Universe 11. The Solar Empire. Canterlot. Day.
While it may be nighttime in Universe 1, here in Universe 11, it is constantly daytime. And Daybreaker is to thank for granting an eternal day. Over at her castle, some of her guards were standing there, but not without things to say to kill time.
"I've got a theory." A guard said while leaning on the palace doors. "On what her majesty might do and what she might take next for extra power. Apart from that sea temple."
"Oh yeah?" The other guard wondered, yawning in the process while resting on his spear and the walls of the palace. He also had an apple to eat plus a basket of apples that had the tag FlimFlam Farm on it. All of it was for the guards.
"I bet that...very soon, or somewhere along the line, she'll take the sun."
"That's stupid." The other squinted with his reply. "You can't just absorb the sun. I mean she can do a lot but, absorb the sun? How are you even gonna fit-"
"I mean Necrozma. Duh." He stuck his tongue out to correct his fellow guard.
"Oh." The other guard stood firm, accepting his correction of who would absorb the sun.
"Of course I know the Queen can't absorb the sun. I mean..." He thought for a second. "I don't think she can or can't. Can she?"
"Mmm." The other guard shrugged. Neither knew much about Daybreaker's spells and what she was capable of. She rarely has to do much considering her status and the empire she had built over the years.
"Okay. If it ends up happening someday. Give me 100 bits."
"As if it'll happen. But you're on. If you win, you get your 100 bits. But if I win then uhh..." The second guard pondered. "I'll think of something."
"You do that. I'll be waiting since it'll happen for sure." The guard chuckled as another soldier from the empire showed up in high spirits.
"Hey, guys! Guys! Commander Spitfire remembered my birthday! She really does care!" He cheered.
"Happy Birthday. And aren't you supposed to be searching for that Sea Temple thing?" The first guard asked.
"We just returned from our current search this day. Nothing yet. Finding a moving Sea Temple that goes with the ocean isn't easy. Even when in the air." He sighed before taking off his helmet.
"What if it's underwater?" The second guard eating an apple said as they both turned to him. "I'm just saying if it's a Sea Temple, then wouldn't it be underwater than on the surface? I mean, the Hippogriffs are the same."
"Oh, right-right!" The soldier nodded before gasping. "I have to tell Commander Spitfire!" With haste, he rushed off to continue this search mission for Samiya. The guards were once again left to their own devices.
"So about that sun."
Universe 1. Equestria. Canterlot. Equestria League Stadium. Nightfall.
While the 11th Universe had an endless day cycle with no night, the 1st universe had a natural and consistent cycle of day and night. The final 4 tag teams would be battling tomorrow morning and then the final two will be decided.
The remaining four teams were Ash and Fluttershy, Twilight and Aria, Rarity and Ember, and Applejack and Barry. Before that, they were all enjoying the last night. fact, before that, Celestia issued a small cosplay party at the castle. It wasn't the Grand Galloping Gala. That had already passed. Just to beat out Nightmare Night/Halloween by a smidge.
Everypony that participated and spectated were here. Not just ponies, but humans as well. Fittingly, they had costumes that fit them. AKA, Celestia used her magic to make some.
"Do I really have to wear these clothes?" Aria groaned as the clothing she wore right now was not her taste.
"Yeah! And they look great on you!" Sonata nudged her big sister. "Come on, come on! There's some great food in there and I don't want Pinkie beating me to it!"
Out there, everyone had unique costumes based on something. Twilight decided to go as a mixture of favourite story idol Gusty the Great and her Espeon. The purple of Espeon complimented the dress.
"I'm excited to reach the quarter-finals," Twilight spoke to Applejack who went simple with a Roserade dress. "Didn't think I'd make it this far. I thought you'd reach the final four, Rainbow Dash." She then turned to Rainbow Dash.
"It is what it is." Rainbow Dash shrugged as she tossed some chips in the air. Only for Castform to fly up and grab it in his mouth.
"Castform!" He exclaimed, chewing the food in front of Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash couldn't get mad at him for that. Plus that was a nice catch from him.
