Equestria. The Dragon Lands. The Pokemon Festival. Afternoon.
"Oh yeah. This is much better." Wearing the Cosmic Cloak that Twilight made for him was Nate. Once he put it on, not only did it look good on him, but just as Twilight intended, it held the plasma back, covering it. He would flap the cape as it majestically blew with the wind.
"Works just as expected. Since the plasma is on a small scale, it was easy to make a cloak that can block it without wasting too much magic." Twilight explained."If only Rift Magic didn't need so much magic for usage.
"Thanks, Twilight! Now I don't have to worry about electrocuting or frying anyone. Right, Lucas?" To demonstrate, he would casually pat Lucas on the back and nothing occurred.
"Well, I was immune from the start, but sure." Lucas shrugged before a shining grin met his face. Something was on his mind that now that Nate wasn't a walking plasma. "Now let's test out your plasma!"
"Yeaaaah!" Nate was on the same page, holding his finger up. Surprisingly, he managed to generate plasma in his finger. He's had enough time to understand what he had in his possession. "I've been getting used to it, so this'll be fun!"
"Absolutely not!" Twilight bellowed, making the two of them flinch and grimace. "Surely, you two know how powerful Plasma is?!"
"Right, right, we know," Lucas said, trying to pacify Twilight's concerns. "But come on. Put some trust in him. Nate's not one to slip-up so easily. We'll be careful, promise."
Twilight hesitated, looking between the eager faces of Nate and Lucas. "Alright, but just a small demonstration. And I mean it—small. I put that cloak around you for a reason, Nate. You're supposed to keep it away from harming anyone else."
Nate nodded enthusiastically, a mischievous glint in his eye. He concentrated, a small orb of vibrant, crackling plasma forming at his fingertip. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it soaring upward, the ball arcing gracefully before dissipating harmlessly into the sky, leaving a trail of sparkles in its wake.
"Hm. Alright then." Twilight was slightly impressed. "But still. This thing is new to you to, Nate. It forced you into our universe, changed your appearance so that others perceive you differently and it made you a walking hazard." Twilight sighed, slightly relieved but still cautious. "I suppose you have a better handle on it since you've been with it for a little while. But remember, restraint is key. We don't want any unexpected accidents."
"Don't worry about it. I'll be fine. Plus, I heard Lucas can manipulate space now, so it's only fair that I get this." With a smirk, Nate snapped his fingers and created a flicker of plasma. Lucas joined him by also snapping his fingers and creating a purple flicker of space particles.
"This better not be responsible for bringing Prisma or I swear to Arceus..." Twilight closed her eyes as one of them was already twitching. First Lucas and now Nate. Dealing with these two felt like dealing with two Ashes at the same time. Now she was truly starting to see the similarities between them.
"Isn't this the time you open up one of those gateways?" Ember spoke.
"Oh, right, right. We didn't get one yesterday or today as of yet. Lucas, you know what we need to do."
"You got it. I've been waiting for this." Lucas cracked his fingers, gearing himself up. "You're gonna love this, Nate."
"If you're gonna open it now, hear me out!" Naturally, the Dragons had their choices. A plethora of them started blabbering and hollering to Lucas before he could even hold his arms out. The Trainer from Sinnoh was bombarded with multiple requests yet again.
"Hush!" But silencing them all was Ember. As the Dragon Lord, she could do so but she also had a strong sense of command that she gets from her father. "I'll say where he'll open the gateway to. The Dragon Lands never had a gateway, even before our worlds came together. So, there's one place I'd like you connect us to."
"Sure. Say the word."
"As Dragon Trainers, we want to be better than before. And we've heard here and there that there are some great places to visit. But the one place we think we'll do great at is Opelucid City."
"Oh, where Drayden is. Good choice, good choice." Nate was cool with that. He himself knew that Drayden was a great Dragon Trainer.
"Really? I thought it was going to be that one Gym in Galar?" Another Dragon uttered, having a completely different Gym in mind.
