//------------------------------// // What happened on the other side? // Story: My Little Pokémon: Grander World // by Amarvax //------------------------------// The Human World. Rainbow Falls. The Underwater Garden. Afternoon. Emerging from the Pirsm Pool was Hunter J's submarine. She had returned to the Underwater Garden, finally leaving the area beneath it. But she was far too late. Twilight and her friends were already gone, along with the Alpha Pokemon. "Darn it! They got away!" J furiously hit the walls of this underwater garden. The worst part was that she knew it was too late to go after them. Enough time has passed for them to make a full getaway out of the Underwater Garden the Water Park. Hunter J clenched her fists in frustration as she watched the empty space where Twilight and her friends had been moments ago. The opportunity to capture the Alpha Pokémon had slipped through her fingers, and she seethed with anger at the thought. "Those meddling brats!" she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "They won't get away with this. Not when we have the method of awakening Prisma. All it'll take is another awakening for us ot have a second chance. Let's go." With a determined scowl, she ordered her crew to set course for their next destination, her mind already plotting her next move against Twilight and her friends. Hunter J was not one to be deterred easily, and she vowed to make them pay for foiling her plans once again. In the Van. After passing out, Ash and Red were brought back to the van, away from the Waterpark. There they laid, their bodies unconscious after using Dragon Matter. To Sci-Twi, this was too similar to Delayed Aura Ataixia and how Ash would burn himself out because of it. But this time, it wasn't of his own full volition. "Ash..." Sci-Twi spoke his name while watching over him while Sunset spoke Red's name. "Red." Sunset's voice was laced with concern as she gently brushed a hand over Red's forehead, checking his temperature. The exhaustion and strain on their bodies were evident, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for her friend. At that moment, both of their eyes would open while groaning. Twilight and Sunset were the first people their faces met. As Red's eyes fluttered open, he found himself met with Sunset's worried gaze. Her touch on his forehead was gentle, and he could feel the warmth of her hand against his skin. Blinking a few times to clear his vision, he tried to focus on her face. "...?" Even when silent, his voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper, as he struggled to sit up slightly. The exhaustion weighed heavily on him, but he managed a weak smile. "Red! You're up!" Meanwhile, Ash, lying nearby, also began to regain consciousness. His gaze met Twilight's, and he squinted slightly against the light. "Twilight... Sci-Twi?" He muttered, confusion evident in his voice. "Where are we?" "Back in the van! Oh, you had us so worried!" Sci-Twi hugged Ash with all of her might. "Twilight. Did you save us?" Ash said with a weak voice, remembering what happened back at the underwater garden. He vividly remembered the battle that transpired there. "We did. Once Sliggoo was freed, the Dragon Matter in the area vanished." Sci-Twi said with relief in her voice. "So, we got influenced by Prisma again." Ash closed his eyes. This was the second time it has happened even after her promised himself that he would never let it happen more than once. "But Ash, it wasn't your fault. It was J and-" Before Sci-Twi could finish, Ash got off the seats. "It's alright." Ash spoke. "Guess I'm not all that ready to stop it just yet." Instead of being frustrated, Ash accepted that this whole Prisma thing was beyond what he expected. He's used to this by now. There were some things he just wasn't ready for. But those same things could always be outdone, but the time was not yet ready for that. "Oh, Ash..." Sci-Twi quietly said, worried about him. "Are the Alpha Pokemon okay?" "We had them thawed out. They're currently out there." Vivace pointed through the window, showing where the Alpha Pokemon were all gathered. This included Alpha Kirlia, who was still injured. All of them were since there were no Pokemon Centers in this world. "Great." Ash was glad for that. Guess they aren't aggressive anymore it looks like." The group apart from Vivace left the van, approaching the Alpha Pokemon, who were showing no aggression at all after being freed. They were grateful instead. "It's good to see them all safe," Twilight said, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she approached the Alpha Pokemon. Sunset nodded in agreement. "We've been through