//------------------------------// // Lone Pursuit // Story: My Little Pokémon: Grander World // by Amarvax //------------------------------// Within the Despair Plant Chamber. "Ough!" Ash fell over, rolling on a strange surface alongside Pikachu. The duo had previously been pulled in by the walls of the Chamber, which turned out to be a living Despair Plant. But nothing about it gave off plant-like tendencies, making this the most mysterious and possibly dangerous Despair Plant out of them all. They found themselves in an area that appeared verdant, having a light verdant surface along with dark verdant skies. There was even a constant pulse of green energy going off, moving at the same rate as a heartbeat. "Oh, man..." "Pikachu... "W-What just happened?" Ash said before standing back up. His body still felt the roughness from that gravitational pull earlier. Even though he was perplexed, he remembered what happened prior but was still trying to process it. And once he stood up, he spotted the face of Sombra looking at him. Next to Sombra were other familiar faces who were in the same area as him. "Sombra? Guys? Where are we?" "That's what I wanna know..." Applejack was present here too, sitting up and placing her hat back on. All those who were pulled in by the Despair Plant gathered together in this verdant area. All of them had been pulled into the Despair Plant in different ways. All of them were getting back up, free from the pull of gravity that none of them could fight back against. Or at least, they were too late to do so. At last, they had all reunited but this wasn't how they thought they would reunite. Inside of a mysterious area with no clue on where they were. "Audino!" AUdino saw Fluttershy, quickly running over to her beloved Trainer as they were reunited once more. Fluttershy raised her hooves to embrace the Hearing Pokemon as they both cried out. Raboot and Bayleef would also jet towards their trainer, preferring to meet up again in a different circumstance. But this works for them too if it meant that they could see Fluttershy. Sceptile would even move back to Applejack, who he lost sight of earlier. "Audi! I missed you!" "It's nice that you're all together but...This isn't nice at all. Not pleasant in the slightest. We've been sucked in. By this massive Despair Plant and we're most likely within it." Sombra was the first to figure it out though from what he recalled. "Honestly. What a terrifying plant...And she's been growing things like these the whole time?" "Inside a Despair Plant?!" Ash gasped. Right now, all of them found themselves within the Despair Plant itself, explaining the verdant appearance. All Despair Plants carry that greenish look even though Chambevenom did not appear as a traditional Despair Plant and carry those colours. At least, not from the outside. "The whole thing was a Despair Plant the entire time...But it looks like not all of us made it through." Radiant Hope looked around, seeing that there were three individuals missing. Almost everyone was here. "Mom! She's not here!" Daisy cried out before grunting. Her body was still slowly reverting into the daisy with all of the magic gone. Same for Paradise as she could already feel a part of her face being slowly transformed. "Twilight didn't come with us?!" Cadence gasped. "That can't be!" "The same goes for that Rift Pony." Emerald Aura scoffed. "They must have used Rift Magic to protect themselves somehow. They could've at least used it on us as well." "What now...? Do we try and get out?" Pinkie Pie questioned. "Is there even a way out?" "Obviously. We're inside the Despair Plant so there's gotta be a way out." Spike replied. "Twilight's back out there with all those vampires so we have to leave as soon as possible." "Maybe we can find something in here. This is the first time any of us have been inside a Despair Plant so there's gotta be something we can do." Ash was already thinking ahead, focusing on doing something about the Despair Plant itself for a way to get out. "Hmph. Good luck with that. All we know is that Pure Light is the best way to damage a Despair Plant. It's their greatest weakness. And unfortunately..." Sombra grumbled. "The only pony who can give us that light is stuck out there with the Lich Queen and the entire Dread League." Magehold Chamber. "Ash! Fluttershy! Cadence! Anyone?!" Twilight yelled, screaming for the rest of her friends as she hoped that she could find them or even hear them at least. "It's no good. They're out of our hearing range. These aren't exactly weak walls either despite all the damage." Emerald Aura saw all the yelling as a pointless action. "As it stands now, we're on our own." "That's right. It's just