"I thought you were going for that Lance guy." Another Dragon thought about Lance instead, but Lance didn't have a Gym since he was an Elite 4 Member. Even then, the Elite 4 wasn't the place to get Dragon Training at all.
"Blackthorn City is a place where we train Dragon Trainers." Clair pointed out. "You could always try your claw at that."
"Oh, right, right. Mmm...But Unova apparently has a Dragon Village somewhere out there? And that's where Kyurem is." Ember crossed her arms as she already knew which region was the best choice. "I've made up by mind. Make it Opelucid City."
"Opelucid it is!" Lucas was going for Opelucid. With his arms out and Twilight right behind him, the duo were ready to open up yet another gateway in this Grander World.
Nate would also watch how this would all play out. He witnessed how a cosmic energy flew out of Lucas's hands and soon formed into a circular portal. A gateway. But it wasn't a true Rift Gateway without the power of the Rift. Out of Twilight's Horn, Rift Magic was shot, entering Lucas's body. His body was soon enveloped in a cosmic aura that would fuel the portal right in front of him.
The visage of Opelucid City could be seen appearing, showing the Opelucid Gym. And just like that, a new gateway was made. The gateway to Opelucid City. And after finishing it, Lucas, whose body would jitter and wobble, was about to fall over once more, feeling drained.
"Oh, man! Lucas are you alright?!" Nate went to catch Lucas and at that moment, the plasma within him would react. Twilight watched as the plasma from Nate surrounded Lucas's body and just like before, it didn't cause any harm to him. Instead, something else occurred.
The plasma cushioned it all. The perplexed feeling that Lucas received was being erased. Lucas blinked as he was no longer feeling the urge to fall over. Instead, he was revitalized.
"Hey..." Lucas stood up tall, back to how he was. "I'm better already."
"Nate? Did your plasma heal him?" Twilight questioned.
"Uh...I don't know." But Nate did it unconsciously. The plasma reacted on its own.
"Oooh...!" At that moment, Twilight made a wonderful discovery that made her eyes sparkle and her mane flare. There it was. The ticket to quicker gateways. "That's it! Oh, that's perfect!"
"What? What is it?" Spike and Ember collectively asked.
"Glad we met you, Nate! Really glad!" Twilight got all giddy. "Your Plasma helped you enter our world. So obviously, it has gateway-like properties as well. And that same plasma helped heal Lucas, and he was already immune to it from the start. As much as I'm not fond of the Prisma connection and what that might do, this is a huge benefit."
"Really?" Nate looked at his hands, moving his fingers around a bit to generate some plasma flickers. "I guess that makes sense."
"Wait. Doesn't that mean he can do it over and over again?" Realizing this was the Dragon Garble. From what Twilight was saying, they found someone to heal Lucas so he could keep going. "Oh, great!"
"Hey, he's right!" The other Dragons realized. Once this was revealed to them, those requests were about to come flooding in once more now that Lucas was back to full strength."Okay, now do Galar!"
"Try Dragon Village next!" Back to square one. These questions were coming back to bombard Lucas, giving him no time to rest.
"Thanks, Nate..." Lucas was glad that Nate healed him, but upset since he was being flooded with requests yet again.
"You two!" Twilight would suddenly pull the two of them close to each other, having a golden opportunity. "We can cover a lot of ground with this. There'll be a Gateway Boom in no time, but they obviously have to be in different areas."
With Nate onboard, Lucas could open multiple gateways in one day without needing to fall over, drained. Obviously, this was related to Prisma in some way, but this would be the one thing from Prisma that could with a strong benefit.
Appearing above the Dragon Lands as Astral Projections were Lightwing and Strident Heart. Lightwing was still undergoing her trial that would make her Earth's official Guardian Angel. Lightwing showed up to see how things were going for Twilight Sparkle, who was another factor in these two worlds becoming one. Lightwing saw and heard everything, seeing that there were no minds to read in this instance, aside from maybe how Lucas thought about the gateway thing.
While he was glad to be helping create new gateways, he was sort of missing out on the Pokemon Festival. But that was something that Lightwing didn't need to deal with. Not when Lucas was surrounded by good friends who can provide that enjoyment.
