Kalos. Dahara City. Dahara Hotel. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
Nightfall had hit during the Pokemon Festival. The party for Mewie continued until they were all exhausted. Many of them fell asleep on the spot while some of them had some leftover food. All of the Mews that came from other universes were instantly sent back by Hoopa's ring.
Mewie was happy to see them all and especially having the chance to socialize with them. And knowing that Ash was good friends with Hoopa, she could see them again. As well as the potential of other Mews that are still in this world, hiding in small numbers.
Mewie fell asleep next to Mew with a smile on her face as they were both being held by Pinkie Pie, who had also knocked herself out for partying so hard.
Over at the Dahara Hotel, Sci-Twi and Bertha were asleep as well. Silence blessed Dahara City after everything that happened in it during the day and afternoon.
"Seek out all Pokemon..." There it was again. That voice that came from the Arceus Pendant. While Sci-Twi was asleep, the voice spoke out to her, requesting one thing. Sci-Twi grumbled in her sleep after hearing her voice. This wasn't her second time hearing this. It had been calling out to her all night.
All she could hear was the sound of someone requesting for her to find all Pokemon. She managed to sleep through it, however, she was unaware that there was more to this pendant than meets the eye.
Johto. Cianwood City. Nightfall.
Cianwood City. A beachside city that has benefitted greatly from the wonderful sea, located on the far western edge of the Johto Region. Tales of Lugia and the whirlpools it creates circulate among the sailors that stop in this port town.
Here, Celestia had shown up with Cynthia to continue their cake, ice cream and sweets crusade. They already brought as much as they could and greatly enjoyed themselves all day until nightfall. However, Celestia was currently sitting on the beachside, still in her human form as she was wondering about Galaxy Master and how the efforts to find him were going.
"Celestia. I got us some last scoops of ice cream before we rest for the night." Cynthia walked up to Celestia, holding up the scoops of ice cream. "Is something wrong?"
"I spoke to Luna via telepathy, even from this distance. They're still having trouble with this Galaxy Master. Looks like our plan to catch him during the Pokemon Festival isn't going so well.
"The festival is still young. We're approaching the third day of the first week." Cynthia lent her a scoop. "We should try going after him next then."
"That's the plan. I'm aiming to help Luna but the problem is that this Galaxy Master seems to escape when he needs to. Luna described something about how everything seems to bend to his will."
"Bend to his will?"
"Something like how he's made by a young Ash. That makes sense though. The imagination of a child knows no limits and I suppose when it comes into reality, it might as well be a challenging force that will take tremendous amounts of hard work to overcome."
"Ah, lucky Ash. I wish my childhood imagination would come to life as well. But I didn't make anything in the past to warrant something similar to a Galaxy Master. What about you?"
"Me? Well, we don't have to get into that, do we?"Celestia turned away, laughing nervously. Judging by that laugh, she had something to hide and Cynthia knew.
"Hh? That means you do have something hidden?" Cynthia put on a devious smile, radiating an aura that Celestia could sense. This aura was insisting that Celestia spill what she was hiding. "What could you have made all those centuries ago?"
"Mmm...Nothing important. It's in the past!" Celestia's face turned red. "But I can still remember it vividly. And anyway, it was a long time ago so my memory of it isn't that great. I bet you still remember what you made, right?"
"Truth be told, not really." Cynthia shrugged. We're both getting old enough to forget a few things. But in your case, you're far older so those memories can become far more distant, right?"
"Even so...we look beautiful for our age don't we?"
"Yes, we do." They both nudged each other before having their ice cream. Once Celestia got a taste of the ice cream, the flavour shocked her as she pulled back. It felt like she had been shot through the heart by the impact of this taste.
"Gaha! This isn't frosting flavoured!" Celestia grimaced. "This is lemon-flavoured!"
"Oopsie. You were too focused on the stars~" Cynthia giggled as she took Celestia's favourite flavour.
