The Human World. The city. Within a shopping mall. Late afternoon.
A failed theft had occurred. Originally, this world's Sunset Shimmer and her group were off to cause some theft with Pokemon on their side. However, it all went south when the Aipom had blown their cover with their playful and energetic personalities.
This alerted them to some of the security guards who were not struck by Exeggutor's Sleep Powder. Thus, there was pandemonium stirring within the mall. Some of the group decided to try and leave with what they've stolen, only for them to be interrupted by the unusual number of Aipom here.
They were hoping to quietly hit the bigger parts of the city and steal what they could without much attention. But that clearly backfired. However, this showed that there was no better security force than a rowdy Aipom.
"Here goes." While everyone else had their Pokemon out to try and guarantee their escape, Sunset was ready to use Pyroar for the first time and her full destructive capabilities. "Pyroar, go!"
"Pyroar!" Pyroar emerged from the Poke Ball, appearing before the security guards.
"Aah!" One of the guards hid behind another, terrified of Pyroar once she showed up. "Lion!" It was clear that he had a fear of lions. Then again, many would. This was not a favourable situation for him especially since it was a Pokemon Lion. Far deadlier than the one they have. "L-lion!"
The same went for the other guards. While their fear was not as radical as the other guy, the natural fear of a lion still existed within them as they backed away. Minus the Herdier who was fearless in front of Pyroar.
A few of the Employees who were still asleep made a run for it the moment they saw a lion indoors. No one wanted any trouble at all from this event.
"Hoh...? What's the matter?" Sunset smirked, seeing the fear pop up in their eyes and expressions. "Scared of a little lion?"
"Sunset. It's a lion. Everyone's afraid of lions." But one of her fellow hoodlums replied to her.
"Pyroar?" Pyroar noticed her surroundings, seeing the few people runoff and the Aipom jumping about. She was fairly confused as to what was happening.
"Whatever! Pyroar! Scare them off with that Flamethrower of yours!" Sunset pointed. She preferred not to get physical. Only scaring them away would do instead of causing harm. Pyroar was still lost on this, unsure of what everyone was doing, but since Sunset was her trainer and she had warmed up to her a bit, she went along with it.
"Pyroar!" Erupting out of her mouth were flames hotter than the surface of the sun. They blasted Pyroar in the form of a wave as she sprayed it. However, without the intent of harming anyone.
The flames stood before the security guards, Herdier and the few Aipom, causing them to move back. As the employees left the scene, the doors to the mall were being shut just to keep these criminals inside.
"They've locked it! Now what?!" A punk girl cried out to everyone once seeing the doors lock. Every door here was automatic, being connected to an electronic. As if this mission wasn't going awry already, now they were locked in.
"I'm not getting near that lion! You do it!" The terrified guard pushed another one forward.
"You big baby! Not with all that fire around, I'm not!" Another yelled. But just as they bellowed at each other, the Aipom started working together.
"Aipom!"
Swinging from the ceiling with their tails, the Aipom had collectively used Swift, swinging star rays from their tails. They had attacked the flames, putting parts of them out. Not all of them yet. Following that, the Aipom had then interacted with the opposing Pokemon. Two of them went for Graveler, swinging in its general direction.
"Graveler! Stop them with Rock Blast!"
"Gravel!" Graveler attacked the two Aipom, shooting out giant rocks from its hands. However, the swiftness of the Aipom showed as they flipped over the incoming rocks by using the ceiling to their advantage. Afterwards, they had both used Sand Attack, shooting out sand from their tails and onto Graveler.
"Aip!"
"G-Gravel!" Naturally, getting hit with sand in the eyes was a bad feeling. And it certainly was for Graveler. It held its eyes as multiple grains of sand were now in it. The Rock Pokemon started running around, trying to get the sand out whilst curling into a ball.
"Hey! Calm down! Its trainer exclaimed as the Aipom giggled. "You cheeky little...!"
