seeking an escape that they would never find. Hot tears poured from her eyes as the Sacred Flame devoured everything she had ever known. “It’s happening... they did it... they really did it...” she heard herself whisper beneath the chaos. A year ago Ho-oh had warned her through a vision – the very same vision she now lived for real. She had been so young then, so inexperienced in the ways of the Gods. Now she understood.

“Ixchel, we have to go! Leave before it’s too late – there is nothing you can do for them now. The other guards are waiting for you but you have to hurry!” Dante called to the Xatu priestess. Ixchel turned to him, eyes full of love and grief. “I have to try Dante, I have to. You have always been here for me. Please don’t go now, I need you. I knew it before I even met you. You were the one to bring me out of this vision the first time. I don’t know how, but you did. This is my home, Dante, these are my people, and they are my Gods. I have to do something!”

Dante smiled one of his brilliant smiles. “Well, Lady Ixchel, Singer-at-Dawn, Seer-of-Sights,” he said using the formal address for a priestess of the Two Powers, “I would hate to tarnish such a spotless record. Do what must be done and know that I am here willing to serve you.” Ixchel smiled as the Houndoom nuzzled her gently.

Dante watched in silence as the young priestess turned to meet her fate. To some, the change from meek, unsure acolyte to true, confident priestess was unprecedented, however, he knew her better than that. Even on the day of their first meeting he had seen the spark hidden beneath her doubt and he had loved her for it. Born into different worlds – she, a Xatu priestess of the highest calling, he the Houndoom captain of the Temple guard – they could never truly be together for caste and species forbade it, but he loved her all the same.

As she took the final steps towards her destiny, Ixchel began to sing. Quiet at first, the Song grew in strength and beauty with every passing note. All around her, the terrified people turned to see the lone priestess welcome the sun and give praise to the Sky Bird for the beauty of creation. Louder and louder she sang as her voice was lifted up by those of the other Singers who, despite all the pain and fear, joined in the unity of the Great Prayer.

Hearing the song, Ho-oh let loose a horrifying roar and turned its sights on the one who dared defy its Judgement. Ixchel looked up into its furious crimson eyes and continued to Sing, knowing that the combination of her psychic nature and ability to synchronize would pull her into a terrible rapport with her God.

The fire of its rage consumed her, lashing her very soul with its livid fangs. Fury, pain, and hatred raked across her mind, threatening to destroy everything she was with the agony it caused. Gasping for breath, Ixchel reflexively fought back but it wasn’t enough. She had always known it would never be enough. She had come to this willingly to save the innocents of the land. This would be her sacrifice. There was nothing she could do but bear the Lord’s wrath and pray that the Song gave her strength enough to soothe its righteous fury before it was too late for those below.

Suddenly, she heard him. The deep, silvery brightness of his smile flowed with infinite beauty in his voice. Somehow, he had followed where only she could go. Strengthened by the bond they shared. She shielded herself with the love only true friendship could bring. Fighting back, Ixchel pushed her joy and sorrow across the rapport with everything she had knowing that this would be the end. As the last of her life drained away, a single tear slipped from her eyes. “Dante...”

The second she fell, he knew it was over. Running through Lugia’s rain, he howled out his grief. All around, priests and priestesses were joined by citizens and guards as man and Pokémon gathered to sing the Song of the Dead that would lead the fallen Xatu to eternity. Nuzzling her limp form, the Houndoom’s tears streamed down his muzzle and beaded off her ruffled feathers. He would have given anything to have taken her place on that damp, charred slab of stone. Looking up, he saw the rainbow blossom in the sky. “You gave us that Ixchel, you gave us that.” He whispered, smiling in spite of his tears.

The mourners parted as the Great Phoenix descended, glorious feathers shining with the rainbow’s promise, illuminated by the bars of golden sunlight that pierced the billowing smoke. Calm once more, the Sky Bird opened its magnificent wings and called out a note of mournful beauty that echoed Dante’s heart. On and on Ho-oh sang of the sacrifice Ixchel had made to save the people she loved. As the tribute finished, the Legendary bird plucked a single prismatic feather and offered it to the sky. With a cry of awesome power, the feather burst into flame and rained the Sacred Ash down upon the fallen priestess. Like the Lord’s fire itself, flames leapt all around her. Born anew, the Xatu arose from the fire’s heart clothed in the feathers foretold by the ancients – the mantle of the Phoenix itself. In all of his life, Dante had never imagined a moment so wondrously beautiful.