"No fair!" The Ruler of Equestria then reluctantly had this ice cream flavour while Cynthia had her personal favourite flavour. Such was the consequence of not paying attention to her ice cream. She leaned in, trying to grab the ice cream from Cynthia, only for Cynthia to hold her back, laughing.
"Better luck next time~" Cynthia taunted Celestia, causing the Princess of the Sun to pull back and accept what she currently had.
"In any case, let's head to my vacation home over at Undella Town next," Cynthia suggested. "I just ordered something that'll keep us busy for a while. And the plus side is that I'm not being bothered there anymore."
"Mmm. Undella it is. I also want to do one thing and that's train my Totem Kommo-o now that I've got him. I can't leave him out of the fun now, can I?"
"Of course not. I'll let you practice with me when we get there. But you know I won't go easy on you, Tia. Then again, from what I've seen, you could be downright frightening for a prodigy such as yourself."
"You're one to talk about frightening," Celestia replied, knowing that Cynthia had an edge on being terrifying when it came to battling. But Cynthia certainly saw something in Celestia for her to say that. The two of them would finish their ice creams before heading to bed and preparing to leave for Unova's Undella Town.
Of course, there was still the problem of Galaxy Master, who has once again escaped the sights of Luna, even during the night.
Kalos. Out in a forest. Nightfall.
"Lost sight of him," Luna commented as she had once again lost sight of Galaxy Master, failing to capture him. The Princess of the Night had then put her hooves over her face after this failure. "This is embarrassing."
"Don't feel too bad. I'm pretty embarrassed too." Darkrai spoke to her, emerging from the shadows as the Canterlot Guards and their Golurks were all resting. "That Galaxy Master is already proving to be a major handful. Even my shadows can't catch him."
"I didn't want to believe it but it seems to be true. Fate seemingly bends to him because of who made him. With the imagination of a child, he's practically unstoppable." Luna grumbled. "How do we get past that? Would Bayleef's leaf count?"
"In any case...I have an idea that's sprung up." Darkrai chimed in with his own plan. "He's after everything Rift-related, right? Let's stop by places that are brimming with Rift-Energy and wait for him. He'll come there without a doubt if he wants to restore the Rift."
"That's true. We have our options. The place where that Rift Volcano resides...but the biggest place with Rift Energy by a margin is..."
"The Arcane Sea. It's where Ash and everyone once went to." Darkrai added as they were aware of that mystical sea. Out of any known location in this world and the other world, the Arcane Sea was the most prominent Rift Energy area imaginable. An entire sea of Rift Energy along with a Torterra that was the size of a planet, influenced by Rift-Energy to become that massive.
"But first...I need some rest." Luna slumped on a tree. "And to enjoy this festival a bit more."
"You should do that. I'll head to Arcane Sea and call you when I need to." Darkrai offered to handle the rest from here. He wanted Luna to enjoy herself at this celebratory time. It wasn't fair to her that she had to deal with this problem.
"But what about you, Darkrai? You should enjoy it too." Luna sat up. "You rarely get to enjoy anything with us. Usually, you're busy protecting Equestria and I've only ever battled with you in serious situations or even at a Gym Battle. Everything else hasn't been as interactive."
"Don't worry about that, Luna. I'm used to it." The Pitch Black Pokemon descended into the shadows as he chose to continue working. Kicking back and relaxing wasn't his style as he was Equestria's protector through and through.
Luna watched him descend, feeling a bit saddened that Darkrai would have to constantly work. In a way, it greatly paralleled her older sister prior to the arrival of Pokemon.
"Darkrai..."
Kalos. Dahara City. Day.
"Well, it's time for us to head to Arche Valley," said Twilight. "Dahara City was a lot of fun though. Then again, every place is a lot of fun in this world.
"Oh! Let Hoopa take Ashkan and everyone there!" Hoopa offered to take them with fast travel. With his rings, of course, as he held one of them out.
