//------------------------------// // My Counterpart's a Waterpark // Story: My Little Pokémon: Grander World // by Amarvax //------------------------------// The Human World. "Okay, Red! This time, you'll see just how much I've improved." Standing at the park, Sunset Shimmer spoke to Red, planning to show her all the growth she's received thus far. The park was clear this early in the day, allowing for a free-form battle. The Dazzlings had also gathered here, seated to see this battle play out. It would all be a practice session before they set off to find the Alpha Pokemon. Red nodded in acknowledgement, his expression unreadable as he held out a Poke Ball of his own. "Here goes! Litleo!" Sunset exclaimed, launching the Poke Ball upwards. "Litleo!" With a burst of light, Litleo materialized before them. "..." From Red's Poke Ball, emerged the towering figure of his Snorlax, his massive form casting a shadow over the park as he lumbered into position. "Snorlax." "Send them both flying, Red! To the Moon!" Adagio's voice broke through, her words laced with a hint of malice as she openly rooted for Red's victory. Sunset's eyes narrowed slightly at Adagio's taunt, but she dismissed it. She ignored the distraction and turned her attention back to her Litleo who was already flaring out flames from his body, ready to get into the heat of things. Red held his hand out, showing Sunset Shimmer that she had at least 5 minutes. 5 minutes to show him what she's got. "5 minutes? That's no problem. I bet, in those 5 minutes, I can actually push you back." "Here you go." Showing up was Vivace, who had food for her daughters. Their personal favourites were brought, lent over to the three sisters. Just as they were ready to indulge in it, Sonata ran up to the two Trainers, wanting to take on the role as referee. "Let me coach!" She said while holding up her food. "Battle Start!" "Go, Litleo! Flamethrower!" Making the first move was Sunset Shimmer. "Litleo!" Holding his breath in and exhaling, Litleo released a crimson stream from his mouth, burning some of the grass immediately as the scarlet flames approached the Normal-Type. "..." Red, as always, didn't need to say anything, but his Pokemon knew what to do. "Snorlax!" Snorlax's eyes flashed as he used High Horsepower, channelling an earthly power into his large paws. Thrusting them forward, he met with the scarlet flames, blocking them immediately. The flames spiralled upon touching Snorlax's paws before being blown away. But Snorlax didn't just destroy the flames, he would also start approaching Litleo, ready to get up close and personal. "Now, Litleo! Dig!" "Leo!" Right as Snorlax came close, Litleo burrowed underground, evading the incoming strike from the giant. Litleo was now underneath Snorlax, ready to emerge at any moment. "..." But Red had an answer for that. High Horsepower was that very answer. With Snorlax still channelling it in his paws, he would strike at the ground, attempting to force Litleo out. Shockwaves travelled through the park grounds, shaking the trees and the benches while sending rocks into the air. "Oh! Woah!" Sonata held her food close to her, feeling the shockwaves. "I figured you'd try that!" But Sunset Shimmer expected something like this from the start. "Deeper, Litleo!" "Lit!" Litleo was currently moving deeper and deeper underground, using that to avoid the shockwaves, gaining some distance. Snorlax had no way of knowing how deep Litleo was in the ground and neither did Red. Snorlax looked around him, wondering where Litleo would appear from. "Now!" Litleo emerged from the ground, going straight for Snorlax's back with a paw strike and concentrated Ground Energy. He managed to land a hit, striking Snorlax's back with all of his might. But all of his might wasn't enough to even push Snorlax. "L-Leo?!" "Snor." Snorlax turned his hand, immediately delivering a powerful backhand strike, moving his arm back and landing the attack on Litleo. A super-effective blo, which had sent Litleo flying. "Oh, no! Litleo!" "L-Lit! Leo!" Despite taking a super-effective blow from such a large Pokemon, Litleo managed to recover and regain his balance, but barely. "...!" Red then pointed at Snorlax as he was about to kick things up from here. Snorlax would face Litleo with