Alola. Akala Island. The Pokemon Festival. Nightfall.
"Oooh..." Waking up slowly and meeting with the beautiful night sky was Rainbow Dash. Time had passed for the Moon to rise. After being saved by Tapu Lele, she found herself on dry land once more, still on Akala Island. But there was no sign of Spitfire or her crew.
"Lele?" Instead, Tapu Lele appeared before her, hoving over her friends after one of them woke up.
"Who are you?" Immediately, the Pokedex was taken out to scan this new Pokemon.
"Tapu Lele. The Land Spirit Pokemon. This guardian deity of Akala is guilelessly cruel. The fragrant aroma of flowers is the source of its energy. As it flutters about, it scatters its strangely glowing scales. Touching them is said to restore good health on the spot."
"So you're one of the Island Guardians. Like Tapu Fini..." The pegasus gawked as she met another Legendary Pokemon. And it was one that saved her life.
"Lele." Tapu Lele revealed that it brought them to Brooklet Hill. The best fishing spot in the Alola region. Its series of cascading waterfalls make it look like a terrace field. Rainbow Dash couldn't hear the sound of those ships nearby as everything was rather silent at the moment.
"Gee...Thanks." Naturally, she had to thank Tapu Lele for this. The Pokedex wasn't exactly adding up since nothing cruel about Tapu Lele was showing. But it wasn't all sunshine or rainbows, or in this case, moonlight and stars. Rainbow Dash soon realized that the rest of her friends wereat that cavern, encountering Tempest Shadow's group. "Wait! Ah, I almost forgot! My friends! Are they okay?"
"Le." Tapu Lele could show them. It has been minutes since Rainbow Dash, Zeraora and Castform were saved and at the moment, they were distanced from that cavern. Rainbow Dash stood up, stretching her muscles as her wings were finally getting back in order.
Once she recovered, the pegasus took flight, viewing Alola from a higher height. Rainbow Dash soared through the night sky, guided by the sparkling moonlight. Tapu Lele, the guardian deity of Akala Island, floated alongside her, leading the way. The cool breeze brushed against Rainbow Dash's feathers as she made her way towards the cavern where her friends were last seen.
But Rainbow Dash just couldn't leave Zeraora behind. She looked back to see the Thunderclap Pokemon resting in a field of flowers near the sea. Tapu Lele noticed this, freezing in midair. Rainbow Dash then paused for a moment before deciding to let Zeraora rest some more. After all, she's been through a lot. She would come back for the Thunderclap Pokemon once she checks up on her other friends.
As for where they were, they were still in the cavern, currently avoiding Tempest Shadow and her group by laying low and hiding. Tempest's group were searching for them but were surprised to find them nowhere. The sound of her hoofsteps along with the Golurk could be heard within the cavern.
Despite having the Golurk on their side, the forces of Daybreaker could not find them. And that was thanks to one significant advantage. Mew. The Genetic Pokemon underwent a transformation, appearing as Cofagrigus. And by appearing as the Coffin Pokemon, he placed his friends inside of him to hide their bodies.
However, even Mew that passing by as a Cofragigus wouldn't grant him an easy escape since Tempest Shadow could easily suspect a transformation from him. Thankfully, a dabble of unicorn magic from Rarity would fix that. While not as experienced in magic compared to Twilight, she could at least use concealment, such as allowing Mew to blend in with the environment. Much like those ships that blend in with the sky, Rarity pulled it off for the Genetic Pokemon. The Golurk would phase through these walls, only to find no one.
"We're wasting time. Let's go." Tempest Shadow saw this as a time waster. Searching for them was going to delay the plans further. She decided it was best for them to leave. The noises in the cavern have come to an end a while ago after all. Hearing this, Rarity and her friends were greatly relieved.
Tempest's group would depart. Mew would stay there for a while, making sure they got a good distance. And after a minute, the Genetic Pokemon would open his coffin while Rarity's spell ran.
"Haaaah...!" Rarity gasped after dropping to the ground. Being in a Cofragrigus was a rather haunting experience and it was no different when Mew took on this form. "What was all of that in there?"
