//------------------------------// // Short: Trail Gone Cold // Story: My Little Pokémon: Grander World // by Amarvax //------------------------------// Sinnoh. Out in a mountainscape. Nightfall. They had arrived at Sinnoh. Ash and his friends searched for Lena Ketchum, having SLurpuff sniff her out. Slurpuff did an excellent job at tracking her to the Sinnoh Region, as to be expected from the Meringue Pokemon. However, when they got there and stopped at a mountainscape, they soon found something rather crushing. "Slurpuff...Slur?" Slurpuff came to a halt all of a sudden. He was no longer picking up Lena's scent. It just vanished all of a sudden which caught Slurpuff off guard. Never before has this happened where Slurpuff can't find a scent it was locked onto. Usually, it can never find a scent if something doesn't have a scent. "Puff?" "The trail has ended?" Fluttershy translated. "What?! No way!" Pinkie Pie made a prolonged gasp. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The trail had ended and Slurpuff was completely stumped. Any other scent was not that of Lena's. "But Slurpuff's ability to sniff out others is flawless!" Starlight shook her head in disbelief. "How's that possible?" "It just stops here? In some random mountain area? What's up with that?" Hilbert asked. "Did she just vanish or something?" "Maybe. There's no way the trail just ends like this without a clear direction." Hilda was on the same page as Hilbert. "So then...now what?" Applejack questioned. "Ms Lena..." A disappointed Akari said. The one person she looked up to was suddenly unable to find. "No clue. I got nothing." Ash shrugged as this was more than just a dead end. He was stumped as there was no clear direction here. "Nowhere to go either." Silence filled the atmosphere. Lena Ketchum was now more of a mystery. The fact that her scent was gone was unnatural. "It's getting pretty late. We should probably call it a day." Starlight Glimmer suggested. Since no one could think of anything or do anything, the best thing to do was head home. But that did not mean they had given up. "We can try again another time," Ash suggested to Dawn's ancestor. "Grandma's somewhere out there for sure. We just have to keep trying." "Yeah, but how are we gonna find her now?" said Rainbow Dash. "I mean, it's like she just up and vanished since her scent's gone. What's up with that?" "It's okay, Slurpuff. You did your best and you got us this far." Pinkie Pie comforted the Fairy-Type, letting him know that he did his best. "Here. Eat this before you return." To make him feel better, she whipped out a cupcake for him to snack. That definitely brought a smile to his face. After grabbing it, Pinkie would return the Meringue Pokemon to his Poke Ball with the cupcake going along with him. "Akari. You might have to report back to the Galaxy Expedition Team. Nothing has been found yet. Only a descendant of Lena." Arezu approached her fellow friend from the past. "We can come back another time. At least this time, we will have some help from Ash and the others." "I suppose. But it feels strange knowing she's vanished again somehow. Is she just avoiding all of us on purpose?" A disgruntled Akari wondered. "Hmmm...Oh! I got something!" That's when inspiration struck Ash's head. He had the perfect answer to this problem. The King of the Sea took off his bag, having one item that he carried around just in case. As suggested by Rarity, he carried around a Time Flower. "The Time Flower!" "Oh, my Almighty SInnoh! What is that?" Arezu gasped before lowering herself to see the Time Flower, in all of its brilliance. It looked especially brilliant during the night. "It's a Time Flower. It allows us to look into the past around a certain area. All it needs is Aura to activate it. Tons of it." Ash explained before placing the Time Flower down. "If we can't find her scent, we can at least try and find out what she did here previously. Something had to have happened." "Great thinking, Ash!" Applejack gave a strong pat on her fellow Aura User's back. "Work that flower!" "Okay...Show me what happened here..." Ash went into a deep state of concentration, channelling his Aura around the Time Flower. With a glorious flash through the night, an azure energy appeared, enveloping this entire area. Akari and Arezu watched in wonder as they felt the Aura flow through them. Once more, the past was being viewed. There was a lot of that going on recently. And from this Aura Projection, everyone would finally see her at last. Ash and his friends already saw her in an image that was not supposed to exist. But now, they could see her in motion. Lena Ketchum was indeed here, standing at the mountainscape in those same clothes. It was strange that she was wearing these clothes considering they came from the modern day. That only raised further questions. Ash and everyone watched carefully, looking at Lena's actions. Lena was currently looking up, focusing on the azure skies above. Everyone followed her head as the moment they did, a flash of energy appeared. Some were jumpscared by this flash as it unleashed a thunderous sound but it did not startle Lena back then. Above them appeared to be a distortion. "W-What is that?!" Fluttershy's jaw dropped. "A distortion of Space-TIme." That looked all too familiar to Arezu and Akari's eyes. They knew what the distortions looked like and one of them appeared in this era. And when looking up at it, Lena put on a smile. Almost as if she was expecting this. All of a sudden, Lena's body was