"You know...despite how chaotic they may be...they're not too bad, are they?" The security guards said once observing the Aipom.
"They sure know what they were doing. Guess I don't regret catching them."
"Don't make me do this..." Sunset was faced with the other Aipom, wanting to leave. But the AIpom were too cheeky to finish things here. If anything, they saw this as fun rather than a serious situation.
Sunset knew that now they were locked out, opening the doors was no good for escape. However, Pyroar and the other Pokemon were could fix that. Pyroar's flames could destroy walls as previously seen in the underground room.
"Flamethrower on that wall!"
"Roar!" Pyroar turned around, blasting her Flamethrower towards one of the walls. A clean-hit as the 10,000-degree blast had blown a hole through the upper floor, revealing the outside.
"Herdier!" Herdier took action, rushing towards Pyroar while the guards could only stay back due to the flames. They also did some damage control in the meanwhile, making sure nothing escalates for the worst. Though that was fairly difficult considering which Pokemon were in here. "Dier!"
"Herdier had tackled Pyroar with Take Down, staggering her for a bit while taking recoil damage.
"Py!" In response, Pyroar had used Iron Tail, hardening her tail before slapping Herdier away.
"That's a bit too high!" One of the hoodlums said, noticing the height distance after SunsetL made the hole. We need to get lower.
"That's exactly what we'll do! Come on, Pyroar!" Sunset took the chance to make a run for it now. Pyroar ran away with them as they already had some items at their disposal. Granted, they didn't get everything they wanted, but they still had other things.
"Oh!" The security guards gasped while using fire extinguishers to put out the flames. "Aipom! We know we were a bit wary of you in the beginning, but now we trust you all! Can you stop them?"
"Aipom!" The Aipom could do that most definitely. Plus, they wanted to keep playing. The group of Long Tail Pokemon then pursued the thieves.
Meanwhile, prior to when Pyroar had used Flamethrower, the explosion and burst of flames had been heard by everyone outside. Ash and Pikachu, who were currently experiencing this city and its food, had just filled their stomachs.
When they finally decided to head home, that's when they saw the commotion and smoke in the distance. "What the?" Ash uttered once seeing the smoke. He and Pikachu quickly ran over to see what the cause of this was.
Once something had been destroyed within the mall, the police had been called. Thankfully, they existed within the big city so they would arrive soon. "Pikachu?!" Pikachu smelled the scent of flames from his nose. Pyroar's Flamethrower still had some effects left behind.
Back inside of the mall, Sunset Shimmer and the others were trying to escape as they were currently being pursued by the Aipom.
"You just had to recommend Pokemon to us for this, huh?!" A girl yelled at Sunset. "If we all get caught, this is all your fault, Sunset!"
"Hey! I didn't think it would end up like this okay?! Can you blame me for not expecting a horde of monkeys to throw off our game?!" Sunset shouted back at her. "Besides, you'll get to be in juvie with me as well by the end of this if we do get caught!"
"That'll be the worst kind of punishment!"
As they argued, the many Aipom knew to block off any chance of the others escaping. While the doors may all be shut, that didn't mean much when Pokemon moves could break them down.
But the Aipom would do more than just that. They used their playful nature to their full potential. One of the Aipom leapt off of the walls, going for Dustox. "Aipom!"
"Dust?!" Dustox gasped as it had been tackled by Aipom. But it was not a hostile tackle. Instead, one Aipom had Dustox within its grasp after knocking it out of the air, the Long Tail Pokemon then started tickling Dustox with its tail. "D-D-Dustox!"
"Ai-Ai!"
"Hey! Get your weird tail away from-" The owner of Dustox cried out, only to be attacked by three other Aipom who did the same thing to her. And immediately, the AIpom had weakened her via this bombardment. "Quit it! Hahaha! Stop!"
"Golduck, blow them away!"
"Golduck!" Golduck had used Water Pulse, hitting both the Aipom and the girl covered by them. She had been drenched in water while the Aipom had been sent flying.