Speaking in the voice of the Two Powers, the Xatu turned to the people. “Heed our words!” she said. “Evil has found its way into your hearts, but the love and sacrifice of one has stayed our wrath and saved the many. Go forth and do not forget the events that have brought you here for the Day of Judgement shall come again!” With this, the fire flared in a blinding maelstrom and vanished with the Two Powers leaving the young Xatu to float gently to earth and into the waiting embrace of the one she loved.

“You did it Ixchel, you saved us all!” the Houndoom grinned through tears of joy. Ixchel smiled, eyes brimming with emotion. “No Dante, it was you who saved me.” Licking the remnants of the Ash from her cheek, he looked up into the clear blue sky. “We will never forget this Ixchel.”

And they never did.

The approximate (and abridged) conclusion of my pokemon fanfic featuring Dante and Ixchel.

Ixchel phoenix forme is made to look like Ho-Oh, the God that gave her that gift. The single eye on her chest represents the eye of the Watcher, as she becomes the prophet who speaks for the Two Powers.

Any Xatu can assume Phoenix forme as long as they hold the Sacred Ash. Once the ash has been depleted, they revert back to regular forme. This has been seen multiple times throughout history (as indicated by the moasic on the floor) After Ixchel's sacrifice, Ho-Oh returned at the dawn of each High Priest/Priestess' asention and bestowed upon them the gift of Sacred ash so that they could bring the Words of the Two Powers to the people for a few brief moments.

Description
And so, the time shalt come when the Great One, Lord of the Sky, Day Bringer, Life Giver, Watcher of all, shall come again and pass Judgement on the hearts and deeds of all those over which the Sky reins. In passing, we shall be blessed with all that is good and beautiful. Should we fail; we shall suffer the agony of the Sacred Flame and be swept away by the Holy waters of its Brother the Sea. The Sun shall turn black and the blood Moon shall rise as the innocent tears stream from fated eyes for the Great One calls for the wake of our demise and the Judgement’s passed before the last note dies...For Judgement and Retribution are theirs.

-The Book of the Two Powers

Ixchel stood in disbelief as the world of her terrible vision raged all around her. Terrified of the Judgement, the rogue Guardians of the Two Powers had stolen the Tide Song and attempted to enslave the sleeping God to their will. They had failed and Lugia’s fury had brought the wrath of Ho-oh upon them. All around her people screamed, desperately seeking an escape that they would never find. Hot tears poured from her eyes as the Sacred Flame devoured everything she had ever known. “It’s happening... they did it... they really did it...” she heard herself whisper beneath the chaos. A year ago Ho-oh had warned her through a vision – the very same vision she now lived for real. She had been so young then, so inexperienced in the ways of the Gods. Now she understood.

“Ixchel, we have to go! Leave before it’s too late – there is nothing you can do for them now. The other guards are waiting for you but you have to hurry!” Dante called to the Xatu priestess. Ixchel turned to him, eyes full of love and grief. “I have to try Dante, I have to. You have always been here for me. Please don’t go now, I need you. I knew it before I even met you. You were the one to bring me out of this vision the first time. I don’t know how, but you did. This is my home, Dante, these are my people, and they are my Gods. I have to do something!”

Dante smiled one of his brilliant smiles. “Well, Lady Ixchel, Singer-at-Dawn, Seer-of-Sights,” he said using the formal address for a priestess of the Two Powers, “I would hate to tarnish such a spotless record. Do what must be done and know that I am here willing to serve you.” Ixchel smiled as the Houndoom nuzzled her gently.

Dante watched in silence as the young priestess turned to meet her fate. To some, the change from meek, unsure acolyte to true, confident priestess was unprecedented, however, he knew her better than that. Even on the day of their first meeting he had seen the spark hidden beneath her doubt and he had loved her for it. Born into different worlds – she, a Xatu priestess of the highest calling, he the Houndoom captain of the Temple guard – they could never truly be together for caste and species forbade it, but he loved her all the same.