a turnaround as his eyes were seen glowing. "Lax!" From them, he had used Hyper Beam, unleashing a powerful beam of destruction, completely fueled by Infinity Energy. "Run for it, Litleo!" "Leo!" Quickly, Litleo would run to the side, barely evading the incoming beam. Hyper Beam hit the ground, unleashing a powerful outburst that managed to push Litleo back from the pressure and shockwaves alone. "Wild Charge!" "Litleo!" Litleo slid on the ground after being pushed back, immediately surrounding himself in a flare of electricity. The Lion Cub Pokemon then launched himself at Snorlax, going in for a full-force tackle. Snorlax obviously needed time to recharge from Hyper Beam, leaving him vulnerable to this electrifying attack. Straight to the face, Snorlax took the hit as the impact unleashed a burst of lightning. Snorlax closed his eyes, slightly feeling the attack, but he still didn't budge. Litleo received recoil damage from this, as to be expected as his body fell back from the impact. "Snorlax!" However, recovering sooner than expected, Snorlax suddenly grabbed Litleo while he was in midair, not letting him touch the ground. "L-Litleo?!" Surprised, Litleo was now in the clutches of Snorlax. "Not good! Get out of there, Litleo!" Sunset cried out as the Lion Cub Pokemon was trying his best to escape Snorlax's grasp. "Snor...!" Snorlax's eyes would flash while holding Litleo, showing he was about to unleash a Hyper Beam. And with Litleo stuck, there was no way for him to stop this. He couldn't block it or evade it. He just had to take it. Except for one attack. "Flamethrower! Up close!" "Leo!" Litleo replied with Flamethrower as his mouth was still free. At the same time, Hyper Beam and Flamethrower were both unleashed, meeting at such a close range. As both Hyper Beam and Flamethrower collided, the park would feel the fearsome pressure, the intense heat and light illuminating the park grounds with a blinding glare. The ground trembled beneath their feet, the very air vibrating with the force of their collision. And then, with a deafening roar, the two attacks exploded in a brilliant burst of light and heat, sending shockwaves rippling outwards in all directions. From the explosion, Litleo flew out, bouncing and tumbling on the ground. "Litleo..." Alas, he had fainted, unable to take all of that damage. The smoke and flames all cleared as Snorlax could be seen standing, still healthy. "That's it!" Sonata called it with her food in her mouth. "Snorlax wins! Which means Red wins!" "Aw!" Sunset held her head. "That was only 3 or 4 minutes! Sorry, Litleo." "Leo..." Litleo sat up, shaking his head as he was very much bewildered right now. Red would return Snorlax, putting on a smile afterwards. Not quite the time threshold he was looking for but one thing was for sure, Sunset Shimmer performed well, doing her best to get the edge over him. And while she didn't succeed, Red saw the passion and growth. "You're too strong for me, Red." Sunset Shimmer sighed when picking Litleo up. "I still have ways to go. Thanks, anyways." "Bravo!" Suddenly, Adagio started clapping. "Great battle. Great battle." She was only saying that since Sunset Shimmer lost. "Makes it worth showing up here." "Hmph. If you're so happy about this, why don't you face him?" Sunset Shimmer questioned when side-eyeing Adagio. "Me? Face him?! You're definitely insane." Adagio scoffed. "Asif I'd challenge that. I've got better things to do." Sunset Shimmer raised an eyebrow at Adagio's dismissive response, a hint of challenge in her gaze. "You talk a big game for someone who's only been watching from the sidelines," she remarked, her tone laced with thinly veiled sarcasm. "And I plan to keep it that way." Adagio had no shame, smiling proudly. Sunset Shimmer simply rolled her eyes at Adagio's bravado, choosing not to engage any further. Instead, she turned her attention to her fallen Litleo, offering him a reassuring pat on the head as she began to tend to his injuries. "Come on, Litleo," she said softly, her voice filled with gentle encouragement. "Let's get you patched up and ready for our search. Twilight and the others should be ready by now." "Where are we even going to find these Alpha Pokemon?" Sonata asked. "That'll be Rainbow Falls. Even this world has its