you three." Rosa Maledicta joined in the conversation with her voice being present everywhere as always. Since this Chamber was one big Despair Plant, she had eyes and voices everywhere, adding to that intimidation factor. "Well done on escaping the pull. But now you've set yourselves up for failure. All of my loyal vampire subjects. Advance towards those three. Bring me Princess Twilight as I will take her lifespan as well. And bring me the Rift Pony as well. I might gain something from such a unique kind of magic." With that, all of the current vampires were ordered to find Twilight and Emerald Aura. And they did not take long to scatter and search the entire chamber for them. Twilight and Emerald were the biggest targets here as even the Lich Queen was advancing towards them, knowing exactly where they were. "We can't stand around! Let's get going!" Emerald Aura ran ahead as Twilight and Espeon would soon follow them. Right now, they were being hunted and in a place such as this were there were still plenty of vampires left, there was no time to stand around. Opal Vivacity, Sweet Fang, Shrivel and all other vampires were on the hunt. "Where to though?!" Twilight asked. There wasn't any place that seemed safe right now. The best possible place was outside but the Dread League were still all over the place. "I don't know! This place is weird! I guess the first thing we should do is find a way to free everyone! Or even destroy those pillars!" "I think I'd prefer rescuing everyone first! They were pulled in, right? So there must be a way to free them!" Twilight replied before thinking for a moment. "This whole chamber is just one big Despair Plant, so by that logic...there's one way I can damage it with the best possible damage there is." "There they are!" It didn't take long for the vampires to track them down. By using other secret entryways, they appeared before the magical duo and Espeon, hovering over them with their black wings of dread. And once they showed up, together, they would use their Dark Magic, unifying it. This unified Dark Magic would fall from above, prompting Emerald Aura to take immediate action. She used her Rift Magic, summoning a tidal wave out of thin air. A wave that was big enough to fit this room as it would instantly block the Dark Magic, cushioning the blow and drowning. The tidal wave would then fill up this room, beginning its flow while also carrying Twilight, Emerald and Espeon. And emerging from the water were Rift logs, made up by EMerald Aura that she, Twilight and Espeon could ride on. However, the vampires already had something like that in mind too. They would use their magic to form dark platforms, placing them on the water and using those as transportation as well. Right as the three of them were drifting away, the vampires would drift behind them. It was now a pursuit in a watery room as the water was travelling through one of the entryways, entering elsewhere. "Alright, Eve! Use Dazzling Gleam!" "Espeon!" While on the Rift Log, Espeon summoned a sphere of rainbows around her which would then fire multiple rays of light. The vampires hissed as the light from Dazzling Gleam would bombard them, knocking them off their Dark Platforms. By being blasted off, they dropped into the tidal wave as it was not kind to them at all. Emerald Aura specifically made it so that it would only be safe for her and her friends. The vampires screamed as they were carried away by the tidal wave while Twilight, Emerald and Espeon were drifting away safely. But there were more vampires behind them, gaining up with their Dark Platforms. They would then perform a retaliation, shooting out Dark Magic projectiles from either their eyes, wings or mouth. Some of the projectiles would fly by them while others seemed to be right on point, forcing Twilight, Emerald and Espeon to sway and swerve their bodies. Twilight put up a shield of Rift Magic, blocking the incoming projectiles that were getting too close were almost sure-fire hits. By putting up this shield of Rift Magic, Twilight would then use the cosmic power of this kind of magic, reversing the Dark Projectiles and turning them into light projectiles. The vampires gasped as they were hit back by their own magic but with their crucial weakness involved. The vampires would be knocked off their platforms while also receiving a burn on their bodies, only for them to cool off when touching the tidal wave. However, the number of vampires appearing here was too great. Even when the tidal wave broke through the doors and entered the next room, there were other vampires present there, knowing where to go thanks to Rosa Maledicta's guidance. And some of them were airborne, choosing to