"Mew." Mew giggled right afterwards, finding it rather humorous. He definitely knew what was in there.
Rarity, though concerned, maintained a degree of composure as she was being carried by Pheromosa, who had to crouch thanks to her tall stature. Even someone as tall as her was placed inside the coffin as her pupils were shrinking and growing after what she witnessed. But they wouldn't have to go through that again. For now.
They had to get a move on now that they were away from Daybreaker's Forces. Their time in the cavern wasn't over. With Audino's ears twitching after what she heard in there. They wouldn't have to worry about Spitfire either. She was already gone from here after pursuing Rainbow Dash.
The three friends made their way toward the source of the disturbance from before just to see if Rainbow Dash, Castform and Zeraora were alright, navigating through the cavern's twists and turns. As they approached, they could see the aftermath of the explosion. Rocks and debris scattered across the ground, with a part of the cavern split in half by the force of the impact.
Some of this was caused by the Sonic Rainboom which had the most destructive power out of all of them. But of course, the battle that took place around here was also responsible. Rays of light, the usage of plasma and more.
"What in Equestria happened here?" Rarity gasped, observing the aftermath of the chaotic scene.
"I don't know, but I hope Rainbow Dash and Zeraora are okay," Fluttershy added, her worry deepening.
Pinkie Pie, however, had a slightly different perspective. "Duh. A Sonic Rainboom happened here." Surprisingly, she knew what caused some of this destruction without even being there to see it. "I can sort of sense it."
"No you can-... Nevermind." Rarity shook her head, disregarding it. Before they could continue searching for Rainbow Dash, they suddenly heard wing beats. The group gasped, fearing that they weren't away from Daybreaker's forces just yet. There might be some more lying around.
Their three Pokemon got in front of them once more with Mew planning to undergo another transformation. However, he saw the shadow of the pony appearing in the cavern and immediately recognized the manestyle. No transformations were needed here.
Thankfully, they had nothing to fear. It was simply their friend Rainbow Dash, who was very much doing well. She appeared and reunited with her friends.
"Oh, there you are!" The pegasus exclaimed.
"Rainbow Dash! You're okay!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, rushing over to give her a tight hug which nearly knocked her over.
"Yeah, thanks to Tapu Lele. I knew you guys would be fine by yourselves." Rainbow Dash laughed as she was joined by Tapu Lele, who was right behind her.
"Tapu Lele," Rarity and Fluttershy collectively spoke when eyeing down the Island Guardian. While they haven't seen one before and only Applejack has seen Tapu Fini, now they had their first Tapu encounter
"Where's Zeraora? Is she alright?" Pinkie Pie was more worried about Zeraora, who was nowhere to be seen.
"She's fine. I had to leave her to rest but she'll be up eventually. It's getting late too so we might need the rest." The multi-coloured-maned mare would sigh. "I mean, even with Daybreaker's team out there..."
With the coast clear and Spitfire plus Tempest Shadow's team no longer a threat to them at the moment, Rainbow Dash and her friends could leave the cavern at last. The Silver Moon from Alola could be seen sending rays of light through the destroyed ceiling, briefly reminding them of the rays they had to deal with. But these were far more welcoming and safe. It was time for them to go and take a rest. But after this, they were sure to inform their friends, especially Princess Luna.
Guided by Tapu Lele, The group settled in a secure spot, surrounded by the natural beauty of Brooklet Hill. The gentle sounds of water and the soft rustling of leaves provided a soothing background for their impromptu gathering. Despite the challenges they had encountered, they made it out, even if it did require concealing themselves.
Brooklet Hill.
Waking up at last was Zeraora. After being saved by Tapu Lele, she would also gaze at the night sky. But instead of standing up, Zeraora would lie there, looking up at the moon and the stars around her and taking everything in.
The events that unfolded, from the Isle of Armor to the encounter with Spitfire's forces, played in her mind like a vivid tapestry. The bond she had formed with Rainbow Dash stood out as the defining thread, weaving through the dangerous moments.
In that quiet moment of reflection, Zeraora felt a profound sense of connection and gratitude. Rainbow Dash had not only saved her but had shown her the power of friendship, loyalty, and the willingness to stand by one another in the face of adversity. The bond they shared transcended the familiarity of her lost world, creating something new and vibrant in this unfamiliar land.