"Tsk tsk." Hilbert crossed his arms, wagging his finger. "Hoopa. We don't need that. It's the journey, not the destination, ya know. We're gonna take our time getting there with all the thrills that come along with it. Ya get what I mean?"
"Yeah, but the ring sounds cooler," Hilda replied as everyone was getting ready to enter the ring that had already been set up. They were all in approval of this travel method as Hilbert had been shut down. "We can always just explore everything else later after all."
"But what about the journey...?" Hilbert groaned.
"I hear ya, Hilbert," Ash responded. "But yeah. Hilda's right. We can just take a journey through the places we missed. No harm done."
"Pikachu."
"I'll go first!" Rainbow Dash flew through the ring at full speed, leaving behind a rainbow trail as she was already in Arche Valley.
"Me next!" Pinkie Pie bounced right in alongside Mew and Mewie floating in. They were already entering this sacred land and they wouldn't have to go through all the hardships thanks to Hoopa.
Bertha took her SUV, driving it through the ring as it was made to be big enough to fit a vehicle as well. Victini, Meloetta and Sci-Twi followed right afterwards along with Hilda and Ash. The second to last one to enter was Hilbert, who still wanted to take the long way to Arche Valley, just for the fun of it. Afterwards, Hoopa closed the ring, being the last one to enter Arche Valley.
Arche Valley.
They had arrived. The Sacred Land of Arche Valley.
Once a place where Arceus would casually come around and visit, now a small village that houses people who are connected to Arceus himself. And the place was certainly worthy of such a name relating to the Alpha Pokemon.
The wheat of this land was golden to the core. Gold and shining so bright they resembled the Sun. When they arrived, they were on a river bank. Cool water flowed by, eddying around the twigs of a fallen tree branch. The water reflected beautifully from the Sun as a Milotic could be seen swimming by. There was a welcoming air to this place, no doubt. They were all welcome here. There were ivory statues placed throughout Arche Valley that resemble Arceus's ring as to be expected.
Built around flowers that sprung from even the mountains, this valley looked both intimidating yet welcoming and harmonious. Large trees could be seen in the distance, possessing a bark that was so bright it looked like it was emanating rainbows and flowing like the water itself. The trees also possessed various leaves of many dazzling colours to boot.
There was even a pathway surrounded by flowers, leading to Arche Valley as a way to welcome them whilst new flowers were starting to sprout today.
"So this is Arche Valley..." Ash gawked at the sight of this place. It felt like he was in another world with how different it felt from everywhere else he's been. "Amazing..."
"Pikachu..."
"Mmm...This is a nice feeling." Twilight took in the soothing air. "Why didn't we come here sooner?"
"Come on! Hoopa will show you everything else!" Hoopa would lead the way as they all went towards the flowering pathway, entering Arche Valley.
The outpost itself looked impressive. With its ceramic tile rooftops, Redstone walls and calming ocean front, Arche Valley had a mystical atmosphere. The group saw that it was an improving economy, which was mainly supported by jewel crafting, carpentering and farming.
They stopped by to look at the jewel crafting, seeing the people work hard to make rare jewels that some had never seen before. Arche Valley wasn't involved with the Pokemon Festival since it was so secretive and hard to reach but that didn't stop Ash and the others from having a good time.
They stopped by to have some of the food here. Mainly some hot and rich bread that was as enticing as some of their favourite foods as well as the lovely food known as a kebab. This was something new that they've had as well, taking a bit about of this stick-based dish. They felt like melting from this taste.
Twilight was more interesting in learning about Arche Valley since it was so connected to Arceus. She stopped by this town's local library, as to be expected. And the beauty of Arche Valley, aside from its appearance, showed itself even more. Twilight saw that this library was one of a kind.
Mainly due to the selection of books. When she started browsing, Twilight discovered that Arche Valley possessed information that no other library in the Pokemon World did. It obviously touched on the history of the Pokemon World but it went even further.
