Alola. Akala Island. The Pokemon Festival. Day.
Zeraora's favourite location was being tracked down. There was one place in her version of Alola that she loved to be at and she was hoping it was here. Their journey led them through lush landscapes, vibrant towns, and serene corners of Akala Island until, finally, they stumbled upon a place that seemed to echo the essence of Zeraora's memories.
Amidst their explorations, Rainbow Dash's group stumbled upon a hidden grove—a peaceful sanctuary surrounded by towering trees and a gentle stream trickling through the foliage. The atmosphere exuded tranquillity, and the air was filled with the soft rustling of leaves.
"So...Is this it?" Rainbow Dash mused, gazing around the serene space.
Zeraora, feeling a surge of emotions upon seeing the familiar scenery, approached the grove tentatively. As she stepped inside, a wave of nostalgia washed over her, memories of peaceful moments flooding back.
"Ora," She murmured softly, a sense of comfort washing over her as she realized this was indeed the place she once frequented, now finding its counterpart in this world.
Rainbow Dash and the others observed Zeraora's reaction, sharing a moment of quiet satisfaction at having found a place that held such significance for her. In that tranquil grove, surrounded by nature's embrace, Zeraora found a piece of her past, a sanctuary that would hopefully help her feel more at home in this new world. It was all coming back to her. Shot for shot, spot for spot, it was the exact same location she once lived in.
"Zera!"
"I think so. This is the place." Fluttershy confirmed after seeing the absolute glee on her face. Zeraora stepped into the cove, the warm sands under her paws, the scent of the sea filling the air around her. Emotions swirled within her as she stood there, taking in the familiarity of the surroundings.
"Zeraora!" Zeraora's heart soared with joy and relief. Her intuition hadn't led her astray. This was indeed the place she longed for, a sanctuary she had missed dearly. Wasting no time, she took a leap and landed on the daisies that could be found here. "Ze!"
"Well! A job well done, team!" Rainbow Dash was rather proud of herself and her friends. Rarity, Fluttershy, Castform, Audino, Raboot and Bayleef all agreed. "We found her favourite place and we didn't have to worry about any rage for a few days. This was a smash hit!"
"Should we leave her for a while? She might need some time to rest in such a familiar place," said Rarity.
"Probably. This is her home, after all. It's just like how she remembered it. Maybe we should call the Ranger Union and tell them what happened. They'll be glad to know that Zeraora found her home." Fluttershy even suggested a call from the Ranger Union and of course, Kidd Summers. But they would have to get a hold of them in the first place, which wasn't always easy and they've certainly never done it before.
"Right, right. No more outbursts if she's here. At least, I hope so. She'll be at peace here, away from Necrozma or Ghetsis. It's her new home which is basically her old home." Rarity continued. "It was nice being around her for that amount of time."
"Yeah..." Rainbow Dash's smile would stay there for a while before slowly dropping, realizing what this meant. Now that they've found Zeraora's favourite location, this might be where they have to part ways fairly soon. After all, this is what Zeraora wanted from the start.
But Rainbow Dash was a bit gutted by this. A part of her was going to miss Zeraora, knowing what was coming next. But leaving her for a while to embrace everything seemed like the best option. As the others agreed leaving her to rest in this cherished sanctuary, Zeraora glanced back at her newfound friends. Their support, their efforts to help her find this place, filled her with a sense of gratitude she couldn't fully express.
"Ora..." Zeraora murmured softly, acknowledging their care and understanding their unspoken decision to give her some time alone in this special spot.
Rainbow Dash, though proud of their success, couldn't shake the pang of sadness that crept into her heart. The realization that their time together might be drawing to a close weighed heavily on her. She had grown fond of Zeraora's company, and the thought of parting ways, even temporarily, tugged at her.
Fluttershy sensed Rainbow Dash's conflicted emotions and stepped closer, offering a supportive smile. "It's okay, Rainbow Dash. Zeraora needs this time. But it's not goodbye forever. Alola isn't going anywhere."
Rarity nodded in agreement. "Exactly. She'll have her time to settle here, but we'll check in on her. We'll make sure she's doing well."
"Yeah. It's not our first time being here." The multi-coloured-maned mare slowly responded before turning away and departing with her friends.
Heahea City. Heahea Beach.
The group found themselves over at Heahea Beach for the moment, deciding to stay there for a while. Their Pokemon were sent out to enjoy the beach under Alola's Golden Sun. Milotic could be seen in the water, carrying Raboot on her back. Laying on her back on the water was Audino, who was drifting away.