The night's gentle breeze carried with it a sense of peace, and Zeraora took solace in the tranquillity of the surroundings. The stars sparkled like distant promises, and the moon illuminated the path ahead. With Rainbow Dash and the others nearby, Zeraora found a sense of belonging that surpassed the echoes of her past.
As she lay there, absorbing the beauty of the night, a faint smile played on Zeraora's lips. The journey ahead might be filled with challenges, but she knew she wasn't alone. The bond forged with Rainbow Dash and her friends was a source of strength, a guiding light in the darkness. And under the cosmic tapestry of the Alolan night sky, Zeraora heard and saw those familiar wingbeats. Returning here was Rainbow Dash to add to that solace.
And in her mind, perhaps staying with Rainbow Dash wasn't a bad idea. And besides, the new home she found had a gateway.
Equestria. Canterlot. The Pokemon Festival.
Meanwhile, while everything else happened there, Ash, Sci-Twi and Bertha approached the Pokemon School, leaving Pegalysium with the Breeze Seal to meet with Windflash. However, they had no luck. Windkiss was not present at the Pokemon School today and it was already late, meaning she was somewhere in Pegalysium the whole time.
"Bummer. I guess we can try again later." Ash said while holding the Breezeseal. "I'll promise I'll get you to her or anyone in her family."
"I should get going now," Bertha said as she was about to make her departure, having places to be during the Pokemon Festival. "But it was wonderful seeing you two again. Especially you, Twilight. You've definitely grown."
"Oh well..." Sci-Twi smiled, flattered by this compliment. "Thank you very much!"
"Maybe we'll meet again for a third time down the road. Good luck, especially with that whole Prisma thing." Before she left, Bertha placed her hand on Sci-Twi's shoulder, imparting one more message for her. "And to do that, make sure you take good care of Ash."
"T-Take good care?!" She stammered at such a sentence, having something else in mind. Bertha smiled before finally leaving, going for the nearest gateway that would take her to the Unova Region.
"Guess you're going in here right now." After carrying the Breezeseal for hours, Ash would finally decide to place it in the bag. Opening it, the ponies within the Breezeseal spotted the items Ash was carrying before becoming a part of them
"At least poke holes in them to give us a better view." The voices pleaded after being placed inside. "The modern world is strange..."
Sci-Twi waved as Bertha left, then turned to Ash with a thoughtful expression, seeing her pass through the gateway and leaving this part of the world. Once Bertha was gone and Ash safely put the Breezeseal within, they had the rest of the Pokemon Festival to themselves, still having energy to spare.
Later in the evening, as the festival reached the end of its next day, Ash and Sci-Twi found themselves sitting near the Pokemon Battle Arena. A lively crowd had gathered to watch a tournament featuring skilled trainers from different regions.
"Ash...About what happened in that illusion world from the Unown. It wasn't like what I thought it would be." Sci-Twi brought up the discussion of Prisma and Twilight Luminaria's world. "Not at all."
"Same here. I mean, I knew it was gonna be loaded but...I didn't think Prisma had that kind of reputation. Everything I heard so far made it seem like he's dangerous." Ash pondered as well. During his time as Prisma, he was only showered with adoration and praise. "That's all they kept doing."
"But even Twilight Wish saw him as dangerous. When I saw you wearing those clothes, they were the same ones that Prisma wore at a younger age. Maybe everything went wrong as he got older."
"Hmm...You're on to something." Ash was seeing Sci-Twi's point. And she could certainly back it up. After all, she and the other Twilights learned about Prisma's past with Twilight Luminaria. "Okay! I know what we've gotta do next! We're taking another spin at that illusion world!"
"Again?!" She screeched.
"Yeah. We can head to the Sky Monarch and ask them to send us to Unilight. Then we'll know what's really going on."
"Umm...Maybe a later date, Ash." But Sci-Twi would much rather skip out on that. "How does that sound? Let's just enjoy ourselves, even though you always manage to enjoy yourself."