"Amazing..." Twilight looked at the books that she had opened up. "It has detailed records on Legendary Pokemon too and secrets that no one else knows about. I didn't even know this existed." Indeed, these books went into further detail compared to any other book that she has back home.
If there was any place in the world that would house critical information that would be impossible to find, it would be a place like Arche Valley. Twilight got to learn more about Groudon and Kyogre and how they came to be. She even got to know all of the destinations and locations they've been to as well as the truth behind their conflict.
Ancient items that were once lost to time had been written here, found yet again and further proving Bertha and Cynthia's point of how nothing can be forever lost in time. Eventually, someone would uncover the past. And once more, it was happening here at this library.
"Fascinating, isn't it?" The librarian asked Twilight as she nodded in appearance.
"It is. The books back home don't have this many secrets. How come this library as books about things I've never seen before?"
"That's because the people of Arche Valley, myself included, originally came from different regions across the world." The librarian explained.
"Different regions?" Twilight repeated.
"Mm. My family line comes from the Johto region and everyone else here comes from other regions. Because their ancestors came from different regions and different civilizations in the past, all of it is written down here. Some that not many others know about. That's why such important history is kept in such a sacred place as this. They are records of what our ancestors have witnessed and we will do the same for our descendants."
"Oooh..." Twilight kept searching before coming across something containing Kalos legends. One of which involved Yveltal. The Destruction Pokemon. "There's something about Yveltal here too..." She continued reading about Yveltal as this was crucial.
Yveltal barely has any information about it. No one knows where it can be found or how to even summon it. It was truly a rare Pokemon. But now, there was some information about it here at Arche Valley.
"Do you think I could borrow this book please?" Twilight requested.
"Oh, sorry, my little pony. But every book here is sacred, so we can't allow anyone to take them away from Arche Valley." The librarian revealed that it was impossible to borrow from this place. But that wouldn't stop her from looking at it.
She continued looking at Yveltal's information, learning about all the places where this Pokemon has found itself. Yveltal was a Pokemon that would only appear at crucial moments.
"Yveltal will only show up and start a cycle where it destroys and Xerneas can arrive to continue that cycle and bring life to everything. Both of these Pokemon once fought fiercely at...the Sea Temple Samiya?!" Twilight discovered that both Xerneas and Yveltal had been at Samiya before. The place where the People of the Water reside.
She continued flipping the pages to find more information relating to what she and her friends had discovered. She looked at multiple books at the same time by using her magic, multitasking in the process. And when looking at multiple, that's when she came across something as important as Yveltal. Something that's been bugging her.
"Hang on..." She looked closely to see the lady from the past. Ghetsis' Arceus Harmonia as there was a drawing of her. There was even information about her and all the achievements that she made. But more than that, Twilight found something interesting.
"Harmonia is said to come from a clan of people who share one thing in common. Green hair and crimson eyes. This clan of people had the innate ability to tap into powers that no one else could achieve. Such as the ability to create alter-egos...Alter egos?" Twilight scratched her mane.
"Espeon?" Espeon was just as surprised by this.
"There was one that continued to persist. A mysterious witch who had no clear origin of who she came from. All that was known was that she was an alter ego of one of these Green haired, crimson-eyed people. This witch could do more that made others believe she was a Pokemon. This mystical clan diminished in numbers over the years but their descendants would still remain. Ghetsis is one of them, isn't he? And maybe that witch really is from the past."
"Esp." Espeon nodded in agreement. It seemed plausible from what Twilight was learning, but there was something else that was important to note.
"The descendants of this clan still contain the mystical powers from their ancestors, however, the witch foresaw a prophecy. A prophecy that one of them would change that mystical and kind power into something threatening to the entire world. The descendants lost connection to their powers and it was said that in future centuries, someone will retain those powers one day but they would be corrupted. That is what the witch prophesized before she passed away."
"Scary, isn't it?" The librarian replied.