"They seem to be doing well," Lightwing observed. "I think everything is fine here."
"Not quite..." Strident Heart thought otherwise, flying to the west of the Dragon Lands for one specific sight. She was going straight for the Dragon Matter. Thanks to the speed of the angels, they were able to reach the west fairly quickly. In just a few seconds. "Back in Manehattan, you did not focus on the two forms of Matter that recently appeared."
"Oh, right. Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter. Pretty impressive for them to make something like that, right?" Lightwing grinned before gazing upon the new form of matter in the universe. After causing a ruckus in the Dragon Lands, it went back to sitting there, still trying to find its place.
"Impressive, yes. But it's wrong. For starters, the Dragon Matter is Prisma's creation. No one here can even grasp it. Not only that, but it's forced it and the Fairy Matter have been attempting to readjust themselves to the universe. Do you not see the issue here?"
"Well...What makes it so different from something like Anti-Matter?" But Lightwing saw the other side to it. "It's a new type of matter that we've never seen before. Let's see how it adjusts to this universe and see what comes from it. And if things go wrong, we'll probably intervene."
"Most definitely. Mortals shouldn't be able to change the natural order of the universe in such a way. First Ash and now this? But this isn't the only rising issue. Perhaps there is someone else you should turn your attention to, Lightwing."
"Hm? Who?"
Unova. The Harmonia Kingdom. Afternoon.
The Harmonia Kingdom. Home to Ghetsis and Team Plasma after making a deal with the Rift. This kingdom has been obscured from the rest of the world for the longest, meaning it was free to grow and advance. Its residents were the people of the past who were frozen and freed, now finding a new home under the rule of Ghetsis.
Because of this, the kingdom was now a peculiar blend of technology and ancient wisdom. Because some of these people from the past had plenty of knowledge that would be hard to find in the history books, it brought great value to Team Plasma. And with it, allowed some of the residents to work for Team Plasma. The harmony within Harmonia was a facade to many, even if ponies such as Princess Luna had a good feeling that it was out there somewhere.
Not to Lightwing and Strident Heart, who could easily enter and see it. This is where Strident Heart brought Lightwing after leaving the Dragon Lands. Their Astral Projections broke through the Cosmic Barrier as they would come to oversee this kingdom, watching how much it has grown in just a short time.
As Lightwing and Strident Heart traversed the Cosmic Barrier, they beheld the potential of Harmonia, which could become something bigger in the future. It was slowly becoming a tapestry of ancient wisdom and futuristic innovation. But the main place they were heading for was Ghetsis' throne room.
Guided by their Astral Projections, they navigated the intricate pathways of Harmonia until they reached the heart of the kingdom—the grandiose throne room of Ghetsis. The room itself was a testament to the kingdom's duality, adorned with artefacts of bygone eras and cutting-edge technology, all reflecting the ambitions of its ruler.
Ghetsis, a figure of imposing presence, sat upon the throne, an dark aura surrounding him. As Lightwing and Strident Heart materialized within the chamber, they felt the weight of Ghetsis's scrutiny, a subtle yet profound assessment of their presence.
"While I'm watchful of Ash Ketchum and his actions, there is another individual who we all must keep our eyes on." Strident Heart said when looking at the sinister Ghetsis.
"Right...Ghetsis." Lightwing slowly nodded her head. This was the one thing Lighwing and Strident Hear could agree on. As Angels, they could see evil from a mile away. "He's been stopped a few times, but he keeps going."
"He's a Human who can most definitely meddle in divine affairs. His goal isn't to stop at Earth, of course. Much like the Former Lich Queen Rosa Maledicta, the entire universe and beyond is his goal and he's avoided losing everything he's created or stolen. What will you do when you become the Guardian Angel of this world?"
"Well...For Ghetsis, I'm not sure." Lightwing grumbled. "I've never dealt with someone like him. But I do know that I want to keep this world safe and Ghetsis won't ever let that happen. But obviously, he's more dangerous than Ash. You have to agree with me on that."