As she took the final steps towards her destiny, Ixchel began to sing. Quiet at first, the Song grew in strength and beauty with every passing note. All around her, the terrified people turned to see the lone priestess welcome the sun and give praise to the Sky Bird for the beauty of creation. Louder and louder she sang as her voice was lifted up by those of the other Singers who, despite all the pain and fear, joined in the unity of the Great Prayer.

Hearing the song, Ho-oh let loose a horrifying roar and turned its sights on the one who dared defy its Judgement. Ixchel looked up into its furious crimson eyes and continued to Sing, knowing that the combination of her psychic nature and ability to synchronize would pull her into a terrible rapport with her God.

The fire of its rage consumed her, lashing her very soul with its livid fangs. Fury, pain, and hatred raked across her mind, threatening to destroy everything she was with the agony it caused. Gasping for breath, Ixchel reflexively fought back but it wasn’t enough. She had always known it would never be enough. She had come to this willingly to save the innocents of the land. This would be her sacrifice. There was nothing she could do but bear the Lord’s wrath and pray that the Song gave her strength enough to soothe its righteous fury before it was too late for those below.

Suddenly, she heard him. The deep, silvery brightness of his smile flowed with infinite beauty in his voice. Somehow, he had followed where only she could go. Strengthened by the bond they shared. She shielded herself with the love only true friendship could bring. Fighting back, Ixchel pushed her joy and sorrow across the rapport with everything she had knowing that this would be the end. As the last of her life drained away, a single tear slipped from her eyes. “Dante...”

The second she fell, he knew it was over. Running through Lugia’s rain, he howled out his grief. All around, priests and priestesses were joined by citizens and guards as man and Pokémon gathered to sing the Song of the Dead that would lead the fallen Xatu to eternity. Nuzzling her limp form, the Houndoom’s tears streamed down his muzzle and beaded off her ruffled feathers. He would have given anything to have taken her place on that damp, charred slab of stone. Looking up, he saw the rainbow blossom in the sky. “You gave us that Ixchel, you gave us that.” He whispered, smiling in spite of his tears.

The mourners parted as the Great Phoenix descended, glorious feathers shining with the rainbow’s promise, illuminated by the bars of golden sunlight that pierced the billowing smoke. Calm once more, the Sky Bird opened its magnificent wings and called out a note of mournful beauty that echoed Dante’s heart. On and on Ho-oh sang of the sacrifice Ixchel had made to save the people she loved. As the tribute finished, the Legendary bird plucked a single prismatic feather and offered it to the sky. With a cry of awesome power, the feather burst into flame and rained the Sacred Ash down upon the fallen priestess. Like the Lord’s fire itself, flames leapt all around her. Born anew, the Xatu arose from the fire’s heart clothed in the feathers foretold by the ancients – the mantle of the Phoenix itself. In all of his life, Dante had never imagined a moment so wondrously beautiful.

Speaking in the voice of the Two Powers, the Xatu turned to the people. “Heed our words!” she said. “Evil has found its way into your hearts, but the love and sacrifice of one has stayed our wrath and saved the many. Go forth and do not forget the events that have brought you here for the Day of Judgement shall come again!” With this, the fire flared in a blinding maelstrom and vanished with the Two Powers leaving the young Xatu to float gently to earth and into the waiting embrace of the one she loved.

“You did it Ixchel, you saved us all!” the Houndoom grinned through tears of joy. Ixchel smiled, eyes brimming with emotion. “No Dante, it was you who saved me.” Licking the remnants of the Ash from her cheek, he looked up into the clear blue sky. “We will never forget this Ixchel.”

And they never did.

The approximate (and abridged) conclusion of my pokemon fanfic featuring Dante and Ixchel.

Ixchel phoenix forme is made to look like Ho-Oh, the God that gave her that gift. The single eye on her chest represents the eye of the Watcher, as she becomes the prophet who speaks for the Two Powers.

Any Xatu can assume Phoenix forme as long as they hold the Sacred Ash. Once the ash has been depleted, they revert back to regular forme. This has been seen multiple times throughout history (as indicated by the moasic on the floor) After Ixchel's sacrifice, Ho-Oh returned at the dawn of each High Priest/Priestess' asention and bestowed upon them the gift of Sacred ash so that they could bring the Words of the Two Powers to the people for a few brief moments.