approach them from above instead of surfing on the cosmic seas. "Already?!" Emerald Aura pulled back as the vampires were finding them faster than she expected them to. "Here goes! Out you come, Togekiss!" Twilight used her magic to grab a Poke Ball, throwing it into the air as it would summon the Jubilee Pokemon Togekiss into the fray. "Togekiss!" And upon emerging, Togekiss would tackle into some of the vampires, spinning through the air. Those vampires who tried to attack from above, were interrupted and sent into the cosmic seas. "Aura Sphere and Dazzling Gleam! Go!" "Toge!" Both Togekiss and Espeon would launch a barrage of rainbow rays and a sphere of Aura which flew side by side with each other. The vampires up ahead would throw out Dark Magic, meeting with the two Pokemon attacks. Togekiss' Aura Sphere broke through some of the darkness, hitting a vampire head-on. Some of the rays would also pelt the vampires they could reach, knocking them back down. Right as Togekiss was about to launch another Aura Sphere, something hit her from the side. And it wasn't a vampire. Instead, it was a Despair Plant. An attack from a Cordyceps had arrived, throwing explosive seeds which would combust around the Jubilee Pokemon. "T-Toge!" "Return, Togekiss!" Twilight would quickly return Togekiss to her Poke Ball, opting to switch her out immediately. Despair Plants were now here which wouldn't be too much of a big deal for Twilight since she has the perfect answer for them but the usage of the Z-Move needed some time to recharge afterwards. "Go! Cinccino!" "Cinccino!" Out came her very first Pokemon, Cinccino, who spun in the air when making her appearance. "Thunder, Minccy! Then use Dazzling Gleam, Eve!" "Cin...Cinno!" Not wasting any time, Cinccino would stay airborne for a moment just to gather up plenty of electricity. However, she didn't aim upwards but instead downwards. She targeted the cosmic seas themselves, sending a high-voltage blast of electricity into it. And that spelt bad news for the vampires using the Dark Platforms. Twilight, Emerald and Espeon were safe since Emerald made the seas herself but the vampires, not so much. The lightning would go crazy, instantly electrocuting the vampires even when they stood on the dark platforms. The platforms would even be taken out by all the electricity that flared out of the water, paralyzing them. And as for the Cordyceps in the air, they would be targeted by Espeon and Twilight, who shot out Magic in the form of Rift Rays and Dazzling Gleam rays. The Cordyceps were shot down before they could use their explosive seeds from above. They would the move into the other room which had its walls blown off, already exposing it. And of course, enemies were present yet again. This time, Despair Plant Arachnorchids could be seen, avoiding the water and crawling or swinging off and on the walls. "Stop right there, Princess Twilight!" Yelling out her name was none other than Sweet Fang, who showed up here as well. Behind her was a swarm of vampires. Twilight and Emerald couldn't catch a break at all. And they definitely should try and catch one for a moment. Sweet Fang and the other vampires used their Dark Magic together, forming a sharper version of it that was as sharp as a blade as it came swinging down. "Go! Absol!" She threw her Poke Ball into the air once more, summoning her next Pokemon. Absol. With the Disaster Pokemon out, he went straight into action, already knowing what move he wanted to start off with. Night Slash. "Ab...Sol!" Absol's horn had stopped the bladed Dark Magic with his own sharp weapon, deflecting it with pure power. "Ab!" After doing so, he saw that some of the Arachnorchids tried to restrain her, cutting the webs in half. "Absol! "Now, Minccy! Tri Attack! Eve, use Psychic!" "Esp!" Espeon's mental powers kicked in as she focused her attention on the Arachnorchids. Cinccino would do the same while also focusing on the vampires. That's what Tri Attack was for. Cinccino would throw the Fire and Ice Sphere directly at the Arachnorchids who were swinging frantically in the air. The Electric one was going straight for the vampires but Twilight knew that wouldn't be enough. "Emerald! Help me duplicate them!" "Hm? Okay!" Emerald exclaimed, seeing what Twilight was going for. Together, the two of them would shoot Rift Magic at the spheres of Tri Attack, influencing them with the cosmic power within. The Fire and Ice Spheres had multiplied, posing a bigger threat now that there were more of them. But on top of that, Emerald added the extra touch of enlarging the spheres, making them bigger so that they'll have a greater impact. The Arachnorchids were hit by these plentiful Fire and Ice