"S-So C-Cold..." She shuddered before walking away with wet hair and clothes. It didn't help that it was still winter at this time.
As for Sunset Shimmer, he kept pace with Pyroar, thinking of what to do after all of this. With her mask stolen by one of the Aipom, her identity had been blown immediately. There was a good chance that they could report to her and the face match would immediately lead to her.
Or rather, the Sunset Shimmer that Ash knew the most.
"Pyroar! Blow those doors down, now!" Sunset commanded Pyroar.
"Pyroar!" Pyroar had used Flamethrower, sending a scorching wave of flames towards the main mall entrance. But the Aipom got in the way.
FIve of them landed in front of the door while one of them had used Protect. Right in the nick of time as Flamethrower had been stopped dead in its tracks by the usage of just one Protect.
"Are you kidding me!?" Sunset groaned as this was her first time seeing Protect. She had a lot to see and learn about Pokemon.
"There you are!" The security guards caught up, running this way. "Good job, Aipom! Wait there!"
"Do something already!" Sunset pointed at the door, yelling at Pyroar. "I don't wanna go out like this!" She complained, wanting to escape immediately. "What happened to all that awesome power you had earlier, huh?!"
"Pyroar?"
"We're getting nowhere!" A hoodlum girl groaned. "What was that move that I learned? Oh, right! Lunatone! Blow this place sky high with Explosion! That'll clear the way for us!"
"Lunatone!" Lunatone was wielding possibly the most dangerous move in this area. Far beyond Pyroar's Flamethrower and more. This was another way of escaping the wall with higher destructive power than Pyroar. However, the girl and the others had no idea how grand Explosion would be.
Lunatone's body started gyrating with the sound of something building up exuding from its body. Afterwards, a red and gold glow formed as the Meteorite Pokemon was ready to blow.
"Pom? Aipom!" But the Aipom knew how dangerous Explosion can be. Immediately, they scattered, not wanting to be caught up in the explosion. Pyroar knew the same. But it was too late for everyone else to know.
Just like that, Lunatne had caused a furious combustion and release of its Infinity Energy, forming a massive sphere-shaped explosion that rapidly expanded.
The Aipom used their tails to grab the security guards by the back of their shirts, using their impressive tail strength to pull them away from the incoming explosion. Sunset Shimmer and the others also backed away and dashed off as fast as they could. The trainer of Lunatone underestimated the power of Explosion and how dangerous it could be.
Dealing greater damage than Flamethrower, the explosion had blown away many of the walls, causing the mall to shake. Everyone outside witnessed this as the doors had all been blown off. Parts of the structure also came toppling down. Mainly parts of the upper floor.
Sunset took cover around the nearest pillar as she closed her eyes. Before she knew it, the destruction rampaged with loud crashes and bangs. The sound of glass shattering and such.
Ash, Pikachu and everyone outside as the explosion ended with rubble tumbling. Everything had come to a pause as Herdier fainted. Luckily, despite how devastating the attack was, it still had its limits. Mainly from Lunatone who wasn't aiming to crush everyone in it.
"Excuse me!" Ash said, running past everyone who was watching the mall. He had to see what was happening. Back inside the mall, while no one was severely hurt with the Aipom successfully pulling the guards away, damages had still been done.
Despite this destruction, the Pokemon themselves decided to fight back against everything that came toppling down. The hoodlums were saved by the Pokemon they originally used for their own gain. Exeggutor had used Psybeam to move away any falling rubble that fell near its trainer.
The Aipom had also protected Dustox by pulling it away. Even with the conflict, they put others before them. And the same went for Pyroar. Sunset was on the floor after the pillar she was near came tumbling down. Pyroar was there to help.
The Royal Pokemon had used herself as a shield for Sunset Shimmer. However, Sunset was still harmed, feeling dazed from everything that had happened. While on the floor, her eyes were half-open as she saw Pyroar standing there with her back harmed from the giant rock on her back. "You...saved me...?"