"Of course I do. But both of them are dangerous in their own ways." Strident Heart stayed adamant. "Ash Ketchum is dangerous on...I wouldn't say accidental level, but even I'm not sure what it is. But Ghetsis is dangerous for obvious reasons. And if they things continue to go like this for both of them, things might go their way forever."
"And why should I stop?" Ghetsis said with a devious smirk.
"?!" At that moment, Lightwing and Strident Heart collectively gasped. They were heard by Ghetsis, who knew they were there. Just like how Sci-Twi could hear them, so could Ghetsis. But he didn't have a specific item on him. His crimson eyes went up, locking onto the angels.
"H-He can hear us too?!" Lightwing shuddered while Strident Heart growled. "How?!"
"You can thank the Rift for that... Ghetsis got off his throne, stabbing his cane through the floor. "How lucky am I to have angels in my presence?" Ghetsis's voice echoed with a chilling confidence, his gaze fixated on Lightwing and Strident Heart, relishing their shock. His demeanor exuded an unsettling blend of arrogance and power, a dangerous combination that sent shivers down their incorporeal forms.
"You heard everything, didn't you? You vile mortal...!" Strident Heart grizzled her teeth.
"Hmph. Very soon, I won't be mortal. Eventually, I'll be in the realm of the immortals. I will enter a whole new world while ruling the one I leave behind. I would be offended by you comparing me to Ash Ketchum...But he's a formidable foe."
"Both of you are to receive your comeuppance. For you, Ghetsis. There is a special punishment waiting for you. Whether during your end or when you are finally brought to justice."
"Hm-hm. As if that's going to happen. After all, I was watching the trial that you gave to Ash Ketchum. You did an excellent job. A shame you lost. But if you had won, I'll admit, I wouldn't have the enjoyment of defeating him myself." Ghetsis cackled, finding the entire Cosmic Trial to be absolutely humorous. "But of course...it's not just your skills to cast judgement that are impressive. Now that you're here, a new level of power can come to me."
"!" Strident Heart quickly realized what Ghetsis was talking about. Ghetsis will do anything to gain more power if it means his goal of ruling everything gets even closer. And the Angels were no exception. "Lightwing! We need to leave. Now!"
But right before that, the angels were struck by a Dark Aura infused with Rift Magic that affected even their Astral Projections. Caught off guard by the sudden assault, Strident Heart and Lightwing staggered, their astral forms flickering as the dark aura intertwined with their essence. Their connection to the celestial plane wavered under the potent onslaught of Rift Magic that was being heavily influenced by Dark Aura. Because Rift Energy was on the same level as Divine Magic, it was a perfect match.
Ghetsis smiled as he took the time to manipulate the area around him, buying time by chatting with the angels. "Lightwing, brace yourself!" Strident Heart's voice resonated with urgency as she struggled against the invasive forces. With a concerted effort, she summoned a protective barrier, attempting to shield them from further corruption.
The dark aura, however, persisted, its tendrils snaking around them like malevolent serpents. Lightwing concentrated, channelling her celestial energies to counteract the sinister influence, trying to create a sanctuary within their astral projection, a realm immune to the dark aura's grasp.
"Don't be mistaken. I'm not sure I can absorb your power as of yet. Before I can confirm that, I'll have to use your divine power in a different way. Perhaps extraction can work." Ghetsis pondered what he was going to do with this Divine Power once he gets his hands on it.
"You...You won't get your hands on such power!" Strident Heart's eyes would flare as a divine light flared out of her body. With plenty of might, she managed to pierce through the darkness. Lightwing managed to do the same as both of their celestial powers resonated in tandem, creating a radiant surge that pushed back against the encroaching darkness.
In a burst of blinding light, the dark aura dispersed, leaving behind a lingering echo of its malevolent presence. Strident Heart and Lightwing, their astral forms weary but intact, locked gazes, their determination unbroken. However, they were very much intimidated by what Ghetsis had just pulled off. They couldn't be here and they certainly couldn't intervene since they were not allowed to do so. Quickly, they had to flee from here.