a lot today, but at least we managed to come out on top." As they reached the Alpha Pokemon, they began tending to their injuries and comforting them, relieved that they were all okay despite the intense ordeal they had just been through. They would need more than this to heal them. A Pokemon Center was the right thing to use. "How would some of you like to come with us?" Sci-Twi asked, wondering if they were curious enough to join this group. The Alpha Pokemon looked at each other and then back at Sci-Twi and the others, some nodding in agreement while others seemed uncertain. However, their expressions conveyed a sense of gratitude towards the group for their help and care. Alpha Kirlia, despite her injuries, managed to stand up and approached Sci-Twi, looking up at her with determination in her eyes. With a soft smile, Sci-Twi extended her hand towards Kirlia, offering her a place among them. "Kirlia!" Kirlia did not hesitate, immediately agreeing to be with Twilight. In fact, she decided to become her partner. "Kirlia!" Suddenly, the other Pokemon agreed, flocking to Sci-wi mainly. They were mostly drawn to her, surrounding the apprentice of Professor Oak. Sci-Twi was overwhelmed by the response of the Alpha Pokemon, who chose her over anyone else. As Kirlia stepped forward to become her partner, Sci-Twi's heart swelled with gratitude and determination. The attention shifted to Alpha Vespiquen, Sci-Twi and the others approached her with curiosity. The Alpha Vespiquen stood tall and regal, exuding an air of dignified grace as all Vespiquens do. Despite being the last one remaining, she seemed calm and composed, observing the group with a keen eye. Adagio was shocked. Vespiquen looked her in the eyes as the older sister of the Dazzlings realized one thing. She got on her knees, uttering, "No way...Another Bug-Type." That would be her Third Bug-Type. Slowly but surely, she was unintentionally becoming a Bug-Type Trainer. As Vespiquen approached Adagio, the older sister of the Dazzlings couldn't help but feel a mixture of surprise and intrigue. She had never expected to become a Bug-Type Trainer, yet here she was, faced with another Bug-Type Pokemon joining her team. It was a realization that both amused and bewildered her. "Hah...I guess she's beautiful either way." Adagio mused, a wry smile tugging at her lips. Vespiquen regarded Adagio with a regal air, acknowledging her new Trainer with a sense of respect. Despite Adagio's initial surprise, she couldn't deny the sense of connection she felt with Vespiquen. It was as if the Bug-Type Pokemon had chosen her for a reason. "Fine. Whatever. I guess you can come along. Not sure why you chose me though." "Probably because you're both divas." Sunset Shimmer snickered, teasing Adagio. "Or, so I've heard about Vespiquens." Sunset Shimmer's teasing remark earned a playful glare from Adagio, who couldn't help but chuckle at the comparison. Vespiquen buzzed contentedly at Adagio's side, seemingly pleased with her Trainer's acceptance. It was a curious bond that had formed between them, one that Adagio was eager to explore further as they continued their journey together. As the day drew to a close and the vibrant hues of the setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and pink, it was time for the Dazzlings to bid farewell to their friends. All Alpha Pokemon were now in safe hands and away from Hunter J. Because of this, they could depart and go their own ways once more. "Thanks for helping us out. Not sure if we would've made it out of there." Sci-Twi said to the Dazzlings. "Same goes for us. That could've been ugly." Aria replied. "Could've been our last moments down there too." Sonata chimed in with her trademark cheerfulness, though there was a hint of wistfulness in her voice. "Yeah, it was fun hanging out with you guys, especially at the Waterpark! Next time, let's hang out there without any Alpha Pokemon business, okay?" Before they left, Adagio suddenly approached Red, putting her hands together. "Ahem. Red. This isn't for any particular reason but..." From her hands, she revealed a number of some sorts. "You can call me if you want. Or whatever." "But you can always call me, Red." Sunset appeared, slightly shoving Adagio to the side. "You know where I live. We can keep training because of that." "He'll call me first, obviously." Adagio would also shove Sunset Shimmer to the side. "But he can just come to my house anytime." Sunset shoved back as the two would shove their shoulders against each other. Yet again, they were fighting for Red, while Red simply smiled with silence. "..." He accepted the number from Adagio with a nod of appreciation and