"Well, I knew I'd make it here!" Along came Barry wearing what seemed to be a soccer suit but posher with trousers instead of the traditional shorts that come with soccer players. "Didn't think it'd be in Equestria but ah who cares? We make a great team, don't we AJ?"
"Sure do. You're not so bad, Barry. You're loud, but you ain't bad." said Applejack.
"Loud and proud." Barry pointed his thumb at himself. He had the confidence in his own eccentric nature that was for sure. All of Ash's friends have personalities to affect others. And the same could be said for his current friends.
"By the way, where's Ash and Pikachu?" Twilight wondered, looking around for the dynamic duo. Everyone else was here but those two. Either they fell asleep or are too busy gawking at clothes.
Fluttershy could be seen playing with her Pokemon, including Scorbunny and Krookodile. Krookodile felt a tad bit embarrassed to be wearing a suit as Fluttershy wished that Discord could see his Pokemon now. Then again, Krookodile and Discord barely interact. If not at all.
"About time you made it here." Meanwhile, Adagio saw Aria show up. "You don't usually take so long to put something on."
"Meh. Nothing's been hitting my taste so far." Aria replied as Sonata rushed past her sisters for the food.
"But this hits my taste!" Sonata stuck her tongue out as Pinkie Pie was already snacking away before she could. "A siren or...pony's gotta eat!" Soon, with her siren instincts, she started devouring the food without slowing down. She then went for her some of her favourite food only to see that most of it were gone. "Huh?! Where'd all the Strawberry Cupcakes go?!"
"Oooh, just missed it," said Pinkie Pie. "Somepony named Arctic Ace ate most of 'em. Sorry."
"Aww..." Sonata pouted before grinning. "Oh, well! There's still all of this!"
"Princess Celestia sure is generous. To invite suck roughnecks here." Adagio spoke, looking at certain individuals who were far away from being posh and gentle. Barry, Pinkie Pie Rainbow Dash, many of the Pokemon and Applejack come to mind the most.
"I'm with 'em. You can call me a roughneck too, ya know." Aria smirked with Brionne appearing out of her mane.
"Brionne!"
"Where's that Ash guy? He's usually the kind to stand out from everyone else isn't he?" Even Aria wondered.
"Normally he'd be running wild where we're all standing, wouldn't he?" Along came Princess Luna. "What a shame. I hope he's not asleep. Oh, wait." Luna then grinned. "I could visit his dreams like always if that's the case. Hehehe!"
"You're being creepy..." Adagio shuddered.
"Lightning Dust's gone." Rainbow Dash noticed. "Guess she didn't want to stay behind."
"Probably off to better herself," Twilight said. "So that she can be better than everypony else. I mean, Spitfire's still here along with Daylight, so she must be working hard."
"I need to work hard too!" Rainbow Dash put her game face on. "Can't let her beat me to the punch, no sir!"
"Castform!"
"You said you wanted some punch?" Spike said as Axew was holding a bowl of punch.
"X-Xew-Axew."
"Nope, but thanks." Rainbow Dash grinned, grabbing a nearby cup with her wing and scooping some of the punch for herself.
"So. If Ash ain't gonna use those 10 Master Balls for nothing, who else?" Applejack asked. "Fluttershy?"
"Fluttershy doesn't use Poke Balls." Rainbow Dash drank the punch. "If you ask me, I think he'll give it to one of us. It'd be so lucky if I got them. Can you imagine how many Pokemon I could catch?!"
"But, Rainbow Dash. You haven't been catching a lot of Pokemon recently. You just suddenly stopped at Mienfoo and that was it." said Twilight.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." She shrugged. "Just occupied and stuff. That whole invasion, Jade and Premium being captured, Desires, blah-blah. It's been a busy universe, ya know."
"It is a big universe." Pinkie Pie nodded. "Not as big as my hunger though."
"Mm-mm. Mine's bigger." Sonata objected with food in her mouth.
"Nuh-uh. I've been eating like a maniac the moment I said my first word." Pinkie Pie boasted. It was unclear if that was true or not. But considering Pinkie Pie, there's a 60% chance it is true.