"It is...But if that's the case, then that means Ghetsis is the one who she prophesized about. And if Ghetsis can do everything they could do in the past, does that mean the witch is...Ghetsis' alter-ego? No way, that couldn't be. Could it?"
Twilight found herself glued to this library and this book, unable to look away. What other secrets did this book and the entire library hold?
Meanwhile, while exploring Arche Valley and looking at all the figures that represented Arceus, mainly his symbol, it wasn't long until Ash and Pikachu came across two familiar faces nearby.
"Hm?" Ash stopped in place, squinting his eyes to look in the distance as two figures were already waving at him. He knew those clothes and faces from anywhere. "Ah! There they are! Baraz! Meray!"
"Pikachu!"
"Well, look who finally found themselves here," Meray commented once she and her older brother approached Ash and Pikachu. "It's been a while, hasn't it? Ash. Pikachu."
"Sure has. Nice to meet you guys again."
"Pika!"
"Hoopa. Did you bring them here? They look perfectly fine if they were aiming to come here by foot." Baraz asked.
"Hoopa did!" Hoopa saluted in response.
"Is it really that dangerous to come here?" Pinkie Pie asked. "We were told it would be pretty tough but we took the easy way through."
"It is difficult." Baraz nodded. "The path to the valley is under Arceus' protection. Anyone who gets close will have to go through some trials. Unless they have something to protect themselves or share a connection to Arceus in some way."
"Guess we dodged a big one there." Hilda sighed, wiping the sweat off her forehead.
"You're all wearing that pendant too." Rainbow Dash flew up to Baraz and Meray, pointing out their Arceus pendants around their neck.
"You are...so cute!" Meray took a moment to look at the ponies that stood before her before hugging Rainbow Dash, catching her off guard.
"Gough!" Rainbow Dash's eyes widened once she received a power hug. Meray couldn't resist herself as she found the ponies to be adorable. "C-Can't breathe!"
"Hm?" But, Baraz was focused on someone else instead of the ponies. Instead, he was focused on Sci-Twi. When looking at her, Baraz spotted that she was wearing the same thing they were.
The Pendant of Arceus.
"Where did you get that?!" Baraz quickly ran to Sci-Twi, startling her. With a serious tone in his voice, he held Twilight's shoulders, looking her dead in the eye as Twilight didn't expect this escalation.
"Uh...g-get what?" Twilight stammered.
"How did you get this Arceus Pendant?!" Baraz exclaimed. "Something so rare is just casually being worn by you?"
"It was from someone over at Dahara City who was selling it yesterday. It was just an accessory at her shopping stand." Twilight replied.
"She's wearing one?!" Meray gasped before letting go of Rainbow Dash, allowing her to catch her breath. "But that's impossible outside of Arche Valley!"
"Umm...I'm lost on this!" Sci-Twi needed answers as she was very intimidated right now. It sounded like she did something terrible from the intensity of their voices.
"What's wrong you two?" Ash asked, curious about why this was so serious.
"Sorry for that..." Baraz pulled back. "But the Arceus Pendant...You said it was there as a shopping item?"
"R-Right." She stammered in response.
"That can't be right. The Arceus Pendant can't be made out of anyone outside of Arche Valley. It can only be made here." Meray added. "Unless they came from here."
"According to my pony counterpart, she was wearing clothes that looked like they were from this town. So...maybe that's it?"
"Even so, do you understand how serious this is?" Baraz asked. "Because now that you have this pendant on you...you're forever tied to Arceus."
"...Huh?" Naturally, Sci-Twi was taken aback by this. There was more to this pendant than meets the eye and the importance of it was elevated from just being a casual accessory.
And at the same time, someone else was approaching Arche Valley under the orders of the Rift. Galaxy Master. He wasn't too far from here. But since he was approaching Arche Valley, he would have to encounter the hardships that exist around Arche Valley.
As the journey continues.
Chapter 856 End.