"You won't escape with that power up for grabs!" But Ghetsis refused to let them both leave with such power. With his arm out, Ghetsis unleashed a stream of darkness with Rift Particles around it, attempting to capture them.
Strident Heart and Lightwing felt the malevolent energy surging toward them, threatening to ensnare their astral forms. Knowing the stakes, they focused their remaining strength on evading Ghetsis's assault and leaving the Harmonia Kingdom entirely.
In a synchronized movement, they evaded the dark stream, manoeuvring swiftly through the celestial expanse. However, Ghetsis's dark magic was relentless, twisting and curving to pursue them with a voracious hunger. He used the power of the Rift to swap spaces, targeting Lightwing in time. Right as Lightwing was about to exit the throne room, she was caught.
"Lightwing!" Strident Heart gasped as her body already left the throne room. Ghetsis cackled, pulling Lightwing in. The angel groaned and squirmed as the darkness around her was absolutely dreadful in contrast to her hopeful magic.
"I-I'm not as powerful as an Astral Projection...I can't move..." Lightwing was lacking the strength to break out of such a grip.
Strident Heart, horrified by the sight, desperately sought a way to intervene. She strained against the limitations of the Astral Plane, attempting to bridge the gap between their realms, but she was constrained by the rules governing their celestial existence.
"Lightwing, hold on!" Strident Heart's voice quivered with urgency, her celestial essence pulsating with frustration. But she noticed that it was getting weaker. Ghetsis was diminishing this form of hers, slowing down her movements.
Ghetsis, revelling in his triumph, tightened his grip on Lightwing, the darkness suffocating her celestial form. The rift-infused power ensnared her, rendering her unable to muster the strength needed to break free.
Lightwing, her essence dimming within the oppressive darkness, fought against the overwhelming force, her determination flickering like a fading star. "Strident Heart, don't... don't risk yourself... for me. If he gets you too..."
Strident Heart couldn't risk herself being captured. She already made it this far out of the throne room, so it would be a waste to be caught as well. She wished to save her best friend, but for now, she had to retreat.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Strident Heart gritted her ethereal teeth, torn between the desire to rescue her friend and to bring justice down to Ghetsis. As much as her heart ached to intervene directly, she knew the risks were too great.
But she wouldn't abandon Lightwing. Not for a moment. Right now, Strident Heart was powerless and unable to do anything in this form.
Reluctantly, Strident Heart severed her connection to the physical realm, her astral form receding from the throne room and hurtling back toward the sanctuary of the Ambrosial Plane. The ache of leaving her friend behind gnawed at her celestial essence, but she knew that staying would only jeopardize both of them.
"Hmph. I can trust she'll be back soon. The fact that you two entered my kingdom despite the barrier is troublesome. I'll have to give it an upgrade. And you are to be our Guardian Angel correct?" Ghetsis chuckled as she held Lightwing by the neck, dangling her. He could even hold her in this Astral Form.
"I'll be everyone's guardian angel...but not yours...!" Lightwing said with a serious face. "Whatever you wish to get out of me, won't happen. You don't understand an angel."
"We'll see about that." Ghetsis scoffed. "In fact, before I try something out with you, perhaps, you have enough Light Energy for Necrozma. Yes, most likely."
"!" Those words struck fear into Lightwing's heart. Hearing Necrozma being brought up was terrifying. The Pokemon that can absorb seemingly anything. And now, an angel was about to be his next target. Ghetsis obviously wanted the power for himself, but he was not opposed to giving it to Necrozma, whom he saw great potential in as well.
An Angel was now in the clutches of Ghetsis. What's worse, it was the soon-to-be Guardian Angel of Earth. Ghetsis was clever to bide his time, doing little to nothing outside of his Kingdom. All of his efforts went to growing his kingdom and making it the best that it could be. And with Lightwing in his disposal, he could use the Divine Magic within, if he could reach it.
As the journey continues.
Chapter 367 End.