"I've been eating before I was born!" Sonata boasted as well before pausing, realizing the flaw in her statement. "Wait."
"Eating contest then! Go!" Pinkie Pie challenged Sonata to an eating contest to see who had a bigger appetite.
"Challenge accepted!" And Sonata was eager for that challenge. They both faced the buffet of food, putting their hooves together and thanking some cosmic force for the meal. Afterwards, they started devouring the food once more to test their voracious mettle.
"What about you, Rarity? If you and Ember end up winning, what will you do with the Master Balls?"
"Mm. Probably decorate them as new Rarity Balls." Rarity shrugged. "Speaking of Ember, where is she?"
"Ember didn't want to put a dress on, so she's staying outside until this is all over. And eating some food too." Spike explained.
"Oh. Looks like Princess Celestia's about to make a speech." Rarity alerted her friends, pointing her hoof at the balcony that was at the top. Trumpets were blown to signal Celestia's appearance via the guards as everyone's attention turned there. Celestia always had something to say and it was never dull. Mostly because Celestia loves being as entertaining as possible.
They were all ready to take heed of Celestia's words. However, that's when something seemed odd and off. Unusual, unnatural and almost as if there was a fracture in the natural order and reality. Because as the sounds of someone approaching the balcony could be heard, echoing throughout the hall, Audino was the first to realize that those were not hoofsteps.
Rather footsteps.
"Audino?"
"Wha-?!" And Twilight soon realized it with her face becoming one of confused shock. And soon, everyone else as well as Celestia wasn't the one to appear on the balcony.
Rather, it was Ash.
"My subjects! Make yourselves comfortable!" Ash put his hand out as if he was a king, appearing as a ruler with the getup. No crown as his hat was essentially his eternal crown. And of course, Pikachu was there with him. "Hahahaha!"
"Pikachu!"
"WHAT THE?!" Everyone in the hall across Canterlot bellowed in disbelief at what they were seeing. This was so sudden to them.
"All hail king Ash, my loyal subjects!" Ash then put his fists on his waist. "New ruler of Equestria!" He then raised his arms with yet another cackle.
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"This is a surprise change..." Luna's crown fell off her mane in shock. "But a welcome one. I think?"
"Thought we'd swap for a bit." And along came Celestia, wearing what seemed to be a ponified variant of Pokemon Trainer clothes. She even wore a hat with her Cutie Mark on it. "I'd say this little joke turned out well."
"Gardevoir."
"Oh, Ash..." Twilight gave a facehoof of embarrassment. She then started laughing along with her friends, knowing this was Ash messing around as always.
"That idiot..." Adagio had a different calling for Ash as Aria was not bothered at all.
"Ash! Since when were you allowed to be king just now?!" Barry pointed up at Ash with veins popping out of his head. "I'm gonna have to fine you for chalking up the position so fast!"
"Hah! Ya can't fine a king, Barry!" Ash pointed back before squinting. "Wait? Can you?" Ash didn't know squat about being a king other than the ruling part.
"Pikachu."
"Ah, who cares! Let's party!" Ash crossed his arms, revelling in this little joke for a bit longer. Everyone continued having fun as Ash and Pikachu joined in on the eating contest Pinkie Pie and Sonata took part in. Turns out, the four of them have equally big appetites, making them equals.
After that, the small night party could continue before the final day of the Canterlot Tag Battle Competition could commence.
Equestria League Stadium.
After that fun party, the final day could begin. The remaining 4 Tag-Teams were ready to take charge. The announcer was ready to speak up as always.
And the first ones to go up against each other were Ash and Fluttershy vs Twilight and Aria. They made their way to the field, already having their Pokemon selected.
"The first match of the quarter-finals can now begin. Both sides please bring out your Pokemon." said the referee.
"Lucario! I choose you!" Ash chose his Lucario for this, launching the Poke Ball forward.
"Lucario!"
"I have good faith in you, Chikorita." And for Fluttershy, it would be Chikorita today. She hasn't had her turn yet so this would be great. Plus, during that small time with Rainbow Dash weeks ago had made her into a stronger Pokemon. She even borrowed some of Rainbow Dash's gestures and traits for when she's in a Pokemon Battle. Beneficial for Fluttershy.