then turned to Sunset with a grateful smile. I As the two girls continued their friendly rivalry over him, Red chuckled softly, feeling grateful for the bonds of friendship he had formed with them. He knew that no matter where their journeys took them, they would always have each other's backs. Back then, they wouldn't. Even an hour or two before this, they probably wouldn't support each other. But now they could after everything that transpired at Rainbow Falls. With a final wave goodbye, Red watched as the Dazzlings departed along with everyone else. Though their paths may diverge for now, the memories they shared would forever remain in their hearts, meeting again at some time, without a doubt. Possibly soon. Equestria. Canterlot. Nightfall. When returning to Equestria through the portal, Ash and Pikachu gazed upon the room during the night. After what happened back there, Ash needed to improve in some way to make sure Prisma never makes a third appearance. The second one was just as destructive as the first and if Sci-Twi never got Sliggoo out, who knows what might've happened. "Pikachu. Sorry that you couldn't snap me out of it." Ash said to his best friend. "Pikachu." "We've got a lot of work to do. Even if Prisma shows up again, we'll do our best to keep him away." Ash looked at his hands, feeling a ominous air around him. And it was coming from him. "Ash! Pikachu! There you are!" Rushing here was Luna, who was expecting these two to show up again. "Luna? What's up?" "Come outside! Quick!" Luna's voice sounded rather urgent. "It's the Tear! And the Moon...!" "Say what?!" The tear in the sky was brought up yet again. Ever since the final moments of the last Pokemon Festival, this tear has been lingering there, correlating with the Dragon Matter and Fairy Matter. Now, it was finally acting up, right as Ash returned. Not just that, but something happened with the Moon. Running to the nearest balcony, Ash would gaze into the night sky, seeing what had occurred while he was gone. His eyes widened along with Pikachu once he noticed what was up in the sk. "No way!" "Pikachu?!" A small piece of the Moon had been destroyed. Not only that, the Tear in the Sky had taken on a slightly different shape, gaining jagged edges while stretching even further than where it originally was. "The Moon...There's a piece of it gone?!" "It's small but noticeable. Something happened up there, no doubt from Daybreaker." Luna uttered. "Whatever happened up there is now over since that was the last we saw of what happened with the Moon. The Ranger Union has yet to make a report on everything else." Seeing a piece of the Moon destroyed, mainly from the side, was a stunning sight. Even more stunning that what happened back at the Human World. Daybreaker and Hunter J were not pulling their punches, doing whatever they can to succeed in their goals. Even if that means tampering with greater forces and celestial bodies. Beyond Equestria. Mount Aris. Something like this could not be ignored by anyone. Especially the Hippogriffs. Sometimes Sea Ponies, they looked up at the night sky to see the Moon itself having a small piece of it destroyed. "Ooh...That's bad!" Skystar and Silverstream collectively said, pulling on their manes and they were right to have this reaction. The implications of this were terrifying to think about. Already, some of them were starting to show as the waters of Mount Aris, mainly where the Hippogriffs sometimes emerge as Seaponies were beginning to shake. Just like with what happened to the world when an unusual Mega Evolution occurred, the seas were being disturbed. "With a piece of the moon broken, this is something we might not be able to recover from." Queen Novo spoke, already knowing how bad this could end up. "At this rate, we might not have either of our homes anymore." "What do we, Mom?!" Sksytar galloped over. "Yeah, what do we do, Auntie?!" So did Silverstream. Both of them needed a solution along with all the other Hippogriffs here. They turned to their Queen at this shocking moment, requiring assistance while some of them were fearful of what happened. "I don't know." But this was something out of Queen Novo's control. This gutted the Hippogriffs as that was not the response they were hoping for. But what could Queen Novo even do about this? That was the Moon itself that had been targeted. "I can't do anything about this, I'm afraid. But I can at least try and keep you all safe. For starters, some of you are not going to school tomorrow." "What?! Why?!" Silverstream questioned. "I can't risk anything. Not with that." Novo aimed her hoof at the night sky. "I'm sure your parents understand the same