Equestria. Mareflower. Potion Nova's Green House. Afternoon.
"Pikachu!" Currently, Pikachu, Audino, Bayleef and Raboot found themselves elsewhere within Potion Nova's Green House. And of course, this was a room full of potions. The place was just so wonderful that they had to explore it. Pikachu was only following the others to keep an eye on them.
The room in question was also centred around Pokemon, much like the one Potion Nova showed to Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy. It wasn't just one room. There was another. This was shown by the label at the entrance of the room. Pikachu looked up at these potions, wondering what each of them were capable of. Alas, unlike the entrance, none of them had labels, making it hard to guess what the effects were. But that only added to the excitement.
"Raboot?" Raboot already grabbed some of them. In his hands, he held two potions that had unknown effects. Curiosity truly got the better of him. But this was rather common for his friend group. They were always curious about their surroundings, frolicking about. Canterlot was a prime example whenever the Grand Galloping Gala comes about and the influence Pikachu and Ash have on them was a factor.
"Audino." But Audino was still the level-headed one here, cautious about this and insisting that they return to Fluttershy and Twilight. She was guilty about exploring the place but she didn't quite expect to lose them so soon. It all happened so fast. One second they were with their friends and the next second, they ended up in another part of the Green House.
Audino waddled and fidgeted with her arms, warning Raboot and insisting that he shouldn't drink from the potions. They only had knowledge of one potion and what it was capable of and that was the Dimensional Potion. Everything else was a mystery.
"Raboot!" Raboot was too eager to try one of them out. He opened one of the potion vials, immediately drinking out of it.
"D-Dino!"
"Pika?!" Pikachu and Audino collectively gasped. Raboot went through with it without any hesitation.
"Boot." Raboot sighed, patting his stomach as he looked completely fine. Nothing had really changed about him. Pikachu and Audino sighed, believing they got off easy with this potion. Perhaps the effect didn't matter to Raboot and only focused on a certain Pokemon. Raboot seemed rather disappointed. It looked like that potion did nothing for him.
However, the effects kicked in a few moments later, having a delayed reaction. The Rabbit Pokemon felt a change within him, causing his body to jitter for a moment. Pikachu and Audino witnessed as Raboot's appearance was being altered. Specifically, his colours.
Raboot appeared in his Shiny Form, no longer in his regular common colour. "R-Raboot?!"
"Pikachu!" Amazement filled the eyes of Pikachu and Audino. A potion that could turn Pokemon into Shiny Pokemon had been found. And it worked efficiently. Raboot checked himself out, seeing how his fur was grey now along with the addition of white on his centre body instead of black. The first potion was impressive to him but nothing too crazy as of yet.
"Pikachu." Now Pikachu was curious. What could the other potions do? Especially the second one that Raboot held. Raboot was eager to try the second potion in his hand to see what afflictions could come from it. However, he was kind enough to pass it on to Pikachu. "Pika?"
"Ra." The Rabbit Pokemon insisted that the Mouse Pokemon tried this one out. Pikachu, as adventurous as his best friend Ash, was interested in doing so, even if he wanted to keep everyone safe at the same time.
But the happy-go-lucky nature that he had said otherwise as he would open up the potion bottle. It was a bit hard to dictate what this one would do considering Raboot drank a potion that made him a Shiny. But the best moments come from taking risks and Pikachu is all about taking risks as he took a light sip.
"Pika..." Pikachu rubbed his mouth, getting rid of the remaining liquid. A slightly delayed reaction was expected instead of an instant one. Pikachu couldn't guess in time what this potion could do to him. The one Raboot drank and this one were next to each other so perhaps there was some connection. At the same time, Bayleef came over, only spectating the potions that were nearby. And the moment she got close, the effects of the potion went off. "PIka?!"
"B-Bay!" A bright light came from Pikachu's body which then latched onto Bayleef's body. Audino and Raboot squinted as the Mouse Pokemon and Leaf Pokemon were drawn together by the light. The light would expand, soon morphing them both. Their bodies were practically being moulded together to form something but no one expected the outcome of this sudden combination.