Spheres, freezing parts of their bodies while also setting off a large explosive blast of fire. And that explosion is what mattered the most as the number of large Fire Spheres going off was incredibly destructive, blowing off major parts of the walls while also reaching some of the vampires. And as for the final sphere, it was on its lonesome, going for Sweet Fang and everypony else. "Huh?! Is that supposed to scare me?!" Sweet Fang taunted before witnessing the Thunder Sphere ascend instead of approaching her. It wasn't a direct movement as someone pulled it up. "What?" "Espeon!" And the one to do that was Espeon. She used Psychic to grab the sphere, manipulating it from afar. Afterwards, Twilight would enlarge the sphere, giving it a greater size that was enough for these vampires. Espeon then dropped it them, giving out powerful electric shocks to each of the vampires. Even if it didn't hit all of them, the electricity would spread out, latching itself onto the remaining vampires. Sweet Fang grizzled her teeth, losing her cockiness immediately. "We're doing fine but...there's still so many of them!" Twilight groaned, seeing how the odds were greatly stacked against her. "I need to pull off my Z-Move at least once. But it has to be done right on the chamber..." "Let's head down there!" Emerald shouted, seeing a lower pathway that the water perfectly flowed through. All of the Pokemon would duck their heads while Emerald expanded the pathway to make it easier for the larger Pokemon to pass through. All of them would enter the entryway with the vampires and Despair Plants pursuing them. However, Emerald would go last, using her magic to shrink the entryway. She shrunk it just in time, causing one of the vampires to crash into the tight space, unable to enter. It seemed like they managed to evade the storm of vampires and Despair Plants by minimizing this one entryway. That did not last long as one of the Arachnorchids blew open the entryway with an explosive web, removing the tight space. The chase continued with no end in sight, unfortunately. "Let's try and find a spot where my tidal wave hasn't reached yet!" Emerald suggested. "Then..you can unleash your Z-Move and blow this Despair Plant sky high and free everyone else." "That's what'll happen, right?" Twilight questioned. "This was in the original timeline so that's how it goes?" "Sorry...but none of this ever happened." Unfortunately, everything that was happening now was never a part of the original timeline. All of this was brand new. That made Twilight shudder for a moment. There was a possibility she wouldn't make it out since this has never happened before. And from Emerald Aura, who has seen all the events that happen in Twilight's world, that was very worrying. "But we can change that. We just have to-" Before Emerald Aura could say anything else, she was finally hit by something. A ray of darkness hit her from the side, cutting her speech off. Emerald's pupils shrank as the darkness knocked her off the Rift Log she made. Now it was Emerald who fell into her own Rift Waters. "Emerald!" Twilight screamed before looking over to where that ray came from. This was done by none other than one of the Despair Plants. A fused Despair Plant to be exact. This time, it ended up being the Despair Plant Triphyophyllum. The bipedal Hydra-like Dragon Despair Plant that faced Celestia and Luna back at Rustboro City. It appeared once more and on the back of it was Opal Vivacity. "Gotcha~" Opal sang as another ray came from the heads of Triphyophyllum, targeting Twilight this time. Twilight put up a shield as soon as possible, blocking it immediately and defending her Pokemon at the same time. However, with Opal here, that could change with ease. She took off a piece of her mane, throwing it onto Triphyophyllum's back. Fate was being altered as a crimson light went off, eclipsing this part of the room. And by doing so, time was reversed for this Fate-Changing Action. Twilight never made her barrier as she was still gazing at the Dark Ray. But for Triphyophyllum, time never reversed, allowing its ray to hit without fail. "Gah!" Twilight and all of her Pokemon took the hit from the ray as the Rift Logs they each stood on were obliterated. Twilight and her Pokemon were sent flying with darkness trailing out of their bodies. Opal laughed as they each crashed onto land, at last, leaving the water. "Obviously it was going to be me who actually pulled it off!" Opal boasted, seeing herself as the superior vampire for dealing damage to Twilight's group. When dropping to the ground, they found it to be rougher than before. Not as rough as the Dark Ray but still rather harsh, especially on Twilight's