Popping his head out of the water was Mew, who transformed himself into a Wailmer. And by doing so, Pinkie Pie could ride on top of him, calmly moving across Heahea's waters.
"Great going sending Zeraora to her favourite spot." Pinkie Pie said. "Wish I could've been there to see it. The look on her face must've been the best."
"Oh, it was." Rarity said as she and Pheromosa could be seen resting on the beach chairs, having glasses on to block the view of the Sun.
"It's a shame. I'm gonna miss her. It was pretty cool having her around." Rainbow Dash expressed. as her head was over the water.
"But this is needed. It's her home after all and even though she can't return to her original universe, she has this place as the perfect replacement. They say you can't replace what you love the most but..." Rarity shrugged, trying to bring the positives to Rainbow Dash. It wasn't that Rainbow Dash couldn't see it, but the bond she was building with Zeraora left a mark.
"It's for the best anyway. Now I know how other trainers feel when saying goodbye to their Pokemon. Even if I wasn't her Trainer."
"Not too late to say your farewells," Fluttershy uttered. "I'm sure Zeraora would love to say goodbye before it's all over." Fluttershy's gentle reminder nudged Rainbow Dash to consider saying her farewells to Zeraora.
"Mmm..." With a quiet resolve, Rainbow Dash submerged her head into the water, knowing that it was all for the best.
Meanwhile, Zeraora was still enjoying herself, reminiscing about the past by viewing the familiar sights. Even the same Pokemon from before could be seen, really solidifying that this was a perfect mirror. In the quiet solitude of her cherished place, Zeraora found a moment of respite, a chance to reconnect with a piece of her past and begin anew in this Alolan haven. And though she was now alone, the memories of her time with Rainbow Dash and the others would linger, reminding her of the bond they shared.
Zeraora realized she didn't exactly say anything to Rainbow Dash before she left. The Thunderclap Pokemon was hoping to get her last words in. But right now, Zeraora didn't want to down herself. Not when she was back home.
However, when climbing up her hill, something caught her eyes in the distance. From this far, she could barely make out anything in the foreground, but there was one thing that was very much familiar to her eyes.
"Zera?!" To her shock and horror, Zeraora spotted the troops of Daybreaker. Their mission to learn about Solgaleo and Lunala involved Alola in every category, which of course, made them visible to them. They could be seen around Route 5's Lush Jungle.
And upon seeing them, a reaction came from Zeraora. They were the ones who invaded her original home in the first place and now that she's found a new one, they were here yet again. Naturally, this invoked an aggressive reaction. That peaceful spirit was disturbed thanks to the presence of her invaders, prompting plasma to emerge from her eyes.
Zeraora's tranquil moment was shattered as she spotted the troops of Daybreaker in the distance, their presence an unwelcome reminder of past turmoil. The sight of those who had invaded her original home filled her with a surge of emotions. Anger, fear, and a resurfacing of the pain from her past.
The Thunderclap Pokémon's initial shock quickly transformed into a fierce and defensive reaction. Her tranquil demeanour shifted into a defensive stance, her eyes crackling with the telltale signs of her Electric-type power. The plasma, a manifestation of her intense emotions, emerged, reflecting her distress and anger. Alas, that peace that Rainbow Dash and the others managed to create was about to be shattered, bringing back that signature rage.
"Ze..." Zeraora growled lowly, her instincts urging her to protect her newfound sanctuary in Alola from those who threatened it. She didn't know why they were here, but she knew that it was unacceptable for them to be in this universe in the first place.
Deep-rooted memories of the invasion and the subsequent hardships flooded back, igniting a spark of determination within her. This was her home now, and she wouldn't allow anyone to disrupt the peace she had found.
"Z-Zera...!" Despite the turmoil in her heart, Zeraora hesitated. She didn't want to unleash her power in this serene place, but the threat of Daybreaker's presence stirred a turmoil within her that was difficult to contain. And thanks to the magic of Ghetsis, the Thunderclap Pokemon just couldn't do it.
With the visage of Ghetsis appearing in her face, Zeraora's electricity would cause an outburst, resulting in the lightning rising to the sky and unleashing the sound of thunder.
Naturally, this was heard by Rainbow Dash, those at Heahea City and nearby. The pegasus and her friends gasped after seeing the lightning reach the sky. And yet, it did not attract the forces of Daybreaker, who were too focused on their mission.
"Oh no...Zeraora!" Rainbow Dash gasped, knowing what this meant. And alas, nothing good was about to come out of it.
Pegalysium. Flock Falls.