"Chikorita!"
"I feared that Lucario would be next. But I can rely on Absol for this one!" Twilight used her magic to send out the Disaster Pokemon Absol.
"Absol!"
"Sparkle. I'm gonna bring out Ledian. Promise me you won't freak out." Aria held out Ledian's Poke Ball.
"I promise." nodded Twilight. "All I have to do is focus on the battle and stay clear away from Ledian. I'll only have my mind set on the battle and nothing else."
"That's what I like to hear. Then, out you come, Ledian!" Aria threw the ball, unleashing the Five Star Pokemon. Once he emerged, Twilight squealed for a bit as Aria's head snapped over.
"Ehehe...Sorry. Force of habit." A sheepish and nervous smile came from Twilight as Aria lowered her eyes.
"Rainbow Dash helped Chikorita get into the battling mood, Ash," said Fluttershy. "It looks like Chikorita prefers battling than healing."
"Really, huh?" Ash turned to the pegasus. "That's gonna help a lot. The battling spirit is what it's all about!"
"Rainbow Dash helped you gain Body Slam, Chikorita. And you even learned a new protective move after all that hard work you've done on your own. Let's try our best, okay?"
"Chikori!"
"Battle start!"
"First strike for us! Lucario, Force Palm!"
"Lu!" Lucario rushed in with his paws giving off a radiant golden light. Obviously, his main target was Absol.
"Here he comes! Use Night Slash, quick!"
"Ledian, Mach Punch!"
"Ledi!" Moving before anyone else, Ledian blitzed through the air with two of his hands glowing white. Before Lucario could reach Absol, the Five Star Pokemon swung at the Fighting-Steel-Type.
"Ca?!" Lucario gasped before putting one of his arms up to block the speedy Mach Punch and the other to catch Night Slash from Absol. He managed to block two attacks thanks to his Aura Senses. But he could not counteract. As such, both Ledian and Absol pushed Lucario back while he had a blocking stance.
"Now, Ledian! Bug Buzz!" Ledian bellowed loudly, which released red sound waves from his. A horrible sound wave formed from it as it rushed over towards Lucario and Chikorita each.
"Chikorita, use Magical Leaf!"
"Lucario, Aura Sphere!"
"Chiko!" Chikorita swung her leaf around, sending more leaves into the fray to push back these soundwaves. The leaves that flew out as she swung had a pink aura around them as Lucario slid on the ground, cupping his hands for Aura Sphere. The Aura Pokemon thrust his arms forward to send the sphere of Aura forward.
Both attacks managed to stop Bug Buzz before it could properly reach them.
"Chikorita, use Reflect!"
"Chiko!" Chikorita bellowed before summoning a pink aura around herself and Lucario. Thanks to this aura, both the Leaf and Aura Pokemon were now resistant to physical attacks. And that was good for a Pokemon like Lucario. Especially when threats like Ledian's Mach Punch and Absol's Counter exist.
"Awesome stuff, Fluttershy! Now let's get as up close and personal as much as we want!" Ash tightened his gloves. "Lucario, Aura Sphere!"
"Chikorita, use Body Slam!"
"Lucario!" Lucario sent another Aura Sphere forward, this time with the intent of making contact with Absol. As for Chikorita, she ran forward to gain some distance.
"Thunder Punch, go!"
"Absol, use Dark Pulse!"
"Ledian!" Ledian's arms sparked with electricity as he swung them at the incoming Chikorita.
"Ri!" Chikorita managed to jump over Ledian's Thunder Punch as he swung. Chikorita was much faster thanks to that instance with Rainbow Dash during the swap. "Chiko!" After evading it, Chikorita slammed her body onto Ledian from above. Starting from his head as he had been forced down.
"Led!" Ledian cried out as Chikorita forced him to the ground with Body Slam. And worse for him, Chikorita didn't get off. She stayed there for a while. And with the side-effects of Body Slam, Ledian had been paralyzed. "L-Ledian!"
"Great job, Chikorita! Stay right there!"