body. "A-Absol...!" "Esp..." Espeon and Absol groaned, followed by Cinccino squirming on the ground. That single Dark Ray from Triphyophyllum really bewildered their bodies, more than they expected too. "Now then..." Opal would then arrive with Triphyophyllum, hopping off the Fused Despair Plant's back just to land in front of the downed Princess. "Aahh...!" Emerald pulled her head out of the water, coughing it all up as she was nearly taken out by her own magic. She took some time to break, opening her narrowed eyes to spot Twilight's current predicament. "T-Twilight!" "Just three Pokemon? Are you trying to underestimate us? You Rookie Princess..." Opal smirked, talking down to Twilight. "You definitely shouldn't underestimate me over everypony else." "Ngh...!" Twilight opened one eye while looking up at Opal Vivacity. "Aren't you lucky you get to stay alive for a while until her majesty takes all of your Alicorn Lifespan?" Opal leaned in, placing her hoof on Twilight's head. She would then do a light stomp on it, damaging Twilight's head but not too much since Rosa Maledicta needed her. However, the strength of a vampire was still rather surprising as even a light stomp was something to take notice of. "I have to...save everyone...And you're in my way." Twilight uttered while coughing for a moment, slowly raising her head and trying to overpower Opal's hoof. "Silence." Opal scoffed before shooting out Dark Magic at Twilight's back hoof. By hitting her back hoof, the Dark Magic would explain, causing heavy pain to the Princess of Friendship. "Aaaagh!" Twilight screeched, losing her focus as that prompted Opal to force her head back down to the rough ground. Twilight's back hoof was now smoking thanks to that attack as Opal was itching to try it again. "You look absolutely pathetic. Stay quiet until her majesty gets here. But...her majesty didn't say anything about how we bring you to her. I bet I can really rough you up." Opal put on a dastardly smile, having horrible plans for Twilight. "I'm actually jealous of your beauty too. Too many of you Equestrians are good-looking in and in my future world where I'm Queen, I can't have that go on." "Absol!" Getting back up was Absol along with Espeon and Cinccino. But as they got up, there to face them was Triphyophyllum. "Sol!" Absol would gladly take Triphyophyllum, fearless in the face of this seemingly indestructible foe. "T-That cape..." Just then, while trying to raise her head some more just so she can break free, Twilight noticed something very familiar. On Opal Vivacity's back, a Galaxy Cape, one that belonged to Olympia, was on her. "Oh, now you've noticed. Honestly, I expected you to be the first to see it, considering she taught you quite a bit, right? Psychic to Psychic." Opal said, flipping the cape just to show it off. "I took the cape of your precious teacher after I took her life. And it looks better on me. Especially when I get taller." "Why you...!" If Twilight had access to Sorrowful Rage Magic, she would without a doubt unleash it. But with only Rift Magic at her disposal, she could not unleash that powerful burst of magic to her advantage. "What's wrong? Do something about it." Opal taunted. "That Rift Magic in you should be worth something, right? I mean, you're not even a full-on Rift Pony so that would make sense why you aren't the best with it, despite your alicorn status." "No...But I am!" Emerald Aura, who was still here, zapped her magic on the ground, showing Opal Vivacity some Rift Magic. She once again resorted to the Water Approach, summoning another tidal wave. But this one was larger than the rest, expanding in size and forming a whirlpool while also connecting to the water that was made prior to all of this. "Tch!" Opal would spread her wings, taking flight immediately to avoid the fierce waves that came crashing over. Triphyophyllum would ascend as well as the water was growing to a size so great that it would require a higher height to avoid it. As for Twilight and her Pokemon, Emerald made it so that they would be safe. The water was comforting to them instead of violent. Like a warm embrace, it would lift them up gently, giving them solace. As for the whirlpool, that would expand faster than the tidal wave. It expanded so much that it would fly out of the water, homing onto Opal and Despair Plant. Triphyophyllum. "Crush it, Triphyophyllum!" By Opal's order, the three heads of the Triphyophyllum would unleash three powerful Dark Rays that met with the rising whirlpool. The Rift Whirlpool was stopped right before it could reach the beautiful vampire of the fused Despair Plant. "Thanks, Emerald..." Twilight thanked Emerald Aura for the save before standing back up. "That