thing, niece. Until further notice, no one is leaving, until we're sure we can be safe." For their own good, they would all stay here. Neither Silverstream or any Hippogriff here could leave until something is done. Hopefully soon even if this was something far beyond their reach. Equestrian Canterlot. Canterlot Castle. "I see." Back at Canterlot Castle, Celestia received everything from the Ranger Union, finally knowing what occurred up there in the cosmos near the Moon. "Alright. I understand and I'll do something about it." "Sister! Did you receive it! What did they say?!" Rushing through the doors of the throne room were Luna, who had Ash and Pikachu right behind her. "I did. I got everything from the Ranger Union, Luna." Celestia said with a smile, not as bothered by all of this. "You don't have to worry." "There's a lot of reason to worry! It's the Moon! I govern the Moon! My Moon Garden! My plants!" Luna held her head as she was stressed. She even left some things on the Moon while she was sealed in it for centuries." "What broke it off?" Ash asked, needing to know." "It seems that Rayquaza wasn't the only Pokemon that showed up in space." Celestia revealed that there was another candidate in this mess. "Apparently, another powerful Pokemon intercepted Daybreaker and her forces while Rayquaza wasn't there to defend it." "Was it Dialga? Or maybe Palkia?" Ash immediately thought about those two Pokemon. They would make a lot of sense since they can breathe in space. "No. It was a Pokemon by the name of Deoxys." "Deoxys!" Ash gasped once he heard the name of this familiar Pokemon. Deoxys had finally come into play, fittingly after Rayquaza had his time. "Oh, man...I didn't even think about Deoxys. So it stopped them?" "Yes. The Ranger Union have confirmed that Daybreaker and her forces have returned to their universe. The conflict up there has come to an end, but at a hard price. A piece of the Moon is now gone. Deoxys couldn't fully defend it all, unfortunately." "Man." Ash looked down, thinking about Deoxys. "First Rayquaza and now Deoxys. The Solar Empire's coming strong. They're really not gonna stop until Necrozma gets all the light it needs." "Pika-Pika." "But this can all be solved. More than just salvaged, but fixed." Celestia uttered, revealing the reason as to why she was still smiling. "There is?" Ash and Luna both said. "But of course? Do you honestly think I didn't have a backup for this? Why do you think I suggested the possibility of Discord joining our side? If there is something far beyond our reach, we can rely on him to handle it. This is one of those scenarios, as you can see." "Awesome!" Ash cheered. "Discord can totally fix it! I think he's checking up on the Fairy Egg right now, but still!" "Discord? Well, I suppose there's no better candidate right now. He's easy to reach at last." Luna sighed. "I assume that he's easy to reach. I barely see him. The last time I saw Discord, it was when Cosmos attacked and before that, it was during the Empress' Invasion." "Even Discord won't ignore this. Not when it threatens his friends." Celestia continued. "We'll speak with him immediately and have him sort this out. Once that mising piece is repaired or put back, whichever it ends up being, we can rest easy when it comes to what it will do to our world." "What about the Tear? It seemed to respond to the Moon's slight damage." Luna questioned as she brought the conversation back to the Moon. "We still haven't dealt with that." "We'll come back to that. Right now, I need Discord to focus on this. If only I could have him open up Universe 11, but it is what it is." Celestia then used her Magic to bring over one of the Travel Spheres. The new and improved one of course. "Ash. This Travel Sphere will help you head through Discord's Realm with ease." "These things cna enter his realm/ For real?" "For real." Celestia winked. "They were built to do so since we always have a hard time reaching Discord. Not anymore. I need you to go to him as soon as possible and bring him here. All of this is urgent. Even for a few hours, the damage done to the Moon can't be ignored." "Siser, wait. Ash might be tired." Luna halted everything for a while. "Shouldn't we let him rest?" "It's fine." But Ash was ready. "I already had some rest back at the Human World. A lot happened, but I'm not about to slow down now. I'll go." "Ash, please." Luna got in front of him. "I can see it in your eyes. You've gone through something major once again, haven't you? And yet you'd still prefer to continue onwards, during the night?" "Yeah. I guess I do." "Why must you do this to yourself, Ash?" Luna sighed. "One of these days, you'll