own version of Rainbow Falls but just a bit different." Sunset Shimmer answered. "That's where we'll find them. It'll be all 13 of us over." "12." Vivace, the Mother of the Dazzlings corrected. "I won't be joining you in this search. But I'll make sure to standby." "..." Red walked by Sunset Shimmer before pointing his thumb at the van, telling her and the others to hurry. This battle they had burned through some time after all. They all made their way to the van, ready to meet up with Ash's group at once. It was a weekend, which meant the girls were all available to help Sci-Twi in her continuous search for the Alpha Pokemon. Today, a few of them have been located as well as the emergence of Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter in this world. The group met up near the big city, where Ash could be seen talking. "Hm? Red?" Ash recognized Red once he approached, leaving the van. "..." As always, Red greeted with silence and a smile. "Aw, those three too?" Rainbow Dash recognized the van of the Dazzlings as all three of them exited it. "Sorry." Sunset Shimmer said when leaving the van. "But they, well, two of them, wanted to come along and help out." "Where my sisters go, I go." Adagio spoke. "Let's hurry up and get this over with. I've got a new song planned already and I want to get started on it as soon as possible." "Did'ya have to bring the killjoy too?" Applejack questioned Sunset Shimmer. Sunset Shimmer sighed, casting a sideways glance at Adagio. "I mean, I'm not all for her being here but...At least you don't have to worry about anything going wrong. Not with these two juggernatus." She then wrapped her arms around Ash and Red's shoulders, pulling them both in. "We'll be fine!" "So, what Pokemon is it?" Aria ran over, excited to know about the Alpha Pokemon of the day. "It's quite a few. Professor Oak told me that there's 5 of them over at Rainbow Falls." Twilight, also known as Sci-Twi said, revealing it to them. From her phone, she showed the information Professor Oak passed on. For the Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter to be active here meant that at least one Dragon and one Fairy-Type were involved. And indeed, that was the case. Visible on the screen was an Alpha Sligoo and an Alpha Kirlia. However, that Sligoo looked a bit different from what it is seen today. "Wow, an Alpha Sliggoo and an Alpha Kirlia!" Sonata exclaimed, peering over Twilight's shoulder at the screen. "They look so cool!" "They sure do," Sunset Shimmer agreed, studying the images intently. "But what's up with that Sliggoo? It looks different from what we're used to seeing." "Sliggoo. The Snail Pokemon. Hisuian Variant. A creature given to melancholy. In the past, Its metallic shell developed as a result of the mucus on its skin reacting with the iron in Hisui’s water. Its four horns are a high-performance radar system. It uses them to sense sounds and smells." "Do you think those two are what the Dragon and Fairy Matter reacting to?" Rarity questioned. "I mean, I assume that's why they've appeared." "Probably. The other Alpha Pokemon weren't Dragons or Fairies." Sci-Twi responded. "It's only 2 out of the 5 that were discovered there." "Well, what are we waiting for? Vivace. Can you get us to Rainbow Falls faster than the Train?" Ash asked. "Easily. But...I'm not sure I can fit all of you in." Looking at the group, Vivace knew that the Van wouldn't be able to fit all of them inside. Counting them all, that would be 12 people plus the inclusion of Pikachu, Hisuian Zorua and Spike. Quite the cast of characters. "We could split up," suggested Rainbow Dash. "Some of us could take the van with Vivace, and the others could catch the train. We'll meet up at Rainbow Falls." "That sounds like a plan," Sunset agreed. "Vivace, could you take a group in the van?" Vivace nodded. "Of course, dear. Some of you. Come with me. The rest, take the train and we'll meet you there." Pulling off a gesture, she called for some of them to join her. Entering the van would be Red, Rarity, Applejack and the Dazzlings, of course. "I know where I'm going." Sunset Shimmer faced her friends who would take the train. She would be joined by Ash, Twilight, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. "Got your Poke Balls ready?" "Uh, I