As for Lucario, his Aura Sphere had met with Absol's Dark Pulse. Aura Sphere won this struggle as it broke through the pulse of darkness. And after doing so, it struck Absol for super-effective damage.
"S-Sol!" Absol cried out, almost falling on his back.
"Counter!"
"Absol!" But he quickly landed on his feet, instantly moving at lightning speed with an orange glow around his feet and horn. In a flash, Absol appeared in front of Lucario, swinging his horn. The Counter had struck Lucario's shoulder, causing the Fighting-Steel-Type to cringe a bit as he had also received super-effective damage. The Aura Pokemon was knocked back by Absol's retaliate.
"Give it right back to them! Reversal!"
"Luca...!" BUt Lucario decided to return the favour with a swift jab to Absol's face via Reversal. The same speed Absol moved at was the same speed Lucario gave out. Absol was hit in his jaw, forcing him to move back. "Rio!"
A-Ab!" Absol growled before skidding on the ground. Lucario also ended up growling at him, holding his damaged shoulder.
"Ledian, get her off with Bug Buzz!"
"Led!" As for Ledian, he found a way to escape. Via using the soundwaves of Bug Buzz. And they worked. Not only did they mess with her ears, but the red soundwaves damaged and knocked the Leaf Pokemon back, dealing super-effective damage as well.
"C-Chiko!" Chikorita cried out before rolling on the ground.
"Chikorita! Are you okay?!" Fluttershy gasped. There was no need to worry. Chikorita was still active and able to battle. Even if that Bug Buzz stung.
"It's not time to Mega Evolve yet, Absol," said Twilight. "Let's do what we can before that can happen. I know it's worthy for Ash, that's for sure."
"Absol."
"Yeah, but let's end this fast." Aria stepped forward. "The last thing I wanna deal with is Ash's wacky strategies."
"Fair enough. Absol, Giga Impact!"
"Ledian, use Comet Punch!"
"Sol...Absol!" The Disaster Pokemon's body became surrounded by an invisible energy. A bright flash of yellow light appears in front of his face as he then shot himself at the opposing Aura Pokemon. An orb of light purple energy with spiralling light yellow streaks around the aura appeared around Absol's body in the process.
"Get ready, Lucario! Charge in with Force Palm!"
"Magical Leaf, go!"
"Lu!" Lucario charged in with leaves following behind him. Thanks to Reflect, these physical moves won't do much to him. Plus, he was a Steel-Type so he resisted both of them, minus Mach Punch and Counter so far.
"Ledian-an-an-an!" Ledian started throwing a flurry of punches with all four of his arms, knocking each other leaves away with that flurry. But Chikorita kept throwing more. Ledian's body twitched thanks to the paralysis as that made him struggle with knocking all of the leaves away. Some managed to scrape and chip the Five Star Pokemon as he threw his flurry.
"Absol!" Absol roared as Giga Impact came in contact with Lucario. The Aura Pokemon struck Force Palm towards Giga Impact, creating a short struggle. But Giga Impact was the superior move as it pushed Lucario's Force Palm away, causing Absol to smash into the Fighting-Steel-Type. "Sol!"
"Ca!"
"Aura Sphere!"
"Lu!" Lucario then looked to the side with one paw creating an Aura Sphere. He then launched it like a bowling ball at Absol. And after using Giga Impact, Absol needed to recharge. Thus, he had no choice but to take this Aura Sphere.
"A-Absol!"
"Ledian, Mach Punch!"
"Led!" Ledian then moved at great speeds, rushing over towards Chikorita with Mach Punch while evading all of the magical leaves. Even if he was paralyzed thanks to Body Slam, Mach Punch was still fast regardless.
"Aura Sphere!"
"Luca!" Lucario came to Chikorita's rescue. He put his hands together for a quick Aura Sphere, launching it at the Five Star Pokemon. And with equal swiftness to Mach Punch, Aura Sphere got in Ledian's way.
"Ledian?!" Ledian gasped before quickly knocking the Aura Sphere away with Mach Punch. A good and quicksave thanks to Mach Punch's swiftness.
"Now, Razor Leaf!"