Meanwhile, Ash, Sci-Twi and Bertha were still venturing across Flock Falls, basking in its glory. As their journey continued, a gentle rustling in the foliage nearby caught their attention. Bertha's trained eye spotted a rare and elusive Crystal Feather Finch, its plumage shimmering with a breathtaking iridescence.
"Looking at all of this, perhaps a Pokedex-like creation should be made for these creatures," Bertha added, motioning for a Pokedex that wasn't actually a Pokedex. The Finch seemed unbothered by their presence, perched delicately on a nearby branch, its feathers refracting the sunlight into a mesmerizing array of colours.
"Well, I'm already on it." Sci-Twi was somewhat doing that. She used her phone to capture the image of this Pegalysium-exclusive creature.
As Sci-Twi completed her picture, the Finch suddenly took flight, disappearing into the foliage with a soft rustle of wings. The trio exchanged excited whispers, revelling in the thrill of witnessing such a rare sight.
Determined to continue their exploration, Ash led the way, following the winding trails deeper into the heart of Flock Falls. The landscape changed as they ascended, the canopy thinning out to reveal a stunning vista of the Crystal Cascade from a higher vantage point.
At the edge of a cliff, they discovered a hidden overlook, a natural balcony offering an unobstructed view of the sprawling island below. The trio stood in awe, taking in the breathtaking sight of the cascading waterfalls and the vibrant tapestry of the avian sanctuary spread out before them.
Unknown to them, the Unown who recently spotted them were off to spread the news. But first, they relayed it to the soldiers of Second Wind. They were on a mission to find Lena Ketchum thanks to the shards she had on her, but instead, they found her descendant.
Receiving the news, the soldiers of the Unown used their power to communicate with the other Unown. It soon created a string of telepathic communication that latch onto the next Unown, no matter how far they were. From island to island, the Unown were receiving word of Ash's presence and it eventually moved past the original Pegalysium and up to Pinnaculum Pegalysium.
"Ash Ketchum is here?" Second Wind spoke through one of the Unown. Her voice was infected with irritation upon hearing that name, for obvious reasons.
"Should we engage? It's only him and two other humans. One of them looks a lot like Twilight Sparkle though..." A troop asked.
"You fool. We're trying to keep a low profile. And if there's one thing I know, it's that Ash Ketchum and his group are unbelievably rowdy." Second Wind wished to avoid anything that would even lead to King Paramount's forces finding out about her actions. "After that little Royal Phantasy, which I was rudely uninvited to, Ash and Paramount are closer than ever. If we engage with him, that will just open a cascade of issues."
"Do we continue pursuing the woman then? We haven't found her anywhere in Pegalysium just yet."
"Most likely, she's left, but the Unown recognize the power from those shards, so we can track her down. As for Ash Ketchum, this is still a golden opportunity..." Second Wind had to think for a moment. "You said that he's at Flock Falls, right? That place is completely unbothered. Not with that remnant of the First Destiny Pegasus staying there. If we're lucky, it will take care of our Ash problem for us. Even I wouldn't dare to tackle it."
"So, we leave them be?"
"Pfft. As if. Revenge is too sweet to pass up on. But we won't cause a ruckus. Use the Unown and trap him. It's better to keep him silent than alert attention and Flock Falls is the perfect place for that." Second Wind still wanted her payback either way. Ordering her troops, the Unown knew what to do.
Flock Falls had a relation to Windkiss, according to Second Wind. It was certainly a beautiful place, but nothing was really making it seem like Windkiss had something to do with it. But in Second Wind's words, something that Windkiss left behind might do the job for it. Maybe.
When moving further through Flock Falls without any interruptions, they came across a secure clearing amidst the trees, shielded from the morning sun. Not thinking too much of it, they moved the leaves aside, coming across another section of Flock Falls.
"What's this?" Ash spoke. Hidden within the heart of Flock Falls lies a secluded cave, veiled by a cascade of vines and nestled behind the veil of the Crystal Cascade itself. The water could be heard pouring from above with some of it leaking through the cave.
Within the depths of this cave, there was the sudden presence of swirling winds. Ash felt the breeze, making him laugh for a moment. Sci-Twi shuddered, freezing up a bit from this breeze. "Ooh...It's cold in here all of a sudden? Where was this wind before?"
"Hmm..." At that moment, Ash came to a halt when feeling the wind. Sci-Twi bumped into him, wondering why he came to a sudden halt.
"Is something wrong, Ash?" Bertha questioned.
"This wind..." Ash grumbled, crossing his arms as he was currently reading the winds themselves. This was Sci-Twi's first time witnessing him do such a thing. Bertha's lessons from the past certainly came into play down the road. "Oh, yeah! It feels familiar!"