levitating off the ground. The distortion in Space-Time was lifting her. Lena welcomed this motion as she would fly into the Space-Time Distortion. Her body vanished after entering it and so did the Space-Time Distortion, blinking out of existence. And just like that, the Time Flower finished showing the past. This was all it had to offer. "Well, now we know why Slurpuff couldn't track her scent. She completely left this era!" Starlight Glimmer blinked. "DId he go back in time or forward in time again?" "Now we know. She's somewhere else now." Ash placed the Time Flower back in his bag. "Can't say where or when." "Pikachu..." "She looked like she was waiting for that Space-Time DIstortion to appear. Almost as if she knew it would show up here," said Arezu. "Akari. Do you think it's the same reason why she went through the previous distortion?" "I'm not sure. Maybe. But now I know there's still a chance we can find her. I have to report this back to the Galaxy Expedition Team as soon as possible!" Akari would run off, now having something important to share. "Hold on!" Arezu grabbed Akari's arm before she could get too far. "Not on your own, obviously. This may be the region we grew up in but it's clearly different in the future. Slow down." "If anyone can maybe solve this, it's Twilight." Ash was already thinking about telling Twilight Sparkle this. He trusted her smarts without a single doubt. "Welp, that's settled! Guess we're gonna be chasing Grandma down until we find her. This is gonna be fun!" Ash couldn't wait for this new adventure. It wouldn't be the first time he's moved through time and it looks like it wouldn't be the last since something new revolving around time has come up. For now, they would all have to call this a day. Applejack and the others had to get home as soon as possible for their family and work. But this would not leave their memories. Not for a moment. If anything, this made some of them worried after what they have witnessed. But not everyone went straight home. Staying here at Sinnoh for a while were Ash, Hilda, Hilbert, Arezu and Akari. Ash's other friends had left by now, returning home via Aeroplane. The plane that they took could even be seen in the night sky, returning to Equestria. Equestria did not exactly have an airport but there was still a place where a plane could land now that it was another region in the Pokemon World. The five humans sat together in the wild as a campfire was in the middle. Each of them looked up to see the plane head back to Equestria under the Silver Moon. "Look at us. Double H and Double A." Hilbert pointed out, referring to their names and how each of them started with the same letter. "Fun. Would've been better if there was one more H. Maybe Hugh or someone like that." "So, Almighty Sinnoh's real name is Arceus?" As for Arezu, she now learned the name of the one who truly created Sinnoh. Arceus. The Creator Pokemon. "And the one who governs time is Dialga?" "Yeah. But you wouldn't be wrong calling either of them by the same name. Dialga's a part of Arceus." "So both the Diamond and Pearl clans were right about what they envisioned Almighty Sinnoh to be. For the most part." Akari added. "And you're saying I have my own descendant?" "A pretty awesome descendant. I mean, you really remind me of her so I gotta guess you're related." Ash referred to Dawn, praising her even when she wasn't here. "She should still be in Sinnoh maybe." "If it isn't any trouble, we...or I suppose I would love a tour of Hisui in its current state." Arezu requested. "I know Akari will simply head home to report to the Galaxy Expedition Team." "I'd love to view it as well!" Akari shouted as the modern-day Hisui piqued her interest. "But...I do have to get back and let them know before anything else happens. And shouldn't you be returning to the Diamond Clan?" "Not really." Arezu shrugged with one eye closed. "As a Warden, I'm not that limited in what I can do even if you're the one who gets to explore. You still have to clear one area while I can go anywhere." "A Warden?" Ash asked, wondering what type of role that was. Arezu would gladly answer it for him. "A Warden is someone who is charged with taking care of certain Noble and Ride Pokemon by making sure their territory is safe and leaving them offerings of water and food to express the clan's gratitude. I am one of those Wardens." "Noble Pokemon? Are you saying you have Pokemon of nobility?" asked Hilda. "Indeed." Arezu would then hold out her hand, showing all five fingers. They are a select group of Pokémon in the Hisui Region ho are descendants of five of the ten companions of the ancient hero of legend, blessed by Almighty Sinnoh. Or the one known as Arceus. Thus, they have nobility in them. Being true Kings and Queens and even having the distinct titles of Lord and Lady." "Wow...! I wish I had a Pokemon of that status!" Hilda's eyes lit up with stars, imagining her Serperior as a Queen or Noble Lady. "Hey, Ash. Think you've got a shot at that?" Hilbert nudged. "Mr King of the Sea?" "I'm not a Pokemon though. Can't think of anyone else who could fit that same boat. Maybe Passion?" Ash thought for a moment. He thought about Passion and how her mother mentioned certain Pokemon who were unique from their species. Point One Percenters are what they were known as Passion was a clear example of that. She even mentioned how Ash's Pikachu could be in that category. "King of the Sea? You?" Akari put her hand over her mouth, trying to contain her laughter. "I don't