cape. I can't believe she took it from Olympia." Emerald would also point out the stolen cape. "Geez, this pony ticks me off. I've heard a lot about her but now I can see where all that hate comes from compared to the others." "Hmph." Opal flipped her mane as well as the cape. "Do something about it then, Rift Pony." "Emerald, please. I need that opening for my Z-Move. No matter what. Since this whole chamber is a Despair Plant, the damage will be the best we've ever done. Give me enough time." "I hear you, Twilight. I'll do what I can. Just don't take too long with the posing, even if it gives it all that extra oomph." Emerald Aura would try her best but she couldn't guarantee it, especially when facing Opal Vivacity, who was looking down at them all with disgust as if they were beneath her. Absol, Espeon and Cinccino were responsible for pulling off the Z-Move with Twilight and they had to make sure they executed it perfectly. However, Emerald Aura certainly couldn't do it on her own. She would need backup. A Despair Plant will always need multiple forces to deal with it, especially a fused one. "But...If I pull it off...I still have to deal with every other Despair Plant that can sprout up. The Twilightium Z can't recharge quickly enough. I'm not sure if I should use it right now but I have to rescue everyone somehow." She thought to herself. If only the Twilightium Z didn't need time to recharge. Then again, all Z-Crystals need some time before they can be used once more. "As if I'd give you the chance to pull off your Z-Move! I'll do everything in my power to stop you and-" "That's far enough, Opal." However, before Opal could boast once more and show herself off, the one responsible for all of this made her appearance. Emerging from the shadows and hovering over the Rift Seas was the Lich Queen, Rosa Maledicta. Alongside her was Yveltal once more. Twilight saw her once more. She once saw her in her mindscape, duelling her back then. But this was not her mind. Not anymore. This was the real deal as the true and physical Lich Queen, Rosa Maledicta made her terrifying and ominous appearance. "Great work keeping her in one place. I'll take it from here." With her final stomp, she created an uncomfortable air that even made the raging waves seem weak and timid in comparison. Cinccino gulped, shimmying close to Absol for safety. "Unless you wish to aid me." "Yes, your majesty! The latter works for me!" Opal Vivacity saluted before descending to get to Rosa Maledicta's level. "I was just about to make them suffer more but I know you'll do a better job at it than me, your majesty!" "Princess Twilight. Or should I just call you Twilight?" Rosa said. "Your resistance is admirable. I expect nothing less from an alicorn. The fact that you even avoided the absorption was impressive too. And as for the Rift Pony, that kind of power is unpredictable so I have nothing else to say." "That's Yveltal up there...I still can't believe she got it. And it's listening to her too..." Emerald Aura looked up at the Destruction Pokemon in disbelief. "Let my friends go...and put a stop to the Black Crusade at once." Twilight wiped the dust off her face. "Huh? Who do you think you are?!" Opal vigorously aimed her hoof at Twilight. "You're not even that important of a princess or even of any nobility! Princess of Friendship? What a lame time title! You can't give out orders to her majesty!" "Hmph!" Emerald would suddenly speak for Twilight. "I'll have you know, Twilight becomes something greater in the future so she has all the right to talk to you like that!" "Emerald..." "I don't have time for back-and-forth arguing. Especially if it involves the Black Crusade." Rosa Maledicta sighed. "I'd rather get this over with. Yveltal will soften you up and your lifespan will be mine. Then I'll take your life. I'll perhaps focus on that Absol of yours since they can apparently live for a long time too. And your Ninetales as well." "You're going to stay far away from my Pokemon." Twilight sternly said, refusing to let the Lich Queen get anywhere near her beloved Pokemon. "If I can pull off my Z-Move here...maybe I can solve everything. Destroy the chamber, take down the Lich Queen and even save Yveltal. Maybe. It just has to be perfect. Ash. Everyone. I hope you're all safe, wherever you are." Inside the Despair Plant. Everyone already started searching for something. They wandered this verdant land, seeing how wide and expansive it was. It felt like it was as large as the chamber they were previously in, if not larger. So many Pokemon were scattered everywhere, trying to find a way out of here. Some were already going for the most physical option. Brute force and power. They