"Pyroar." Pyroar nodded before tossing the rock away from her. She staggered, still feeling the damage either way. Afterwards, once Pyroar almost fell on her knees, Sunset saw someone else coming into view.
Ash and Pikachu. They made their way through the rubble and destruction before appearing onto the scene, witnessing the absolute carnage. "Sunset! Pyroar!" He cried out their names. Sunset's consciousness then started fading with her eyes closing afterwards.
"P-Pyroar..." Pyroar growled, trying to ignore the pain. Ash then held her up before she could fall to the floor. "Py."
"Pika-Pika?"
"What happened here?" Ash wondered before helping Sunset up from the floor. He could see that she was still okay despite falling unconscious. He then saw the others that he previously met in the underground room, surprised to see all of them here. Ash thought that they were all shopping and this ended up happening. But he was blind to the truth at the moment. The rest of them were still conscious aside from Sunset. Ash quickly ran outside with Sunset Shimmer on his back while Pyroar followed.
As for everyone else, they used the many blown apart walls to escape, making sure to leave without anyone else seeing them. Going through the entrance was a bad call as they retrieved their Pokemon. They made their escape without the security guards pursuing them.
This event at the shopping mall had come to an end.
Ash quickly went for the apartment. That was where Sunset Shimmer lived as he was hoping to get her home. Ash didn't know which apartment floor she lived in, but asking about someone named Sunset Shimmer would be the right call.
Firetrucks had arrived to put out the ongoing flames while damage control was also being made. Everyone else was told to stay away while they also saw Ash leaving the mall with Sunset Shimmer and a lion. They all kept their distance from Pyroar, afraid of her. But Pyroar didn't do anything except walk beside Ash and Pikachu.
"Aipom. Aipom." All of the Aipom hopped out of the mall via the broken windows from the shockwaves that occurred. They then stayed outside whilst the fire was being put out.
Sunset Shimmer's apartment. Nightfall.
Approximately 3 hours had passed ever since the event. Cleanup was still being done at the mall with the hoodlums all away from the vicinity at this point. Many had their identities masked because of the masks they wore. Except for Sunset, who had her mask stolen by an Aipom.
Speaking of Sunset Shimmer, her apartment room was pitiful. Ragged clothes with a few exceptions were laid around the place. This small room didn't help either as the clothes were easily close to each other without any proper form.
One window and one bed. It fit well in this small space along with the sole TV and computer around here. Sunset's aim to rob the mall played into this untidy room.
Sunset was starting to wake up as Pyroar's face was the first thing she saw. Groans left her mouth as Pyroar started licking her face, showing further kindness ever since she saved Sunset from the rubble. She also noticed Ash and Pikachu sitting in the corner.
"Ash...Pikachu...Pyroar?" She said their names, laughing a bit once Pyroar licked her. She sat up afterwards, still feeling a bit confounded.
"Hey Good evening." Ash greeted. "Good to see you up."
"Pikachu."
"What happened?" Sunset asked with her eyes constantly blinking.
"I don't know what happened either. Something happened over at this city's shopping mall. The walls were all destroyed and there was fire and smoke everywhere. When Pikachu and I went in there, we saw you on the floor and Pyroar was hurt. Your friends were there too but they were okay." Ash explained all that he had witnessed. "And that's about it. We left with me carrying you here. But it looks like Pyroar protected you, didn't she?"
"Pyroar." Pyroar nodded, nuzzling Sunset's arms to make her feel better. She also warmed up her body since it was still chilly during the winter.
"You did save me back there," Sunset said to the Royal Pokemon before scrunching her face and looking down. "I'm sorry again. Even more so than I meant it last time. I shouldn't have done that to you when we first met."
"Py. Pyroar." Pyroar forgave her, showing her compassion. A Female Pyroar was a mother at heart and had those motherly tendencies within her.
"By the way...When you were in there, what caused all of that stuff to happen?" Ash asked, wondering if Sunset knew about how the event kickstarted and led to a destructive mess.