Out of the flash of light emerged a new Pokemon. The potion had surprised Raboot and Audino to their core. Their good friends have been fused into one, forming a new species of Pokemon. The body of a Bayleef along with the colours, tails, sacs and eyes of a Pikachu brought this Pocket Monster into existence.
"Pikaleef?" Pikachu and Bayleef had become one, speaking a new name that mixed their names together. Truly, this potion was the most impressive they've seen so far.
"Audino..." This amazed Audino, prompting her to pick it up. This potion was the best one to them simply because of this stellar effect. It greatly reminded Audino and Raboot of Queen Pyrestar, the alicorn from another universe. She was the fusion of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Another similarity was Celestial-Gardevoir, where Celestia and Gardevoir would fuse via the Harmony Phenomenon.
However, the effect of this potion would not last that long. The Pikachu Bayleef fusion ended abruptly, summoning that mystical light once more. This time, it was intended to defuse them. The body of this fused Pokemon split apart, sending the two hosts tumbling on the floor.
"Pi...Pika?" The outcome was a bewildered Pikachu, who held his head, feeling dizzy and perplexed.
"Bay..." Bayleef felt the same as her eyes were rolling. For a few seconds, she was one with Pikachu and it was a strange feeling indeed.
"Raboot?" Raboot's body suddenly felt a change as well. The potion he drank had also run out, just moments after the potion Pikachu drank ended. He saw his body return to its natural colours, losing the Shiny Aesthetic. It was fun while it lasted but there was still more within the potion.
The Pokemon were amazed by what they had experienced and there was more to see. Other potions were here with different effects that also might be similar to one another. They made the right call to start experimenting with these and they couldn't wait to see what the rest of them could do.
Another dimension. Galaxy Tower.
Meanwhile, Ash and Delia were at the Galaxy Tower, here to see the creatures that Galaxy Master has been dealing with for a while now, but apparently, came to a compromise with them. Delia practically reunited with her husband now. And she received a tour in return. Not exactly the most romantic thing here but she still got spend time with Galaxy Master.
One of the rooms Delia got to see was the Armory, filled with all Galaxy Master's essentials. He had powers of his own so these weapons weren't of much use unless truly needed. But since Ash drew them as a child, they existed. Another room was the Vestibule, which had a statue of Galaxy Master and a Superhero Rendition of Delia Ketchum. It was properly named Quasar Lady by Twilight.
Delia's eyes focused on the tower. It was a bit surreal to see something that Ash drew as a child coming into reality. It felt like Delia was inside the book itself. But these rooms weren't important right now. What truly mattered were the creatures within.
And these creatures could be found in the Trophy Room. One of the larger sections of the Galaxy Tower, this room contained various trophies and souvenirs from off-world adventures that never actually happened in real life. Only in the story. But now that Galaxy Master was real, it could happen.
And waiting there were the creatures that came from beyond. And immediately, they looked incredibly familiar when Ash first saw them. He gasped as these creatures resembled the Unown. Their bodies were in the shape of numbers instead of the arms and mouths they previously appeared.
This was the complete opposite of the Unown who resembled letters. But noticeably, these number-shaped creatures only had double-digit numbers instead of single and double digits. All of them had their bodies connected to make these triple digits, making some of the biggest numbers out there. And much like the Unown, they had those eyes that never seemed to close, always open and staring. The resemblance to the Unown was uncanny.
"Woah...They look just like the Unown!" Ash pointed out. "Are they related to them?"
"I was surprised by this as well. For the most part, they only appeared as arms and eyes. Recently, they gained mouths but those are nowhere to be seen now." Galaxy Master explained. "But they are related to the Unown. These Pokemon also come from the space lost world as the Subspace Pokemon."
"We do?"
"We do." The creatures replied, speaking to Ash. "For you see, we are simply lost variants of the Unown. We come from a world that was once lost and only existed for a split-second, even though it went through centuries of development."