have at least 15 of them. So enough for all 5. I'll only need the five if I battle the Alpha Pokemon. If things get too rough and out of control, I'll use more than 5. Hopefully, it doesn't reach a point where I need to use all of them." "Most of these are Quick Balls." Looking in Sci-Twi's bag was Pinkie Pie. "Those are the ones that work on the first go, right?" "Most of the time. I'd rather avoid a battle for today for the most part. Since we'll be dealing with 5 Alpha Pokemon, it'll be the hardest one yet." Sci-Twi prioritized a quick and efficient way to get it all done. "I just hope Hunter J hasn't gotten there yet." Rainbow Falls. As the van and the train journeyed towards Rainbow Falls, the landscape outside the Big City changed gradually. Rolling hills and lush greenery passed by, with occasional glimpses of Pokémon habitats and serene lakes. With this world still getting used to the existence of Pokemon, some of these Strange and Wonderful Creatures already found their favourite spots, settling there. Inside the van, the atmosphere was lively as Vivace drove skillfully along the winding roads. Applejack and Rarity chatted animatedly, occasionally pointing out interesting landmarks along the way, seeing Pokemon they've never seen before. Meanwhile, in the train car, the group settled into their seats, chatting amongst themselves as they watched the landscape rush past. Ash and Sci-Twi discussed strategies for dealing with the Alpha Pokémon, while Sunset Shimmer checked her phone for updates on the situation at Rainbow Falls. Eventually, they arrived at Rainbow Falls, which was not quite what they expected. In contrast to its Equestrian Counterpart, the Rainbow Falls in this universe was not exactly how the name implies. It was still located at a high point but the location itself appeared to be a Waterpark. "It's a Waterpark?!" Ash and Sunset Shimmer collectively said. "What, you didn't know?" Rainbow Dash uttered as those born and raised in this world were already aware of this fact. "I...only heard about it and assumed it was just like the one back at Equestria. Guess I was wrong." "A Waterpark?! Score!" Sonata's eyes lit up. "Great choice, Twilight!" "I was a bit confused when I found out they were at a Waterpark. But honestly, everything looks fine." Sci-Twi noticed that there wasn't anything wrong here at the moment. The Waterpark was functioning perfectly with people enjoying themselves. "Uhh...I don't really see any Pokemon here either." Fluttershy also noticed a strong lack of Pokemon. No one here seemed to even be aware of the Alpha Pokemon's presence and were just having fun. As the group surveyed the scene at Rainbow Falls Waterpark, they realized that finding the Alpha Pokémon might not be as straightforward as they had hoped. The bustling Waterpark was filled with laughter and splashes as people enjoyed the various attractions, but there was no sign of any Pokémon, let alone the Alpha Sliggoo and Kirlia "Now what?" Applejack asked as things became silent for this group for a while. "Any ideas?" "Hmm..." Ash pondered. "Well, we just search as always. But...Let's also have some fun here. Man, it's been a while since I've been to a Waterpark." "Aren't we supposed to be taking this seriously?" Adagio questioned, believing that this was something that had to be taken seriously. These were Alpha Pokemon after all. "Of course, we're taking it seriously," Sunset Shimmer reassured. "But there's no harm in enjoying ourselves a little while we search. Who would pass up on a chance to enjoy a Waterpark?" "Aw...We're gonna get wet, aren't we?" Aria groaned, tugging on her clothes which she did not wish to ruin. Not now, not ever. "Oh, please. Since I heard we were getting to Rainbow Falls, I made sure to come prepared." But Rarity was well prepared. Much like Misty or any one who specializes in Water-Type Pokemon, swimming gear was available for locations such as this. She brought more than enough to cover all 12 of them. "Then get changed. All of you." Vivace ordered while stepping back into the van. "If you see any seashells, pass some onto me. It's been a while since I've collected them." "Alright then." Ash rubbed his hands together, strolling off to get geared up. "Let's do this!" "Pikachu!" They all made