Upon being questioned about that, Sunset's heart skipped a beat. She was hoping to avoid this while also realizing how her mask had been stolen by the Aipom, making her identity visible unlike the rest of her allies.
She could not expose the truth to Ash at all. Especially considering how he had helped her, bringing Sunset back to her room after all the chaos that occurred.
"I don't know." Sunset shook her head, lying to Ash. "It all happened so fast."
"Py?" Pyroar knew the truth behind it. Or at least for the most part. She only emerged from her Poke Ball when Sunset Shimmer needed her.
"Well...Get some more rest, okay?" Ash stood up. "It's almost New Year soon, ya know. Looking forward to next year and what it's gonna bring?"
"Oh yeah. I guess so." Sunset nodded in response, glad that she could fly out of the mall conversation. "Thanks for everything, Ash. Pikachu."
"No problem. See ya around."
"Pika-Pika!"
After that, Ash and Pikachu had left the room and the apartment as a whole, leaving Sunset to ponder there. She was in a rough spot now, taking a deep sigh.
"Great..." She groaned, putting her knees together and pulling her bed sheet closer. "How could it all go so wrong? I could get something worse than juvie at this rate..."
"Pyroar?"
"Maybe I'll stay in here forever and...no that won't work." Sunset knew that the news could reveal her. Even though the cameras were destroyed, the security guards now knew her face and name due to that one instance when talking about everyone's fear of lions. "Hey, Pyroar."
"Py?"
"If you trust me now...will you go anywhere with me? No matter what?" She asked the Royal Pokemon. The main thing burning in Sunset's mind was the concept of leaving the city and heading elsewhere. That was the option she was shooting for at that moment.
"Pyroar." Pyroar would go with her. While their relationship was fairly new, it could grow either way now that Sunset could see that she had someone by her side to trust aside from Ash and Pikachu. Whatever happens next was Sunset's choice.
Along the way of heading back home, Ash and Pikachu had stopped by to see Twilight for a moment. By now, her practice of being Professor Oak's assistant would've ended hours ago.
And it did.
"I'm set, Ash!" Twilight jumped up and down with joy, holding Ash's hands and shaking him too. "I'm starting in just a week from now!"
"Awesome stuff! Looking forward to seeing you around Pallet Town some more at this rate!"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Can't wait for that next year. Speaking of which, Happy New Year tomorrow. Hope I get to do more with you in the next year. Maybe next we can visit the Pokemon World some more, huh? Our own little adventure. Think you can show me everything?"
"We'll do our best." Ash and Pikachu proudly put their fists on their chests. "Hope you'll keep up to speed with us too when the days go by."
"Pika-Pika."
"I'm sure I can." Twilight playfully nudged. "I'll make sure not to slow you down and even keep pace with you. Just you wait and see, okay?"
"Sounds good to me." Ash held his hand out as Twilight shook it. "Looking forward to a new year, Ms Twilight Sparkle."
"Same to you, Mr Ash Ketchum." They both laughed, playfully speaking to each other. Ash and Pikachu were now done here, heading for real this time.
"What about you, Zorua?" Twilight asked Zorua, kneeling to her. "Are you ready to handle that?"
"If it's around you, Spike, Pikachu and Ash then I'll feel safe," Zorua replied. "But the world's too big and scary to explore."
"That's why we'll be there, of course." She grabbed the Normal-Ghost-Type, hugging her. "I promised to make you happy through and through after all that's happened to you in the past. I want to keep you safe. Just like how you'd do the same for me."
"Thank you, Twilight!" Appreciating Twilight's kindness, Zorua nuzzled with her before yawning, ready to clock out for tonight. So was everyone else.
However, some might not be able to sleep. Especially with what happened at the shopping mall. Repairs were being made there with massive cleanup and damage control, the criminals were currently hiding while Sunset Shimmer was already thinking about distancing herself away from the city. For her, that was the best option at the moment and something that she would stick by as the journey continues.
Chapter 634 End.