"Chikorita!" After that distraction from Lucario, Chikorita unleashed Razor Leaf once more, striking Ledian with it. The Five Star Pokemon took all of those hits before being blown away. It was a good thing he resisted Grass-Type moves for being a Bug-Flying-Type and having great special defence over everything else.
"Absol! HIt him hard with Night Slash!"
"Sol!" Absol leapt into the air, going straight for Lucario with his horn glowing.
"Double Team!"
"Lu!" Lucario's eyes flared as the moment ABsol's horn came close, the Aura Pokemon had separated himself into multiple clones. These clones appeared instantly all over the field. Surrounding both Absol and Ledian.
"Sol?!" Absol looked around, keeping his guard up and searching for the real one.
"We'll find the real Lucario! Together, Aria! Dark Pulse!"
"Comet Punch!"
Together, Absol and Ledian started working to find the real Lucario. Absol spun around with Dark Pulse while Ledian threw constant Comet Punches at high speeds in every direction.
"Now's my chance...Synthesis!"
"Chiko...!" Chikorita took the time to heal herself while Absol and Ledian were busy with all these clones. Her leaf started glowing as she gathered power from the sun. Celestia was kind as always. And with that, Chikorita removed all of the damage she had taken from that super-effective Bug Buzz.
"Lucario, Aura Sphere!"
"Lu!" After all the clones were destroyed, the real Lucario showed himself from above. He already had an Aura Sphere up and ready to fire. And it was a big one. Bigger than Lucario's head and torso combined. "Cario!" The Aura Pokemon then unleashed the giant Aura Sphere down on the distracted Absol and Ledian.
"Above you!" Twilight and Aria cried out.
"Sol?!"
"Ledian?!" They both eventually gazed up to see the incoming Aura Sphere. One good hit from this will leave any Pokemon staggered, minus a Ghost-Type Pokemon. But a Dark-Type like Absol would get the worst of it.
"Giga Impact, Absol!"
"Absol...!" Absol leapt into the air, charging right at the Aura Sphere. It was risky, but Absol is all about risk. And with his stubborn nature, he ended up breaking through Lucario's Aura Sphere, surprising many. Even Lucario was taken aback. The Disaster Pokemon then crashed into Lucario.
"C-Ca!" Lucario growled after being struck by the mighty Giga Impact. Absol's was stuck to him for a while due to the force and height of the powerful Normal-Type move. Both Absol and Lucario fell to the ground after losing their air time. But they were still able to battle.
"What a battle!" The announcer sat up with excitement. "I can't sit still!"
"You doing okay, Lucario?" Ash asked.
"Lucario." Lucario stood up, cracking his bones as he still had a lot of fight left in him.
"Absol? Can you stand?"
"Absol." Absol could continue. He needed to recharge after using Giga Impact. But his stubbornness and primal and feral nature allowed him to carry on.
"So. Now do you think is a good time to use it?" Aria turned to Twilight.
"Yeah. Now's a good time." Twilight nodded. They were obviously referring to the major ace in the hole for this Pokemon Battle. "Mega Evolution."
"Oh yeah. I've been waiting for this." Ash grinned.
"She's gonna Mega Evolve! Oooh, Mega Absol's so great when he shows up!" Pinkie Pie squeed.
"Too great. Combine Absol's primal instincts with Mega Evolution and you have yourself a dangerous Pokemon."
"I can agree on that." Spitfire nodded in approval. "I gotta see how this one turns out."
"Come on, Ash! Flatten her already!" Adagio roared from the balcony, wanting Twilight to lose. She still showed some dislike for the Princess of Friendship, but that dislike was fading away.
"It's time." Twilight used her magic to take out her quill holder which contained the keystone. "Absol!" She then tapped on the keystone, allowing Mega Evolution to take place. "Mega Evolve!"
With Mega Evolution approaching during the quarterfinals of the Canterlot Tag Battle Competition, things were ramping up. This was already the first battle of the day and this much was occurring. High hopes and expectations were being gathered and with the skilled trainers present, those hopes and expectations would be met soon as the journey continues.
Chapter 575 End.