"Familiar? I didn't know wind could feel familiar?" An intrigued Sci-Twi spoke before looking back at Bertha. "Can it?"
"No clue." But Bertha was lost on this.
"It's all in the Aura, Twilight." But of course, Ash had the Aura to thank as he was currently using it to read the winds themselves. But these weren't regular winds. Ash continued on his way, using his Aura to read them. And by doing so, he could even see the winds in a different colour. In fact, he could see the winds entirely while Sci-Twi and Bertha couldn't.
To Ash, they appeared in the colour blue. But an Aura Blue. Specifically, a light blue. "There's always something new to find in Pegalysium. It started with those temples and now we're right here." He said while following the wind.
"Great, but I don't-" Before anything else could be said, up ahead was a wall of wind that could be seen by them all. "Oh my...What is that!?"
This wall of wind appeared to be a manifestation of the island's turbulent aetheric energies, woven into a whirling tempest. It was a swirling vortex of gusts, an elemental barrier that stood before them and was certainly dangerous in its own right.
"Looks like a wall of wind. I've never seen wind in such a compact space before." Bertha said as they stood before this formidable obstacle, feeling the sheer force of the gales emanating from the barrier. The wall pulsed with radiant energies, a mesmerizing display of swirling currents that seemed to dance and shift, much like the flowers that can be found on Pegalysium.
"Yeah. But it's totally safe." Despite how intimidating it looked, Ash confirmed that it was perfectly fine and safe to travel through "Well, for us, anyway."
"H-How do you know?! I thought you've never been in this spot before?!" Sci-Twi bellowed.
"The wind's telling me." Ash grinned, raising his finger. "Or I guess...Windkiss is telling me."
"Windkiss? You mean the First Destiny Pegasus?" said the Human Counterpart. "I don't...hear her though. Where is she?"
"Can't hear her? Hmmm...Must be the Aura then." Ash said since only he could hear her voice within the wind. "Well, all you gotta know is that she's telling us to go through it.
"Won't it blow us away?" But of course, Sci-Twi had to think of the worst possible outcomes which might happen in such a mystical place.
"Trust Ash." Bertha placed her hand on Twilight's shoulder. Putting her trust in Ash was certainly a good thing since he was confident in what he was saying. Ash wouldn't dare steer them wrong. And to prove it, he immediately rushed forward with Pikachu.
"Yahoo!"
"Pikachu!" Both of them bellowed after jumping right through the Wind Wall. Sci-Twi flinched and gasped, fearing that Ash would be launched, but of course, that did not happen. Instead, Ash and Pikachu successfully went through as the hole they made would close up immediately.
"Okay then. If they can do it, so can I?" Sci-Twi was ready, always putting her trust in Ash.
She closed her eyes, focusing on what Ash did. The whispers of the winds that came from the Legendary Windkiss. Slowly, she extended her hand, feeling the invisible threads of aetheric energy respond to her presence. Lo and behold, there was no damage whatsoever.
Sci-Twi was completely fine as she successfully passed through, ending up on the other side. Her eyes open in disbelief. She couldn't believe that she passed through a wall of wind and wasn't launched, swirled or punished in any way. Afterwards, Bertha went through, already knowing that she would be completely fine.
Looking at Ash, Sci-Twi wonders why she questions him at all since he was teaching and guiding her in this Grander World. Ash could only grin and laugh at this, knowing that Sci-Twi still needed time to get used to everything. Princess Twilight and the rest of his friends only needed 4 years after all.
"Well, take a look at this." As for what was on the other side, standing before them was an object which rested in this part of the cave.
Sitting there was an item of unfathomable beauty and mystery. Its form defies conventional description, for it exists in a state that transcends the boundaries of traditional shape and perception. Ash, Sci-Twi and Bertha definitely didn't know what they were looking at.
This mysterious object was an enigmatic structure that appeared to be ever-shifting, its form in a constant state of flux and metamorphosis. It is as if the very essence of the prism defies the limitations of three-dimensional space, presenting an ever-evolving array of mesmerizing geometries, colours, and textures that dance and ripple across its surface.
"So...What is that thing? Is Windkiss telling you about that as well?" Sci-Twi pondered.
"I don't hear her voice anymore. It looks like the wind ends here." But Ash lost contact with Windkiss's voice. He couldn't hear her anymore which was odd. All that was left was this object that had no traces of wind anywhere else.
As the adventurers drew closer to the ITEM a soft and resonant voice, seemingly emanating from the depths of the ever-shifting artefact, filled the air around them.