"Hm? Oh, sure. We can do that." Ash was instantly on board with it, understanding Sci-Twi's request. "Wanna rest here and head somewhere else right now?"
"Sunset and the others should still be in Unova. I wonder how they're doing?" Sci-Twi had to wonder about what Sunset and the rest of her friends were up to at this very moment. Surely, there was no way it was wilder than she had to go through. "I think they're probably meeting with Volo too. They promised to help me find those shards."
"I haven't actually seen Volo." It occurred to Ash that Volo's appearance was unbeknownst to him. The two have yet to meet but he already knew that he and Sci-Twi were on good terms. But perhaps, Sunset Shimmer thought otherwise.
Alola.
In the skies of Alola, the ships of Spitfire's team were still on the move, continuing their mission. They had already opened one Ultra Wormhole up, successfully capturing Xurkitree, but they weren't done yet. One Ultra Wormhole wasn't going to do. They needed Team Plasma to open up more if they wanted to get Solgaleo and Lunala's attention.
"Lucky them to evade us like that." Spitfire spoke. "This universe is so tricky...From the Sea Temple to this? It won't be easy stopping them from stopping us."
The skies above Alola, usually a serene haven, were now fraught with tension and the looming presence of Daybreaker's forces. Despite their initial setback, the team remained resolute in their goal to summon Solgaleo and Lunala.
"You know...if we start focusing all of the Ultra Wormholes on Alola, won't it be far too obvious?" Tempest spoke. "I say we open them in other regions."
"Not a bad idea, but that could just draw more attention. Especially if each of those regions' Legendaries take notice. I wouldn't mind encountering one but..."
"It'd be better than doing it on their home turf. But we'd still have to keep it as discreet as possible. Alola's already a quiet region, but I hear that Johto is in the same boat."
"The Johto Region, eh...?" That piqued Spitfire's interest. Tempest Shadow might be on to something. Spitfire mused, considering the potential advantages of diverting their attention to a region known for its quieter ambience. "Alright. Not a bad call. Let's keep our minds on Johto for a moment. We'll come back to Alola after we meddle in that region for a bit."
The crew members, attuned to their leaders' directives, adapted their magical preparations for this modified strategy. The ships veered away from the serene skies of Alola, their destination now set for the Johto Region. Daybreaker's forces sought to exploit the mystique of Johto's tranquillity, initiating a subtle yet impactful campaign to open Ultra Wormholes.
As the ships altered their course, they left a wake of uncertainty and tension in the skies of Alola. The altered plan aimed to secure the advantage of surprise, a tactical move to catch both the locals and any potential Legendary Pokémon off guard. Spitfire's determination remained unyielding, fueling the Aerial Forces' mission to bend the fabric of reality to their will.
Watching this from afar was one of the Island Guardians. Specifically, Tapu Koko. Guardian of Melemele Island. It knew that these intruders and invaders would be back. They were aware of the Ultra Wormhols after all and the things that Alola had to offer could not be ignored. Tapu Koko, while unable to see their ships, could hear them in the sky.
Time was ticking for the Pokemon Festival and yet there was this ominous feeling in the air. Something was amiss. Not just because Daybreaker's Forces from the Solar Empire were here, but something else that could shake the world. And the ones that could do it were the Solar Empire.
In the cold night, under the skies of many regions, this ominous feeling would permeate, but most would not feel it. Most were only thinking about what to do next in the Pokemon Festival while they still had time.
As for Daybreaker herself, the Queen of the Solar Empire was forced to get out there and be more active when it came to Necrozma's goal. But she was also thinking about Gardevoir's goal. And speaking of which, away from Alola, she arrived at the Kalos Region. The one region that was all about Mega Evolution.
The Solar Queen Daybreaker, her blazing mane billowing ominously, partnered with the enigmatic Aura Vampire Gardevoir had their nefarious mission to unearth the elusive Gardevoirite. Their quest led them to the North of Kalos in the dead of the night.
While the rest of her team focuses on summoning Solgaleo and Lunala, she was more focused on the power that is Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter. Such power, while new to this world, could be tamed. This feeling in the air could only be caused by Daybreaker as something massive was coming.
As the journey continues.
Chapter 378 End.