would try and break out of here by blasting, smashing or clawing their way out of here. But so far, that wasn't working out for them. "Nothing so far..." Fluttershy said. "And this land is massive. I don't know if we're at the end or the centre of it." "There's gotta be something." Ash thought deeply. "We can try something..." Daisy spoke. "We can try and reach this Despair Plant." "But all magic's been shut off for us Equestrians." Radiant Hope walked over. "Are you sure you're strong enough to do it?" "I don't know, honestly...We're going back to how we were and that sucks. I don't wanna be a flower again. I mean, I don't hate being it but...this is so much better." "Stay down." Sombra shut them down instantly. "You can't do anything. You have no more magic power, just like the rest of us. The best thing you can do is wait until we solve this. You're both useless." "You don't have to say it like that, Sombra..." Radiant Hope replied to Sombra's harsh words. But Daisy and Paradise knew that he was correct. Right now, they were of no use, especially since they were reverting to their original forms. "Hmm...It would be super helpful to have you speak to the Despair Plant for us..." Pinkie Pie pondered. "I mean, we're in it, so it has to hear us, right?" "It can hear you clearly." A reply hit Pinkie Pie's words which made her nod. But she wasn't sure who she was nodding too, mainly because the voice didn't come from anyone she knew. There weren't that many Pokemon Trainers here after all and no one had a voice like that. Everyone soon noticed, navigating their heads around this verdant land. "Who said that?" asked Applejack, shifting her eyes to Sombra. The voice was deep enough to where she mistook it for Sombra's own voice. "Sombra?" "Wasn't me." Sombra shook his head. "It must've been a voice from elsewhere." "There is a way out of here. No doubt about it." The voice who spoke to all of them would reveal himself. There was no grand appearance at all. Not a crack in the sky, a boom, a flash or anything of the sort. Standing behind Ash was none other than Fractured Note. Servant to the Lich Queen and once Greyvine, the first Lich King in a previous life. "A vampire!" Unfortunately, his fangs gave him away immediately as everyone saw a vampire, the very enemies they were going up against. All the Pokemon put a stop to what they were doing at once, focusing on the one who entered here on his own terms. "I would know. This is rather familiar. Not to me, but to somepony else." Fractured Note continued speaking as if nothing was wrong. "Who?" Ash would indulge in Fractured Note's words, actually replying to him. "Hold on! We're just gonna ignore the fact that he's a vampire?!" Rainbow Dash yelled, confused as to why Ash was so quick to reply to him so casually. "Apologies for the sudden arrival, but you have nothing to fear from me." Fractured Note said before tapping on his unicorn horn. That was the one part that stuck out about him. He had a unicorn horn compared to the vampires who had no horns. Only wings and fangs and that's what made them stick out from other pony species. But Fractured Note had fangs and a horn. A double whammy. "He's a vampire...right?" Spike asked, curious if he even was a vampire thanks to that horn. He couldn't even see any black wings from him, but that was mainly thanks to the suit he was wearing. "Uh...Are you?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "I am. But only half. I'll explain later. But right now, you all have to leave here at once. You have your ways of trying to break free, but there is only one way out of this mess." "Well? What is it then?" Sombra questioned before eyeing down Fractured Note a bit longer. "Come to think of it...you look familiar. Have I seen you somewhere?" "While the Lich Queen was the first to create Despair Plants, something like this was made in Magehold a while back. The Chamber you all stand in was originally just an ordinary chamber and the Despair Plant merely took it over thanks to its power. Being within such a strange area with everything else being out of sight is nothing new here. Not since she managed to leave it once." "Who?" Ash asked. "How'd she get out then?" "I saw it for myself. She wasn't the only Pillar who came across a Despair Plant. Her name was Somnambula." "Somnambula..." Ash and everyone stayed quiet for a moment, trying to figure out where they have heard that name before. They recalled that name swiftly since it was Sunburst who first mentioned that name during the Crystalling. And once it clicked for them, those who heard it from Sunburst themselves would scream out her name in unison. "Somnambula?!" As the journey continues. Chapter 177 End.