mean to be rude but you don't exactly give off that status." "It's true though. He is the King of the Sea. Even if he doesn't hang around there." "Wait, you actually are a King?!" Akari gasped before grimacing. "Ooh, forgive my language, I-" "It's fine. It's happened before and I don't mind it." Ash wasn't one for formalities. "Just call me Ash." "I got to the do the hair of a noble? Finally!" Arezu pumped her fists as this was apparently something she's never done before when it came to the Noble Pokemon. "They won't believe this when I head back but I won't mind it." "By the way, before you head back, Akari, could you tell me what my ancestor did when she showed up? I really wanna know what adventures she went through." Ash requested a chance to hear about Lena's adventures. He was positive that they were thrilling. "I can. It's a long story though. And I do have to get going. But I can assure you that your grandma was great during her time in Hisui. I jus hope that Space-Time Distortion meant that she went back to Hisui." Akari sighed. "Who knows what she's getting herself into." "I'll get you home, Akari. I'm leaving it all up to you, Ash." Hilda offered to send Akari home. "Hilbert..." "Yeah, Yeah, I know. You don't have to worry about leaving me behind. I'm not gonna go back to that school if that's what you were thinking." Hilbert already knew what to expect from Hilda's words, putting on a cheeky grin. But that only raised Hilda's suspicions as she would finally walk off with Akari. "Well, better get some good night's sleep before you see what Sinnoh looks like today. Maybe visit someplace you knew in the past. It could still be around." For some engagement, Ash recommended that Arezu visited some places she would recognize. But she was free to explore wherever she wanted, whenever she wanted. But judging by the look on her face, that was rather promising to her. "Actually." Arezu touched her chin. Something already came to mind. "There is one place I wish to see if it is still here." Equestria. Cloudsdale. Rainbow Dash's home. Nightfall. It didn't take too long for the plane to reach Equestria. And for Rainbow Dash, flying home was even faster after leaving the plane. Once home, she planted herself on her bed, feeling the comfiness of it. "Phew...All this talk about descendants, space, time and whatever...I just wanna kick back, relax and wait for the Battle Frontier to start." Rainbow Dash uttered when lying on her back. She had the Battle Frontier on her mind since the Equestria League was a bit behind. No thanks to Nessa and other powerful Pokemon Trainers. The Battle Frontier was still missing some of its Frontier Brains, even though they were confirmed to have been chosen already. Only Sharon and Luca were available. The rest were a mystery that only excited Rainbow Dash. The multi-coloured-maned pegasus raised one of her Poke Balls into the air, looking at it as the Moon would reflect off it. "Feels like the title of the first Equestrian Champion is close but yet so far away. After what happened with the Dread League, it feels like everyone is starting to get better. They don't wanna go through something like that again. And with the Pokemon School getting a new look, I can't afford to lag behind. Just you wait. I'll be the best in Equestria and join the rank of Champions, pretty soon." Vanhoover. Vanhoover. Cold yet comforting. The snow is what made it so comforting as it was playful in the day but soothing at night. Residing there was the abandoned mansion of Skyblue Shine and Premium Polish, who now live elsewhere. One roams different worlds while another stays with Princess Celestia. Neither have returned here and this place has been completely untouched ever since the events surrounding it. All residents have avoided it as well under Celestia's order. However, at last, after 2 years, something happened. Specifically near the mansion. Everypony over at Vanhoover were sound asleep, having nothing to worry about. No nocturnal Pokemon were here at all. They can only be found outside of the city. The skies themselves were suddenly starting to ripple. The clouds looked rather distorted as well as the stars. And from them, a crack appeared. The skies looked like they were starting to shatter which should be impossible. Buy from this shattering sky, an ethereal and rather divine light appeared, making the most angelic sound possible. The cracks would open, revealing a hole and a strange energy that surrounded it. The same energy that was seen from the Space-Time Distortion. The light would then come crashing down, hitting the snow-capped land while also missing the Mansion, dealing no damage to it. The snow was also completely fine. No damage had been done to the land. And from it, emerged someone as the light was beginning to disperse. Someone who has recently travelled through time. There were a few candidates for this, but the one that this was all centred around had shown herself. And this time, she appeared in Equestria. It was none other than Lena Ketchum. At last, the ancestor of Ash had arrived at Equestria, seemingly entering another era when she was last seen. But now, with an unknown amount of time, Lena has appeared in the present and Vanhoover was her first destination. Lena appeared here for one reason and one reason only. She wasn't even thinking about her grandson at the moment and his impact on Equestria. Something large was on her mind. And it was all starting here at Vanhoover as the journey continues. Chapter 230 End.