reach a limit that could spell something far darker than what we've seen thus far. I know I'm always pushing myself to protect others, but that's my duty as Princess. There are times where even I don't get any sleep." Luna was right about that. There have been many fierce battles and encounters against certain opponents these past 4 years and some of them barely call for any rest. Ash was in the same boat, even predating Luna based on his adventures. "I do it because I want to, Luna. You're my friends and I've made a lot of awesome friends here and over in the Human World." Ash revealed his reason for him. It wasn't much of a reason, however. He did it because he felt that it was right and that was all that mattered to him. Even at the expense of his own health, he'd gladly push on for the sake of this he loves. Luna knew there was no bargaining with Ash. Not with how he was. Celestia also knew this herself. "Alright. Just...when you get back from the Chaos Realm, sleep afterwards. For as long as you want. Will you promise that for me, Ash?" "Sure. I promise." Ash grinned, making sure to keep that promise. He wouldn't even think about breaking it to Luna, not even for a second. Holding the Transphere in his hand, Ash tapped into its cosmic power, ready to go. By holding it to the other side, the sphere shot out a beam that immediately summoned a gateway. This was clearly incomplete since Twilight Sparkle herself wasn't here to finish the rest of it off. But that was where Celestia came into play. Using another Travel Sphere, she transferred some of the Rift Energy into this gateway, filling in for Twilight's spot. The meshing of two Rift Energies caused a reaction that allowed this incomplete gateway to become complete. Thus, it would lead to the Chaos Realm. "We'll be back soon! Come on, Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed before jumping in. Pikachu would do the same, his cry echoing out once he entered. The gateway would linger there as the Moon Princess held her breath. Discord's Chaos Realm. Entering the Chaos Realm, Ash found himself being weightless, free of gravity along with Pikachu. Both their bodies effortlessly moved through the non-existent air in this erratic spot. The gateway behind them lingered as they had a lot of time on their hands to say what needed to be said. Ash was unbothered by the chaotic sounds here since he was used to it and has heard other wild things in his life. The Chaos Realm was just another fantastical land for him. "Hey, Discord! If you're not busy with the Fairy Egg right now, we-" But the moment he showed up, he already saw what Discord was up to. Rapidly, Discord was freaking out. His body was wobbling uncontrollably. His body was essentially glitching, struggling to find any symmetry or balance. "Discord?! What's wrong?!" Ash flew over. "Pika?!" "Magical...Imbalance...!" Discord replied, his voice being distorted in multiple tempos and tones. Discord had another unique ability, which was the ability to sense a Magical Imbalance. And right now, Discord was sensing probably the biggest magical imbalance ever since Tirek attacked. But this felt more than just a Magical Imbalance. Discord's body was going so out of control he was inadvertently affecting the Chaos Realm around him. Ash saw random spams of Chaos Magic flare through the area, bringing random effects, such as a massive thumb ripping through the space, attempting to press Ash and Pikachu down, only for them to move out of the way. Above them, the space would act like a vacuum, even having the shape of one as it started sucking up anything below it. Barely, Ash and Pikachu also avoided this themselves. Constantly, there were chaotic effects appearing left and right with no proper control. Quickly, Ash approached Discord, trying to calm him down. Moving past many effects that would delay him, the King of the Sea managed to reach his chaotic friend, surrounding his hands in Aura. "Gotcha!" He cried out after grabbing Discord. Using Aura, Ash managed to hold onto him, shielding himself from the Chaos Magic. "Discord! Hey! What's wrong, Discord?!" "There's a ridiculous Magic Imbalance right now! The likes of which I've never felt before! Honestly, I'm not even sure if it's an imbalance!" Discord cried out. Hearing this made Ash realise how quickly things were developing around him. Narrowing his eyes, Ash Ketchum was expecting even bigger things on the horizon. Bigger than what he went through back at Rainbow Falls, possibly on the same level of what happened with the Moon and the Tear in the Sky. The enemies of his friends were no joke. Not one bit. As the journey continues. Chapter 444 End.