their way to get changed to fit the theme of the Waterpark. Wearing their own swimsuits as well as spares that Rarity brought, they were geared up with some of them feeling a chill. For some of them, they looked good as the designs fit them well. Others were simple but effective, such as Ash and Red, who wore blue and red Swimming Trunks. "Check it out, Red! I've got a lightning bolt on the side!" Ash said, finding his swimming trunks to be cool. Keeping in line with his theme, the lightning bolts represented Pikachu as they were on both sides. "..." For Red, his had flames on the side, a perfect contrast to Ash as this was meant to represent his Charizard. "This is really the spare you had?" Applejack groaned as her swimsuit was the equivalent of a gym teacher at a school. Rather uncomfortable for her in many ways. "Well, why didn't you bring your own, Applejack?" Rarity asked once she stepped out with her swimsuit. "You knew we were heading for Rainbow Falls." "I didn't think I needed to swim." Applejack groaned. "Umm..." Peeking out of the door was Twilight, who was not leaving the room just yet. "Could you guys go ahead? I'll catch up eventually. Maybe." "Oh? Embarrassed to show yourself?" Rarity asked, sensing that Twilight was a bit embarrassed based on what she was wearing. "M-Maybe not when Ash is around. Ash could you go ahead?" Sci-Twi pleaded, mainly wanting Ash to go on ahead so that he wouldn't see her. "You too, Red. If you don't mind." "Uh, sure." Ash replied before venturing off. "Come on, Pikachu." "Just go." Once Ash and Red were gone, Adagio appeared, pushing Sci-Twi forward so that she would show herself. "Oh..." Sci-Twi grumbled, wishing she was in something else. "Why couldn't it have been a lab?" "What are you so down about?" Adagio quesitoned. "Shouldn't you be proud of this? Why'd you even agree to wear it in the first place?" "Easy for you to say." Sci-Twi felt a bit cold. "Hooh! I don't think I'm used to cold areas actually! It's close to Summer, right?" "It's surprisingly chilly around here, now that I think about it." Rainbow Dash scratched her hair. "Ah, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. Come on! Let's try one of the rides here! The Rainbow Rapids!" "Rainbow Dash has been here a bunch of times!" Pinkie Pie slid over, pointing at her multi-coloured maned friend. "She's beaten Splash Spectra and Aqua Vortex! Ten Times!" "...Alright. Later." Adagio walked away, not interested in this whatsoever. She was going to do her own thing, but Sonata was very much interested. "Let me take a swing at it!" She said excitedly. With everyone suited and ready to go, they split up to cover more ground in their search, while also having some fun in the process. Immediately, Ash and Red were already having a competition while at this waterpark. Both challenged each other to see who could find an Alpha Pokemon first. "Alright, Red! Let's try these Wataer Slides! Maybe there's an Alpha Pokemon there! Let's see who comes out on top!" "Pi-Pika!" "!" Red was all for it, putting on a smile. Immediately, the two of them tackled two Water Slides, beginning their search. They didn't waste time when searching for these Pokemon, passing their heads through the falling waves. As Ash and Red navigated the twists and turns of the water slides, their determination was evident to everyone around them. With Pikachu by Ash's side and Red's stoic demeanor, they stood out among the crowd with their unique approach to the search. Red was moving so quickly while still being so serious at the same time which made for a bizarre sight. Their energetic movements and competitive spirit drew curious glances from other visitors at the waterpark, who couldn't help but wonder what the two were up to. "Mommy, isn't that the man from the video?" One of the girls recognized Ash based on the recording of his match against Bea. With each slide they tried, Ash and Red emerged at the bottom, shaking their heads in disappointment as they continued their search for the elusive Alpha Pokemon. Despite their efforts, they found no trace of the rare creatures amidst the thrills of the waterpark. "Not here!" Ash exclaimed, his voice echoing through the aquatic playground as he swiftly moved on to the next spot, determination burning bright