"Really?" Ash responded. "So...You used to be with the Subspace Pokemon. How come you're trying to attack them?"
"We were trying to retrieve them and bring them back into Subspace. Our attacks on them were brought on by instinct, I'm afraid. When we first appeared here, that was all we thought of doing." The Variants of the Unown would float over, circling Ash and Delia. "And our battles with Galaxy Master made us all the more hostile, coming back for more without much of a second thought."
"We only went at it for a few months. Not much changed with our confrontations." Galaxy Master added. "But today was different."
"So, everything's fine with you. What happened?" Ash asked.
"You showed up." The Unown Variants collectively said with an ominous tone, focusing on Ash. Apparently, his arrival in this world led to a sudden development.
"Huh?! Me?! But I just got here today and you're already like this."
"Not today. But a few days ago. When you set foot into this dimension for the first time, we felt a change and a familiar presence come through. Something that made us snap back to our senses. It only took until now for that change to truly develop."
"My son does have that effect on others," Delia spoke. "But I didn't think it was that powerful."
"Ash Ketchum. You remind us of him. That is why we changed." The Unown Variants continued.
"Him...?" Ash wasn't exactly sure who they were talking about but it was apparently someone who was with the Unown before. "What are you talking about?"
"Our memories are weak but the Lost World and the noticeable figures are still there. His name may be lost to us but that face looks exactly like him. You are the one thing from that Lost Universe that we recognize, apart from the Subspace Pokemon."
"So, what's up with the Subspace Pokemon then? They come from the same world as yours so what can they do?"
"The one who existed in that world had the power to summon Pokemon from Subspace. Specifically, he could bring ny Pokemon that he desired, with some exceptions. His power was truly tremendous, as there was barely a Pokemon that was out of his reach. Subspace is its own world that he could tap into."
"Woah..." Stellar words were being processed for Ash. There existed a being who could summon any Pokemon from Subspace. "And I look like him?"
"At least when it comes to your face." The Unown Variants further observed Ash. "Bits of the Lost World are starting to emerge, however, and we have been trying to recover them."
"What else has shown up then?" Galaxy Master asked.
"From what our eyes can see, A Winged Mountain. A Massive Flame Mountain with a Claw on the top, and An Ancient Spire. These are landmarks from the Lost World that have shown up."
"Hey...Didn't you talk about that before, Sombra?" Ash looked at his chest, speaking to Sombra. This sounded very familiar already.
"I have. Your Dragon friends spoke of a Winged Mountain suddenly appearing on the map and it wasn't too long ago that I had to deal with that specific Mountain of Fire. "Sombra's shadow would emerge out of Ash's chest.
"Uhh..." Galaxy Master was naturally taken aback by this. He didn't expect a pony to suddenly emerge out of Ash's body, let alone in the form of a shadow.
"Looks like we have some answers now." Sombra continued. "If I had to guess, this isn't the end of it. This only started happening when those Jirachi put everything together."
"Oh yeah. So there's more that's gonna show up?" Ash questioned. "Did Jirachi do this on purpose?"
"It's likely that the Lost Universe which was once erased is starting to restore itself." The Unown Variants already had an answer to that. "Little by little, everything that once existed within it will appear, situated in where they were originally found. Jirachi must have probably revived it by accident."
"So cool! So we're gonna be seeing even more stuff now!" Ash pumped his fists as this only meant that something new was bound to be seen. He wasn't sure where but he couldn't wait to get out there and find out.
"Unfortunately, this means the most violent parts of that Lost World will inevitably return." However, there was a catch to this. "There was only one horrific moment in that world and we fear that it could return."
"What is it?" Ash's tone changed once it got serious.
"It is what led to that world being erased in the first place. We are not sure if it can happen again as this world has lasted far longer than it. However, we can sense the potential of it occurring once more. Objects and individuals from that lost world have probably started showing themselves by now, revived by Jirachi's power."
"Is there any way to stop this incoming crisis?" Galaxy Master asked.