"Travelers of Flock Falls, well done for effortlessly passing through the Wall of Wind" An ethereal voice intoned, echoing gently through the verdant surroundings. The voice carried a melodic cadence, imbued with a sense of ancient wisdom and serene tranquillity, captivating the attention of Ash, Twilight and Bertha.
"You three...You aren't the worthy ones. Who are you?" The voice questioned, not even taking into account Ash's presence.
"Uh...We're just travellers like you said." Sci-Twi uttered. "And what even are you...?"
"I am not the artefact. This is the wonderful creation of Windkiss. Made to be the inheritance for those worthy. But it appears that the three of you are the one who showed up here. Unacceptable."
"Well, we were just curious. This place is brand new to me and we thought we'd check it out." Ash explained. "No idea what this place is though or what that is. But what do you mean we're not worthy?"
"Pikachu?"
"You are not the first to arrive here. And neither are you the first to be unworthy of this inheritance. You trespass upon hallowed ground, stained by the actions of those who sought to steal our essence,"
Ash, Twilight and Bertha exchanged bewildered glances, perplexed by the accusatory tone of the ethereal voice. They realized the voice within the item had somehow perceived them as a threat due to the actions of the previous group that had invaded this very area.
"Woah, hold on. We're not here to steal it." Sci-Twi leaned over, immediately debunking such a claim.
"Said by the Indigo Alliance in the past. We will not make the same mistake. Turn away now, lest your intentions echo their folly. We shall not allow our essence to be taken by those who seek to disrupt the harmony of our sanctuary," The voice warned, the subtle glow of the item flickering with an unsettling aura of vigilance.
Stricken by the sudden turn of events, the adventurers hesitated, realizing that the item, despite their pure intentions, deemed them as potential threats due to the tarnished history of past intruders.
"Hey, Windkiss led us here, ya know!" Ash bellowed back at the voice. "We're just checking it out."
"You would have heard of its existence in the first place and yet you say you only came to view it? Unlikely? The power from this is too colossal for it to be a mere tourist attraction."
"Wait. You said it was for an inheritance or something. Who for?" Bertha was curious about something else entirely.
"For Windkiss's descendants. Those rightful to it."
"Oooh..." Ash definitely knew who it was talking about. He has already met Windkiss's descendants and the most notable one who was the oldest was Windflash. "So it's for them, huh? Hm, I guess it checks out why they haven't been here yet."
"Wait? Who? Descendants?" Sci-Twi blurted.
"Yeah, yeah. Windkiss's descendants. They're around for sure. But it looks like they haven't shown up here. Windflash and everyone in her family just do their own thing. They don't really get involved with stuff Windkiss made."
"Hm. So this thing has just been stuck while the rightful owners were living their lives." Bertha said.
"Can't blame them though. The Indigo Alliance, or Union now, wanted everything Windkiss or any Destiny Pegasi left behind. They caused Shooting Star's family a lot of trouble because of it. So, a bunch of years went by and her family stayed out of sight. Twilight just found them recently."
"Are you saying you know those who are worthy? Perhaps this is a lie." The voice uttered, not believing Ash from the start.
"No, way. It's true. They're doing something else now. Now, they're teachers over at the Pokemon School but...I guess you wouldn't know about that being stuck here."
"We will deem if you are speaking the truth." The voices within took action. From the item, a stream of wind flew out, moving at a gentle pace. It was about to see if Ash, Sci-Twi and Bertha were speaking the truth.
All the while, the Unown from before and the troops arrived at Flock Falls under the order of Second Wind. They gathered around the secret passageway that was not really a secret to them. The Indigo Union has been here before, but they have failed.
Only because the voices knew that they were not worthy. They were the reason it was so defensive when encountering Ash's group. The power that this strange item possessed was something they clearly wanted but after that one encounter, even Second Wind found it to be too risky to return to.
Despite that, Second Wind didn't want to take any chances as her forces were ready for Ash's group if they end up leaving that secret area. The Unown, by using their collective power, looked through the secret area, viewing everything happening from within.
They saw through the walls and even the Wall of Wind with ease, ignoring its magical properties. Beyond it was Ash's group, still around and perfectly fine. However, they also saw a force of wind around their bodies, attempting to see if they were telling the truth or not. The Unown would try and update this to Second Wind, sending a message to her telepathically to another Unown.
"Tch...Of course, he's telling the truth. He'll pass with flying colours." Second Wind sighed through one of the Unown. "But maybe...someone else can change that." At that moment, Second Wind had an idea. An awful and wicked idea. "They'll listen to Ash Ketchum, but will they listen to Prisma?"
As the journey continues.
Chapter 371 End.