in his eyes. Red followed closely behind, his silent resolve matching Ash's determination step for step. "Pikaaa!" Pikachu was having even more fun, going down one of the Water Slides and feeling the rush from within. As for Red, his presence exuded an undeniable aura of intensity and power that the people here felt. As he moved through the waterpark, his mere presence seemed to unsettle those around him, causing some to cast nervous glances in his direction. His stoic expression spoke volumes just from a first glance. Even without actively trying to assert himself, Red's aura commanded true power. He turned his head to one of the people, hoping to spot a Pokemon only for the woman to screech. "I don't want any trouble, sir!" She wailed, intimidated by Red. "...?" Red just scratched his face, confused. Adagio found herself a comfortable spot near the edge of the waterpark, away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd. Stretching out on a lounge chair, she closed her eyes and basked in the warmth of the sun. The sounds of laughter and splashing water surrounded her, creating a soothing ambiance that eased her mind. For Adagio, this moment of relaxation was always welcomed. She allowed herself to forget about the Alpha Pokemon and the impending search, choosing instead to focus on the simple pleasure of soaking in the sunlight. Not that she cared about them in the first place. "I could listen to some soothing music right about now." With a contented sigh, Adagio let herself drift into a state of blissful tranquility, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the waterpark without a care in the world. Mainly only caring about herself. Feeling the gaze of admirers upon her, Adagio couldn't help but smirk knowingly. She was accustomed to attracting attention wherever she went, and she had no qualms about reveling in the admiration of others. With a subtle tilt of her head and a flicker of her eyes, she acknowledged their stares with a confident yet alluring demeanor. "It's just that easy. She said, proud of her own beauty." She then looked over at Red, who was currently still searching for the Alpha Pokemon. Adagio wanted to see if it would be effective on mr Strong and Serious over there. "Let me try something for a moment. "Oooh, Red~!" "...?" The counterpart of Ash glanced over, stopped for a moment once his nme was called out. There, he saw Adagio trying to strike him with looks, seeing if she was as effective as she truly ws even against the most serious of people. "Well? What do you think?" "..." However, Adagio's attempt to capture Red's attention with her charm seemed to have fallen flat, much to her surprise. Despite her confidence in her own allure, Red remained unaffected, simply continuing on with his search for the Alpha Pokemon without giving her so much as a second glance. "Ah! No way!" Perplexed by Red's indifference, Adagio couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration. It was a rare occurrence for her to encounter someone who seemed impervious to her charms, and she found herself slightly disconcerted by the experience. "That guy...!" Adagio grizzled her teeth. "He didn't even say anything bout me or respond! Not that he says much in the first place but still!" Adagio's frustration grew as she dwelled on Red's lack of response to her attempts at charming him. It was a blow to her pride, accustomed as she was to effortlessly captivating those around her. The fact that Red remained unmoved by her allure was both baffling and irritating, stirring up emotions she wasn't accustomed to feeling. "Oh, he's just playing hard to get. That's all." Adagio's eye twitched, not one to let herself lose so easily. Not to anyone else, especially not when it came to her looks. "He already beat Sunset Shimmer in a battle so there's no way I'm letting him beat me in this way." While Adagio was having the burning spirit within to try and charm Red, in the waters of this Waterpark, a pink energy was slowly flashing. An energy that was obviously not meant to be here. Bubbling in the waters was the Fairy Matter. It was indeed here, but it was not as active as it usually was. And yet, its presence here was being by a certain Pokemon. Without a doubt. As the journey continues. Chapter 440 End.