"There is. What matters is that 8 are never reunited." Suddenly, the room would turn red for a moment as the pitch of the Unown Variants would deepen. A rather intimidating aura filled the area, followed by what the Unown said next.
"8 Souls hold the one who wiped out many and must never be reunited ever again. A psychosis of terrifying sadism will return, unstable and almighty. Their 8 souls conflict against his existence with their respective spirits. A Solemn Spirit. An Empathic Spirit. An Astute Spirit. A Calm Spirit. A Dauntless Spirit. A Stern Spirit. A Courteous Spirit and an Inquisitive Spirit. All go against him. And the desire to revive is burning bright within the almighty one. Should he return, then all shall know what True Power is."
A truly foreboding warning. The Unown Variants warned them about this mysterious individual being brought back. And all it would take was 8 different souls to bring him back. They weren't sure who they were but it was something to take in mind.
"Unfortunately, that is all we can share with you. Our goal is to prevent what happened to that previous universe at all costs. And making sure the Pokemon from Subspace are safe matters."
"Okay, I see. Well, thanks for sharing." Galaxy Master gave a thumbs-up after that ominous warning. "I'll be on the lookout. But right now, we have one problem we've yet to get past. The Dread League. I'm focused on stopping their plans from destroying all life, especially since the Black Crusade is bound to happen anytime soon."
"Oh yeah! Dad! Listen to this!" Ash then had something crucial to tell him. "They could be going after Xerneas! I'm sure of it! The Dread League's got Yveltal with them and they don't wanna use its power since Xerneas can push back against it. At least, that's what I think. They would've done it by now.
"Ah, I see what you mean." He nodded in understanding. "You're not wrong to think that, my boy. Xerneas is the perfect response to Yveltal. They are opposites after all. But I was not aware that they managed to capture Yveltal."
"Do you think you could get to Xerneas before they do, Dad?"
"I can try. I can imagine it will be difficult for me and the Dread League to find the Xerneas. But rest assured, I will make sure no harm is done to Xerneas." Galaxy Master's mission was still the same but now it involved Yveltal. This whole time, he had only been shutting down the Despair Plant Gardens that were being planted across the world.
Now, he had the mission of stopping Xerneas from being attacked by the Dread League. With Xerneas around, the Black Crusade was essentially a bust, otherwise, they would have ended Yveltal by now, which would've then destroyed all life across the world.
"Now hold on. Right now?" Delia pouted. "I thought we would've spent some more time with each other after some important work."
"S-Sorry, dear. But this is a matter of life and death. But I promise this!" He vigorously pointed upwards. "After this whole mess with the Dread League is over, we will spend as much time as we can with each other. I promise."
"Hmmm...Alright. Just don't go and vanish like your other self, okay?" Delia put her faith in him, hoping to have that quality time one day.
"We shall return to our own space and await our time to act." The Unown Variants replied. "The Subspace Pokemon must be kept safely, however. That is why we came here and how we found the will to break through."
"I'll be searching for Xerenas now. I'll gladly take you all back home since you drank the last of the Dimensional Potion. Just sit tight and let me handle it, okay?" He placed his hand on Delia's shoulders.
"I wanna help too! Me and my friends are doing whatever we can!" Ash exclaimed.
"Hah. I believe that. Hopefully, we can work alongside each other. And don't worry. You'll see me show up at Pallet Town someday. Just like old times." Galaxy Master gave one more promise before using his abilities to tap into the other dimension. A galactic glow would flare out of his body along with Ash and Delia as he was already prepared to send them back to their world.
And when Ash returns, he would have something amazing to share with Twilight and the others, who also had something amazing to share based on what they tested at Potion Nova's Green House. The warning of a mysterious figure along with the knowledge of what the Dread League were up to was now involved.
Ash couldn't quite see it, but he felt like something big was coming. And he had every reason to believe that. Everything that has happened so far was essentially holding back an outbreak that threatened this new world. This Grander World could meet its end soon when it was just in its infancy. But only time will tell, as the journey continues.
Chapter 119 End.